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    Home/Browse/TV Shows/1980s TV Shows/1980s Kids TV Shows

    1980s Kids TV Shows

    The 40 most popular 1980s kids TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

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    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    TMDB3.9

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

    1987

    country: United States

    Four turtles fall into the sewers and are befriended by Hamato Yoshi a Japanese man sent to New York who was forced to live in the sewers. One day he sees a strange green glow which transforms the four turtles into human-like creatures. Hamato (now Master Splinter) changes into a giant rat from the green glow and teaches the turtles the skills of the ninja as they team up with news reporter April O'Neil to battle against Yoshi's arch enemy Shredder and Krang, an alien warlord from Dimension X.

    Rua Sésamo
    TMDB3.5

    Rua Sésamo

    1989

    country: Portugal

    No overview available

    Obake no Q-tarō
    TMDB4.0

    Obake no Q-tarō

    1985

    country: Japan

    Q-taro, a monster, is living with the Ohara family. He can fly and make his body transparent, but he cannot turn his body into other things like other monsters do. He is a scattered mind, and he always makes mistakes and causes trouble. Sequel of Shin Obake no Q-tarou.

    The Smurfs
    TMDB3.5

    The Smurfs

    1981

    country: United States

    Classic Saturday-morning cartoon series featuring magical blue elf-like creatures called Smurfs. The Smurfs, named for their personalities, inhabit a village of mushroom houses in an enchanted forest. These loveable creatures are led by Papa Smurf and live carefree... except for one major threat to their existance: Gargamel, an evil but inept wizard who lives in a stone-built house in the forest; and his feline companion, the equally nasty Azrael.

    Thomas & Friends
    TMDB3.4

    Thomas & Friends

    1984

    country: United Kingdom

    Thomas & Friends is a British children's television series, which had its first broadcast on the ITV network on 4 September 1984. It is based on The Railway Series of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. These books deal with the adventures of a group of anthropomorphised locomotives and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Wilbert told to entertain his son, Christopher during his recovery from measles. From Series one to four, many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.

    Sebaj Tóbiás
    TMDB5.0

    Sebaj Tóbiás

    1984

    country: Hungary

    No overview available

    Garfield and Friends
    TMDB3.6

    Garfield and Friends

    1988

    country: United States

    The animated stories of Garfield the cat, Odie the dog, their owner Jon and the trouble they get into. And also Orson the Pig and his adventures on a farm with his fellow farm animals.

    SUPERKID
    TMDB4.0

    SUPERKID

    1983

    country: Japan

    Mitsuo encountered Superman, an alien who is a part of a federation that tries to maintain peace in the galaxy. He then received a helmet (that also serves as a mask) that gives superhuman strength, a cape that enables the wearer to fly, and a badge that allows him to breathe underwater and communicate with his fellow comrades whom he met soon after he utilized these gifts. Superman made it clear to all Permans that their identity must be kept a secret or their brain will be destroyed should it ever be revealed and they are given a special doppelganger robot that can replace them while they are away to achieve this feat, although it is not entirely foolproof nor is it free from potential problems. These equipments then allowed them to be young Permans who try to maintain peace and help the people who are in need.

    The Transformers
    TMDB3.9

    The Transformers

    1984

    country: United States

    The Transformers is the first animated television series in the Transformers franchise. The series depicts a war among giant robots that can transform into vehicles and other objects.

    G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
    TMDB3.8

    G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

    1983

    country: United States

    An elite team of soldiers thwart the evil Cobra organization's desire for world domination at every turn, cleverly stopping them from controlling the weather, creating unstoppable weapons, and genetically engineering super-warriors.

    DuckTales
    TMDB3.8

    DuckTales

    1987

    country: United States

    Scrooge McDuck finds his hands full at home when nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie move to Duckburg. Joined by their loyal pals Launchpad McQuack, Gyro Gearloose and Mrs. Beakley, the DuckTales gang never fails to deliver a wealth of adventure. Get ready for a fortune of fun with DuckTales!

