Obscure Cartoon Characters from the ’80s and ’90s You Totally Forgot About

While everyone remembers The Simpsons, DuckTales, and SpongeBob SquarePants, the ’80s and ’90s were also packed with strange and often forgotten cartoon characters that, for whatever reason, just didn’t make the pop culture cut. These are the animated oddballs that existed in the hazy background of our Saturday mornings—characters that briefly flashed across the screen before disappearing into the fog of forgotten TV history. Wanna revisit these obscure cartoon creatures and wonder why they never got their time to shine.

Denver, the Last Dinosaur (1988)

Remember the green, guitar-playing, skateboarding dinosaur? Yeah, probably not. Denver was a dinosaur who somehow ended up living in modern times, befriending a group of kids, and teaching them lessons about friendship. The show was an odd mix of environmental messages, extreme sports, and a dinosaur playing rock music. Despite having one of the catchiest theme songs ever, Denver never quite became a household name. Probably for the best.

The Biskitts (1983 - 1984)

The Biskitts were tiny, medieval dogs who lived on an island and protected their king’s treasure. Think The Smurfs, but dogs, and far less popular. They had a bunch of adventures, usually revolving around keeping the evil King Max from stealing the treasure they guarded. It was a cute concept, but when you’re going up against the big dogs (pun intended) of Saturday morning cartoons, it’s tough to stand out.

Count Duckula (1988 - 1993)

A vegetarian vampire duck. That’s the entire premise of Count Duckula, which was a spin-off of Danger Mouse—another obscure-ish cartoon. Count Duckula didn’t want to drink blood, so he avoided all the typical vampire activities and just… ate vegetables. Despite the strange setup, the show had a decent run, but it never reached the cult status of other animated shows from the same era. Maybe people weren’t ready for a bloodless vampire in duck form.

Bucky O’Hare (1991)

Bucky O’Hare was a green space rabbit fighting an evil toad empire in a galaxy far, far away. It had all the elements of a successful kids’ show: space battles, animal warriors, and a heavy dose of cheesy action. But for some reason, it never took off. The show only lasted one season, though it had a brief afterlife in the form of video games and toys. For the handful of kids who do remember Bucky, he’s an underground legend.

The Wuzzles (1985)

Half one animal, half another—100% strange. The Wuzzles were a group of creatures that were basically hybrids of two animals. For example, Bumblelion was half bee, half lion, and Eleroo was half elephant, half kangaroo. There was a toy line to go with it, but the show only lasted for 13 episodes before fading into obscurity. If you bring up The Wuzzles in conversation today, you’ll either get blank stares or a deep nostalgic sigh.

Widget the World Watcher (1990 - 1992)

Widget was a small purple alien who came to Earth to teach kids about saving the environment. He could shapeshift into different forms to help his human friends protect the planet from pollution, deforestation, and other environmental hazards. It was basically Captain Planet without the catchy theme song. While Widget had its heart in the right place, it just couldn’t compete with flashier, less preachy cartoons at the time.

Bravestarr (1987 - 1988)

Take the Old West, add sci-fi elements, sprinkle in some magic, and boom—you’ve got Bravestarr. The main character, Marshall Bravestarr, had the power of “Eyes of the Hawk” and “Ears of the Wolf,” which he used to fight space outlaws on the distant planet of New Texas. He also had a talking horse. The show was a strange mashup of genres, and while it did have a bit of a following, it ultimately couldn’t stand up to the heavyweights of the animated world. Still, Marshall Bravestarr remains one of the more interesting characters of the era.

Beverly Hills Teens (1987)

Think of it as a cartoon version of Beverly Hills, 90210 before 90210 even existed. This show followed the lives of wealthy teens living it up in—you guessed it—Beverly Hills. They had their own mansions, fancy cars, and endless drama, all drawn in bright ‘80s colors. The show only lasted one season, and its over-the-top glam was too much for most kids. But for a brief moment, Beverly Hills Teens was the cartoon equivalent of soap opera excess.

Street Sharks (1994 - 1997)

In the ‘90s, every cartoon had to have some kind of radical, extreme edge. Street Sharks gave us exactly that: a team of buff, human-shark hybrids fighting evil, riding motorcycles, and smashing through things. It had “awesome” written all over it, but in reality, it was just kind of ridiculous. Still, the Street Sharks managed to build a small fanbase and even get their own action figures, though they never reached the heights of their fellow anthropomorphic warriors, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Captain N: The Game Master (1989 - 1991)

Before video game adaptations were cool (and, you know, good), there was Captain N. The show was about a teenager named Kevin who gets sucked into the world of Nintendo games to fight evil alongside characters like Mega Man, Simon Belmont, and Kid Icarus. It sounds like it should have been a hit with gamers, but instead, it was weirdly disjointed, and the characters barely resembled their video game counterparts. It didn’t last long, but it’s still a trip for anyone who remembers it.

The Snorks (1984-1989)

Imagine The Smurfs, but underwater. That’s basically what The Snorks was. They were small, colorful creatures living in the ocean, each with a snorkel on their heads that helped them swim. Despite its obvious Smurfs rip-off vibe, the show lasted for several seasons. However, it never gained the same level of popularity, and it’s often overshadowed by its more famous blue counterparts. Still, for those who remember, The Snorks are a weird piece of Saturday morning history.

That's it. A collection of cartoon characters that may have faded from the spotlight but still occupy a corner of the animated landscape. They might not be as iconic as Bugs Bunny or the Ninja Turtles, but they existed, and for a brief moment, they were part of the cartoon craziness of the ’80s and ’90s. Maybe it’s time to dig up some old VHS tapes and revisit these forgotten animated oddities. Or, you know, just let them rest in obscurity where they belong.