Saturday mornings used to start with a bowl of cereal, a comfy spot on the couch, and a lineup of cartoons that felt like pure magic. But what really made those shows unforgettable? The theme songs. Catchy, upbeat, and sometimes a little bizarre, these tunes got stuck in our heads from the first note—and for many of us, they’ve never left. Here are the forgotten cartoon theme songs that still play in our heads like it was yesterday.
1. The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (1968-1970) – “Tra La La (One Banana, Two Banana)”
“Tra la la, la la la la!” If you just sang that in your head, you’re not alone. The Banana Splits theme was ridiculously simple but incredibly catchy, making it one of the most earworm-worthy cartoon intros of all time. Nostalgia Central assures readers that the franchise’s history is as wacky as the program itself.
Though The Banana Splits was technically part live-action, the wacky animal band and their animated segments made it a staple of childhood memories. Even if you haven’t seen the show in decades, that goofy, bouncy tune is still bouncing around in your brain.
2. Hong Kong Phooey (1974-1976) – “Number One Super Guy”
“Who is this superhero? Sarge?” Nope—it’s Hong Kong Phooey, the clumsy crime-fighting dog with a theme song just as fun as his martial arts moves. Sung by the legendary Scatman Crothers, this jazzy, upbeat tune made every episode feel like an event. According to Cartoon Research, the show even celebrated a milestone 50th anniversary back in 2024, making it a perfect time to hum this earworm.
Even though the show itself was short-lived, the theme song had lasting power. It’s impossible to hear it without immediately picturing Hong Kong Phooey flipping into his file cabinet (and then needing his cat to pull him out).
3. Josie and the Pussycats (1970-1971) – “Long Tails and Ears for Hats”
Josie and the Pussycats may have been a Scooby-Doo knockoff, but the theme song was one-of-a-kind. With its funky bassline and high-energy vocals, it felt like a real pop hit from the early ’70s. SyFy also bids readers tor remember the comics that inspired so many of our favorite cartoons.
The lyrics told you exactly what you needed to know: “Josie and the Pussycats! Long tails and ears for hats!” Even though the show lasted just one season, the theme song has lived on, playing in the heads of anyone who grew up watching.
4. The Groovie Goolies (1970-1972) – “Goolie Get-Together”
A show about singing, joke-cracking monsters? Of course, it had a groovy theme song! The Groovie Goolies had a sound straight out of the bubblegum pop era, with a chorus that was impossible not to sing along with: “It’s a goolie, goolie, goolie, goolie, goolie get-together!” Cartoon Research argues that this series might be one of the most successful by Filmation.
Even though the show faded into obscurity, its theme song refuses to be forgotten. It’s the kind of jingle that sneaks up on you decades later, and before you know it, you’re humming it again.
5. The New Adventures of Batman (1977) – “Na-na-na-na, Batman!” (But Different)
Adam West and Burt Ward returned to voice Batman and Robin in this 1977 cartoon, and while the show itself was hit-or-miss, the theme song was oddly unforgettable. It took the classic “na-na-na-na, Batman” rhythm and added a funky, disco-style spin to it.
It may not have been as iconic as the 1960s Batman theme, but for kids who watched this version, it’s a song that still lingers in the memory banks.
6. Speed Buggy (1973) – “Go, Speed Buggy, Go!”
A talking dune buggy solving mysteries? Why not? Speed Buggy was one of many Scooby-Doo-style knockoffs, but it had a peppy, bouncy theme song that stuck with viewers.
The lyrics were simple—just a repetition of “Go, Speed Buggy, go!”—but that was all it took. Even if you barely remember the plot of the show, that theme still revs its engine in the back of your mind.
7. The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972) – “We’re the Chan Clan”
A short-lived Hanna-Barbera cartoon about detective Charlie Chan and his many kids, The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan had a theme song that felt like a lost ’70s rock single. It was catchy, cool, and had an infectious groove that made kids feel like they were about to solve a mystery.
The show itself didn’t last long, but that funky intro is still lodged in the minds of those who tuned in on Saturday mornings.
8. The Super Globetrotters (1979) – “Whistle, Whistle, Dunk!”
The Harlem Globetrotters were everywhere in the ’70s, so it made sense they’d get their own superhero-themed cartoon. The theme song was a funky, whistle-heavy tune that immediately got stuck in your head.
While the show wasn’t exactly high art, the song made it feel like something special. If you ever watched The Super Globetrotters, chances are that theme still plays in your head from time to time.
9. Jabberjaw (1976) – “Whoa-oh-oh, Jabberjaw!”
Take Scooby-Doo, set it underwater, and replace the talking dog with a talking shark. That was Jabberjaw, and while the show was fun, its theme song was the real star. It was pure ’70s bubblegum pop, complete with a wailing chorus of “Whoa-oh-oh, Jabberjaw!”
Even if you haven’t thought about Jabberjaw in years, hearing that theme once is enough to bring it all rushing back.
10. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids (1973) – “We’re Gonna Rock and Roll”
This one-season wonder had a theme song that sounded like it belonged on AM radio. The show followed a rock band that doubled as a crime-solving team (because why not?), and the theme was a full-fledged pop song.
Though the show didn’t last, that groovy intro still lives on in the minds of those who watched. It’s one of those theme songs that people forget where they heard it but never forget hearing it.
11. Cattanooga Cats (1969-1971) – “Cattanooga Cats”
Another Hanna-Barbera creation, Cattanooga Cats had a theme song that blended country twang with rock and roll. It was part of a larger variety show featuring musical animals, and the theme captured that lively, toe-tapping energy.
While the show itself faded away, the theme song was one of those tunes that burrowed into your brain and never quite left.
12. The Funky Phantom (1971-1972) – “We Got a Secret”
Imagine Scooby-Doo, but instead of a Great Dane, the mystery-solving team had a Revolutionary War ghost tagging along. The Funky Phantom had a theme song that was part catchy jingle, part history lesson, with an upbeat, “We got a secret, we got a secret!” chorus.
The show wasn’t the biggest hit, but that song still lingers in the memories of those who watched it.
Cartoon theme songs weren’t just jingles—they were the soundtracks of childhood. Even decades later, these forgotten gems still pop into our heads at random moments, proving that once a great theme song gets stuck in your brain, it never really leaves.