    Ninja Hattori-kun
    TMDB3.2

    Ninja Hattori-kun

    1981

    country: Japan

    11-year-old Kenichi Mitsuba is an average kid who goes to secondary school and struggles with his studies, he is very stubborn and is very lazy and therefore always ends up frustrating his parents and teacher. He loves to find an easy way of things. He befriends Hattori Kanzo, a ninja from the Iga Clan, and he becomes part of the Mitsuba family along with his brother, Shinzo and his ninja dog, Shishimaru. Hattori helps Kenichi with his problems, and constantly keeps an eye on him, as a good friend. The main antagonist Kemumaki, a Koga ninja and his ninja cat, Kagechiyo always troubles Kenichi, mainly because of their feud over one girl, Yumeko. Kenichi asks Hattori to take revenge as a recurring storyline in many episodes. Although Hattori is a good friend, Kenichi sometimes fights with Hattori due to misunderstandings created by Kemumaki. Sometimes Jippou, Togejirou and Tsubame help him.

    Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
    TMDB3.7

    Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears

    1985

    country: United States

    Join the world’s sweetest heroes for high adventure in a mystical land of giants and wizards, ogres and dragons, and wondrous creatures both good and evil. Meet Gruffi, Zummi, Cubbi, Grammi, Tummi, Sunni, and all the legendary Gummis as they laugh, play, foil dastardly plots, and fight for what's right.

    Benjamin the Elephant
    TMDB3.3

    Benjamin the Elephant

    1989

    country: Germany

    On the show, the eponymous main character resides at the Newtown Zoo, with friends Otto and Stella. The adventures Benjamin gets involved in often require slipping into various roles, learning new jobs, or discovering new and distant places.

    Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers
    TMDB3.8

    Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers

    1989

    country: United States

    Chip and Dale head a small, eccentric group of animal characters who monitor not only the human world, but the animal community as well, solving mysteries wherever they may be. The "Rescue Rangers" take the cases that fall through the cracks.

    The Real Ghostbusters
    TMDB3.9

    The Real Ghostbusters

    1986

    country: United States

    The continuing adventures of paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Egon Spengler, Dr. Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, their secretary Janine Melnitz and their mascot ghost Slimer.

    Fireman Sam
    TMDB3.1

    Fireman Sam

    1987

    country: United Kingdom

    Follow the adventures of fireman Sam and his colleagues as they protect the citizens of the Welsh town of Pontypandy. Whenever the alarm sounds, brave Sam and his co-workers can be counted on to jump into a fire engine, hop onto a helicopter, or even launch an inflatable lifeboat to battle blazes, mount rescue missions, or provide medical attention to those in need.

    Mashin Hero Wataru
    TMDB3.5

    Mashin Hero Wataru

    1988

    country: Japan

    Mashin Hero Wataru is a comedy/adventure Super Robot multimedia franchise originally consisting of 45 episode anime series created by Sunrise first aired on April 15, 1988. Sunrise credited "Hajime Yatate" for the storyline and Shuji Iuchi directed the series. The series employs a kinetic visual gag style, often employing characters running with their feet over their shoulders derived from Sunrise's previous Super Robot anime series Choriki Robo Galatt.

    Rambo: The Force of Freedom
    TMDB3.7

    Rambo: The Force of Freedom

    1986

    country: United States

    Rambo: The Force of Freedom is an animated series based on the character of John Rambo from David Morrell's book First Blood and the subsequent films First Blood and Rambo: First Blood Part II. This series was adapted for television by story editor/head writer Michael Chain and the series even spawned a toy line.

    Reading Rainbow
    TMDB4.2

    Reading Rainbow

    1983

    country: United States

    Journey to exciting places and build a lasting connection with your favorite books. Each episode centers on a theme from a book, or other children's literature, which is explored through a number of segments or stories.

    BraveStarr
    TMDB4.1

    BraveStarr

    1987

    country: United States

    On the planet New Texas, people live in futuristic conditions reminiscent of the Wild West. Here, Marshall Bravestarr fights for justice and righteousness with his supernatural abilities.

    The Mysterious Cities of Gold
    TMDB3.9

    The Mysterious Cities of Gold

    1982

    country: Japan

    The adventures of a young Spanish boy named Esteban who joins a voyage to the New World in search of the lost Cities of Gold and his father.

