Cartoons more popular than their source material?

[wildojinx]

What are some cartoons based off a property (be it toys, books, video games, comics, etc) thats actually MORE popular than its source material? For example, a lot of toy-based cartoons (GI Joe, Transformers, Masters of the Universe, Pokemon). Though the toys do sell well, when people mention them, the first thing that comes to mind are the various cartoons based off of them.

[fortknox]

It seems like people who grow up in the 80s remember The Ghostbusters cartoon more than the movie. I know I did.

[Malcolm]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the 80s cartoon.

Most people still seem to think of the 1987 cartoons more than they do the original comics when asked about the turtles in general.

[A Platypus Rave]

Sept 3, 2015 13:53:12 GMT -5 Malcolm said:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the 80s cartoon.

Most people still seem to think of the 1987 cartoons more than they do the original comics when asked about the turtles in general.

Came into say the Turtles.

[Deleted]

I think Guardians of the Galaxy is definitely one. You had a completely unrelated '70s-'90s incarnation, set in the 30th century (THAT fact will blow peoples' minds I'm sure), a somewhat-related 2000's version, and then the current version - which matches the movie BECAUSE OF the movie.

[DiBiase is Good]

Sept 3, 2015 13:50:29 GMT -5 fortknox said:

It seems like people who grow up in the 80s remember The Ghostbusters cartoon more than the movie. I know I did.

Strange, I find the opposite to be the case.

[Rocky Raccoon]

I know many Digimon fans, but I don't know a single one who's owned a Digimon virtual pet.

[ToyfareMark]

Beetlejuice?

[A Platypus Rave]

Sept 3, 2015 14:44:36 GMT -5 ToyfareMark said:

Beetlejuice?

In my experience? no. In fact most people I know don't seem to realize there was a cartoon for that.

[James Fabiano]

Can we say Sailor Moon surpassed its manga?

[Crimson]

Skewing younger here, but I'd imagine most people familiar with Arthur and The Magic School Bus thinks about the cartoons first before the books.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Sept 3, 2015 14:57:03 GMT -5 James Fabiano said:

Can we say Sailor Moon surpassed its manga?

Don't most anime series surpass the manga?

[karl100589]

Technically nearly every Disney film.

[James Fabiano]

Now, have there been any cartoons where a comic or such came AFTER, and THAT was better?

[James Fabiano]

Sept 3, 2015 15:29:12 GMT -5 karl100589 said:

Technically nearly every Disney film.

Yes....hence when people see darker versions they forget the original fairy tales were pretty grim (no pun intended). Which reminds me...

WIZARD OF OZ, full stop.

[BigWill]

Sept 3, 2015 15:01:49 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

Sept 3, 2015 14:57:03 GMT -5 James Fabiano said:

Can we say Sailor Moon surpassed its manga?

Don't most anime series surpass the manga?

In the west at least.

[A Platypus Rave]

Sept 3, 2015 19:11:29 GMT -5 James Fabiano said:

Now, have there been any cartoons where a comic or such came AFTER, and THAT was better?

Sonic?

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

Sept 3, 2015 14:41:16 GMT -5 Rocky Raccoon said:

I know many Digimon fans, but I don't know a single one who's owned a Digimon virtual pet.

I had one from Digimon 02. It was pretty neat.

[Joe Neglia]

Sept 3, 2015 13:49:03 GMT -5 wildojinx said:

What are some cartoons based off a property (be it toys, books, video games, comics, etc) thats actually MORE popular than its source material? For example, a lot of toy-based cartoons (GI Joe, Transformers, Masters of the Universe, Pokemon). Though the toys do sell well, when people mention them, the first thing that comes to mind are the various cartoons based off of them.

Gonna call a foul on the G.I. Joe example. While the cartoon was incredibly, stupendously popular, the toy line was massive, and unlike the cartoon, long-lived. The original Joe cartoon only lasted 3 years in first-run and less than a hundred episodes. As big as the cartoon was, the toy line was even bigger.

Sept 3, 2015 15:29:12 GMT -5 karl100589 said:

Technically nearly every Disney film.

Another iffy one. There's a bit of a reason most of the Disney films' source material has lasted centuries and has been reprinted literally billions of times. That's true popularity. Now, some of the ones they adapted from more recent sources (Bambi, 101 Dalmations, etc), sure. But the stuff based on Hans Christian Anderson? Have to argue on that one.

[Lupin the Third]