Ah, reboots. Since nostalgia is such a powerful thing, it’s not surprising that there have been countless reboots of popular cartoons over the decades. Whether it was to appeal to a younger generation, or to give the previous one a taste of nostalgia, reboots have been as common as cartoons themselves. And they seem to be getting more popular today.
Making a successful reboot is incredibly tricky. You have to balance enough familiarity from the previous series, yet change a few things to make it feel fresh and not re-hashed. Some reboots that do a good job of this are the 2017 Ducktales, Voltron: Legendary Defender, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Each series feels like its own solid show with a good plot, great animation, and interesting characters, but it does have a connection to the original series and builds on it.
Unfortunately, I think good reboots are few and far in between all the pretty bad ones out there. Most reboots are just there to be a cash cow and generally don’t get a lot of thought put into them. They tend to fall into one of two traps where they either change so much of the show that the original’s charm is lost, or they make it exactly the same as the original, making it rather boring. Plus, they often have cheaper animation, or just don’t have the same love put into them.
So here are 20 cartoon reboots that they want you to forget about (or that you should forget about). Think we missed a few spectacularly bad reboots? Be sure to comment below!
20 Why Did They Get Rid Of A Great Cartoon For This?
What’s really a shame is that Disney actually had a really good Avengers cartoon going called Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It was interesting, had a lot of fun references, and adhered pretty well to the comics. But then Disney started doing its cinematic universe and they decided to start the series over again with a new cartoon: Avengers Assemble.
And this new version, while not bad, just wasn’t as good as the previous series.
All the cool storylines that had been building up in the previous series got scrapped, and this new version just felt like a watered-down version of the Cinematic Universe Avengers. Plus, the animation looked incredibly generic and bland. I get that Disney was going for consistency here, but did they really have to kill a cool series just so they could have better marketing?
19 This One Just Doesn’t Live Up To The Original
On the whole, The Batman isn’t particularly terrible. It does have some cool action sequences and we get some interesting character designs. But considering the cartoon it was following up, which was Batman: The Animated Series, it just really pales in comparison. The animation looks much cheaper and the characters feel pretty stiff.
And there’s the matter of the villains. I feel like all the villains get dumbed down a lot in this version of Batman. We completely lose Mr. Freeze’s poignant backstory, and Joker is turned into this weird clown monster thing. (I really don’t know where they were going with that. His voicing was pretty nice though.) Like the heroes, the villains just feel a little flat with not a ton of personality. Oh, and they seem to show Penguin, who’s the most annoying villain, a ton throughout the series. Not cool, man.
18 The Mystery Gang Has Never Looked Weirder
Scooby Doo has been around for forever and has quite the fanbase. Who doesn’t love our adorable cowardly dog and the Mystery Gang as they try to solve the strange happenings wherever they travel? It’s not surprising that the show had quite a few interesting reboots. Some have been good, some have been bad, and then there’s Be Cool, Scooby Doo.
This show is . . . bad.
The animation looks cheap, the character designs are rather ugly (I think Cartoon Network is trying to go for that stylized look, and it’s not working here), and the stories are pretty boring. I know that you can only go so far with a premise like Scooby Doo, but they could at least get a little creative. As far is an iteration of Scooby Doo, this one really isn’t worth your time.
17 This Show Was A Super Flop From The Start
Considering the slightly strange plot of PowerPuff Girls, I’m kind of surprised the show got as big as it did. But then again, adorable little girls that fight crime and kick behind are pretty cool. Since the show does have a huge fanbase, it’s not surprising that it got a reboot. But fans were soon pretty disappointed in it.
First off, the reboot never got a blessing from the show’s original creator, and they didn’t get the original voice talents. Then, there’s the inconsistent animation, the focus on internet memes and what’s currently trending, and the toned-down action. This show seemed to want to focus on the crazy humor of the girls interacting rather than the action of them fighting supervillains. It’s boring, uninspired, and just bad. Sorry girls, you deserved better.
16 Did Anybody Actually Want This Reboot?
I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest fan of Ren & Stimpy, to begin with, since their animation style always creeped me out, and I can’t stand the gross humor the show usually had. But I guess some people did like the show. So, imagine a show that takes all the gross, creepy humor the original had, ups it by ten, makes the show even less funny, and you’ve got Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon."
Seriously, this show is just cringe-worthy in all kinds of ways. I think it was basically an excuse to make the most disgusting jokes and the most disturbing animation. Plus, did anybody actually want more Ren & Stimpy? I really don’t think anybody asked for this reboot and yet, we got it. Sometimes the world isn’t fair.
15 Did Disney Ruin This Show?
A lot of people loved Nickelodeon’s Doug and they were sad to see it go. It was actually a pretty smart show that dealt with problems a lot of kids go through in a rather mature way. So, when Disney picked up the show and started airing it again, you’d think fans would be thrilled. But they weren’t for a few reasons.
