Top 10 Reboots of Beloved Childhood Shows

This one is actually a reboot of a spin-off… of a spin-off. Let us explain. Netflix’s “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” is a reboot of the 1985 cartoon, “She-Ra: Princess of Power” produced by Filmation. Filmation’s “She-Ra”, however, is actually a spin-off of the production company’s “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe”, a cartoon you’re likely familiar with if you grew up in the 80s. (And even if you didn’t, you’ll probably recognize some of the memes from the show!) But, it doesn’t end there. “He-Man” was itself based on a line of Mattel action figures, so yeah: A reboot of a spin-off, of a spin-off. It comes as no surprise that Netflix’s “She-Ra” surpasses them all with its fantastic queer representation, powerful storyline, stunning animation, and wonderful voice talent!

There have been countless iterations of “Scooby-Doo”, including the HBO Max incarnation, so it was pretty difficult to pick just one reboot. But, “Mystery Incorporated” has to take the win. While we love “Scooby-Doo” for its monster of the week formula, the “Mystery Incorporated” series takes things a step further. We don’t want to spoil anything in case you haven’t seen it, but there’s a larger conspiracy at play in this series’ universe that ties seemingly unrelated episodes together in one epic overarching narrative! Plus, it took the kind of risks no other Scooby incarnation ever has!

Long-time fans of Batman cartoons will know it’s hard to beat out “Batman: The Animated Series”, if not impossible. The animation was simple and appealing, the tone was very clearly inspired by film noir, and it introduced many characters who were never-before-seen outside of the comics. In fact, “Batman: The Animated Series” is responsible for the entire creation of Harley Quinn! Like we said, hard to beat–but, “The Brave And The Bold” comes close. Even with its fair share of controversy, it’s difficult to ignore how innovative the show’s formula was. It paired our favorite Dark Knight with lesser-known DC heroes, giving them their own chance to shine alongside Batman.

In recent years, there’s been a growing trend of turning video games into cartoons, but the “Sonic” franchise was one of the first to do it. “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog” aired in 1992, and was followed soon after by ABC’s 1993 “Sonic the Hedgehog”. While the former employed more silly, slapstick humor, the latter went the more action-driven route–and it was the show fans of the games really wanted. Still, with animation reminiscent of the games, clever writing, and plentiful references, “Sonic Boom” proved to be a reboot worth its weight in gold.

Much like most of the entries on our list, Netflix’s “Voltron” goes above and beyond its origins. The power of nostalgia has nothing on this series! For one, the animation is much-improved, which is to be expected from how much time has passed between the two shows, but also because the animation team is made up of the same talent who animated “The Legend of Korra”. The executive producers also worked on both “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra”, so you know this show just has to be good! It takes the elements of what made the original show so legendary–pardon the pun–and pushes the envelope on what’s possible.

Okay, okay, put down your pitchforks. We know there’ve been several reboots of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, with the most popular being the 2012 version. But, hear us out. 2003 “TMNT” doesn’t get anywhere near the credit it deserves. It’s a lot darker than the original 80s iteration, but it also has that wonderful dry comedy we’ve come to expect from our favorite mutant turtles, and all the action-packed adventures you could want. Once narratives begin to extend over several episodes, the plotlines really outdo themselves and the characters evolve with a kind of admirable subtly. 2012 “TMNT” pushes plots even further and, if you’re looking for something unique with lots of humor and a whole overarching storyline bubbling beneath the surface, check out “Rise of the TMNT”!

We’re always up for reboots that take on a darker, more sophisticated tone than their original versions, especially where cartoons are concerned. This is exactly the case for the “Thundercats” and, given how campy the 80s series was, a more serious adaptation felt like it was in the cards. The 2010 iteration still has its fair share of humor, don’t get us wrong, but there’s a heavier focus on developed characters, intricate storytelling, and action scenes. There’s also the new Cartoon Network 2020 reboot of “Thundercats” but… we don’t talk about that one.

Any writers of a series reboot should be required to have been fans of the original–the audience can just tell when that kind of love is put into a show. This is exactly the case for “Transformers Prime”. It pays homage to the classics and the franchise as a whole, while still daring to trek into new territory by focusing on character development, well-choreographed fighting scenes, and an overarching narrative. It’s a nice mix of the Michael Bay movies and Generation 1, which means a good balance of action and heartfelt moments. If you’re in the market for a great Transformers cartoon with gorgeous animation and a more mature tone, this is the one for you!

The “My Little Pony” franchise has been around since the early 80s since the debut of the original toy line in 1982 which spanned a whole 10 years. From then, the 1986 cartoon was released, followed by the 1992 “My Little Pony Tales”. Kids from every generation since then have grown up with “My Little Pony”, and it hasn’t died down in the least. The 2010 “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” reboot ran all the way until 2019, and is known for being a cartoon that parents can enjoy with their kids. There is a lot of debate over whether the original or the reboot is better, but we’ll let you be the judge of that!

FAKEOUT #1: “Teen Titans Go!” (2013-)

The original “Teen Titans” was loved and is still loved by so many fans today, but “Teen Titans Go!” is even better! …Ha! Gotcha!

Don’t worry, we’re totally kidding! Here’s our real #1…

The original “DuckTales” was so memorable, it honestly struck the fear of Disney into so many of us when it was announced that the show would be making a modern comeback. Luckily, our fear went unfounded. The new adaptation of “DuckTales” gave us all the charm, wit, and stories we ‘treasured’ from the original, plus some very welcomed additions, including more fleshed-out characters, a whole family mystery to uncover, and comedy for days! The animation is downright beautiful, the voice acting is superb, and it manages to instill in its audience all the nostalgia we crave from a reboot. What else is there left to say but, Woo-oo!