NBC's Saturday morning shows don't share a story, so this nostalgia marathon runs in premiere order, from Land of the Lost (1974) and The Smurfs (1981) through the Gummi Bears and Captain N to the TNBC live-action block of Saved by the Bell, California Dreams and Hang Time.
- Titles
- 16
- Series
- 16
- Watch time
- 484 hours
- Avg IMDb
- 6.8
NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon shows in release order
Here is every NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon title in the order it came out, 1974 to 1995: 0 films and 16 series.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land of the Lost | 1974 | Series | 15h 50m | 7.1 |
| 2 | Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends | 1981 | Series | 10h 8m | 7.2 |
| 3 | The Smurfs | 1981 | Series | 92h 16m | 7.2 |
| 4 | Shirt Tales | 1982 | Series | 23h | 6.9 |
| 5 | Alvin and the Chipmunks | 1983 | Series | 82h 53m | 5.3 |
| 6 | Mister T | 1983 | Series | 15h | 5.8 |
| 7 | Snorks | 1984 | Series | 52h 24m | 6.4 |
| 8 | Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears | 1985 | Series | 24h | 7.5 |
| 9 | Kissyfur | 1986 | Series | 17h 30m | 7.6 |
| 10 | ALF: The Animated Series | 1987 | Series | 9h 39m | 6.1 |
| 11 | Captain N: The Game Master | 1989 | Series | 11h 11m | 6.3 |
| 12 | Camp Candy | 1989 | Series | 17h 24m | 6.8 |
| 13 | Saved by the Bell | 1989 | Series | 32h 58m | 7.1 |
| 14 | The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 | 1990 | Series | 5h 11m | 7 |
| 15 | California Dreams | 1992 | Series | 31h 45m | 7.1 |
| 16 | Hang Time | 1995 | Series | 43h 20m | 7 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
For NBC Saturday Morning Cartoons, release order and story order are the same thing: every series picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.
Where to start
Start with Land of the Lost and go in release order.
The whole thing is 484 hours. At two hours a night that is about 243 evenings.
The three highest rated: Kissyfur (7.6), Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (7.5), and Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (7.2).
Every NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon title, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1974 · Series · 15h 50m
Land of the Lost
Rick Marshall and his children Will and Holly are on a weekend expedition rafting down a river when an enormous earthquake diverts them to an eclectic alien world inhabited by dinosaurs, chimpanzee-like cavemen called Pakuni, and aggressive, humanoid lizard creatures called Sleestak.
Why it matters: A father and two kids are trapped in a strange land of dinosaurs and hostile Sleestak.
- Starring
- Spencer Milligan, Wesley Eure, and Philip Paley
- Creator
- Marty Krofft, Sid Krofft, and Alan Foshko
- Scores
- IMDb 7.1
- Episodes
- 43 across 3 seasons
No. 02 · 1981 · Series · 10h 8m
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends is an American animated television series produced by Marvel Productions starring established Marvel Comics characters Spider-Man and Iceman and an original character, Firestar. As a trio called the Spider-Friends, they fought against various villains.
Why it matters: Spider-Man, Iceman and Firestar share Aunt May's house and fight Marvel villains as a team.
- Starring
- Dan Gilvezan, Kathy Garver, and Frank Welker
- Creator
- Stan Lee
- Scores
- IMDb 7.2
- Episodes
- 24 across 3 seasons
No. 03 · 1981 · Series · 92h 16m
The Smurfs
Classic Saturday-morning cartoon series featuring magical blue elf-like creatures called Smurfs. The Smurfs, named for their personalities, inhabit a village of mushroom houses in an enchanted forest. These loveable creatures are led by Papa Smurf and live carefree... except for one major threat to their existance: Gargamel, an evil but inept wizard who lives in a stone-built house in the forest; and his feline companion, the equally nasty Azrael.
Why it matters: The Smurfs against Gargamel, for nine seasons on NBC.
