Black Led Cartoons For Today's Kid's

 One thing I quickly learned since becoming a parent in 2020, was that you soon get sucked into the shows your kid watches. If it's not the theme song randomly popping in your head, or the toy's you end up buying. Or actually realizing that it actually is a good show, you also make sure that your kid's see people that look like them on TV.

Representation matters there is absolutely no doubt about it, unfortunately avenues to include more representation are currently under attack by folks who don't love themselves so they hate everyone else. We must keep representation and what it mean's for kid's alive, so with that here modern cartoons featuring Black led characters for today's kid's to check out.

Craig Of The Creek

Craig Of The Creek was a standout favorite on the fall from grace cable channel that is the Cartoon network. Debuting in 2018, the show features the main character craig and his band of friends as they play at a nearby creek, using their vast imaginations to make the creek their own little world and navigating life in the process. The show just ended it's final season last month and went out with much fanfare.

Reruns still air on Cartoon network, and it is available on streaming services such Max and Hulu.

Motown Magic

This Netflix original is a favorite in my house and a genius idea in my opinion. Using the legendary music from Motown records and inspiration from cartoons such as The Magic School Bus. The series also debuting in 2018, follows a young boy Ben who stumbles upon a paintbrush that is magical in nature. It allows him to bring colorful art to life and through the power of Motown learn some lessons each episode.

While still available on Netflix, it only lasted two season's which is a shame because while several Motown favorites were played, there is a vault of classics that were never touched.

Doc Mcstuffins

The Doc is Here! Doc McStuffins the cartoon is well over 10 years old, debuting in 2012 yet kid's of today still love it. Dottie "Doc" McStuffins aspires to be a doctor like her mother, and with the power of his magic stethoscope and toys she brings to life she is able to start working towards that goal. Fixing toys from dolls to stuff animals healing them from their ailments. And as customary for most kid show's she learns important life lessons in every episode. 

The cartoon was a Disney Channel hit during it's original run which ended in 2020. I'm sure one of the Disney networks still air reruns, but it's available to watch on Disney plus and Hulu.

Ada Twist, Scientist

Another Netflix original Ada Twist, Scientist is a show in a similiar vain as Doc McStuffins. Debuting in 2021 the series follows the highly intelligent 9 year old Ada, full of imagination she has a book of scientific inventions and her own "magical' lab she can conduct experiments in. She also has three friends who are equally as smart by her side to assist in her science hijinks. 

The series focuses on the STEM field and imagination amongst kids. Encouraging them to persevere and not give up when something goes wrong the first time. There have been four season's of the show with the last one airing in 2023, it has not officially been cancelled by Netflix so hopefully more episodes are on the way. 

Lyla In The Loop

A PBS kid's production, Lyla In The Loop debuted last year on the network. It features a 7 year old girl named Lyla and her sidekick pet Stu, although no one really knows what kind of animal Stu is. Along with her family, Lyla and Stu navigate the life of a 7 year old in the city. Using critical thinking skills and her imagination, she innocently get's into mischief while also brainstorming her way out. Becoming a problem solver for those around her. Season 1 recently ended, so let's hope that season 2 is not far behind.

Karma's World

Another Netflix show that debuted in 2021, this one receives a lot of airtime in my house. Karma's World follows middle schooler Karma Grant who learns she has a skill of making good music. She also learns all the good music can bring to the world, while simultaneously learning about herself and gaining confidence. One of her song's Proud Of My Hair is quite infectious, you hear it and will be singing it to yourself for some days. While the show hasn't had any new episodes since 2022, hopefully new ones are being developed, in the meantime there is plenty of Karma's merchandise available in stores (trust me I know).

My Dad The Bounty Hunter

Netflix is really leading the pack here with cartoons featuring Black led characters. For kid's who love a good sci-fi adventure, this one is for them. My Dad The Bounty Hunter features brother and sister Sean and Lisa, while they are half earthlings they think their father is a typical boring dad. Until they accidentally catch a ride to one of his missions and find out he is a well known Bounty Hunter chasing down criminals of all species within the galaxy. It has some comedy and kid appropriate action scenes, as well as showing a loving Black family.

It debuted in 2023 and has 2 seasons before being cancelled by the streaming service. Which is a shame but there are still 19 episodes you can watch on repeat over and over again. 

Ariel

Based off the 2023 version of Ariel from Disney's Little Mermaid starring Hailey Bailey. This cartoon debuted on Disney Jr. last summer, and follows the misadventures of Ariel alongside her pals Sebastian and Flounder. Learning about the undersea life outside of her kingdom, and life lessons on how to treat other's and herself. It truly is just an updated version of the story for a new generation and hasn't changed much about the lore.