Disney censored the show quite a bit more, dumbing down a lot of the issues that the show would talk about.
They also changed a few voice actors and the animation looked a bit more clunky than Nickelodeon’s version. Now, fans were actually split on Disney’s Doug; some saying it was terrible compared to Nickelodeon’s, while others said they thought it was just fine. It did go on for a few seasons, so apparently, some people liked it.
14 Not Everyone Is Happy This Bus Is Back
The Magic School Bus was a staple for 90s kids; it was fun, it was silly, and it taught you quite a bit about science without it feeling like you were in a school setting. Learning was actually pretty fun with The Magic School Bus. So, Netflix decided to come out with a new series called The Magic School Bus Rides Again. And it’s. . . interesting.
The show is not really terrible, but it also lacks a bit of the charm the original series had. For starters, the teacher isn’t actually Ms. Frizzle, but her younger sister, since Ms. Frizzle decided to retire. And the animation looks incredibly simplistic. I know that’s a style that’s become popular in today’s animation, but it just looks weird in this setting. Call me a 90s kid, but I think I still like the original The Magic School Bus better.
13 You’ll Never See These Guys The Same Way Again
Loonatics Unleashed as a cartoon isn’t actually a bad cartoon. It’s a fairly solid show with some great action and a pretty interesting story. If it were just a show on its own, it probably would’ve gotten pretty popular.
The problem is that the show takes the characters of Looney Tunes, a show focused on comedy and tries to put them in a show that’s focused more on action and drama. For those that were fans of the comedic loving characters of Looney Tunes, the difference is jarring at best and just plain terrible at worst. If it had some original characters, the show might have done alright, but since the characters were Looney Tunes, it just weirded out fans too much for it to be successful.
12 I Feel Like I’ve Seen This Before
The Tom and Jerry cartoons have been considered classics since they first came out in 1940. These guys have been around for forever and have had quite a few spin-off series and reboots. Some have been okay, some have been terrible, and some have just been meh.
So where does the latest reboot fall into as far as quality goes?
Well, there’s nothing particularly wrong with The Tom and Jerry Show, but it’s just kind of . . . boring. It’s basically the same premise that it always has been, and you’d think that would be a good thing considering how most reboots try to go into entirely new directions that don’t work. But in this case, this new series just feels rather bland. It doesn’t really have that same spark the original show did.
11 Nobody Wants To See More Of This Girl
People are pretty split on whether Rugrats was actually a good show or not. Some loved it, while others found it super annoying. (I did re-watch some recently, and yeah, it was a lot more annoying than I remembered.) So, what happens if you take some of the most annoying parts of Rugrats and put them into one show? You get Pre-School Daze.
This show is technically more of a spin-off mini-series than a reboot, but we’re counting it. And it’s terrible in so many ways. The series stars Angelica, who was arguably the most hated and annoying character in Rugrats. And the whole show is pretty much Angelica being an annoying brat at pre-school. It’s no wonder this show only lasted four episodes. Did anybody ask for this reboot?
10 Ugh, Why Won’t This Show Just Go Away?
Granted, Cartoon Network is not trying to make us forget this show; in fact, it’s doing everything in its power to remind us this show still exists, despite the fact that many of us are desperately trying to forget that. Seriously why is this show being aired so much?
Teen Titans Go! falls into a similar issue that Loonatics Unleashed did, but with the opposite problem.
The show took characters from a setting that focused more on action and drama and put them in a setting that was purely humor-based. The problem for this was that this reboot watered down most the main characters quite a bit for the sake of getting more laughs. For those not familiar with the original show, the series is okay and does have some funny moments, but for those that grew up loving the characters, it feels like a slap in the face.
9 With These Ponies, It’s All Drama
No, I’m not talking about the latest reboot of My Little Pony, which actually happens to be the best version of the franchise to date. (Seriously, go watch Friendship is Magic; you’ll be surprised by how much you like it.) I’m talking about My Little Pony Tales, the series that came out in 92.
The problem with this reboot is that it took out everything that made My Little Pony interesting and replaced it with boring fluff. Gone were the ponies that fought rock monsters and lava demons. Instead, we’ve got ponies that went to school, flirted with boys, and were full of so much drama it was enough to make you scream. This reboot was really just another cash cow for the executives to sell more toys. But the latest reboot has shown that My Little Pony can be so much more than that.
8 This Reboot Changed Way Too Much
Johnny Quest was a pretty solid cartoon during the 60s, featuring some beautiful backgrounds and a great theme of science and espionage. It was a pretty fun series, and people loved it. So, it makes sense that they would try to do a reboot of the show. And that’s where the problems happened.
The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest took a lot of what was good about the original and decided to scrap it. The show tried to be more “down to earth” and it focused more on the kids. Combine that with the terribly animated virtual reality world that had nothing to do with the plot, and you’ve got quite the mess. Obviously, these changes did not go well, and the show tried to revert back to the original premise, but it still only lasted two seasons. The opening was pretty cool, though.
