This month’s question is getting nostalgic by diving into the world of animation and cartoons!
What were some of your favorite cartoons to watch as a kid? Whether movies, TV shows, or even anime, what were some of your favorite childhood cartoons? And because it’s totally okay to watch cartoons even as an adult, do you have any current cartoon faves that you’re in to?
Tabbitha, Youth Services: Growing up, I was definitely a fan of Arthur, Magic School Bus, and Rugrats. I loved anything with a bit of adventure! As for now, being in the library world, I have a huge appreciation for the art and heart in shows like Bluey—it’s honestly as much for the parents as it is for the kids. I also still have a soft spot for Studio Ghibli films like My Neighbor Totoro; the animation is just timeless.
Shane, Public Support Services: My favorite cartoon as a kid was Spongebob Squarepants, so much so that my first pair of glasses when I was 8 or 9 had a Spongebob frame. The episode “Have You Seen this Snail?” was very emotional for child me.
Dawn, Youth Services Coordinator: Inspector Gadget, Eureka’s Castle, Snorks, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Noozles, Rugrats, Fraggle Rock, The Smurfs, and Doug. The movies I watched over and over again were The Little Mermaid and Aladdin.
Kathy, Public Support Services: We always had Looney Toons on Saturday mornings.
Alyssa, Adult and Teen Services Coordinator: Cartoons have shaped who I am as a person and basically raised me when I was a kid. I learned probably everything I need to know about life from Tommy Pickles and Rugrats. I was a 90s kid and a Disney kid so I loved Doug, Hey Arnold, Lilo and Stitch (both the movie and TV show), The Powerpuff Girls, Blues Clues, Little Bear, Franklin, Dragon Tales, Spongebob Squarepants, and I loved the HBO Family shows like Crashbox, Happily Ever After, and A Little Curious.
Honestly I watch just about as many cartoons as an adult. My favorite show of all time is Summer Camp Island. I also love Craig of the Creek, Moominvale, Doc McStuffins, and this new show I found while researching my Oz-themed murder mystery called Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. It’s a preschool show featuring many characters from the Oz books!
Shelia, Interlibrary Loan and Cataloguing: One of my favorite memories involving cartoons was the Saturday morning cartoons. Some of my favorite cartoons were Scooby Doo, Captain Caveman, and The Jetsons.
Justin, Technology Coordinator: I have some thoughts. Specifically on TV.
Growing up, I was a cartoon kid, every Saturday morning, no exceptions. I won’t mention every cartoon I watched. But I’ll give a special shout out to Dino Riders (dinosaurs with laser guns, honestly ahead of its time) and Muppet Babies. The adventure combined with the cultural references just nailed the vibe. But the one that always stands out, the one that reminds me most of being a kid, is DuckTales. I can’t tell you why, but that show defined my childhood. When they did the reboot some years back I was pretty hyped for it…. it was ok. Not terrible.
As an adult, I will say cartoons aren’t really part of my regular rotation anymore. But my daughter is a huge fan of Star vs. the Forces of Evil, and despite my best efforts to just let it play in the background, it won me over. It’s a genuinely good show and I’m not even a little embarrassed about it..
Going over to movies, I’ll drop this one: Oliver and Company. I’m not sure why, but I remember being obsessed with it. Favorite quote: Tito (Cheech Marin): “Hey, man, if this is torture, chain me to the wall.”
Hannah, Assistant Director: I watched Rugrats, Pinky & the Brain, and Bobby’s World. But my favorite cartoon was probably DuckTales, including the full-length movie Treasure of the Lost Lamp. My love of DuckTales extended to video games. I played through the NES games too many times to count.
Ashley, Interlibrary Loan and Cataloguing: My sister and I loved watching cartoons as kids. We watched DuckTales, TailSpin and Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers on Disney all the time. Cartoon Network had the old cartoons like Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes, Flintstones and The Jetsons. We loved them all! It was exciting when Disney+ started because many of the old cartoons were on there. It is nostalgic to watch them again and be able to introduce them to my niece and nephew.
Annalise, Public Support Services: My favorite cartoon TV shows and movies to watch as a kid were Strawberry Shortcake, Chowder, Scooby-Doo, SpongeBob, The Land Before Time, and Barbie movies. When my mom got me a portable DVD player, I was unstoppable. As an adult, I still love watching the media I enjoyed as a kid, particularly when I’m sick or need a pick-me-up. I didn’t get into anime until middle school, and even then, I found that I enjoy watching it with my brother more than watching it alone. It’s fun to have someone to watch and react with! These days, we hang out weekly for TV & gaming sessions and watch Frieren, Odd Taxi, Steins;Gate, Castlevania, and more, with Frieren being my all-time favorite!
Baya, Youth Services: I watched a lot of cartoons growing up, still do actually. Some that I still re-watch to this day include Scooby-Doo, Kim Possible, Phineas & Ferb, and Looney Tunes. As a kid, I also enjoyed Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans, and Max & Ruby.
Now it’s your turn! What were some of your favorite cartoons as a kid and do you watch any cartoons now as a grown-up?
