why are there no good action cartoons anymore?

[Shoggoth2588]

Aren't there any good older action cartoons you've missed maybe? Why don't you watch them? :3

Yeah, look for Inhumanoids! That was a pretty brutal one from the mid/late 80's. Good luck though as it only had one season:

The first one is on me!

Edit:

Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Transformers Prime, Avatar, Young Justice, Thundercats, and even Ben 10.

They may be few & far between nowadays but good action cartoons do still exist.

I forgot about those two! I would recommend Earth's Mightiest Heroes over Young Justice though but I've missed a bunch of episodes of the later. EMH Season One is available on netflix instant watch thingy. Also, Super Hero Squad (the TV-Y7 version) is also surprisingly good. I would give that a chance especially if you liked Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Speaking of, fucking Space Ghost was in an episode of that! SPACE GHOST!!

 

[Asita]

Eh, Thundercats is alright, but it has what I can only describe as horrific pacing. Character has become obsessed with revenge? Resolved at the end of the episode. Grief over losing EVERYTHING they ever knew? Resolved at the end of the episode. Panthro doesn't respect Liono because the latter hasn't proven himself? Resolved at the end of the episode. Liono doesn't understand the finer points of swordsmanship...well, I think you know the next part. Suffice to say, what should be character arcs have been ending up as character segments. Seriously, is it too much to ask that they actually let things develop at a natural pace rather than rushing them to their inevitable conclusion? That said, I'm actually rather fond of how they've actually been treating the villains, they just seem far more threatening this time around.

It is amusing how the shows that DO become extremely popular tend to be the ones the creators do give a shit about, like The Last Airbender and Adventure Time, the latter being the most recent. Ben 10 grew a beard after the first series, though with the creator's death the recent episodes seem to have lost their luster. From the same group you also have Generator Rex which is pretty grim when you look at the big picture.

An important keynote here is that these shows are ALL new intellectual properties, not remakes of some old franchise or a total reboot.

*headscratch* You forgot FiM, which is extremely popular and kinda contradicts your last point.

From the good old 80s, mind. Go back to your girly show brony.[/quote]

...Are you [i]trying[/i] to turn this thread into yet another "What Friendship is Magic is and isn't" thread? I swear, more threads about it are made like that than are created by the fanbase itself. Don't like the show? Fine, but don't bait the fanbase into yet another argument by trolling it like that.

 

[astrav1]

If you look at the 80's and 90's we had shows like GI joe, exo-squad, swat kats, etc. But now cartoons are almost always focused toward little kids and if you want a good cartoon series with action but also depth you have to look towards anime( japan is like the saudi arabia of action cartoons). So what happened? Did they just not make enough money or were there parents overly concerned about their kids seeing violent cartoons?

Thundercats 2011. I understand if you're an old fan and are displeased with the concept of a reboot, but trust me, Cartoon Network. Fridays. 8pm? You will be pleased. I would recommend watching from the beginning though.

 

[Orks da best]

ah nostigla, in truth, there betters show nowadays then there was back then, and more varity, whereas back then, not so much, and most was made to be toy ads for kids, nowdays we have stuff that is good, funny, and action packed. stop living in the past.

 

[oppp7]

Goddammit I thought the whole "why aren't cartoons good anymore" thing died when FiM and Adventure Time became popular.

OT: What's wrong with anime anyways? And if you're looking for cartoons specifically, why not just watch those kiddy ones? Or is it a maturity thing? My answer would be either learn to like anime or look for something from a culture you haven't checked yet. You never know when something overseas turns out to be awesome.

 

[ChupathingyX]

Well there's Avatar: The Last Airbender, that is specifically made to appeal to both kids and older audiences, has great animation, an actual story complete with back story and mythology and a good amount of action.

Plus, the Legend of Korra looks like it's going to be just as good.

 

[oppp7]

Goddammit I thought the whole "why aren't cartoons good anymore" thing died when FiM and Adventure Time became popular.

OT: What's wrong with anime anyways? And if you're looking for cartoons specifically, why not just watch those kiddy ones? Or is it a maturity thing? My answer would be either learn to like anime or look for something from a culture you haven't checked yet. You never know when something overseas turns out to be awesome.

The problem with your logic is neither of those are good cartoons.

But I do agree this topic reoccurring on internet forums is annoying as there are still some (albeit very few) good cartoons being made especially the action filled kind the OP desires.

I personally recommend to the OP Ben 10, any anime, Young Justice, the new Thundercats, and in the not so actiony department Futurama and American Dad. (though avoid the rest of MacFarlane's shows like the plague)

I was going by the fact that half of the internet loves the shows.

 

[The .50 Caliber Cow]

Rescue Heroes needs a reboot. Loved those huge foot mutants saving the day.

 

[iDoom46]

Goddammit I thought the whole "why aren't cartoons good anymore" thing died when FiM and Adventure Time became popular.

OT: What's wrong with anime anyways? And if you're looking for cartoons specifically, why not just watch those kiddy ones? Or is it a maturity thing? My answer would be either learn to like anime or look for something from a culture you haven't checked yet. You never know when something overseas turns out to be awesome.

Because there will always be somebody who refuses to take off the nostalgia blindfold.

