Type in the search terms "80s cartoon heroes" on YouTube, and you're going to get a phonebook-sized list of "tribute videos" to children's cartoons from the 1980s.

Odds are, they're all going to include The Big Four - He-Man, G.I. Joe, Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - as well as a dozen others (the latter of which will vary with the tastes of each video maker), and almost all of them are going to be set to Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out For a Hero."

The video that follows is no different in those regards, but it distinguishes itself by the quality of its editing - somebody seriously spent way too much time making sure a lot of these shows' clips matched up to the lyrics of the song - and by the addition of a second video, the latter set to "Land of Confusion" by Genesis, which does a surprisingly effective job of summarizing a lot of America's anxieties during the Reagan '80s (even though it does fudge some of the dates attributed to the broadcast runs of the shows in question).

If you wanted a blueprint to the imaginations of those of us who grew up during the '80s, at least here in America, this video would be it.

When I was a kid, these characters were my friends, and their adventures were my life.


HEROES UNITE: The Ultimate 80's Tribute from Joshiro007x on Vimeo.

But then, the openings of those shows usually had the best animation, and that's where a lot of the clips came from.

I knew and had fond memories of most of them, though there were some that never made it to the screens over here.

Silverhawks was one that only aired once, and it always stood out as "that kewl cartoon that never shows anymore"

From my perspective (based on my memories and TV viewing) the video did not have enough Robotech, and a noticeable lack of any Battle of the Planets (we used to love playing that we were transforming into the Phoenix as kids - and was Zaltar a man or woman? The mystery remains), Astro-boy and Kimba the white lion. Or Star Blazers for that matter - the theme song of which still remains in my mind.

For that matter the theme song for Jem is also emblazoned in my memory (shamefully - though I ALWAYS liked the Misfits better.


Al B.