american nerd survey

What is the greatest cartoon of all time?

Dave Indish: I would say C-SPAN, or possibly C-SPAN2; it's a tough call.

Mark Kalar: No doubt about it: Robotech. The Macross Saga in particular. Yeah, The Masters and New Generation were cool too, and Sentinels wisely brought back Macross characters, but that first run was just awesome. My working model of Rick Hunter's Veritech Fighter is still one of my most prized possessions. My best friend skipped class in 6th grade to watch the final Masters episode first-run, and instantly achieved God status in my eyes.

Stephen McClurg: By no means will I say it's the greatest cartoon, but Fantasia (1940) is the only one that I ever obsessed over. Most people I've known would rather slam their nipples in a mailbox than watch Fantasia. Not me, I used to watch it on Christmas night after everyone went to bed, regardless of how many times I had seen it that year.

Keith Pille: I feel like I should say Batman: The Animated Series or something respectable like that (and I do like B:TAS a bunch), but, to be honest, the piece of animation that I got the most joy out of through the years was probably Beavis and Butt-head. I know, I know.

Don Pizarro: Battle of the Planets, American edits and all! I haven't seen it in over twenty years, so I've forgotten most of the episode details. But I remember the important stuff, like "Transmute!" and the voices of Casey Kasem as Mark and Keye Luke as Zoltar. That Great Spirit he'd talk to all the time freaked me the hell out. I admit that I had a hard time with the fact that Jason, who had a gun, was only the second-in-command. But I guess he was kind of a prick compared to Mark. See, that's characterization!

It was an influential cartoon for me, too. BoTP inspired me to use my mother's cuticle clipper as my sonic boomerang long before Beavis and Butthead inspired kids to set their trailer homes on fire.

Simon Riordan: M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) For three seasons in the 1980s, this CBS cartoon chronicled the fight against V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem). I still have Matt Trakker's Thunderhawk.

Jonathan Shipley: Justice League of America. I remember the Shipley kids, all six of us, sitting in front of the TV set on weekends watching our superheroes fight crimes while eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and drinking Tang. Tang is awesome.

Grant Weeks: Samurai Jack - I think it's the perfect cartoon. It's got humor, a sweet side,and there's a whole lot of ass kicking. I wish I was more like Jack.