- Starring
- Don Messick, Lucille Bliss, and Frank Welker
- Creator
- Peyo
- Scores
- IMDb 7.2
- Episodes
- 422 across 9 seasons
No. 04 · 1982 · Series · 23h
Shirt Tales
Shirt tales is an American animated series that aired on NBC from September 18, 1982 to January 21, 1984. The series featured animal characters, created in 1980 by greeting card designer Janet Elizabeth Manco, that were among Hallmark Cards' best sellers at the time.
Why it matters: Animals in message T-shirts secretly fight crime from an oak tree in a city park.
- Starring
- Ronnie Schell, Steven Schatzberg, and Patricia Parris
- Creator
- Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, and Janet Elizabeth Manco
- Scores
- IMDb 6.9
- Episodes
- 46 across 2 seasons
No. 05 · 1983 · Series · 82h 53m
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Three chipmunk brothers, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are adopted by human, Dave.
Why it matters: Alvin, Simon and Theodore juggle school, family and pop stardom with Dave and the Chipettes.
- Starring
- Ross Bagdasarian Jr., Janice Karman, and Frank Welker
- Creator
- Ross Bagdasarian, Joe Ruby, Ken Spears, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., and Janice Karman
- Scores
- IMDb 5.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 28%
- Episodes
- 172 across 8 seasons
No. 06 · 1983 · Series · 15h
Mister T
Mister T is an animated series that aired on NBC on Saturday morning from 1983 to 1986. A total of 30 episodes were produced during the first two seasons, with the final season consisting entirely of reruns. The series was produced by Ruby-Spears. Reruns were later seen on the USA Cartoon Express in the late 1980s, and more recently as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim late-night programming block.
Why it matters: Mr. T coaches a travelling gymnastics team that solves mysteries on the road.
- Starring
- Mr. T, Amy Linker, and Phil LaMarr
- Creator
- Martin Pasko and Steve Gerber
- Scores
- IMDb 5.8
- Episodes
- 30
No. 07 · 1984 · Series · 52h 24m
Snorks
The Snorks is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera which ran on NBC from September 15, 1984, to May 13, 1989. Although not as popular as the animated series The Smurfs, the program continued to be available in syndication from 1986 to 1989 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera's 3rd season, on USA Network in the late-1980s and early-1990s, on the BBC in the late 1990s, and from 2009–2011 and again from 2012–Present on Boomerang.
Why it matters: Small sea creatures with snorkels on their heads have adventures in the undersea world of Snorkland.
- Starring
- Michael Bell, B.J. Ward, and Frank Welker
- Creator
- Nic Broca
- Scores
- IMDb 6.4
- Episodes
- 108 across 4 seasons
No. 08 · 1985 · Series · 24h
Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
Join the world’s sweetest heroes for high adventure in a mystical land of giants and wizards, ogres and dragons, and wondrous creatures both good and evil. Meet Gruffi, Zummi, Cubbi, Grammi, Tummi, Sunni, and all the legendary Gummis as they laugh, play, foil dastardly plots, and fight for what's right.
Why it matters: Hidden bears in a medieval kingdom guard their magic juice from the scheming Duke Igthorn.
- Starring
- June Foray, Lorenzo Music, and Katie Leigh
- Scores
- IMDb 7.5
- Episodes
- 95 across 6 seasons
No. 09 · 1986 · Series · 17h 30m
Kissyfur
Kissyfur is a 1980s animated children's television series which aired on NBC. It was produced by Jean Chalopin & Andy Heyward and created by Phil Mendez for DIC. The series was based on a half-hour NBC prime-time special called Kissyfur: Bear Roots and was followed by three more specials until its Saturday morning debut. The show ran for two seasons. The show follows the adventures of Gus and Kissyfur, a father and son bear duo who had joined the circus. One day on a circus trip, the train they are riding in derails and the bears escape to a new life in the swamps of Paddlecab County. There, they protect the local swamp's inhabitants from the local bumbling alligators Floyd and Jolene. Kissyfur and his father use the skills they have acquired from the human world to create a boat tour business transporting other animals and their products down the river.
