The modern landscape of animation has been full of remakes, with plenty of creatives adding their own particular flavor to older ideas. The ‘80s have a lot of characters and concepts that have been popular across generations, especially when they get multiple reimaginings or fresh takes. Similar to the way that ‘80s culture remains in vogue through shows likeStranger Things (2016), these cartoon remakes keep a certain spirit of the era alive.
The best examples of these reboots are the ones that actually take what worked in the earlier shows and improve on them. They can do this through carrying on the stories in new directions, revealing mysterious backstories, or completely changing everything. Here are the best ‘80s cartoon remakes that are actually better than the originals.
Carmen Sandiego (2019-2021)
Beginning life as a series of educational computer games, Carmen Sandiego is a fun adaptation stemming from 1985’s Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? video game. However, it takes the characters introduced in the animated game shows like Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991) and Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? (1994) and reimagines them into a more straightforward espionage/action series.
The prequel explores Carmen Sandiego as a young thief who finds herself caught between the machinations of the criminal syndicate that trained her and the peacekeeping organization A.C.M.E. Audiences who prefer a mystery narrative alongside their stylized action, like Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld (2024) or Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020), will love the femme fatale revamping of the character that animation veteran Duane Capizzi and his team deliver.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018-2020)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) helped transform the jokey premise of two indie comics creators into a pop culture behemoth, with plenty of great adaptations across animation. Still, there are a lot of cool, unique elements to Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that make it easy to recommend.
A more supernatural and slick take on the premise, the comic book stylings of the animation and action give this show’s more vibrant supernatural art style a distinct (but similarly effective) visual style from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023). With a more ambitious sense of scale, some truly ambitious feats of kinetic motion, and surprising character exploration, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a bit of a preferred taste, but it lands well for the kind of audience that fell in love with the artistic strengths of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018).
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (2010-2019)
Whereas the original My Little Pony (1986) was very much a memorable visual without any substance, Lauren Faust’s team brought a lot of life to the vividly bright and incredibly charming My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Taking the broad concept presented by the original show and turning it into a wider plot that mixes high fantasy with relatable emotional stakes, Friendship Is Magic creates a new world for younger audiences (and a surprisingly energetic older fanbase).
Fueled by a similar energy that Faust would put into the chaotic, fun DC Super Hero Girls (2019), My Little Pony embraces a bombastic tone that never loses sight of the humanity at the core of these talking horses. It’s an effective improvement of the ‘80s original, adding a real sense of scope to the show.
ThunderCats (2011-2012)
A hardcore anime-inspired reimagining of ThunderCats (1985), the 2011 adaptation of ThunderCats is a showcase for just how dramatic the millennial reboots were willing to get. While the original show leans heavily into the action beats surrounding Lion-O and his allies in their battle against Mumm-Ra, the new series ups the ante by directly adapting the cast with character design elements inspired by popular anime of the era.
If you’re looking for a more epic fantasy adventure to pair with something like The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024), then this is a good fit. If you’re someone who is looking for a show that’s more reflective of the goofy sensibilities of the ‘80s era, then ThunderCats Roar (2020) is a fun and lightweight take on the franchise that’s more in line with Teen Titans Go! (2013) than anything else.
Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016-2018)
Voltron: Defender of the Universe (1984) is an early example of anime connecting with Western audiences, and it still inspires generations of animation to this day, not the least of which is Voltron: Legendary Defender. As the latest iteration of the franchise, the eight-season show really has the opportunity to flesh out the universe in some exciting and unexpected ways.
One of the best-reviewed shows on this list, Voltron: Legendary Defender, was a terrific success for DreamWorks and Netflix, although the Emmy-nominee faced some controversy over its surface-level LGBTQ+ representation. Fans of Voltron: Legendary Defender can see the original show as a major part of the DNA in the modern approach, alongside other giant mech classics like Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995).
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010-2013)
A far cry from the more supernaturally goofy Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School (1988) style of cartoons that defined the franchise in this era, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated might be one of the most thematically rich takes on Scooby and the gang ever.
While Scooby-Doo has been a fixture of pop culture for half a century, the mystery-solving dog and his friends have gone through plenty of reinventions over the years that largely lean silly. Mystery Incorporated is more of an overarching mystery show, taking just as many cues from Twin Peaks (1990) as A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988). With a lot in common with Gravity Falls (2012), Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated’s dark storytelling and complex takes on the classic characters are a surprisingly effective mix for fans young and old alike.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021)
Courtesy of nerd icon Kevin Smith, Masters of the Universe: Revelation served as the astonishingly dark and surprisingly mature sequel series to the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983). The show opens with the apparent demise of both the titular hero and his long-time enemy Skeletor and only gets wilder from there.
Bolstered by a strong voice cast and a tone that sometimes felt more akin to the battle-heavy episodes of Game of Thrones (2011), this Masters of the Universe show is a far more intense experience than the original ‘80s version. However, fans who grew up with the original will likely get a kick out of Revelation’s eventual realization of that show’s mythology. Ahead of Masters of the Universe (2026), it’s worth checking out how far the animated universe was willing to take things.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018-2020)
Devised by Nimona (2023) mastermind ND Stevenson, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is a terrific expansion of the original He-Man spin-off show, She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985). Powered by a more diverse storytelling approach and compelling art style that blends distinct personalities and clever action, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is an impressive five-season fantasy show that pushed the boundaries of what Netflix was willing to showcase.
Focusing on She-Ra and gradually expanding to a larger cast of colorful heroes, the show’s true strength is in the villains. A terrific series that’s a perfect contrast to the sillier but just as epic Adventure Time (2010), She-Ra is a great fantasy epic that’s got enough family-friendly elements to make it charming for audiences of all ages, especially those who really enjoyed The Dragon Prince (2018).
DuckTales (2017-2021)
DuckTales is a modern reimagining of the Disney classic, taking all the charm of DuckTales (1987) and infusing it with a great sense of comedy, adventure, and surprisingly complex internal mythology. Filled to the brim with an amazing cast (led by David Tennant as Uncle Scrooge), the show’s commitment to worldbuilding results in a self-aware style that pokes fun at Disney tropes but filtered through a modern lens.
DuckTales is the best example of a modern cartoon remake that takes what made the ‘80s original compelling and transforms it into something special. Whether you’re a veteran DuckTales fan or a newcomer to the franchise, you will appreciate what this modern incarnation throws down.
