30 Best Cartoon Theme Songs of the ’80s and ’90s

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Here at Soul In Stereo, you know we aren’t afraid to turn the clock back. So today, let’s try something a little different.

If you’re an ’80s or ’90s baby, congratulations, your childhood was awesome. Not only were we treated to classic cartoons on a nearly daily basis, those shows produced theme songs that were absolutely iconic.

Let’s look at 30 of the best cartoon theme songs that originally ran from 1980-1999. This, of course, excludes those old Hannah Barbera shows that originally ran in the1960s but were syndicated in the ’80s. So don’t give me grief about excluding The Flinstones or Josie and the Pussycats.

Ranking was determined by song quality, catchiness, and that good ol’ nostalgia factor – those songs that still make you smile nearly 30 years later.

I guarantee that you’ll waste your entire day listening to all these theme songs. You can thank me later.

30. She-Ra: Princess of Power 

Original run: 1985-1986

Edd said: The theme to the He-Man spinoff wasn’t quite as iconic as its big brother but it’s pretty magical in its own right. Most toons targeted to girls were all about fairies and horses and three-foot-tall cake bakers. She-Ra kicked butt with the best of them.

29. Beverly Hills Teens

Original run: 1987

Edd said: Bet you forgot about this short-lived series. The theme song is so perfectly ’80s, set to 13-year-olds driving cars with pools in the backseat and lots and LOTS of guitars and surfboards. Ah, it was a simpler time.

28. Bionic Six

Original run: 1987-1989

Edd said: The Bionic Six were a weird amalgamation of the Brady Bunch and The Fantastic Four. This multicultural brood was either the result of a bunch of adoptions or Mrs. Bionic Six has a LOT of explaining to do. Anyway, this superhero family is dying for a 21st century remake.

27. Garfield & Friends

Original run: 1988-1994

Edd said: This, of course, is the more memorable “we’re ready to party” theme from later in the show’s run, instead of the dull original song. It’s just as manic and frantic as the show itself.

26. Tiny Toon Adventures

Original run: 1990-1995

Edd said: Take the classic Looney Tunes gang, infuse some ’90s attitude and you get Tiny Toons, a bunch of smart-aleck animals running amok in their school. Yep, kids definitely could relate. The theme is perfect too, breaking the fourth wall (“the scripts were rejected/expect the unexpected”) and never taking itself too seriously.

25. Dinosaucers

Original run: 1987

Edd said: Dinosaucers should have been HUGE. Two warring factions of aliens bring their battles to Earth, where they meet an Annoying Multicultural Group of Smiling Teens (TM) who teach them about humans and kindness and stuff, while trying not to get trampled during epic fights. It’s like Transformers, but with giant lizards instead of boxy machines. The theme is AWESOME too in all it’s screaming glory – too bad the annoying kids talk all over it.

24. Sailor Moon

Original run: 1995-2000

Edd said: While not as cool as the Japanese theme, the American version of the classic anime is the definition of an earworm. The lyrics aren’t Shakespeare (“she is the one called Sailor Moon/ She is the one … SAILOR MOOOOON) but man, they swirl in your head for hours.

23. Doug

Original run: 1991-1994

Edd said: Proof that you don’t need screechy guitars or loquacious lyrics to have a great theme song. Doug’s theme is mainly a guy humming ‘doo doo doo’ with random sound effects scattered throughout. It perfectly fit Doug’s awkward but charming appeal.

22. Inspector Gadget

Original run: 1983-1986

Edd said: I DARE you to say the words “Inspector Gadget” and not follow up with “whoo ooh.” It’s physically impossible. Gadget was trash when it came to his job, goofing off while people under his pay grade did all the hard work. But it’s hard to stay mad at a guy with a song that great.

21. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Original run: 1983-1985

Edd said: He-Man was the hero of every boy on the playground, and this theme oozed with epicness. Like Dinosaucers, though, I just wish Prince Adam kept his blabbering to a minimum so we could hear more of that heroic instrumental goodness.