Why it matters: A bear cub and his father escape the circus and settle in a swamp full of hungry alligators.
- Starring
- Terence McGovern, Russi Taylor, and Frank Welker
- Creator
- Phil Mendez
- Scores
- IMDb 7.6
- Episodes
- 35
No. 10 · 1987 · Series · 9h 39m
ALF: The Animated Series
ALF: The Animated Series is an animated cartoon spin-off based on the live-action Sitcom series ALF. It premiered on September 26, 1987 and ran for 26 episodes. ALF Tales was a spinoff from the series that ran on the NBC television network on Saturdays from August 1988 to December 1989. The show had characters from that series play various characters from fairy tales. The fairy tale was usually altered for comedic effect in a manner relational to Fractured Fairy Tales.
Why it matters: ALF's teenage years on his home planet Melmac, before it blew up.
- Starring
- Paul Fusco, Dan Hennessey, and Noam Zylberman
- Creator
- Paul Fusco and Tom Patchett
- Scores
- IMDb 6.1
- Episodes
- 26 across 2 seasons
No. 11 · 1989 · Series · 11h 11m
Captain N: The Game Master
A teenager from Earth, is brought to another universe known as Videoland to defeat the evil villainess, Mother Brain, as foretold in an Ancient Prophecy.
Why it matters: A teen gamer is pulled into Videoland to lead Nintendo heroes against Mother Brain.
- Starring
- Matt Hill, Venus Terzo, and Andrew Kavadas
- Scores
- IMDb 6.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 57%
- Episodes
- 34 across 3 seasons
No. 12 · 1989 · Series · 17h 24m
Camp Candy
Camp Candy is a 1989-1992 animated television series produced by DIC Entertainment, with comedian John Candy providing the voice for an animated version of himself.
Why it matters: John Candy runs a summer camp full of kids in this cartoon version of himself.
- Starring
- John Candy, Tony Ail, and Lewis Arquette
- Creator
- Ellen Levy-Sarnoff and Joel Andryc
- Scores
- IMDb 6.8
- Episodes
- 58 across 3 seasons
No. 13 · 1989 · Series · 32h 58m
Saved by the Bell
Lovable schemer Zack Morris leads his pals on adventures at California's Bayside High School. The friends navigate relationships, final exams, school dances, breakups and more while frequently frustrating their principal, Mr. Richard Belding, who does his best to keep them in check.
Why it matters: Zack Morris and his friends scheme, date and get through high school at Bayside.
- Starring
- Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario López, and Dustin Diamond
- Creator
- Sam Bobrick
- Scores
- IMDb 7.1
- Episodes
- 86 across 4 seasons
No. 14 · 1990 · Series · 5h 11m
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
The Mario Bros., Princess Toadstool, and Toad protect the Mushroom Kingdom against the evil forces of Bowser and his seven Koopa Kids.
Why it matters: The Koopalings cartoon; optional.
- Starring
- Walker Boone, Tony Rosato, and Tracey Moore
- Creator
- Reed Shelly and Bruce Shelly
- Scores
- IMDb 7 · Rotten Tomatoes 26%
- Episodes
- 26
No. 15 · 1992 · Series · 31h 45m
California Dreams
A bunch of cool teenagers who are friends living in California form a rock band, The Dreams. Between gigs, they must deal with all kinds of big and small real-life issues such as school, family life, friends, romance, ambition, ego, jealousy, and big decisions.
Why it matters: A group of California teens try to make it as a band while getting through high school.
- Starring
- Kelly Packard, William James Jones, and Michael Cade
- Creator
- Brett Dewey and Ronald B. Solomon
- Scores
- IMDb 7.1
- Episodes
- 78 across 5 seasons
No. 16 · 1995 · Series · 43h 20m
Hang Time
New transfer student Julie Connor tries out for and wins a position on the Deering Tornadoes, her high school’s boys basketball team, much to the dismay of team captain Chris and snooty head cheerleader Mary Beth.
Why it matters: Julie Connor joins the boys' basketball team at Deering High in Indiana.
