Cartoon Classics: Students share opinions on what old cartoons deserve a rewatch

In this article we asked Cedar Falls High School students what old cartoons they believe deserve a rewatch. We will detail the show, without spoilers, the students’ opinions on it and where you can watch the show. So turn on your TVs, grab some popcorn and get ready to revisit some cartoon classics.

Garfield

Chosen by sophomore Liberty Gass, this cartoon originated as a newspaper comic created by Jim Davis. Following Garfield, a lazy orange cat that loves lasagna, there are many renditions of this beloved cartoon character. Whether you watch the original Garfield and Friends cartoon or maybe even the Garfield show debuting in 2009, you are assured to have a wacky time with its uniquely styled cast of characters. 

“He’s super cool, and the art design is unique to that cartoon,” Glass said. “It also has a lot of popularity. It’s become a movie even though it started out as a cartoon in newspapers. He is lovable and iconic.”

Scooby Doo, Where Are You!

Chosen by junior Mark Aulenbacher, Scooby Doo, Where Are You! is the original Scooby Doo cartoon first airing in 1969. In Scooby Doo, the show follows five protagonists: Fred, Velma, Daphne, Shaggy and their dog, Scooby Doo, as they venture around in their van, the Mystery Machine, and solve mysteries. Scooby Doo has grown to have many variations as it continues to grow in popularity, being considered a cartoon staple in the modern day. However, Aulenbacher recommends watching the original show for its ’60s style animation and its original cast.

“The animation is good but also kinda bad, so it’s funny to look at,” Aulenbacher said. “I also enjoy it when my cartoons don’t include any annoying sidekicks (A.K.A. Scrappy Doo) that acts as a comic relief character even though there are already two comic relief characters in Scooby Doo. The Scooby Doo cartoons with Scrappy and Yabba Doo suck because all of the characters are comic relief characters, and there aren’t non-comic relief characters, which just makes them annoying.”

End of Evangelion

A quick warning to those worried about age ratings, this next pick is rated R and includes mature adult content. Chosen by senior James Kimble, The End of Evangelion is a Japanese animated film that was a continuation of a television series named Neon Genesis Evangelion. This film offered an alternative ending to the series that ended in 1996. 

Although it is a part of the Neon Genesis series, you do not need to watch the original series to understand the film as its plot is entirely separate from the original series. 

In the film, high schooler Shinji Ikari is a pilot of a gigantic mech suit that is used to fight supernatural entities called Angels. Opening the film, the audience learns that Shinji’s friend, Asuka, is in a comatose state, leaving him depressed as he continues to try and protect humanity. This film is a rollercoaster of emotions with its unique and winding storyline and won the Japanese Academy Prize for Popularity.

“The experience gained by watching EoE is so great, and to be able to reflect on what it means is something you only get once, yet every time you go back you get a new perspective on the whole of it all,” Kimble said.