The Top 25 Best Theme Songs From 90s Kids Shows
90's kids just know our cartoons were better than what kids are watching today. We don't need to prove it, because it's just a reality. Deal with it. Anyways, a few weeks back someone at the office started humming the intro song the show Arthur and within seconds everyone else in the office was singing the song in it's entirety. We couldn't help it, in fact the theme song is so awesome I downloaded it and started playing it in my car on my way to work. Which got me thinking about all the other amazing show intros.
So I decided to make a top 10 list, which quickly became a top 25. I had to stop myself because this list could have gone on forever. Of course we had to start the list with what inspired this whole project, Arthur.
1. Arthur
Possibly the best theme song ever created for a show. It's so good, even Ziggy Marley covered it. It has nothing to do with the show and never mentions characters and yet the show just wouldn't be the same without it.
https://youtu.be/7zkX6kfnWbk
2. Doug
Ah the Doug intro, the only part of the show where things go well for Doug. He erases Roger Clotz the bully and even goes on a joyride with his dog Porkchop. But in classic Doug fashion, he still doesn't get the girl.
https://youtu.be/w_h2VHtFNa4
3. Wishbone
Wishbone is the reason why I passed most of my book reports. Why read the book when you can just read the wishbone cliffnotes. Sure your essay might look stupid if you say that Don Quixote was a dog but other than that, the summaries were pretty accurate.
https://youtu.be/wsN8bFeKNeI
4. Goosebumps
This intro still give me ... well, goosebumps. And what's with that lady on the billboard that suddenly turns into an evil Michael Jackson?
https://youtu.be/vC3kue_C35g
5. Power Rangers
The evil queen Rita is finally out of her mysterious trap thingy and she sure has her priorities straight. She's not thinking of grabbing a bite of taking a shower, no. She's got more important things to do, like conquering earth.
https://youtu.be/q0YkXmebAGM
6. Captain Planet
He's our hero and he turns pollution to zero. I always wanted to be a Planeteer, except for the "heart" guy. Seriously I still don't understand how that guy made it in the crew.
https://youtu.be/DMoodiD0UEI
7. Reading Rainbow
Take a look, it's in a book. A reading rainb- WAIT is that LeVar Burton from Star Trek? Yes, yes it was and it's one of many reasons why this show was so awesome.
https://youtu.be/jPnccMUkAKI
8. Rugrats
No words necessary, this intro is fantastic and almost makes me tear when it plays. Up until Chucky crashes into the garbage can while riding the vacuum cleaner, then I'm laughing like an 8 year old on a sugar high.
https://youtu.be/xfzynwmrlok
9. Inspector Gadget
Who doesn't know this song? You didn't even need to watch the show to know it. Kids who were born 10 years after this show got cancelled know it, and believe me it's not because of that terrible Matthew Broderick remake they made.
https://youtu.be/hO9xbbaBtiI
10. The Jetsons
That's the magic of these of old theme songs, they sound awesome and are actually quite complex pieces of music. Yet somehow it also sounds like they only took 30 seconds to write it. "What are the characters name again? yeah just list them and we're done".
https://youtu.be/FyinD6ZDqeg
11. X-Men
Epic intro. It always got you hyped for the show. At least up until you saw Jubilee and her stupid fireworks. Seriously she's the equivalent of the heart guy in Captain Planet.
https://youtu.be/7IzSGvXc_PM
12. Pinky And The Brain
I always loved show intros that tell you exactly what the show is about. No one can resist this song, just try saying "it's pinky and the brain" out loud. I guarantee someone will reply with "one is a genius, the other is insane!"
https://youtu.be/qzZmU0aGmcc
13. Animaniacs
I often wondered about the Animaniacs's names. Yacko, Wacko and Dot. Why Dot? why not Dotto? That's because Yacko and Wacko are the "Warner Bros." and what's at the end of the name Warner Bros. A dot of course.
https://youtu.be/I6-bmhoulCM
14. Dark Wing Duck
Let's get dangerous! You either loved this show or you never heard about it, because if you had, you'd love it too. It was like Duck Tales meets Batman but with more awesomeness.
https://youtu.be/375ENQbru8s
15. Duck Tales
Speaking of Duck Tales, can I get some love for Duck Tales? The show that always made me dream of diving and swimming into a pile of gold. Though it reality that would be one dead duck laying on top of a bloody pile of gold.
https://youtu.be/9DXo5haNd9M
16. Goof Troop
The wonderful show that lead to the creation of A Goofy Movie. Only they hadn't killed off PJ's mom in this one. Also max's voice was a lot more whiney than it was in the movies.
https://youtu.be/t5wNX_mIraA
17. Bonkers
One of the early Meta Cartoons, it was pretty much an animated version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and it gave the creators plenty of opportunities to sneak in cartoon characters from other shows.
https://youtu.be/z4gO6Y73tmg
18. Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo is the reason why I was single for so long. Though to be fair a lot of those women he would flirt with overreacted. If a guy asks you to go out with him, DO NOT throw him off a cliff. Just say you're not interested and walk away.
https://youtu.be/KdRhQ669s2c
19. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Just those words said in sequence just sound so damn good: Teenage - Mutant - Ninja - Turtles. I wouldn't even care if there wasn't a show afterwards. Just play the theme song on a loop for 30 minutes.
https://youtu.be/AxuvUAjHYWQ
20. Earthworm Jim
I don't remember this show at all, but somehow I've had the intro theme stuck in my head for 20 years. So here, now it's stuck in your head.
https://youtu.be/foxZZ3zaPak
21. Rocko's Modern Life
This show was as funny as it was disgustingly graphic. Keep an eye out for some "adult" humor hiding throughout the show. If you look carefully, Rocko works as a sex chat operator.
https://youtu.be/_HmEGRVUcR0?t=10s
22. Tiny Toon Adventures
Saturday mornings just weren't the same without it. The 3rd one of Spielberg's cartoons (Yup, Steven Spielberg) to appear on our list. The other two were Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain.
https://youtu.be/b7kf12FtGyY
23. He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe
The toughest SOB on this list. It's been said that He-Man was strong enough to fist fight with Superman. In one Episode he even picked up Castle Gray Skull and threw it. WTF?
https://youtu.be/VnBbW3g5y5Q
24. Tailspin
Some executives were smoking crack one day and figured they should do a Jungle Book spinoff. Seems easy enough, take one of the most beloved characters and build a show around him. But they never bother explaining how Baloo goes from a pant-less, jungle dwelling bear to an adventure loving pilot.
https://youtu.be/apx2iZi0-OQ
25. Super Mario Bros. Super Show
The show that turned a simple Italian plumber into a full blown racist stereotype. I can't recall Mario ever saying "Paysan" in the Nintendo games. Watch until the very end for the epic outro that was actually better than the intro in my opinion.
https://youtu.be/j_WFwbOg6N0
and don't forget the outro:
https://youtu.be/meRB7PSyAkc
Well, that's it. Let me know if I missed any of your favorites.
