10 Criminally Underappreciated Classic Cartoons

A cartoon that actually has made its way to theaters is "Jem", unfortunately without the kind of backing it should have received.

"Jem" is about a woman named Jerrica Benton who owns and runs a music company while also fronting the band "The Holograms" under her pseudonym, Jem. Her stage presence is created thanks to an advanced holographic computer that her father left her after his death. Basically, she's like a superhero with a secret identity, especially considering the danger she faces throughout the series.

At its core though, "Jem" is about a woman's struggles with fame. Jerrica's constantly trying to keep her two identities separate which puts a heavy strain on her relationships, especially with her primary love interest, Rio, who thinks he has feelings for both Jem and Jerrica.

The show consistently does a great job of balancing those adult issues with a mix of action and levity, making it one of the best, most well-rounded cartoons of the 80's.

The series was part of a collaborative effort with Hasbro, yet the only real attempt at reviving "Jem" on screens since the show ended in 1988 was a low budget movie adaption called "Jem and the Holograms". That's a far cry from the numerous cartoon revivals and star driven, expensive films that other Hasbro franchises like G.I. Joe and Transformers received.

The show even still has a loyal following in spite of its lack of new content, which one would think would make it a prime target for a revival, at least in cartoon form. Long story short, "Jem" may have been one of the cartoons that actually got the movie treatment, but it still deserves way better.