I recently discussed which PlayStation games I would like to see made for TV, but you know what? It’s not my real heart, because even though I’m a huge Sony fanboy, my real heart belongs to Nintendo. This company has had its fair share of TV shows, including Pokemon (check out our list of the 12 best Pokémon from the original series, by the way), but also a number of other shows.
I count eight, in fact. Because if there have been other Nintendo cartoons adjacent over the years, like the awesome Dual Dragon and mega manI don’t consider them pure Nintendo shows, since these characters have appeared on other platforms. And, no, Sonic doesn’t count either, because even though it’s NOW on Nintendo platforms, if you’re a former 90s schoolmaster like me, then you’ll know that Sega and Nintendo were bitter rivals a the time.
So no. sonic cartoons do not be on this list. But you know what? I take back what I said earlier about mega mansince if the blue bomber did indeed have his own show, he was also on another, more Nintendo specific TV show too. Speaking of what…
8. Captain N: The Game Master (1989-1991)
I will give Captain N: The Game Master this (and only this): without it, we might never have had the awesome Sega Genesis title, child chameleonbecause the premise of this game is quite similar to that previous show: a teenager gets sucked into a video game and must save the day.
In this show, the teenager in question must face Nintendo villains like Mother Brain from metroid (which legitimately sounds like Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors), King Hippo of Punch !!, and eggplant magician of Child Icarus. But fear not, as Captain N is aided by Simon Belmont from CastlevaniaMega Man from his titular series, Pit de Child Icarusand Princess Lana of, uh, Captain N: The Game Master.
You couldn’t make these characters less like their video game counterparts if you tried, though. I’ve already mentioned Mother Brain, but Simon Belmont is a pretty boy, Mega Man seems to smoke three packs a day, and Kid Icarus has this annoying tendency to add “icus” to the end of every sentence. Certainly, the series is cult, but it is mainly because of its faults, since Captain N is neither bad nor good, like the Powerglove. It’s just bad as bad. And it’s not good.
7. Donkey Kong Country (1997-2000)
donkey kong country is one of the first television series to be entirely computer generated, and guess what. This shows. The premise is simple: there’s a magical coconut that grants wishes, and Donkey Kong protects said coconut… That’s it.
It’s everything that surrounds this paper-thin story that puts this show so low on this list. Let’s talk about the songs first, because yes, there are songs on this show, and they’re not good. Like, at all. Then there’s the repetitive nature of each episode of King K. Rool trying to acquire the magic coconut, only to lose. That barely lasts for the series debut, let alone 40 episodes.
No, donkey kong country is by no means fun. And even though we’ll see DK in the next Mario movie again (isn’t it weird, by the way, that Donkey Kong is in the Super Mario Bros. movie?), that first misstep is a good indication of what do not to do with everyone’s favorite monkey in red tie.
6. Saturday Supercade (1983-1984)
Alright, I’m kind of breaking my own intro rule here, because Saturday Supercade included NON-Nintendo franchises like Trap!, Q*berand Frog cartoon segments, but I feel like I have to include it here because it also includes Donkey Kong (voiced by Soupy Sales!), Mario (voiced by Peter Cullen!), and Donkey Kong Jr. (voiced by Frank Welker!).
Honestly, the Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. cartoons were probably the best of the lot, although they really aren’t that great either. Saturday Supercade is old, and he feels it. Cartoons are all over the place like early 80s cartoons tended to be, and the games are so old you feel like you’re watching ancient history, which you kind of are. It’s by no means terrible, but it’s not incredibly compelling either. Its good.
5. The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)
Give credit to the second Mario cartoon – at least it stayed pretty true to the source material. The Adventures of Super Mario Bros 3 featured in-game sounds, in-game objects, and the in-game Koopalings. In many ways, it was superior to the first Mario cartoon, Super Mario Bros. Super Show !
But, it was also missing a key element, which was that there were no live action segments. Of course, that shouldn’t matter in a ranking of the best Nintendos. cartoonsbut it is, because the live parts of Super Mario Bros. Super Show ! are probably ingrained in the minds of almost every Nintendo fan who has actually watched the series. (Seriously, ask anyone what they remember most from this series – the cartoons or the live action segments – and I’m pretty sure they’ll tell you the live action segments. ) Also, I don’t like Mario’s voice in this cartoon. No captain Lou Albano, no bueno.
4. Super Mario Bros. Super Show ! (1989)
Swing your arms, side to side. Come on, let’s play the Mario! The first Super Mario TV show is actually quite charming. Cartoons, which relate the adventures of the game Super Mario Bros. 2, are sandwiched between live-action segments featuring Captain Lou Albano as Mario and Danny Wells as Luigi. High quality art!
In addition, every Friday we also have episodes of The Legend of Zelda, which weren’t good, but at least it gave Link one of his most ridiculous catchphrases ever, “Well, excuse me, princess.” It wasn’t a perfect Mario show, but it was superior to the Mario 3 cartoon since it had live action segments, and it got the job done, so that’s all that matters.
3. Super Mario World (1991)
Although there are no live action segments either, I feel like Super Mario World is the best of the Mario cartoons, and here’s why: it’s the only one that feels truly unique. Set in a prehistoric setting and swapping Yoshi for Toad in the main roster, Super Mario World it is as if The Flintstones (Fleentstones?!) took place in the Mushroom Kingdom, and it really works.
Now, okay, the cartoons aren’t anything out of the ordinary, but I find these stories more engaging than the other two Super Mario cartoons, which is why that puts them so high on this list.
2. Kirby: Back home! (2002-2006)
Run for 100 episodes (!), Kirby: Back home! is crazy to me since its protagonist doesn’t speak. Instead, all of the other characters, including King Dedede, talk and tell jokes around Kirby, and it’s no wonder a show about a pink puffball that sucks up just about anything and absorbs their power, could be engaging for tons of episodes, and still works.
But it was, and Kirby: Back home! was a silly and fun show, and there really isn’t much else to say about it. I loved this series at the time both in action and in humor, and I still appreciate it today. It holds.
1. Pokemon (1997-)
I mean go now. Number one had to be Pokemon, law? Whether it’s the original anime or the current generation, each Pokemon anime series has brought something unique to the table with its vast array of pocket monsters and storylines.
Not only that, but Pokemon has spawned several great movies in the popular series. The plots are simple, yet effective, and all series engage in one way or another. No question, Pokemon is Nintendo’s best cartoon series ever, and it’s not even close.
But what is your favorite Nintendo cartoon? For entertainment combining video games and television, don’t hesitate to stop by here often!