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There was something magical about waking up early on a Saturday morning in the 1980s. You would grab a bowl of your favorite sugary cereal, settle into your favorite spot on the couch, and prepare for hours of nonstop animated adventure. Before streaming and on-demand TV, Saturday mornings belonged to the kids, and the cartoons that filled those hours were more than just entertainment. They were a cultural phenomenon. The 1980s was a golden age for animation, fueled by deregulation, toy marketing, and a generation of children hungry for bold stories, bright colors, and action-packed fun. This article dives deep into the most iconic cartoons of the decade, how they came to dominate the airwaves, and why their influence is still felt today. The Rise of the Saturday Morning Block Before the 1980s, animated programming was scattered across weekday afternoons and the occasional weekend slot. But in the early part of the decade, networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS carved out dedicated...

The 1980s delivered some of the most emotionally charged and thematically daring coming of age films ever put to screen. While many titles focused on high school crushes, summer adventures, and teen rebellion, there was another category of films that pushed boundaries and stirred controversy even in their time. These movies blended curiosity, personal awakening, and sometimes discomfort into stories that were anything but simple. One of the most talked about examples is Exploits of a Young Don Juan from 1986. This French Italian co production dealt with adolescent exploration in a way that many viewers found either bold or unsettling. It follows a teenage boy navigating adult themes in a household filled with temptation, and it became a late night favorite for many cable viewers and VHS collectors. Despite its art house style, it is often remembered more for its provocative subject matter than its storytelling. It remains a point of curiosity for 80s film fans, especially those...

In the 1980s, nothing symbolized teen freedom, consumer power, and pop culture cool quite like the American mall. With hundreds of bustling locations across the country, malls became more than retail centers. They were cultural epicenters where music was heard, trends were born, and friendships were made. The rise of the mall mirrored the growing economy, changing family dynamics, and the shifting rhythms of suburban life. The concept of enclosed shopping centers was not invented in the 1980s, but it was during this decade that malls exploded in both popularity and influence. The seeds were planted in the postwar era, but by the late 70s and into the 80s, the enclosed mall was everywhere. They were anchored by department stores, packed with clothing chains, music shops, arcades, bookstores, and food courts. They were built in the suburbs, close to where the baby boom generation was raising their own children. With more disposable income and two-parent working households becoming...

In the blood drenched halls of 1980s horror cinema, one name stands out for its sheer audacity, atmosphere, and boundary pushing gore: Lucio Fulci. Often referred to as the Godfather of Gore, Fulci carved his legacy into the decade with a series of surreal, shocking, and unforgettable films that helped define the Italian horror movement. While directors like Dario Argento leaned into psychological terror and stylized murder set pieces, Fulci embraced something more primal. His 80s output was a mix of dream logic, visceral fear, and relentless violence. We take a deep dive into Fulci’s most notable 1980s horror works, explore their impact on the genre, and look at why they continue to captivate horror fans more than four decades later. The Gates of Hell Trilogy One of the most iconic and essential parts of Fulci’s 1980s career is his loosely connected trilogy of supernatural horror films often referred to as the Gates of Hell Trilogy. City of the Living Dead (1980) This eerie...

Mario Bros. in the Arcade and on the NES (1983) After his debut in Donkey Kong, Mario returned in 1983 with his brother Luigi in the arcade game Mario Bros. This marked the first time the two characters appeared together and the first game where Mario was identified as a plumber rather than a carpenter. Set in the sewers of New York, Mario Bros. featured single screen action where players had to defeat enemies like Shellcreepers and Sidesteppers by hitting the platform from below and then kicking them off. It introduced core gameplay elements such as enemy pipes, cooperative multiplayer, and endless stages that ramped up in speed and difficulty. Later ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System, Mario Bros. remained a household favorite, thanks to its simplicity and competitive two player mode. Though often overshadowed by later titles, it helped lay the groundwork for the future of the franchise. Super Mario Bros. Launches a New Era (1985) In 1985, Nintendo revolutionized home...