Saturday Morning Cartoon Fix: Kidd Video

If there is one thing that I miss most about growing up in the 80s, it would have to be watching Saturday morning cartoons. There was nothing like pouring yourself a bowl of your favorite cereal and getting up early to watch great cartoon shows. So why can't we relive a little of that now? Thanks to Youtube, we can now watch full episodes of those great '80s animated shows (some of which are not yet available on DVD!) So, come rediscover your forgotten Saturday morning cartoons with the RD80s Saturday Morning Cartoon Fix! This time the feature cartoon is Kidd Video!

Kidd Video Season 1 intro

In 1984, DIC and Saban Entertainment produced a unique show that combined animation with live-action segments. With the MTV era in full swing, Kidd Video centered around a musical band of teenagers trapped in a cartoon world called "The Flipside" by the villain Master Blaster. With help from a fairy named Glitter, the band would try to help others and eventually find their way back to the real world to sing original tunes. Popular music of the time also could be heard on the show usually during an action sequence montage. Actual music videos were also featured along with the teenage pop culture staples like skateboarding, break dancing, and playing video games.

Kidd Video would air for two seasons on NBC from 1984-85 for a total of 26 episodes. It would continue in reruns through 1986 and also air in syndication. The one notable star of the show is keyboardist Robbie Rist, who was known for playing Cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch and later voicing Michelangelo in the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. 6 episodes of the show would be released individually on VHS home video, but sadly it has never been converted and released to DVD. (My guess would be because of the music copyrights.) Fortunately, all 26 episodes are available on YouTube! I've found playlists for both Season 1 and Season 2, and also a playlist of just original Kidd Video music videos. Featured below is an episode from season 1 plus an appropriate 1984 Pac-Man Cereal commercial that was essentially a music video itself. Enjoy!

Kidd Video episode 3 "Woofers & Tweeters"

1984 Pac-man Cereal commercial