20. Captain Planet and the Planeteers

Original run: 1990-1993

Edd said: Forget the boring intro theme with the Annoying Multicultural Group of Smiling Teens (TM) explaining their magical rings. No, we’re here for outro, which features the CAPTAIN PLANET RAP. It’s magnificently horrible, and I mean that as a compliment. When a bad guy yells threats at Captain Planet mid-verse, you know you’ve struck a nerve. Protecting the planet while spitting 16 bars of fire? No wonder people have been clamoring for a Captain Planet movie.

19. Animaniacs

Original run: 1993-1998

Edd said: Take everything I said about the Tiny Toons theme and multiply it by 10. Like its predecessor, Animaniacs was tremendous because the entire show was in on the joke, constantly winking at the audience (literally) and laughing along with the viewers. The intro itself was essentially madness on parade – and insanely catchy to boot.

18. Denver, the Last Dinosaur

Original run: 1988

Edd said: Now, if you don’t remember the antics of Denver, the rock n’ roll dinosaur who skateboards with a Annoying Multicultural Group of Smiling Teens (TM) , I can’t blame you. The show sucked. But theme did not. It’s so loud and brazen than you can’t help but love it. It epitomizes the ’80s You can smell the singer’s hair spray and leather seeping from your speakers.

17. X-Men

Original run: 1992-1997

Edd said: Who needs lyrics with a theme this awesome? X-Men blazed a new path for animated shows in the ’90s. Many of the shows were episodic with heavy themes and shades of gray – the good guys didn’t always do the right thing and the “bad guys” often weren’t so bad; they had understandable motives. This adrenaline-pumping theme conveyed both the dark mood and the constant action that was the show’s hallmark.

16. Darkwing Duck

Original run: 1991-1992

Edd said: And now we get into the Disney themes, which raised the bar to unreachable heights. Darkwing Duck was so ahead of its time – a vain, pompous hero who almost more concerned with his image than crimefighting. But he always did the right thing in the end. His theme was perfect – heroic but way over the top.

15. M.A.S.K.

Original run: 1985-1986

Edd said: M-M-M-M-MASK!!!! No theme on this list is as gloriously ’80s as M.A.S.K., a show that blatantly steals from both G.I. Joe (We fight costumed terrorists…) and Transformers (…in transforming vehicles!). I’ll give the thin plot a pass for the absolutely insane theme song, with screeching nonsensical lyrics that are impossible to hate. “Come see the laser rays FIRE AWAYYYYY!”

14. Gummi Bears

Original run: 1985-1991

Edd said: Will it sound sappy if I say that the Gummi Bears theme song sounds angelic? There’s a calm serenity to it – in fact, it sounds like something a contestant would be forced to sing on American Idol or something. It certainly has that kind of universal, wholesome appeal. Of course, when you get down to it, the Gummi Bears are pretty much the animated version of Breaking Bad, mixing up drugs in their basement. But I won’t ruin your fantasy.

13. Thundercats

Original run: 1985-1989

Edd said: Ah yes, the one theme song so catch even my mom still talks about it nearly 30 years later. Thundercats was a 30-minute adrenaline rush, and the theme song followed suit. This wasn’t much on lyrics but it burst with energy.

12. Alvin & The Chipmunks

Original run: 1983-1990

Edd said: There were quite a few kids shows based around music in the ’80s – thanks to their theme, The Chipmunks are one of the most memorable. The premise was simple – poor music promoter Dave adopts three mutant chipmunks (it’s the ’80s, don’t ask) who go on to become rock stars and nearly drive poor Dave into an early grave. The music on the show was always a blast and the best theme, the one featured here, was the final theme that was HEAVY on the guitar riffs (it’s the ’80s, don’t ask).

11. Talespin

Original run: 1990-1991

Edd said: Of all the beloved Disney afternoon cartoons of the late 80s-early 90s, Talespin seems to be the most forgotten. Taking the cast of The Jungle Book and turning them into pilots and corrupt businessmen was … odd to say the least, but how can y’all forget this reggae-fueled theme? It’s way too fun to ignore.

10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Original run: 1987-1996

Edd said: Easily one of the most recognizable cartoon themes of all time. Not only does it do its job by explaining the plot and characters, it’s just sung with such conviction: “When the evil Shredder attacks/These Turtle boys don’t cut him no slack!” And they mean it too!