    He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
    TMDB3.7

    He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

    1983

    country: United States

    When Adam, Prince of the planet Eternia, raises his magic sword he transforms into He-Man (the most powerful man in the universe). With his allies and friends, he battles the evil Skeletor and his minions to protect the secrets of Castle Grayskull.

    ThunderCats
    TMDB4.1

    ThunderCats

    1985

    country: United States

    The inhabitants of the planet Thundera evacuate just before it is destroyed. They were pursued by a band of mutants. All but one of their escape ships was destroyed. Only a small group of Thunderians (Thundercats) remained. With only half engine power, the group, which was led by Jaga, had to set a course for the nearest planet. Jaga commanded their ship while the other seven were in their stasis tubes. Jaga died on their journey to Third Earth and their ship crashed there. Soon they made friends with various groups in the area and they designed a fortress. Mumm-Ra the centuries-old embodiment of evil, along with the mutants that destroyed the rest of the Thunderians are a constant threat. But Lion-O, the new leader of the Thundercats, with his weapon the "Sword of Omens" will help the Thundercats to have a standing chance.

    The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
    TMDB3.6

    The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

    1989

    country: United States

    In 1989 the two most famous plumbers from Brooklyn burst out of the Nintendo game world and onto television screens across America. The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! aired weekday afternoons and brought Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and King Koopa more thrilling adventures as cartoon characters. And if that weren't enough, each episode also contained live-action segments featuring Mario and Luigi running their Brooklyn plumbing shop - all before they were flushed down a drainpipe into the Mushroom World.

    Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats
    TMDB3.2

    Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats

    1984

    country: Canada

    Heathcliff knows he is the best cat around! Never have we seen such self-confidence topped off with a heavy dose of vanity, cunning, ruthlessness, and a mischievous love of gags. He cruises and struts down the street and watch out any person, cat, or dog who gets in his way! Although he may terrorize the neighborhood, let an outsider try to push anyone around and he is a veritable tiger of defense. On the other side of town are The Catillac Cats, which typically revolve around leader Riff-Raff's get-rich-quick schemes or searches for food.

    Square One Television
    TMDB2.8

    Square One Television

    1987

    country: United States

    Square One Television is an American children's television program produced by the Children's Television Workshop to teach mathematics and abstract mathematical concepts to young viewers. Created and broadcast by PBS in the United States from January 26, 1987 to November 6, 1992, the show was intended to address the math crisis among American schoolchildren. After the last episode aired, the show went into reruns until May 6, 1994. The show was revived for the 1995–1996 PBS season as a teacher instruction program, Square One TV Math Talk. Square One was also shown on the U.S. cable television channel Noggin in syndication beginning in 1999, but was removed from its lineup along with other Sesame Workshop shows on May 26, 2003.

    Xou da Xuxa
    TMDB3.5

    Xou da Xuxa

    1986

    country: Brazil

    Airing weekday mornings, the show featured segments of games (mainly competitions and musical numbers) interspersed with cartoons. Despite the consistently negative reactions from intellectuals and specialized critics, Xou da Xuxa quickly became the most successful children's program in the history of Brazilian television, transforming its presenter into a phenomenon from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s.

    The Flintstone Comedy Show
    TMDB3.6

    The Flintstone Comedy Show

    1980

    country: United States

    The Flintstone Comedy Show is a 90-minute Saturday morning animated series revival of The Flintstones produced by Hanna-Barbera and aired from November 22, 1980 to September 11, 1982 on NBC. Outside North America, the show was released under title of Flintstone Frolics. The show contained six segments: The Flintstone Family Adventures, Bedrock Cops, Pebbles, Dino and Bamm-Bamm, Captain Caveman, Dino and Cavemouse, and The Frankenstones.

    Punky Brewster
    TMDB3.6

    Punky Brewster

    1984

    country: United States

    An abandoned waif and her dog are taken in by a cranky apartment manager who becomes her guardian in this family-friendly sitcom.

    The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
    TMDB3.9

    The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

    1988

    country: United States

    An American animated children's television series inspired by A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

    Fraggle Rock
    TMDB3.7

    Fraggle Rock

    1983

    country: United States

    The Fraggles are a fun-loving community of creatures who live in a subterranean fantasy land where they love to play, sing and dance their cares away, sharing their world with the tiny Doozers and the giant Gorgs. The series teaches empathy and tolerance and encourages children to understand people different from themselves.