However if kid's today enjoyed the original Little Mermaid and the live-action remake, they will enjoy this one. While it has not been officially renewed by disney, I'm sure it will soon. 

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5 Christmas Specials You Don't Remember

 

Christmas time is a very festive time of the year. It brings Christmas lights and decorations, music, movies, special episodes of television series. And those Christmas specials to cash in on the spirit, there are Christmas Specials that are classics and must watch every year. Specials such as Charlie Brown Christmas, A Year Without Santa Claus, and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer to name a few. It's customary that for every classic that's watched every holiday season, there are several people just don't remember. 

Here Are 5 Christmas Special's you likely don't remember

5. Munsters Scary Little Christmas

                                   

In the mid-90's Fox tried to bring back the 60's sitcom family The Munsters into pop culture. They had a TV movie to "reintroduce" the family and this special followed. Released in 1996, the film follows the Munster family as young son Eddie get's homesick and wants to return to Transylvania. His father Herman decides to do a Transylvanian Christmas, but soon everything just goes left. Including Santa and his elves needing assistance from The Munsters to ensure Christmas actually happens that year.

The film is available on Youtube to watch.

4. Santa, Baby!

                                     

This 2001 special that aired on Fox boasted several legendary entertainers as members of it's cast. The like's of Gregory Hines, Patti Labelle, Vanessa Williams, and Eartha Kitt. The film follows a struggling songwriter Noel (Gregory Hines) who with the assistance of his family and a partridge finds the Christmas spirit once again. This special was produced by animation powerhouse Rankin/Bass but for some reason is rarely aired. 

A rip of I believe the original airing is currently available on YouTube.

3. The Town Santa Forgot

Airing on NBC in December 1993, this Holiday special follows the story of a young boy named Jeremy Creek. Jeremy was a mischievous, selfish kid who surely would end up on the naughty list most years.  One day after being punished he decides to write Santa a letter of all the toys he wants, an substantial list by the way. When it reaches Santa he assumes the letter came from a town and not just one person.

Jeremy is dismayed Christmas morning and he realizes Santa forgot to pay his town a visit. He however learns a valuable lesson about Christmas, giving to others and the Holiday Spirit.

Produced by Hanna-Barbera, the special was a staple on Cartoon Network and Boomerang cable channels for years. Unfortunately it's no longer aired and not available for streaming, the most you can find it is on some third party sites if you look hard enough.

2. Jingle Bell Rock 

                                                        

This ABC original special aired in 1995, produced by animated powerhouse Dic is actually intriguing and a bit ahead of it's time with what kid's would understand. Santa Claus has been too generous rarely putting anyone on the naughty list, as such his operation has ran out of funding and he has to lay off his elves. With the likelihood that Christmas will be cancelled for children all across the world, one elf named Buddy set's out to Hollywood and write's a song to enter a talent contest. Buddy has hopes of winning to give Santa the earnings and save Christmas.

The special is available on YouTube from a few different sources.

1. Have Yourself A Goofy Little Christmas

This special aired in 1992 and is canon in the Goof Troop episode list, originally airing as a one hour special and broken up in subsequent airings. It also sadly was the finale of the series, which while sad isn't a bad way to go out. The special follows Goofy and his son Max as they follow their neighbors to Aspirin, Colorado for the holidays. The only thing is Goofy isn't exactly welcomed, but he ends up saving the day anyway.

Only season 1 of Goof Troop is currently available on Disney Plus, unfortunately this special is not available. 

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10 Cartoons Starring Celebrities You Don't Remember

 Late last month was the 10th anniversary of Mike Tysons Mysteries. An animated cartoon that aired on cartoon networks adult swim, that made Tyson the center point of the cartoon.

                                  

The anniversary of the show made my brain start rattling through the archives of when cartoons were created just for celebrities. After all big name celebrities themselves are a brand, and they work to sell their brands. Usually these cartoons were nothing more than publicity and cash grabs, but some of them were quite entertaining. 

We remember Life With Louie and Jackie Chan Adventures. Here's a list of celebrity starred cartoons for lack of a better way to word it, you likely dont remember. Away we go.

10. Mister T

In the early 1980's fresh off his run as the villain in Rocky III and his role on the NBC hit A-Team, Mr. T was on top of the world. People were enamored with the gravel voiced, mohawk sporting, covered in jewelry Mr. T. Since his popularity was at a all-time high, he even had his own cereal and comic book. To continue to ride the wave, he was given his own cartoon debuting in the fall of 1983. 

The cartoon featured Mr. T  as a gymnastics coach who travels the world with his crew solving mysteries, pretty straight forward concept for a cartoon. It lasted for 3 seasons and featured interludes in the beginning and end of each episode featuring Mr. T in the flesh.

