They say cartoons shape the minds of children. And why wouldn’t they? Cartoons nurture our imaginations, sparking dreams of adventure, justice, love, and all the societal narratives we carry into adulthood. Little boys grow up watching Transformers and end up lusting after flashy cars, unknowingly paying homage to Optimus Prime. Or they idolize muscular heroes who crush villains and win over the hottest women—possibly why many men aim for relationships way out of their league. Just saying!
By Valerie Chatindo
And before you come at me with arguments about sexism, gender equality, or the non-binary spectrum, let’s all agree that clichés exist for a reason. Even as a tomboy, I dabbled in stereotypically “girly” pursuits. It’s okay to be a walking contradiction. So, let’s keep the debates for another day, yeah?
Haibo…”
Blame the cartoons for gender roles!
Anyway, let’s rewind to a simpler era when things were less complicated, and freedom of speech was actually a thing. Back then, ZBC aired some solid content—mostly foreign, sure—but it worked. While I get the recent push to indigenize media, can we talk about Gaba Town? Seriously? What kind of legacy is that leaving for today’s kids? But hey, I’m not saying anything…
Now, here’s my personal list of cartoon GOATs. Feel free to share yours!”
1. Hammerman
Hammerman, Hammer, Hammerman, Hammer. What a jam! Up until last year, I didn’t even realize the show was about rapper MC Hammer. Sad to say it only lasted 13 episodes (of course, they had to cancel the Black guy’s show). But that theme song? Unforgettable.
2. C-Bear and Jamal
Another cool cartoon classic. I vividly remember one episode with a kissing scene and a fogged-up car window. Let’s just say many took those lessons straight to Mahumbwe (pretend adult roleplay, for the uninitiated). But hey, I’m not saying anything!
3. Denver, the Last Dinosaur
The only dinosaur left in the world. Did Denver murder the others? We’ll never know, but what we do know is Denver was that guy. His theme song? An absolute banger. Notice the pattern? I mostly remember cartoons because of their songs.
4. The Triplets
Gender equality advocates, this one’s for you. Three adventurous little girls in overalls who consistently outsmarted a wicked witch? Classic. Maybe a touch of ageism there… but still, they were legends!
5. Tom and Jerry Kids
The love-hate duo, still chasing each other even in diapers. The takeaway? Some obsessions never die.
6. Scooby-Doo
Throw in some nosy teens, a talking dog, and a vintage van, and you’ve got magic. If Scooby and the gang had been in our country, corruption would’ve been exposed in no time. Then again, they might have ended up in acid barrels, but hey, at least they were unbribable!
7. Care Bears
As a proud teddy bear collector, I’m not ashamed to say I still want a Care Bear. If anyone wants to gift me one, pleasedo. The show was genius—teaching kids to recognize and embrace their emotions. My favorites? Grumpy Bear and Cheer Bear (the one with the rainbow tummy). Storm and calm always go hand in hand, don’t they?
Fun fact: I was watching a Nat Geo documentary about 80s toys, and it turns out most cartoons were just marketing tools for toys. Genius, really. Talk about next-level advertising!
There you have it—my nostalgic list of cartoon greats. Got your own favorites? Let me know!”
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