The Best TV Shows Based on Toys

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!