Discover the Timeless Lessons of Classic Cartoons: He-Man, She-Ra, and Bravestarr

Mia Nightshade

Updated Monday, August 19, 2024 at 12:00 AM CDT

Classic cartoons from the 80s and 90s, such as He-Man, She-Ra, and Bravestarr, have left a lasting impact on generations of viewers. These animated series were not only entertaining but also imparted valuable life lessons to their audience, seamlessly blending fun with moral teachings.

One user on Tumblr, "sorry-ipanicked," highlights a common misunderstanding about modern cartoons being "preachy." They contrast this with the original He-Man series, where He-Man directly addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of kindness, acceptance, and environmental responsibility. This nostalgic recollection serves as a reminder that cartoons have always aimed to teach children important values.

Another insightful comment by "bogleech" sheds light on Lou Scheimer, the creator of He-Man and She-Ra. Lou Scheimer, born into a German Jewish family, believed in the responsibility of cartoons to promote kindness and respect. He noticed that He-Man had a following among young girls, which led him to create She-Ra, ensuring she was as formidable a warrior as her brother. This move was revolutionary, bridging the divide between "boys’" and "girls’" entertainment, and providing strong role models for all children.

The image accompanying these comments captures an emotional moment between two muscular characters from an animated series. One wears blue and orange armor, while the other dons a red cape. This scene symbolizes the heartfelt messages often conveyed in these classic shows.

Fans also fondly remember Bravestarr, a unique sci-fi series that captivated audiences with its originality. Commenters reminisce about the show's distinctive characters and its powerful themes of bravery and justice. One user humorously recalls the character’s horse standing up, growing hands, and wielding a shotgun – a testament to the show’s creativity and appeal.

The conversation continues with reflections on other beloved series like Sailor Moon, Captain Planet, Thundercats, and Static Shock. These shows broke boundaries and addressed complex issues such as environmentalism, diversity, and social justice, all while keeping young viewers engaged and entertained.

The screenshots from the animated series included in the post visually reinforce the themes discussed. One image features characters in a dynamic action pose, ready for battle, symbolizing the adventurous spirit and moral fortitude these cartoons instilled in their audience.

In an era where media literacy is crucial, these classic cartoons serve as timeless examples of how entertainment can educate and inspire. Whether it's He-Man teaching acceptance, She-Ra breaking gender norms, or Bravestarr showcasing bravery, these shows remain relevant and cherished for their contributions to childhood development.

Classic cartoons continue to resonate with audiences, reminding us that "Awesome is gender neutral" and that the lessons of kindness, bravery, and respect are universal and timeless.

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View source: Imgur

Top Comments from Imgur

namtrohs

Bravestarr was awesome. Could never get in to He-Man, but Bravestarr was so unique a concept to me in had me in thrall. Which is odd bc I'm a fantasy nerd, and Bravestarr was def more sci-fi.

lifeisadadjoke

"they didn't even know it" says everything it needs to say.

jlist

Another show that helped a lot was Sailor Moon, which unified the “boys” genre of sentai with the “girls” genre of magical girls so everyone could watch.

DoakMD

I'd just like to add that the new She-Ra is f***ing awesome. I watched it all with my daughter and I found it exciting, funny, well written and subtle but clear with its messages.

ZoBrightlance

BraveSTARRRRRRRR! Eyes of the hawk, ears of the wolf! BraveSTARRRRRRR! Strength of the bear, speed of the puma!

JacktheKind

Does nobody remember Captain Planet? Team of all ethnicities who joined in unison to conjure the high-powered tree-hugger and earth saver supreme: "Captain Planet" Also bears repeating: ESG, Sustainiability, anything "Green" doesn't exists to save some f***ing penguin. It exists to save YOU!... Humans get tumors and heat strokes if their living conditions are off by only 1 degree of temp or air quality they also don't do so well in flash floods. The whole movements exists to save YOU!

Starfox5

Those idiots ignore facts and the real world whenever it doesn't conform to their delusions, so it's not surprising that they don't remember the past as it was but as they wanted it to be. Of course, that's pretty much core conservatism.

Filanwizard

Just about every kid's cartoon in the 80s had some life lesson bit usually explicitly done at the end unless it was a rerun cartoon from an earlier era. Often this was done to make the FCC happy, Especially with Saturday morning cartoons. of course I would say even without a life lesson at the end, I still learned from Loony Toons. Classical Music exposure counts as learning!

FoxyEllie

All I ever saw out of pokemon was messages of partnership with animals, themes of being kind to strangers, and other such wholesome things. Yet my mother saw "evolution" and "psychic" in there and always forbade me from playing it because of "bad influences". There is so much media out there that is "preachy", but so many people can't see past it for some amount of shallow analysis. It's kinda sad to think about.

Engineseerbob

When an old freind b****ed and moaned about shows being to PC i brought up static shock and how much he loved the show. Then I went into the themes of many of the episodes (gang violence, inner city problems, homelessness, being poor, even racism where they had richies dad be a racist a****** to black people) he then told me i dont know media and had my brain ruined by SJWs

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