10 Best Cartoon Theme Songs

10. Inspector Gadget

Inspector Gadget debuted in 1983, and was a definite success, going on to reach 86 episodes - all of which featured this iconic theme song. The story of the bumbling detective was an incredibly light-hearted and goofy series. As such, the music needed to match this theme.

The straightforward melody and upbeat tempo instantly present a fun vibe that makes it clear the show isn't going to take itself too seriously. The only lyrics to be found are the words "Inspector Gadget" and "Go, Gadget go" and this simplicity helps to keep the song memorable, as it doesn't attack you with too much at once.

There are also some more threatening sounds like the gradual build-up at the end that deepens the pitch and shows that there will be some threat in the show - adding just enough complexity to inspire intrigue but without going overboard.

It is also no surprise that this song went down so well as Inspector Gadget was rather ground-breaking with its sound design. It was the first-ever animated show to use stereo sound instead of mono, and this made a big difference.

Ultimately the theme song is likely more memorable nowadays than the actual series itself, which goes to show the power that a simple tune can have.