List RulesVote up the best TV series based on children's toys and action figures. Only shows that had the toys come out first or simultaneously with the show.
Back in the 1980s, it seemed that no new cartoon could hit the Saturday morning lineup without first having a toy line to back it up. This wasn't a "chicken or the egg" kind of scenario either; television studios paired up with toy companies to animate their creations so each could promote the other. "Why not play with those adorable characters you see on screen" was just as good a question for the people behind hits like the Transformers and G.I. Joe: The Real American Hero as was "Why not watch your favorite characters on TV?"
Looking back, there were a ton of animated series created from toys, but not every one of them was good. The toy inspired cartoons that make it to the top of lists like this one had something special. They weren't simply 22-minute-long commercials about toys... well, they were, but they also had amazing stories, great characters, animation, and voice actors working behind the scenes to bring our favorite toys to life! Some came long after the '80s and some right at the beginning, but they were all fun and entertaining! Many of these toy series were so beloved they've been rebooted for the next generation, bringing My Little Pony and She-Ra to the children of millennials - right along with the toys they were made to sell.
Don't forget to vote up your favorite TV show based on toys, and if any of your favorites are missing, make sure you add them as well!
1
9727The Transformers
Frank Welker, Chris LattaPremiered: 1984
The Transformers is an American animated robot superhero television series based on the Hasbro... more on Wikipedia2
8924G.I. Joe
Jackson Beck, Chris LattaPremiered: 1983
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a half-hour American animated television series based on the... more on Wikipedia3
9932He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
John Erwin, Alan OppenheimerPremiered: 1983
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is an American animated television series produced by... more on Wikipedia4
6113ThunderCats
Bob McFadden, Larry KenneyPremiered: 1985
ThunderCats is an American animated television series that was produced by Rankin/Bass... more on Wikipedia5
5825He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Christopher Judge, Cam ClarkePremiered: 2002
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is an American animated television series. Developed... more on Wikipedia6
5935She-Ra: Princess of Power
Melendy Britt, George DiCenzoPremiered: 1985
She-Ra: Princess of Power is an American animated television series produced in 1985 by... more on Wikipedia7
3915M.A.S.K.
Doug Stone, Brian GeorgePremiered: September 30, 1985
8
4625The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
John Stocker, Will RyanPremiered: 1986
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin is an American animated television series based on Teddy... more on Wikipedia9
4230My Little Pony
Madeline Kahn, Danny CookseyPremiered: 1984
My Little Pony is an American animated television series produced by Sunbow Productions and... more on Wikipedia10
3019Pound Puppies
Danny Cooksey, Frank WelkerPremiered: 1986
Pound Puppies is a 1986 animated series made by Hanna-Barbera Productions, based on the famous... more on Wikipedia11
3224Dino-Riders
Dan Gilvezan, Peter CullenPremiered: 1988
Dino-Riders is a cartoon television series that first aired in 1988. Dino-Riders was primarily... more on Wikipedia12
3427My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Ashleigh Ball, Tabitha St. GermainPremiered: 2010
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is an animated television series produced by Hasbro as... more on Wikipedia13
2923Jem
Samantha Newark, Patricia Alice AlbrechtPremiered: 1985
Jem, also known as Jem and the Holograms, is an American animated television series that ran... more on Wikipedia14
3330She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
Aimee Carrero, Karen FukuharaPremiered: 2018
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (Netflix, 2018) is an American animated web television... more on Wikipedia15
2825Transformers: Animated
David Kaye, Jeff BennettPremiered: 2007
Transformers Animated is a Japanese/American animated television series based on the... more on Wikipedia16
2623Pound Puppies
Betty White, Michael RapaportPremiered: 2010
Pound Puppies is an American animated series that premiered on The Hub Network on October 10,... more on Wikipedia17
2522BraveStarr
Pat Fraley, Erika ScheimerPremiered: 1987
BraveStarr is an American Space Western animated television series. The original episodes... more on Wikipedia18
2321Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu
Ian James Corlett, Brian DrummondPremiered: 2011
Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu is an action comedy family animated TV series that centers... more on Wikipedia19
2424Hot Wheels
Albert Brooks, Casey KasemPremiered: 1969
Hot Wheels was a thirty-minute Saturday morning animated television series broadcast on ABC... more on Wikipedia20
21Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy
Philip Bache, Edward BoscoPremiered: 2020
Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (Netflix, 2020) is an American animated robot... more on Wikipedia21
11My Little Pony: Pony Life
Ashleigh Ball, Andrea LibmanPremiered: 2020
My Little Pony: Pony Life (Discovery Family, 2020) is a animated fantasy television series and... more on Wikipedia22
1717Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors
Darrin Baker, Jean ChalopinPremiered: 1985
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors is a French/North American animated TV show which was first... more on Wikipedia23
1616Bionic Six
Norman Bernard, Carol BilgerPremiered: 1987
Bionic Six is an American/Japanese animated television series from 1987, produced by TMS... more on Wikipedia24
1819MoonDreamers
Tress MacNeille, Peter CullenPremiered: 1986
Moondreamers is an animated television series that aired in 1986 as part of the My Little Pony... more on Wikipedia25
1517Ever After High
Erin Fitzgerald, Kate HigginsPremiered: 2013
Ever After High (Netflix, 2013) is an animated series based on the fashion doll franchise by... more on Wikipedia