9. Karate Kommandos

Karate Kommandos was an attempt to cash in on the G.I. Joe craze that all the kid's loved in the mid-80's. Created by Chuck Norris and featuring a interpretation of him, this 1986 cartoon followed Norris is a covert ops government agent alongside his team of operatives all of different races. Facing off against a super villain by the name of Claw and his organization Vulture. Sound familiar? 

Since this cartoon was produced by the same company that produced Mr. T's cartoon, the format was the same. Episodes opened with Norris explaining the premise of the episode and closed with Norris talking to the audience providing a lesson learned that episode. The cartoon only lasted one season, but if interested a few episodes are on YouTube.

8. Hammerman

I previously wrote about how M.C. Hammer was a rock star in the early 90's, the man was truly everywhere. Commercials, dolls, soundtracks, sitcom appearances, you could not turn on the TV during that time and not see Hammer. So no surprise he received his own cartoon in 1991, Hammerman. Starring Hammer as Stanley a meek young man who has a pair of talking shoes in his possession, which once he wear's them he becomes the neighborhood superhero Hammerman.

Following the trope well known at that time, Hammer had a message at the beginning and end of each episode. The cartoon only ran for one season as Hammer's popularity was starting to wane and he no longer was considered "cool".

7. Kid 'N Play

Debuting in 1990, I'm kind of shocked this one was ever green-light. It followed rap duo Kid 'N Play, along with their producer Hurbie and DJ, DJ Wiz (both voiced by Martin Lawrence) and friend Jazzy. They would go about their day as teenagers trying to become musicians, getting into their teenager mischief. 

    
                                    
 

The cartoon get's brownie points for having the duo's hit single Rollin' With Kid N Play be the intro. The two would also appear live during interludes of episodes, to promote positivity to the audience.

6. New Kids on the block

Another musical act that was everywhere you turned in the late 80's and early 90's was New Kid's On The Block. The king's of boy band's during that era, they too had dolls, cereal, and lunch boxes. So it's no surprise following the trend in 1990 they were awarded their own cartoon. Following the band alongside their tour, they stumble upon an adventure at each tour stop. A bit different format from the norm in this genre that was actually different.

It's everything you'd think it would be, campy, maybe a little over the top, but it got the job done of selling the brand known as NKOTB.

5. Wish Kid

In the 1990's Macaulay Culkin had a run that made him arguably the biggest child star in film history. Fresh off his starring role in Home Alone and before his wave of mid-90's hits, Macaulay starred in a cartoon for NBC debuting in 1991. Following a young boy Nick who clearly is based on Culkin, who has a baseball glove that could grant wishes. It came with limitations, but granted enough wishes to get him in trouble.

The cartoon only lasted one season like most of its counterparts, but it was enjoyable while it lasted.

4. Camp Candy

Late comedian John Candy's cartoon debuted on NBC in 1989. It followed Candy as a camp counselor alongside fellow staffer Nurse Molly, teaching the kids attending his camp about the outdoors. At the same time staving off his arch nemesis Rex Deforest from destroying the camp at all costs. 

The show aired for two more seasons in syndication, and it wasn't until the third and final season that Candy began appearing in live segments for the show.

3. Mary-Kate And Ashley in Action

When I spoke about celebrities being brands earlier, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are the personification of that idea. As they gained popularity from their joint role as Michelle Tanner on Full House, they branched out into TV-movies and straight to home video specials, along with another sitcom. It was only fitting to target their pre-teen market, they would venture into cartoon land which they did in 2001 on ABC.

The cartoon followed the duo as teenage special agents traveling the globe to support their mission. It only lasted one season, and in a break from the norm did not include the sisters in live action segments. Except for the intro which helped explained the double life nature of the storyline.

2. Jackson 5ive

If you're a 70's kid you remember this show, if you're a 80's/early 90's baby chances are you remember this show from the early days of the Cartoon Network. The animated series debuted in 1971 when the group were at their peak of popularity. It followed the brother's on tour with their manager Berry Gordy getting into several misadventures while on the road. An fictional animated version of Diana Ross would also appear in the cartoon from time to time.

The cartoon also featured live action concert footage of the band and the intro included photos of the brothers morphing into their animated counterparts. In addition, the intro was a medley of four of their biggest hits Stop The Love You Say, ABC, Mama's Pearl, and I Want You Back.

1. Pro Stars

Probably the best cartoon from the era of celebrities starring in cartoons. Pro Stars followed three of the greatest sports players to ever play their respective games. Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Bo Jackson who doubled as secret agent heroes alongside being pro sports stars. They were usually called to action by a child in danger and would save the day by episodes end.

The cartoon debuted in September 1991 on NBC and didnt even make it an entire season. Ending in December 1991, not sure what caused the early cancellation but it was a missed opportunity.

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