Iconic 80s Cartoon Catchphrases
What was your favorite cartoon catchphrase growing up? We’ve compiled a list of the all-time most memorable one-liners from classic 1980s animated shows and movies. Each is iconic and have cemented their place in pop culture.
1. "I Have the Power!" – He-Man
(He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, 1983-1985)
When Prince Adam transformed into He-Man, raising the Sword of Power and proclaiming, “By the Power of Grayskull… I HAVE THE POWER!” it never failed to be the perfect dramatic cartoon hero moment. With lightning and energy beams, this catchphrase and overall scene became iconic and an even bigger part of the show’s identity.
While some would think that reusing the same animation every episode of this transformation scene would cause it to get old or boring for those watching, it made this moment undeniably memorable, creating an undeniable catchphrase! (That’s why it was a must have in the recent reboot, Masters of the Universe: Revelation.)
2. “Cowabunga, Dude!” - Michelangelo
(Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 1987-1996)
While this phrase didn’t originate with the TMNT, the show’s fun-loving, goofy turtle turned it into a staple of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles culture.
While the phrase cowabunga was originally used on The Howdy Doody Show from the 50s, the TMNT made it legendary. The show’s fun-loving, goofiest turtle, Michelangelo, used this as his go-to saying when he was excited! It was the perfect addition to the show and adding some lightheartedness to the team, just like Mikey.
3. “Autobots, Transform & Roll Out!” - Optimus Prime
(The Transformers, 1984-1987)
Before any important mission, this was Optimus Prime’s classic command to the other Autobots right before they transformed into vehicles and sped off. Anytime Optimus said this phrase you knew it was about to get really good.
While the animated show from the 80s made this an unforgettable catchphrase, the live-action movies from the early 2000s continued the tradition making this a permanent part of pop culture.
4. “ThunderCats, Ho!” - Lion-O
(ThunderCats, 1985-1989)
The ultimate rally cry! When Lion-O, the leader of the ThunderCars raised the Sword of Omens and projected the Thundercats symbol in the sky and yelled this, you knew it was on.
Much like He-Man’s “I have the power!,” this catchphrase was the defining slogan of the ThunderCats with its repetitive animated sequence that was reused to save the studio money.
5. “Smurftastic!” - The Smurfs
(The Smurfs, 1981 - 1989)
It was hard to pick just one smurf-ified word because they are all so iconic. The Smurf’s unique way of talking made the show and characters so fun and endearing. With phrases like “What the Smurf?!” and “That’s so smurfy!” you could find a smurfy word for any situation! “Smurftastic!” and other classic Smurf sayings were used in ads, video games, and throughout the reboots throughout the 2000s making this fun exclamation a staple of 80s culture.
Fun fact: The word “smurf” was used over 16,000 times in the show and has even been added to dictionaries! (Love trivia? Check out more fun 80s facts here!)
6. “Go-Go-Gadget” - Inspector Gadget
(Inspector Gadget, 1983-1986)
This phrase was used whenever Inspector Gadget wanted to activate one of his hilt-in gadgets to help him solve a case (or get himself out of trouble). While it was always fun to see what would happen when he said things like “go-go-gadget helicopter!” or “go-go-gadget skates!” it rarely ended in perfect execution. Gadget malfunctions were a staple of this classic 80s cartoon while his niece Penny and her dog, Brain were actually solving the crimes.
7. “Jinkies!” - Velma Dinkley
(Scooby-Doo, varies series from 1969 - Present)
It was so hard to pick just one catchphrase from Scooby-Doo and gang, with classics like
“Zoinks” - Shaggy
“Ruh-roh” - Scooby
“Jeepers!” - Daphne
With so many fun sayings, "Jinkies!" earned its place on the list because it was always said right when Velma found an important clue or piece of evidence that would lead to solving the mystery every episode. This unique exclamation was created especially for Velma to give her some extra personality as the serious, brainiac of the gang.
Fun fact: Shaggy used the phrase first in The New Scooby-Doo Movies, but it later became synonymous with Velma, becoming her iconic catchphrase!
8. "Hey, Hey, Hey!" – Fat Albert
(Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, 1972–1985)
This was the signature greeting of the lovable and wise leader of the friend group, Fat Albert. This saying usually kicked off the episode and led into the episode’s life lesson, covering topics like honesty, responsibility, and kindness. Unlike the other catchphrases on this list, this classic wasn’t just an exclamation but the ultimate greeting and brought Fat Albert’s friendly, larger than life personality to life on the screen.
These quotes will always be a part of pop culture and have earned a permanent place in our vocab!
Thinking of a different classic catchphrase? Drop a comment below! 👇