Is it any wonder I grew up to be a fantasy/SF reader?

[CovenantJr]

I've been stumbling across the opening credits from various things I watched as a child in the '80s. Looking at them, I shouldn't be at all surprised that I read the books I do.

The first few here are the ones that had the most memorable openings for me. Is it me or did '80s cartoons have much more dramatic music than modern ones?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yeA7a0uS3A&NR=1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojzbk-GkMnY
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyttr8wI3lE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9dbAQJIu1o
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LcRDPYML0M

Those last two are British. The last one, in particular, was one of the best children's TV series I've ever seen. It was kind of a game show. Sort of. (The info box on the YouTube video explains it)

Now some others that I watched no less devotedly, but which lack the memorable intros:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQdgbs0IUDg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-q3bab938Y&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3EoBl5uBfU (Ok, I didn't watch this one for that long, but I remember thinking it was great during the short time I did follow it)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp_xv-jeXw0 (ditto)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExC6OEQazrc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcH_ZTF6smY
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaMo4k7iG7s&feature=fvw

That last one did the Western/SF hybrid thing long before Firefly.

Heh. The '80s.

[jelerak]

How about this one...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhAobPugvsk

My God, I cannot believe that we made it beyond the year 1994...so much for those end of the world animated doomsayers.

[CovenantJr]

I think that one was just fractionally too early for me. I don't remember anything much before about '83, maybe '84.

[jelerak]

Youngsters...

[Earthfriend]

Ah, you probably missed out on 'Monkey Magic'as well, then? Probably my favorite show when I was a kid, along with 'The Goodies'.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iUMWy4hqAg

[[Syl]]

Thanks, Cov. I haven't thought of Mysterious Cities of Gold in years, but I loved that one as a kid. Belle and Sebastian as well. Other than He-Man, I didn't watch any of the others. Never got the fascination with Thundercats. I do remember the Visionaries action figures, and I vaguely remember having some of the Thundarr action figures.

Me, I blame Dungeons and Dragons and the Saturday morning special Dragon's Blood (which lead me to read the books which in turn severely bummed out my seven year-old self). There was also a strange but fascinating brit sci-fi/fantasy drama called The Third Eye (not animated) that I'd love to get my hands on. Suppose I should probably mention The Neverending Story and, ashamed to admit it, the Ewok Adventures

There was also The Gummi Bears, but I was probably a bit too old at the time to be admitting that.

[CovenantJr]

Thanks, Cov. I haven't thought of Mysterious Cities of Gold in years, but I loved that one as a kid.

I remember it being some kind of epic, and running forever. It didn't, I'm sure, but that's how I remember it. I don't recall much of the detail, but I have fairly strong memories of the golden bird and the ship that sails itself. I always wanted them for myself.

[Akasri]

How about this one...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhAobPugvsk

My God, I cannot believe that we made it beyond the year 1994...so much for those end of the world animated doomsayers.

Yes!!

Every Saturday morning, I was there... waiting to see what adventures Thundar would have that week. It was awesome!

Land of the Lost... the original, not the Will Ferrell abomination
Star Trek - animated adventures with Kirk and Spock
Pink Panther

Those were some fun Saturday mornings

[CovenantJr]

By the way, I neglected to mention that the creator of this one:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyttr8wI3lE

later went on to create Babylon 5.

[High Lord Tolkien]

To me nothing beats this opening.
It's epic.
Starblazers:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5oniErmeuE