1970s Cartoons Worth Watching: 33 Saturday-Morning Classics

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The best 1970s cartoons worth watching include Scooby-Doo, The Pink Panther Show, Super Friends, Josie and the Pussycats, and Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies.

I will admit it: I am biased. I love 70s Saturday morning cartoons. They have that warm, slightly janky charm that modern animation does not even try to replicate: limited animation, repeated sound effects, and “same background, different chase scene” energy. And somehow it still works.

If you grew up on classic 1970s cartoons, this list is pure nostalgia. If you did not, consider this your starter pack for retro cartoons worth watching, the shows that basically built the Saturday-morning cartoon culture we all remember.

Quick note: I am including shows that aired in the 70s even if they originally started in the late 60s. If it was part of that decade’s cartoon lineup, it counts in my book.

And if you want to hop decades after this list, here is my follow-up: cartoons in the 1980s.

A Look Back at 1970s Cartoons

This post is a full-on trip down memory lane, with the stuff I remember seeing on TV as a kid (and the shows I discovered later and thought, “Wait, this was a real series?”).

If you are specifically chasing the “Saturday morning block” vibe, I also have two related reads: ABC Saturday morning cartoons and Saturday morning cartoons.

Best 1970s Cartoons Worth Watching

The Great Grape Ape Show (1975)

The Great Grape Ape Show premiered in 1975 and is one of those 70s cartoons that feels like a fever dream in the best way. Produced by Hanna-Barbera, it follows Grape Ape (a forty-foot-tall purple gorilla) and his small, quick-thinking companion Beegle Beagle (“Beegly Beagly” if you ask Grape Ape).

Plastic Man (1979)

The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show ran from 1979 to 1981 and aired right after Super Friends. It is a very “late 70s, early 80s” bridge show: superhero action with comedic segments baked in. If you are on a DC binge, this pairs nicely with DC animated movies.

Jabberjaw (1976)

Jabberjaw first aired on ABC in 1976. The title character is a fifteen-foot-tall anthropomorphic great white shark who plays drums in an underwater band called The Neptunes. It is very much a product of its era, and that is part of the fun.

Speed Buggy (1973)

Speed Buggy premiered in 1973 and quickly earned a spot in the 70s kids cartoons lineup. It stars Speed Buggy and his three human companions: driver Tinker, mechanic Mark, and fashion-forward Debbie.

The Robonic Stooges (1977-1978)

The Robonic Stooges ran on CBS and basically asked: “What if The Three Stooges were clumsy crime-fighting cyborgs?” It is the kind of idea that could only exist in the 70s.

The Hobbit (1977), Animated TV Special

Okay, this one is a movie, not a series, but I am keeping it. It debuted in 1977 and was directed by Rankin/Bass. If you are collecting more “watchable with the whole household” picks, this pairs with cartoon movies for the family.

Mazinger Z (Early 1970s)

Mazinger Z (aka “Tranzor Z” in the U.S.) is one of the most influential mecha anime of the era. If you are searching “1970s robot cartoons” or “classic 70s mecha,” this is a foundational pick.

Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle (1976)

Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle is one of those cartoons that aired in the 70s that feels more “adventure serial” than “goofy comedy.” The show portrays Tarzan as articulate and heroic, and it leans into the jungle setting with lush animation for its time.

Super Friends (1973-1986)

Super Friends is a must-rewatch 70s kids’ cartoon if you are building a superhero timeline. It brought together DC icons like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Wonder Twins, and it absolutely owns its era.

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972)

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was a big deal in the 70s for portraying urban life and tackling real social topics. It is also a good internal-link bridge if you are building character lists, since you have related character-topic pages on your site.

Josie and the Pussycats (1970)

This show was basically “music plus mystery plus cute outfits,” and as a kid I thought that was the entire dream. It also sits in that Scooby-inspired lane of “group travels, weird villain shows up, mystery happens, masks are removed.” If you like that formula, Scooby is the blueprint.

Godzilla (1978-1980)

The 70s Godzilla cartoon is almost comically different from the city-destroying version. Here, he is basically a heroic defender fighting other monsters and alien threats. I still prefer “Godzilla as a menace,” but this version is worth watching for the novelty.

The Adventures of Gulliver (Aired in the 70s)

The Adventures of Gulliver is a less-famous entry, but it is one of those vintage Saturday morning cartoons that tried to work satire and social themes into a kid-friendly format. It is a cult classic for a reason.

Cattanooga Cats (1969)

Music plus comedy plus segment-style storytelling: very on-brand for the era. The Cattanooga Cats are a great example of how often cartoons in this time period tried to blend “band show” energy with quick-hit humor.

Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies (1970)

It is spooky, goofy, and very “70s TV.” Sabrina navigates teen life with magical mishaps, plus a whole monster crew. If you are collecting more witch-themed animation, you may also like cartoons about witches.

