MovieChat Forums > The Jetsons (1962) Discussion > opinions on the '80s episodes?

opinions on the '80s episodes?

posted 14 years ago by marjcbs
20 replies | jump to latest

I like how Cartoon Network has been alternating between the 60s and 80s episodes. It makes comparing and contrasting fun!

Here's what I like better about the 60s episodes...

1. The classic '60s music often used in the Hanna-Barbera cartoons
2. Some of the character voices sounded "better" (when the voice actors later aged 20 years, some of their character voices sounded sooooooooo different)
3. the pace of the episodes seemed more relaxed, less rushed (typical of '60s HB cartoons).

Here's what I liked better about the 80s episodes....

1. The stories were more interesting and creative
2. There were improvements character-wise (Rosy got more to do in the episodes, the RUDI computer became more personified)
3. They introduced some whacky animation styles (as shown in the Family Fallout episode).

Anyone care to add anything?

[–] snsurone 14 years ago

While the '80's series was technically superior to the '60's one, and characters like Judy and Rosie had more to do, the basic concept of the new cartoons was the same as the old ones--and THAT was straight from the 1950's!

That means the family dynamic still consisted of the (incompetent) breadwinner father, the housewife mother, the boy-crazy teenage daughter, the precocious young son, and the family dog.
I found that Rosie and Orbitty were the only consistently funny characters.

And George's boss, Spacely, was more obnoxious than ever!

[–] ExplorerDS6789 14 years ago

You're right. However, George had lightened up considerably in the 1980s series.

[–] bjlevine 14 years ago

In other words, it had become more politically correct. Eeeewwww.

[–] ExplorerDS6789 14 years ago

"In other words, it had become more politically correct. Eeeewwww."

Um, no. You've missed the point.

[–] azn_flamez 14 years ago

I prefer the 60s episodes. I'm a sucker for big band jazz and rockabilly. Also, the 60s episodes were sexier. Now don't go calling me out as some pervy old man, I'm just a 20 year old female who grew up on cartoons and still watches them on Teletoon Retro (my favourite channel!).

But like I said, I have a personal bias. I love anything from the 60s and really dislike the "vibe of the 80s" even if it's a revival of an old cartoon from the 60s (based on 50s sitcoms). I just watched "Miss Solar System" and remembered how as a little girl, I loooooved seeing all those gorgeous babes. (if you're wondering, I love the ladies as much as I love men)

Also, Orbitty is LAME. SOOOO 80s. The only thing that saves the 80s Jetsons is more Rosie, she is quite the sassy little robot.

That's a whole island, isn't it? Wow. My parents are leaving me their lawn mower.

[–] TheClevelandShow 14 years ago

I'm with you 100%, azu! I'm watching an episode right now on Teletoon Retro (the dude ranch episode) and to me, HB cartoons that started in the 1960's were DEAD to me when they attempted to *milk* it by going into the 1970's and beyond. That includes LAME attempts to revive The Flintstone, The Jetsons AND Scooby-Doo. Looney Toons for WB are the same way.

The quality is seriously degraded and the voices sound off. Made all the more worse when the original voice-over actor dies and they use a 2nd-rate duplicate.

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[–] speedolitec 13 years ago

I don't even remember the 80s episodes, although maybe I'd remember them if I saw them. The name Orbitty sounds vaguely familiar.

[–] crazydude1989 13 years ago

I actually prefer the 80s ones because those were what I was exposed to when I was a kid--I never knew it had originally ran since 1962. I like the background music more and the brighter colored animation.

But hey I still appreciate the original 60s episodes. I liked the Jet Screamer episode.

I don't recall EVER seeing the 1962 episodes as a kid. They always reran the 1984-1987 ones. I remember that because of the theme song.

Don't Genius Live in a Lamp?-Patrick Star

BAZINGA!--Sheldon Cooper

[–] calishreveguy 13 years ago

Um I think the 60s episodes were rerun along with the 80s episodes when they first premiered. I watched all of them as a kid and at that time did not notice any difference except Orbity. I will give the series credit for making one of the few cute sidekicks (Orbity) of the 80s that was not annoying. If I had to choose I would pick the 60s episodes just because HB dominated that decade with consistanly great shows that are still entertaining today and something about their style during that time always wins me over. The 80s episodes were still great but I maintain that the Jet Streamer episode and the episode where George thought he was going to die were among the most entertaining.

