DuckTales is returning to television this August after a 27 year break—the cartoon starring Scrooge McDuck and his grandnephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie is going the reboot route. I know the word reboot comes with a lot of baggage these days, but it’s not always a bad thing. In fact, between the cast and updated animation style, DuckTales is looking exciting. So, what other Disney cartoons deserve a reboot?
If you look back at the glorious Disney Afternoon block (if you’re of the right age, I bet that theme song just started on a loop in your head—sorry/not sorry), the cartoons are like ripe fruits for the plucking. You’ll find memorable characters, adventure, and fun in those series. And for the most part, they’ve been off the air since the early ’90s, so timing is prime for an update. We think these seven Disney cartoons should go the reboot route:
Gummi Bears
“Bouncing here and there and everywhere…” Disney Afternoon kind of killed it in the theme song earworm department, didn’t they? Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears centered on a group of anthropomorphic bears who lived in Gummi cities. And the world-building was legit, y’all. We followed the Gummi-Glen Gummis as they went on adventures, explored other Gummi locales, and encountered tough warriors and humans. And remember Gummiberry Juice? Disney could start from the beginning with the concept, or go back into the world and focus on what’s happening with a different Gummi group.
Unrelated: it’s a pity there isn’t a Gummi Bears world in Kingdom Hearts.
TaleSpin
Oh, to go back to TaleSpin‘s Cape Suzette and spend time with Baloo, Rebecca Cunningham, and Kit Cloudkicker. This cartoon with some characters adapted from The Jungle Book was all about action-adventure. In many ways, it reminds me of pulp style stories—I mean, there were air pirates for goodness’ sake. They could embrace that tone in a reboot and go with a straight up serial approach and use more stylized animation to follow Baloo’s cargo freight runs at Higher for Hire.
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers
Maybe Chip and Dale wouldn’t be your go-to when you think, “I really need a pair of ace detectives,” but they got the job done in Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers. The clever chipmunks worked with pals like Monterey Jack and Gadget to take on all manner of cases and face arch-villains, one of whom was named Fat Cat. Yes, please. The procedural sort of notion could work today, but I propose they center a reboot on Gadget Hackwrench. She’s an eccentric and smart inventor, so the plot center would have to shift a bit (a name change would be necessary). She’s more than capable of leading an ensemble.
Darkwing Duck
Do I really need to convince anyone Darkwing Duck needs to make a return? Drake Mallard, a.k.a. Darkwing Duck, a.k.a. DW, was a superhero and father. Comedy, gadgets, silly/great foes—what doesn’t Darkwing Duck have? Oh and also: the supporting cast, with characters like Launchpad McQuack and Gosalyn, is terrific. Superhero shows are all over television right now; the terror that flaps in the night would fit right in.
Gargoyles
Gargoyles isn’t quite like any other cartoon I’ve seen. This selection from the mid-90s was a bit dark for Disney with a moody color palette, drama, and big themes with high stakes. Elements of fantasy, crime, and action are peppered into the tale that focuses on the reawakened gargoyles in New York City. The mythology is impressive, the characters are beloved, and 78 episodes are nowhere near enough. I don’t want to see a reboot of this excellent story; no, I want a continuation with the original creators on board.
Goof Troop
Did you know Goofy is a sweet and thoughtful dad? His relationship with his son Max was the highlight of the comedic Goof Troop (and everyone’s managing editor Alicia Lutes’ childhood favorite, A Goofy Movie). Max’s and Goofy’s different personalities made for lots of gags and laughs, but they always worked things out. It never got as saccharine as something like Full House, but definitely veered into warm and fuzzy territory on occasion. Though the Goofy and Max dynamic continued in two movies, more of them on a weekly basis dealing with modern issues would be entertaining.
Recess
I know. Recess only ended its six season run in 2003, so maybe you think it’s not due for a reboot just yet. As the only entry on this list that starred humans, Recess followed six kids in elementary school and their time at—you guessed it—recess. There are plenty of gags, but the tastiest part of this cartoon is how much you can relate the themes to life. Bonus: one time the show crossed over with Lilo & Stitch: The Series and I’ve never forgotten that.
This is another series that could be automatically refreshed by the change in times and problems, and it would be intriguing to follow a new group of kids and their school struggles and triumphs.
Uh, kids still have recess at school, right?
Which Disney cartoons would you want to see rebooted? Share your top three choices in the comments.
