CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I think we Americans really don't put much thought into the openings for cartoons. It's a shame, too, because I think the opening can really sell a show. So here are what I think are the worst openings for American cartoons:
Toxic Crusaders (Is it just me or does it sound like bad hair metal?)
WildCATS (gotta be one of the worst raps I ever heard here)
Bravestarr (if you're gonna talk about the worst in American animation, you always have to mention at least one Filmation show. Why did I like this studio so much as a kid?:hits_self)
And the absolute worst one ever:
Fantastic Four (God, these lyrics are awful!)

Bravestar can still go. I've seen worse, like the ones you mention.

But from the studio that brought us such great shows like Freakazoid, Tiny Toon Adventures, Pinky and the Brain, and Animaniacs, comes, erm, Road Rovers.

No.

Just, no.

And no.

No to its terrible opening and no to its terrible concept.

Donkey Kong Country

Teen Titans (Why they thought that an American cartoon targeting teens needed bad J-rock as an opener, I'll never know.)

ThinkTank wrote:Teen Titans (Why they thought that an American cartoon targeting teens needed bad J-rock as an opener, I'll never know.)

'Cause, y'know, those kids nowadays love that Japanese stuff. Er, what is it, Chinese? Japanese? Ah, what's the difference.

I like the Teen Titans opening, actually, though I guess it's possible that the only reason is I don't have access to any 'better' J-pop stuff. XD

Cognitive Gear wrote:Teen Titans (Why they thought that an American cartoon targeting teens needed bad J-rock as an opener, I'll never know.)

The reason is, I'm assuming, because Teen Titans felt the need to copy/rip off anime by doing such things as exaggerated faces/mouths, chibis, that kind of stuff. So it makes sense that as a show riding the coattails of anime, they would pick a Japanese band to do the theme song (they even played it IN JAPANESE sometimes).

In case you can't tell, I'm very pessimistic about the show, because I want to like it, the storylines and characters were fantastic, but the art style really, REALLY annoyed me to the point I could barely watch it. Plus, Cyborg was totally not a teen, dude was like 25.

That's why when he was in the comic, they dropped the "Teen" part of the name.

XDD I actually liked the Teen Titans opening, I knew it was almost entirely a spoof off regular anime.

Swamp Thing

The last season of Captain Planet, the one with the rap

Oh my gosh, guys . . .
Remember Little Shop? What? You had the memory of that stinkbomb safely blocked?

You're welcome.

Ugh. I never even heard of that monstrosity. That is TERRIBLE animation. Why is it we Americans continue think we can put in as little effort as possible and the kids will still watch? I'll bet that cartoon didn't last beyond its first season. Am I right?

rocklobster (post: 1435305) wrote:Ugh. I never even heard of that monstrosity. That is TERRIBLE animation. Why is it we Americans continue think we can put in as little effort as possible and the kids will still watch? I'll bet that cartoon didn't last beyond its first season. Am I right?

As Americans?



It's not limited to America. It's all about cutting costs, no matter where the creative team comes from.

rocklobster wrote:Ugh. I never even heard of that monstrosity. That is TERRIBLE animation. Why is it we Americans continue think we can put in as little effort as possible and the kids will still watch? I'll bet that cartoon didn't last beyond its first season. Am I right?

Yup. But come on, it was up against Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for gosh sakes. I mean, which would you rather watch?

In answer to your other question, because (unfortunately) we can and they will.

rocklobster wrote:That is TERRIBLE animation.

Wait. It's a terrible opening, to be sure, but what's so terrible about the animation? I didn't see anything wrong with it. It looked just fine to me. Now the character designs were bad, and the music was awful, but the animation? What was terrible about it?

Why is it we Americans continue think we can put in as little effort as possible and the kids will still watch?

I'll bet that cartoon didn't last beyond its first season. Am I right?

Yeah, totally! Terrible cartoons have never lasted beyond their first season. That's why Transformers bombed so hard.

Anyway, wasn't this thread about the worst American cartoon openings? I thought it was. So here's a couple.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDM_OkZKxFc#t=0m17s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AVTARU43dI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lpHmg4hpKw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0CYNm_dRBA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTItRfN-LO8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVU4HURKEXs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vybSGMkqWbQ

Oh yeah, and check out what I found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM4SoVVQhZ0&feature=related

I never even knew that existed.