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[–] raysond 12 years ago

the 80's versions with Orbity WERE annoying.....

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[–] BDCNewYork 13 years ago

I prefer the 60's episodes. Aesthetically, they just look better. Better drawn, the depth of the lines are just nice and tight. The design of the buildings and vehicles are also very cool. It looks like more care went into the consideration of the small things like the gadgets and such. The 80's episodes look very sloppy, the color balance hasn't aged well. The only thing I like about the 80's episodes is the fact that they have people of color represented. I agree with those that say the episodes they like the best are the Jet Screamer one and the one in which George thinks he's going to die. I also like the beauty contest episode.

[–] 13tongimp 13 years ago

I can tell you why I can't stand the 80's version of the Jetsons: Orbity

http://www.13tongimp.com/

[–] raysond 12 years ago

I prefer the classic episodes from the 1960's. The animation was outstanding,and it was better drawn with the architecture that was astounding..a first for animation in 1962.....the buildings and vehicles not to mention the gadgets were the coolest ever...not to mention the writing of the dialogue in the episodes which were hilarious....crisp and straight to the point...the episodes are classics including the pilot episode all the way to the final episode of the series...all 26 of them....classic episodes like "Jet Screamer", "Las Vegas", "Mr. Spacey","The Beauty Contest",and that silly robot "Unblah" were classics....

By the time the new episodes came along during the 1980's.....the animation was very sloppy....the only thing that was interesting was that it did represent people of color from all nationalities. What killed it? ORBITY!!! ORBITY was the worst of repulsed and annoying cartoon characters.

[–] gcarras 11 years ago

Orbitty sucked. Judy got more to do in those by being very prominent (unlike the original). The original introduced Judy's voice Janet Waldo to animation and brought Howard Morris (already heard at UPA) to Hanna-Barbera (as J;.Screamer) and soon to be voices at HB like Mr.Peebles (the Rangr Smith to Allan Melvin's Magilla).

Amanda Bynes is hot, Lindsay Lohan is not

[–] ExplorerDS6789 11 years ago

I didn't mind Orbitty. The fans seem to think he was The Jetsons' answer to Cousin Oliver from the Brady Bunch.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

“The animation was outstanding”??!! Are you BLIND?
Hanna-Barbera are beneath contempt in animation and entertainment. They CREATED “partial animation,” where the content was not created frame-by-frame. Instead, the character’s head was animated while the body remained stock from 1 frame to the next. This is why someone’s head often dances around on his neck in this crap.

[–] In_Correct 8 years ago

I do not like the 1960s episodes because there are too many errors that I noticed in them. They had worked out the bugs by the 1980s episodes were made.

I prefer the 60's episodes. Aesthetically, they just look better. Better drawn, the depth of the lines are just nice and tight. The design of the buildings and vehicles are also very cool. It looks like more care went into the consideration of the small things like the gadgets and such. The 80's episodes look very sloppy, the color balance hasn't aged well. The only thing I like about the 80's episodes is the fact that they have people of color represented. I agree with those that say the episodes they like the best are the Jet Screamer one and the one in which George thinks he's going to die. I also like the beauty contest episode.

What are you talking about? Which episode(s) featuring people of colour?!

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[–] NewYorkGrove 9 years ago

I have a one word opinion of the 80 version TERRIABLE !!!!! give me the 60s any day

[–] Oddark123 9 years ago

I seem to recall talking about this at some point, maybe it's in another thread...

But as a kid the 60s and 80s episodes played in the same block during the 90s, so I watched both. And oddly as a kid I don't seem to even remember noticing they were any different. Now with older eyes I find the fact i missed the change in style a bit odd.

But over all, I'm not sure one set were that much better or worse than the others. All have their moments. Overall though I think my favorite episode was an 80s ep.

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[–] RIP_IMDb 8 years ago

The only thing I remember of the 80s episode was Elroy using a floppy-disk for some reason. , apparently they thought the mid 21st century would still be using them. 60s for me!

Well, most people are idiots with bad taste...so there!