9. Heathcliff

Original run: 1984-1988

Edd said: Heathcliff always came off as a poor man’s Garfield (I personally liked the Riff Raff short cartoons better than the main attraction) but his theme song was undeniable. Heathcliff was pretty much a jerk, attacking people for no good reason while snickering like a super villain. His theme detailed his evil exploits but with a lot more heart and personality than he ever had. If not for his theme song, Heathcliff would mean nothing to me. NOTHING, I SAY.

8. Muppet Babies

Original run: 1984-1991

Edd said: Ah, a theme song as sweet as the subjects themselves. The Muppet gang may have been confined to their nursery but those walls couldn’t hold their imagination. They were superheroes, space cadets, explorers and everything in between. Their theme stretched the bounds of the imagination too.

7. Jem

Original run: 1985-1988

Edd said: Forget Hannah Montana, Jem was the original undercover showgirl. A show about a music exec masquerading as a rock star BETTER have a good theme song. Don’t worry, it did. In fact, the show usually featured a new song every episode – most of which were pretty good. But none compared to the theme, which remains truly outrageous.

6. Pokemon

Original run: 1998-ongoing

Edd said: Yeah, this is by far the most recent show on the list. While most of the cartoons on this list defined my childhood, I was about to head to college by the time the Japanese phenomenon made it to America. By the late ’90s, most cartoon theme songs had lost the charm of their forefathers. Pokemon’s overly enthusiastic intro brought that spirit back.

5. The Transformers

Original run: 1984-1987

Edd said: Fun fact: There were actually three distinctly different theme songs for the massively successful Transformers cartoon, a fact I hadn’t even realized until researching these themes. The final version, used for the last two seasons of the show’s original run, was the best. It felt more futuristic and threatening than the jazzy version used in early years. Even better is the outro version, which omits the lyrics so you can hear the haunting chants in the background. This is why ’80s babies love Transformers so much, no matter how bad the Michael Bay movies are.

4. Goof Troop

Original run: 1992-1993

Edd said: Goof Troop had a different vibe than its Disney afternoon counterparts, which mostly focused on hunting treasure and solving ridiculous crimes. Goof Troop felt more like a sitcom, with single dad Goofy and son Max dealing with obnoxious neighbor Pete. The surprisingly soulful theme song felt more like an amped-up sitcom song too – it’s like the Family Matters theme on Pixy Stix. It’s the most underrated song of the era.

3. G.I. Joe (The Movie)

Original run: 1983-1986

Edd said: Yes, I know this is the theme for G.I. Joe: The Movie, but since it was used sparingly as the intro to the syndicated TV show, it’s eligible for our list. And good lord, is it epic. Not only is it the best opening montage in cartoon HISTORY, with G.I. Joe kicking the crap out of terrorist group Cobra at the Statue of Liberty of all places, the triumphant horns and commanding brass make me want to stand on my roof and wave the American flag. And like the Transformers theme, the outro theme sans lyrics is even better. It’s my personal favorite theme of all time, but since it’s not widely known I can’t place it in the top spot in good conscience. It’s still No. 1 in my heart, though.

2. Ducktales

Original run: 1987-1990

Edd said: Two words: WOO-OOH. “Unca” Scrooge McDuck’s globetrotting tales were the best part of our afternoons in the late ’80s. Decades later, it’s the theme song that still sticks with us. Ducktales was so big that it generated a spinoff (Darkwing Duck) and a knockoff Indiana Jones movie in 1990. I credit all that success to its incomparable theme song. WOO-OOH,

1. Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers

Original run: 1989-1990

Edd said: I’ll admit, choosing between Rescue Rangers and Ducktales for the top spot was next to impossible. I’ll give Chip n’ Dale the slight edge here because their theme isn’t quite as gimmicky as Scrooge’s WOO-OOH song and, honestly, it’s just a better constructed tune. The energy ebbs and flows perfectly while telling the tale of pint-sized detectives who protect the world from gangster cats. It’s the 80s, don’t ask. I dare you to find a cartoon theme that can top the Rescue Rangers.

What did I miss? Share your favorites below.