Hey don't dis the Hammer! But yeah, that cartoon was lame.

rocklobster wrote:But yeah, that cartoon was lame.

This is a thread for worst openings though, not worst cartoons. It just seems to be coincidental that the worst cartoons had the worst openings.

Nate (post: 1435521) wrote:This is a thread for worst openings though, not worst cartoons. It just seems to be coincidental that the worst cartoons had the worst openings.

You know...I would agree with this...but I actually thought the intro to Captain Planet wasn't all that bad. I mean its not a great intro but it does make the main characters look somewhat awesome...well, except Ma-Ti. Everyone else has what is clearly supposed to be a crowning moment of awesome that shows off their rings power except for Ma-Ti.

Shyeah. "Heart"? What the mess kind of a power is "Heart", anyway? Dude was a fifth wheel and no mistake. Never did anything cool. They probably didn't even need him to summon Captain Planet. They just felt sorry for him and gave him a bogus ring and let him tag along.

Htom Sirveaux (post: 1435536) wrote:Shyeah. "Heart"? What the mess kind of a power is "Heart", anyway? Dude was a fifth wheel and no mistake. Never did anything cool. They probably didn't even need him to summon Captain Planet. They just felt sorry for him and gave him a bogus ring and let him tag along.

Nah, they just wanted to make a traditional five man band and have a chic character who could do absolutely nothing. Well, at least he had a lot of heart...

I've always wondered what their planning meetings were like when they came up with his character and power. Maybe it was something like this:

Dude 1: We'll make the kids summon captain planet with the four elements (Earth, Wind, Water and Fire) and, to add an extra punch to this message, make a fifth element called "Heart." Because to save the planet, you need a heart to care!

Dude 2: So what's the power for heart?

Dude 1: Why its...it allows him too...he can...you know what, I'm sure we'll think of something as the show goes on. Something awesome that will make him the most significant character in the history of animation.

Years later, Ma-Ti is the most insignificant character in the history of animation.

Actually, I think they were going for something similar to "Spirit", but it didn't quite work. I never liked that show because Wheeler was the only good character. He was the Guy Gardner of the cast. The rest were all sues.

rocklobster wrote:Actually, I think they were going for something similar to "Spirit", but it didn't quite work.

And that would be better, would it?

Dude... These are all pretty awful, but that Godzilla one... You're watching it, and you're thinking, "This isn't too bad. It has potential to be awesome."

And then the little dinosaur shows up and you lose all hope of everything ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM4So...eature=related

What, no Robin? I can understand no Starfire or Raven, since they weren't around at the time, but no ROBIN? The one who founded the team? FAIL!
But then, it's Filmation. What do you expect?

I can't believe I forgot to add this one.

The Super Mario Brothers Super Show. *gags*

Yuki-Anne wrote:Dude... These are all pretty awful, but that Godzilla one... You're watching it, and you're thinking, "This isn't too bad. It has potential to be awesome."

And then the little dinosaur shows up and you lose all hope of everything ever.

There's a bit in a rap song (I forget which one) about "Claimin' they Godzilla when they really Godzuki." Says it all, doesn't it.

rocklobster wrote:What, no Robin? I can understand no Starfire or Raven, since they weren't around at the time, but no ROBIN? The one who founded the team? FAIL!

The reason why is because Robin was starring in the Batman cartoon at the time, so they couldn't use him in it. It's the same reason why in Justice League cartoon, Robin isn't in it either...because the Teen Titans cartoon was airing at the time. Same reason why Robin wasn't in the second Batman cameo in Static Shock, because as Batman said, "He's off with the Titans." Of course, that was before Teen Titans went all weird alternate universe on the DCAU (since the previous Batman appearance in Static Shock was the Tim Drake Robin, and if they had made TT in continuity, that would make that Robin Drake, when they obviously didn't want the identity known, even with all the massive hints toward Grayson).

Htom Sirveaux (post: 1435667) wrote:There's a bit in a rap song (I forget which one) about "Claimin' they Godzilla when they really Godzuki." Says it all, doesn't it.

That rapper, whoever he is, is awesome.

K. Ayato (post: 1435648) wrote:I can't believe I forgot to add this one.

The Super Mario Brothers Super Show. *gags*

Rap intro really fits the theme doesn't it? Seems like the 90s had a lot of inappropriate rap.