7 What Is Up With These Designs?
Ben 10 was a series that started out fairly simple, but then got pretty interesting as it continued on into a few spin-offs. The idea that you could have not just one, but at least 10 alter egos was a pretty clever idea, and this show really took advantage of it. The Ben 10 series had a good mixture of humor and drama, creating fairly likable characters that grew and matured with the show.
Unfortunately, the reboot takes a few steps backwards.
The animation just looks bizarre, giving Ben and his cousin Gwen weird, simplistic body designs. This type of stylizing may have worked well for Gravity Falls, but it just doesn’t work here. Plus, most of the drama and intriguing action was taken out and replaced with more humor. What is with Cartoon Network and its new hatred of serious action kids’ cartoons?
6 This Reboot Was Too “Cool” To Be Good
Quack Pack is what happens when Disney Channel decided that they needed to try and make Ducktales “cool.” Emphasis on try. I suppose I understand their line of thinking. They wanted to make the show that was popular in the eighties appeal to the upcoming group of young kids. It just didn’t work.
Seriously, the triplet ducklings in this show are so boring, it’s kind of painful. They’re the epitome of “I’m too cool to do anything, so I’ll just stand around looking bored.” I did like that the show centered around them and Donald since I always like to see Donald bonding with his nephews, but this show just wasn’t very good. It was boring, the characters were bland, and the animation was forgettable. The whole show was pretty forgettable.
5 This Series Looked Dated From The Beginning
Now the latest version of Voltron, which is Voltron: Legendary Defender, is actually a really good series, featuring gorgeous animation, interesting characters, and a fascinating plot. But before this masterpiece, there were a couple of reboots of the popular 80s series. This time, they were going with an all CG animated show called Voltron: The 3rd Dimension. And it did not go well.
We know that old CG animation just doesn’t look very good, and while it may look okay on other shows, it did not work for Voltron. Most of the characters looked the same, and the robot battles were just bad, which is really sad. Everything about this show was clumsy, clunky, and kind of lame, so it’s no surprise that the series didn’t last very long (only a couple of short seasons) and was quickly forgotten.
4 Why Does Everything Have To Be Extreme?
G.I. Joe was always a bit gimmicky. After all, the whole series got started to sell the Hasbro toy line. But kids did like the show and it was pretty cool to watch this group of tough people go up against the villainous Cobra. But slowly G.I. Joe’s popularity started to wane. They then tried to reboot the series to get a younger generation interested, calling the show G.I. Joe Extreme (what was with the 90s and extreme?)
And it didn’t work.
The show itself was pretty bland, and most of the characters you grew up with and loved were replaced by a squad of boring super-macho soldiers. Pretty much anything recognizable about G.I. Joe was gone and replaced with uninspired characters, stupid plotlines, and a truly forgettable villain. Sorry, Joe, I think your time has come.
3 He-Man In Space. This Sounds... Terrible
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was such a big hit, that it makes sense they would try to do a reboot to get the next generation interested in this brawny hero. Well technically, The New Adventures of He-Man was more of a sequel to the original series.
Unfortunately, this sequel did not do very well. And there was a good reason for that. Well, to start, they decided to put He-Man in space. Along with that, pretty much all of the charm the original series was gone, replaced by cheap versions of the characters and an idiot for a villain. This was also during the time when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was getting popular, so kids just weren’t as into He-Man. Though, if done right, a reboot now could be pretty cool.
2 I Didn’t Think Yogi Bear Could Get More Annoying
While I was never a big fan of Yogi Bear, his show was very popular and had gained quite a following. Between his crazy antics and Boo-Boo’s exasperation, the show was silly and fun. So, it would make sense that a reboot would happen in the 90s, but this show lost any charm the original had.
In Yo Yogi! they decided to take multiple Hana Barbara characters, stick them in a mall, make them all “cool” (by 90s standards) and try in every way possible to be hip to appeal to the younger generation. It did not work. The jokes were lame, the characters were boring, and the whole premise was just weird. When are cartoon executives going to learn that trying to make a cartoon “cool” just ends up dating it horrifically?
1 This Next Generation Failed Spectacularly
Speed Racer became popular through its series in the 60s and through the Wachowski’s crazy film. It was a simple premise, but the bright colors and the fun animation seemed to appeal to a lot of people. There have been a bunch of reiterations of Speed Racer, and most of them haven’t been very good. But one that stands out as being particularly bad is Speed Racer: The Next Generation.
This series has all sorts of issues from the rather ugly CG animation to the boring and poorly animated characters.
This reboot just didn’t have any of the charm the original had, and it’s painfully obvious. That’s probably why it only had 2 seasons. In general, it’s pretty forgettable, and it’s probably best if this particular reboot was forgotten.