The Hardy Boys (Aired in the early 70s)

The Hardy Boys cartoon adapted the detective energy into a touring-music-group format. It is one of those “only in the 70s” concepts that somehow makes sense once you see it.

The Funky Phantom (1971)

The Funky Phantom is a hidden gem: a mystery-solving group with a ghostly friend. If you love Scooby-style “teens unmasking weird villains,” this scratches the same itch.

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (1972)

The Flintstones spin-off energy was strong in the 70s. This one follows teenage Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm doing high-school hijinks, with the original Flintstones crew still showing up.

Inch High, Private Eye (1973)

This is one of my favorite “short-lived but memorable” 70s cartoons. The premise is clever: a tiny detective solving big cases in a world built for giants. It is also a nice internal-link cousin to your general detective lists: cartoon detective characters.

Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch (1974)

Talking car hero plus motorcycle villains is exactly the kind of premise that made Saturday mornings feel like a toy commercial and an adventure show at the same time. I mean that lovingly.

Road Runner (Aired through the early 70s)

This chase format is timeless: Road Runner does something impossible, Wile E. Coyote commits to a plan he found in a catalog, gravity wins. If you are building a Looney Tunes rabbit hole, here is the Bugs Bunny hub: Bugs Bunny.

The Muppet Show (1970s)

Not traditional animation, but it belongs in the era’s “kids and family TV” conversation. The Muppets are basically practical-effects cartoon characters, and the show shaped the decade’s entertainment tone.

The All-New Popeye Hour (1978-1983)

Popeye in an hour-long format is peak “late 70s cartoon TV.” Same core formula, new segments, and a whole lineup of side content.

The Addams Family (1973)

Macabre, funny, and surprisingly wholesome in its own way. This is a great pick if you like “spooky but not scary.”

Harlem Globetrotters (1970-1973)

Watching a real sports team turned into cartoon heroes is such a 70s concept. It is part sports, part comedy, part “villain of the week.”

Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1971-1974)

This version of Sabrina is very “classic Archie animation”: magical solutions that create new problems. It is an easy watch if you want something light.

Schoolhouse Rock (1973)

Some 70s cartoons were entertainment. Schoolhouse Rock was an education weapon disguised as catchy songs. I still remember some of those tunes decades later, which is basically proof it worked.

The Jetsons (Popular through the 70s)

Even though it began earlier, The Jetsons stayed relevant through the 70s because the future aesthetic never stopped being fun. If you are a Jetsons completionist, you have also got: characters in the Jetsons.

Fred Flintstone and Friends (1977)

Anthology format, multiple segments, familiar faces. This is exactly the kind of packaging 70s TV loved.

The Bugs Bunny Show (Thrived in the 70s)

The Bugs Bunny Show is a huge reason Looney Tunes remained a staple of childhood across decades. If you want the broader Bugs universe, start here: Bugs Bunny.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (Premiered 1969, defined the 70s)

Scooby-Doo is the definition of “70s cartoon worth watching.” Mystery, comedy, and a group of teenagers driving around unmasking criminals pretending to be monsters. It is a formula that got copied endlessly for a reason.

The Pink Panther Show (1969-1980)

Silent comedy, smooth style, and a character who can carry an episode without dialogue. That is hard to pull off, and Pink Panther made it look effortless.

Looney Tunes (70s era)

The Looney Tunes cartoons of the 70s were a permanent fixture. Bugs, Daffy, Tweety: these characters are basically the foundation of cartoon pop culture. Also, if you have ever wondered whether Tom and Jerry were secretly friends (or just committed enemies), you will like this: Are Tom and Jerry best friends?

Every Show on This List, at a Glance

Aspects That Made 1970s Cartoons Special

If you want more “how the era worked” context, do not miss my broader roundup on Saturday morning cartoons, and if you are curious which networks carried what, here is my ABC deep dive: ABC Saturday morning cartoons.

FAQ: 1970s Cartoons

What cartoons were popular in the 1970s?

The biggest names people remember are Scooby-Doo, The Pink Panther Show, Super Friends, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Josie and the Pussycats, and the Looney Tunes shorts that ran all decade. Most of them aired as part of the Saturday-morning block.

What were the best Saturday morning cartoons of the 1970s?

Saturday mornings were the heart of 70s animation. Scooby-Doo, Super Friends, Speed Buggy, Josie and the Pussycats, and The Funky Phantom are all classic Saturday-morning picks from the era.

Were there any educational cartoons in the 1970s?

Yes. Schoolhouse Rock is the standout, teaching grammar, math, and history through short songs that a lot of people still remember word for word decades later.

Which 1970s cartoons are still worth watching today?

Scooby-Doo, the Pink Panther, the Looney Tunes shorts, and Schoolhouse Rock hold up best for modern viewers. The rest are more of a nostalgia trip, which is half the fun.

Which 1970s cartoon did I leave off? Drop it in the comments. I am always happy to add a forgotten Saturday-morning favorite when someone reminds me of one.