11 Classic 80s Movies With Awesome Animated TV Shows You Forgot Existed

More than 20 years after Spaceballs first hit cinemas, original creator Mel Brooks returned to the universe of the Star Wars-inspired sci-fi spoof for a series of new animated adventures. Something of a cult classic, Spaceballs earned a mixed reception from critics and audiences alike upon initial release but has grown in stature and popularity since to become one of Brooks’ best loved films.

Eager to capitalise on its enduring popularity, Brooks began work on an animated series in 2005 which he wrote, directed and even acted in, voicing his two characters from the movie, President Skroob and Yogurt. Of the surviving cast members Joan Rivers and Daphne Zuniga returned to voice their roles from the movie, though both Bill Pullman and Rick Moranis passed on the opportunity to reprise their parts.

The series was primarily based in the same universe in and around the Planet Spaceball and featured much of the familiar send-ups of shows like Star Trek and the Star Wars movie franchise, although the majority of the episodes parodied other, more recent, aspects of popular culture.

The Lord of the Rings, Titanic, American Idol and the Grand Theft Auto video games were all lampooned during the initial 13-episode run. Despite originally being conceived of in 2005, it took three years before the show finally aired in the US, with reviews proving decidedly mixed. Spaceballs: The Animated Series did not return for a second series. Don't bet against it earning a critical reappraisal in due time though.