5 Cartoons that Would Make Great Movies

While there have been many adaptions of cartoons to film - The Flintstones, Scooby Doo, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle - but there are many cartoons from the past that would make terrific film translations.

Thundarr the Barbarian

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Thundarr protects the weak against the wizards who have risen in power to prey upon them. Along with his companions Princess Ariel and Ookla the Mok, Thundarr travels from region to region, across the ruins of the present world we know, to battle larger-than-life villains. Many of the characters and settings were designed by Jack Kirby, the artistic force that created much of the Marvel Universe. Those designs, if translated well, would give the feature a distinct look. And Thundarr, while no Conan, is a character you always pull for because he jumps into the fray without a second thought for the glory of battle.

Space Ghost

He's probably more famous for his Coast to Coast talk show on Cartoon Network than for his original Hanna Barbera series, but the premise of the old Space Ghost could be adapted to into an exciting story. Space Ghost is an interstellar superhero who travels from planet to planet fighting the intergalactic villains that threaten the universe. He is joined by his sidekicks Jace and Jan and their monkey Blip. The space hero is a concept tapped well in the comic book and cartoon realms, but has rarely been attempted on film. The Space Ghost name is already engrained in American culture, and what's needed is a charismatic actor that would draw audiences unfamiliar with the property.

Herculoids

This would make a great "Disney-esque" family adventure. Two parents, Zandor and Terra, and their son, Dorno, along with assorted super-powered creature companions, battle the evils that threaten their Roger Dean/Frank Frazetta-looking world. Simply by showing a trailer featuring the creatures using their powers, the studio would insure at least a young male audience. Again, casting is everything with this concept, as the family would still be at the heart of the film.

Dungeons and Dragons

The 80s cartoon featured very well developed characters. If you combine that asset with the story setting - the mystical world of dragons, knights and other fantastic creatures - the potential for summer blockbuster is there. There have been a couple of live-action films based on Dungeons and Dragons, but those films dealt mostly with the D&D game and its concepts. This story would deal with the six main characters - all of them kids - who are transported to the Dungeons and Dragons world and have to find their way home. Each character is given a special object which enables them a specific power, and they used those powers as they travel through this world and face its greatest evil, the wizard Venger.

Starblazers

This was a Japanese cartoon translated for American audiences. It ran in syndication during the late 1970s and early 80s. It featured Earth's Space Corp as they faced the threat of an alien invasion. The Earth forces were stationed on large space battleships, and the oldest ship in that fleet was the Argo. The ships resembled Earth sea-faring battleships, fit for star travel. The story centers around the crew of the Argo and central role in the intergalactic battle to save the Earth.

These are just a few of the old cartoons that could give us great live action adaptions. Many others are on reruns and DVD, waiting to be discovered!