- Starring
- Daniella Deutscher, Megan Parlen, and Adam Frost
- Creator
- Mark Fink
- Scores
- IMDb 7
- Episodes
- 104 across 6 seasons
The best and worst rated NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon shows
Across 16 rated titles, NBC Saturday Morning Cartoons averages 6.8 on IMDb. The top of the list is Kissyfur at 7.6, then Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (7.5) and Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (7.2). At the bottom: Alvin and the Chipmunks (5.3) and Mister T (5.8).
- Kissyfur7.6
- Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears7.5
- Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends7.2
- The Smurfs7.2
- Land of the Lost7.1
- Saved by the Bell7.1
- California Dreams7.1
- The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 37 · RT 26%
- Hang Time7
- Shirt Tales6.9
Who appears in the most NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon shows
Frank Welker leads with 6 appearances as Iceman and Bobby Drake, ahead of June Foray (3) and Walker Edmiston (2). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Welker | Iceman / Bobby Drake | 6 | Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981) to Captain N: The Game Master (1989) |
| June Foray | Aunt May Parker / Jokey Smurf | 3 | Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981) to Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985) |
| Walker Edmiston | 2 | Land of the Lost (1974) to Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983) | |
| William Woodson | Namor the Sub-Mariner / Commissioner | 2 | Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981) to Shirt Tales (1982) |
| Michael Bell | Handy Smurf / Allstar Seaworthy | 2 | The Smurfs (1981) to Snorks (1984) |
| Paul Winchell | Gargamel / Zummi Gummi | 2 | The Smurfs (1981) to Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985) |
| Nancy Cartwright | Kip Kangaroo / Daffney Gilphin | 2 | Shirt Tales (1982) to Snorks (1984) |
| Dan Hennessey | Bully Koopa | 2 | ALF: The Animated Series (1987) to The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990) |
| Tabitha St. Germain | Kootie-Pie Koopa | 2 | ALF: The Animated Series (1987) to The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990) |
NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon directors and creators
27 filmmakers have directed or created NBC Saturday Morning Cartoons.
- Marty KrofftLand of the Lost (1974)
- Sid KrofftLand of the Lost (1974)
- Alan FoshkoLand of the Lost (1974)
- Stan LeeSpider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981)
- PeyoThe Smurfs (1981)
- Joseph BarberaShirt Tales (1982)
- William HannaShirt Tales (1982)
- Janet Elizabeth MancoShirt Tales (1982)
- Ross BagdasarianAlvin and the Chipmunks (1983)
- Joe RubyAlvin and the Chipmunks (1983)
- Ken SpearsAlvin and the Chipmunks (1983)
- Ross Bagdasarian Jr.Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983)
- Janice KarmanAlvin and the Chipmunks (1983)
- Martin PaskoMister T (1983)
- Steve GerberMister T (1983)
- Nic BrocaSnorks (1984)
How long it takes to watch every NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon show
All 16 titles add up to 484 hours. That is about 243 two-hour evenings, or 49 days of ten-hour binges.
Start the first series and see if it hooks you.
Everything takes about 16 months.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Common questions
What order should I watch the NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon shows in?
NBC's Saturday morning shows don't share a story, so this nostalgia marathon runs in premiere order, from Land of the Lost (1974) and The Smurfs (1981) through the Gummi Bears and Captain N to the TNBC live-action block of Saved by the Bell, California Dreams and Hang Time.
How many NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon movies and shows are there?
There are 16 titles in the NBC Saturday Morning Cartoons franchise: 0 films and 16 series, released from 1974 to 1995.
How long does it take to watch all the NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon shows?
About 484 hours for all 16 titles, counting every episode.
What is the first NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon title in chronological order?
Land of the Lost, set in A land of dinosaurs. In release order the first is Land of the Lost (1974).
What is the best NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon title?
By IMDb score, Kissyfur (1986) at 7.6, followed by Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears at 7.5.
Who has appeared in the most NBC Saturday Morning Cartoon shows?
Frank Welker, in 6 of them as Iceman.
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