And, to answer your question about anime, I personally feel like anime is falling into a creative slump.
The big shonen jump series have been growing stale for quite some time now, and a lot of the rest of the content out there is just repeated rehashings of the same tired tropes over and over with various minor tweaks. I'm sorry, but when I can accurately guess how a series is going to play out by the first episode (or even, in some cases, the opening), I'm no longer being entertained.
Sure, you stumble upon a real gem of a series once every few years, but they never last long.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and (this is just me talking as an animation buff/student) they're still using those same animation shortcuts from the old days before digital animation that have become really jarring when you compare them to how smoothly animated western cartoons have gotten in recent times.

 

[thegamermn]

Well for a start, IMO: People started whining about being politically correct. And making content 'family friendly' (which apparently became a buzzword for 'fun for kids'). That and I think the 'harrumph, cartoons are for juveniles, harrumph harrumph' mentality started creeping back in. Anyone remember The Tick? That cartoon rocked. Was it politically correct? No. Was there subtle and not-so-subtle adult humor included at times? Yes. Was it funny? hells yes. Did anyone give a crap about whether or not some people might view it as offensive? No.

It seems that all the great cartoons, action or otherwise, had the same thread of thought. That being: It's fun to watch. A good deal of people will probably like it. Therefore: we shall air it.

 

[Stealthygamer]

Um, hello?
There's Transformers Prime, GI Joe: Renegades, ThunderCats, and the upcoming Avatar Legend of Kora.

GI Joe: Renegades already got canceled, sorry

 

[oppp7]

Goddammit I thought the whole "why aren't cartoons good anymore" thing died when FiM and Adventure Time became popular.

OT: What's wrong with anime anyways? And if you're looking for cartoons specifically, why not just watch those kiddy ones? Or is it a maturity thing? My answer would be either learn to like anime or look for something from a culture you haven't checked yet. You never know when something overseas turns out to be awesome.

Because there will always be somebody who refuses to take off the nostalgia blindfold.

And, to answer your question about anime, I personally feel like anime is falling into a creative slump.
The big shonen jump series have been growing stale for quite some time now, and a lot of the rest of the content out there is just repeated rehashings of the same tired tropes over and over with various minor tweaks. I'm sorry, but when I can accurately guess how a series is going to play out by the first episode (or even, in some cases, the opening), I'm no longer being entertained.
Sure, you stumble upon a real gem of a series once every few years, but they never last long.

Wow, glad I chose webcomics then.

 

[Thaius]

Wha???

First thing, go watch Avatar: The Last Airbender. NOW. The greatest show ever made, and some incredible fight scenes, especially as it progresses.

Also check out Star Wars: Clone Wars. From season 1. All of it. This show is far better than the prequels, actually, even delving more into Anakin's character and the flaws that led him to the dark side than the films ever did. It's good stuff, and of course, being Star Wars, the battles are freaking awesome.

Anime is always a good choice too. Full Metal Alchemist, Orphen, Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, Naruto... Japan takes animation seriously. There's tons of action to be had.

 

[SD-Fiend]

I can pretty much only watch the action shows that they show on fridays on cartoon network some of the shows are ok but in my opinion (and with basic levels of nostalgia goggles) I do belive that the shows of the 90's were a BIT better although really cheesy and toyetic

 

[iDoom46]

Um, hello?
There's Transformers Prime, GI Joe: Renegades, ThunderCats, and the upcoming Avatar Legend of Kora.

GI Joe: Renegades already got canceled, sorry

Yeah, I just happened to look that up a few moments ago. I only just discovered/got into it a month or so ago, so it's still kinda new to me. Real shame, it's pretty entertaining.
Well, I suppose it can still count for the topic since it's still on TV.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Wha???

First thing, go watch Avatar: The Last Airbender. NOW. The greatest show ever made, and some incredible fight scenes, especially as it progresses.

Also check out Star Wars: Clone Wars. From season 1. All of it. This show is far better than the prequels, actually, even delving more into Anakin's character and the flaws that led him to the dark side than the films ever did. It's good stuff, and of course, being Star Wars, the battles are freaking awesome.

Anime is always a good choice too. Full Metal Alchemist, Orphen, Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, Naruto... Japan takes animation seriously. There's tons of action to be had.

I'd recommend both Season 1 and 2 of The Clone Wars. Season 2 has some duds later on, but it has an incredible first half for a season.

 

[Thaius]

Wha???

First thing, go watch Avatar: The Last Airbender. NOW. The greatest show ever made, and some incredible fight scenes, especially as it progresses.

Also check out Star Wars: Clone Wars. From season 1. All of it. This show is far better than the prequels, actually, even delving more into Anakin's character and the flaws that led him to the dark side than the films ever did. It's good stuff, and of course, being Star Wars, the battles are freaking awesome.

Anime is always a good choice too. Full Metal Alchemist, Orphen, Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, Naruto... Japan takes animation seriously. There's tons of action to be had.

I'd recommend both Season 1 and 2 of The Clone Wars. Season 2 has some duds later on, but it has an incredible first half for a season.

Really? I loved it all the way through; later I especially liked the arc with that weird Force planet and the arc with Ashoka trying to survive being hunted with those other younglings. Season 3 is off to a great start so far as well.