Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s Vol. 1

Delivery Time: 7 to 15 Working Days Format: DVD

Another glorious decade of Saturday morning cartoon magic this time, from the 1970s. Includes The Jetsons, The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour, Yogi's Gang, Josie & the Pussycats, Speed Buggy, The New Scooby-Doo Movies , and more. 12 episodes on 2 DVDs. 1970-1979/color/5 hrs., 14 min/NR/fullscreen.
Saturday mornings in the 1970's found most kids eagerly traveling around the world and solving mysteries from the comfort of their very own couches. In stark contrast to the often violent and sometimes morally questionable cartoons of the 1960's, the 1970's brought significant network restrictions regarding violence and appropriate cartoon character behavior. Hanna-Barbera's response to the restrictions was the development of a new formula for cartoons--one which often featured a group of kids who belonged to a rock band and traveled around the world playing gigs and solving mysteries. Scooby-Doo, Josie and the Pussycats, Goober and the Ghost Chasers, and Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan are all successful examples of this basic cartoon formula. Family dynamics also figured heavily in 1970's cartoons (The Jetsons, Roman Holidays, and Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan) as did anthropomorphic vehicles and animal (The Funky Phantom Kids, Speed Buggy, Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch, Yogi's Gang, Hong Kong Phooey, Tarzan, and Batman). This compilation of 12 shows takes viewers to England, various jungles and seas around the world, Rome, and even outer space; consistently showcases the triumph of good over evil; and features several famous animated guests including the Harlem Globetrotters (The New Scooby-Doo Movies "The Ghostly Creep from the Deep") and The Partridge Kids (Goober and the Ghost's "Assignment Ahab Apparition"). Bonus features include a discussion of how network restrictions shaped Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan and the unexpected success of combining a historical figure with cartoon humor in Funky Phantom. While an overwhelming sense of sameness makes one marathon viewing undesirable, viewing a handful of episodes is bound to bring back fond memories of a time when Saturdays were simpler. --Tami Horiuchi