    Pingu
    TMDB3.5

    Pingu

    1986

    country: Switzerland

    Playful penguin Pingu lives with his family in Antarctica, where he often finds himself caught up in mischievous high jinks with his pal Robby.

    Snorks
    TMDB3.4

    Snorks

    1984

    country: United States

    The Snorks is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera which ran on NBC from September 15, 1984, to May 13, 1989. Although not as popular as the animated series The Smurfs, the program continued to be available in syndication from 1986 to 1989 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera's 3rd season, on USA Network in the late-1980s and early-1990s, on the BBC in the late 1990s, and from 2009–2011 and again from 2012–Present on Boomerang.

    Muppet Babies
    TMDB4.0

    Muppet Babies

    1984

    country: United States

    The Muppet Babies (Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzy and company) live in a large nursery watched over by Nanny. The babies have active imaginations, and often embark upon adventures into imaginary worlds.

    Telecat
    TMDB4.0

    Telecat

    1983

    country: Belgium

    Created by French surrealist artist Roland Topor and director Henri Xhonneux, Telecat is a news show parody hosted by a tomcat named Groucha (who always had his arm in plaster) and an ostrich named Lola. It featured a variety of sentient objects and revolved around the idea that the real-life elementary particles known as gluons were “the souls of objects”.

    Denshi Sentai Denziman
    TMDB4.4

    Denshi Sentai Denziman

    1980

    country: Japan

    Denzimen are warriors who fight against the Vader Clan, a clan that tries to pollute the Earth with sludge. Denzimen fight using the Super Science of the Denzi people.

    Ghostbusters
    TMDB3.4

    Ghostbusters

    1986

    country: United States

    Jake Kong Jr. and Eddie Spencer Jr. are sons of the original Ghost Busters, and they work alongside Tracy the Gorilla (who also worked with their fathers). Together, they are dedicated to ridding the world of the evil ghost wizard Prime Evil and his cast of henchmen.

    Out of This World
    TMDB3.6

    Out of This World

    1987

    country: United States

    Out Of This World is an American fantasy sitcom about a teenage girl who is half alien, which gives her unique supernatural powers. It first aired in syndication from September 17, 1987 and ended on May 25, 1991. During its first season, the series was originally part of NBC's Prime Time Begins at 7:30 campaign, in which the network's owned-and-operated stations would run first-run sitcoms in the 7:30-8 pm time slot to counterprogram competing stations' game shows, sitcom reruns and other offerings. Out of This World was rotated with the original series Marblehead Manor and She's the Sheriff, a syndicated revival of the 1983 sitcom We Got It Made, and a television adaptation of the play You Can't Take It With You. NBC ended the experiment after the 1987-88 season due to the low ratings put up by three of the series, with Out of This World being one of the two that was renewed. After its first season the series was largely moved to weekend time slots, where it remained until its cancellation following the fourth season.

    Imaginary Planet
    TMDB2.8

    Imaginary Planet

    1984

    country: Spain

    An original program that in the mid-80s brought the world of art and literature closer to children and young people. Its protagonist and presenter was Flip, a girl who lived on her white planet with the only company of her invisible friend Muc.

    About 1980s Kids TV Shows

    The 1980s

    1980s television saw the serialized primetime drama take hold and cable begin to fragment the audience that networks had held uncontested for thirty years.

    Kids

    Children's television is a craft of its own — pacing, repetition, and emotional clarity tuned to a developing audience. The best of it has a visual and musical identity kids remember for life.

    In this list

    Best reviewed
    ThunderCats (8.2)
    Often also
    Animation, Comedy, Family
    Longest run
    24 seasons

    Common questions

    What are the best 1980s kids TV shows?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rua Sésamo, and Obake no Q-tarō. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any show for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1980s kids TV shows are ordered by overall popularity, which blends how often a title is viewed, searched, and logged. It updates as viewing habits shift, so the list reflects what people are actually watching rather than a fixed critical canon.
    Where can I watch these TV shows?
    Every show page lists current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region, alongside community ratings and reviews from Flickfolio members.

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