Memories of Toy Adaptation Cartoon Movies from the 1980s-1990s

[toddly6666]

Transformers the Movie, GI Joe the Movie, He-Man and She-Ra's Secret of the Sword, The Care Bears movies, Go-Bots Battle of the Rocklords, Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer, My Little Pony the Movie, Pound Puppies and The Legend of Big Paw, Ducktales the Movie, Batman cartoon movies, etc.


I was only aware of the Transformers and GI Joe cartoon movies when I was a kid yet I have no memory of them playing in movie theaters. The others I wasnt even aware of being made into theatrical movies until I was older. Does anyone remember if some of these movies didnt play in your theaters? Or maybe only on tv? If they played in the theaters, I absolutely have no memory of seeing any trailers for these movies in the theater or on tv during its regular cartoon show. In some of the dvd reviews, some of them are referred to being played as some 3 to 6 tv episode arc on tv and some as being shown in theaters. Im guessing some of these movies played in theaters while some may have aired on tv first? Depending on which country perhaps? I grew up in USA and cant remember passing a theater playing any of these films.

Can anyone explain what they know about these releases and/or your memories of them either first airing on tv or playing in a theater?

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Transformers the Movie, GI Joe the Movie, He-Man and She-Ra's Secret of the Sword, The Care Bears movies, Go-Bots Battle of the Rocklords, Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer, My Little Pony the Movie, Pound Puppies and The Legend of Big Paw, Ducktales the Movie, Batman cartoon movies, etc.


I was only aware of the Transformers and GI Joe cartoon movies when I was a kid yet I have no memory of them playing in movie theaters. The others I wasnt even aware of being made into theatrical movies until I was older. Does anyone remember if some of these movies didnt play in your theaters? Or maybe only on tv? If they played in the theaters, I absolutely have no memory of seeing any trailers for these movies in the theater or on tv during its regular cartoon show. In some of the dvd reviews, some of them are referred to being played as some 3 to 6 tv episode arc on tv and some as being shown in theaters. Im guessing some of these movies played in theaters while some may have aired on tv first? Depending on which country perhaps? I grew up in USA and cant remember passing a theater playing any of these films.

Can anyone explain what they know about these releases and/or your memories of them either first airing on tv or playing in a theater?

Saw "He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword" on big screen in summer of 1985 in Vancouver. I saw it because I was a fan of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. I didn't realize it at the time that the film was a de facto pilot for the She-Ra TV show. I thought it was okay but by the fall He-Man's popularity had started to wane. The franchise was dead by the time Cannon crapped out that Lundgren film in 1987.

Saw Ducktales The Movie in 1990 on the big screen when I was living in the UK, I took my little cousin to see it. I was too old to be familiar with the series but I remember liking the Indiana Jones vibe of the film.

[Buscemi]

Most of them did play in theatres. G.I. Joe: The Movie went straight-to-video after having its theatrical release canceled (due to Transformers and My Little Pony disappointing at the box office) while on the Batman movies, only Mask of the Phantasm played theatrically (after being upgraded from straight-to-video).

Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer played weekends only (it's one of the few non-Christmas releases to have had a wide opening on a Saturday) while He-Man and She-Ra and Pound Puppies played regionally (I actually know the daughter of one of the producers of Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw).

GoBots was part of a matinee series called Clubhouse Pictures that had four other movies (The Adventures of Mark Twain, The Adventures of the American Rabbit, Heathcliff: The Movie, and a reissue of Hey There, It's Yogi Bear). Strangely, while the other four played on a regional basis, the GoBots movie went wide right away (and bombed big time against Sleeping Beauty and the second Care Bears movie).

A few more of these kinds of movies played regionally (The Smurfs and the Magic Flute, Here Come the Littles) while one that had trailers shown (Felix the Cat: The Movie) was planned to be released by New World but ended up going straight-to-video through Disney.

[Michael24]

I recall that G.I. Joe: The Movie was supposed to be the first Sunbow film but production delays caused it to be pushed back in favor of releasing the Transformers and My Little Pony movies first. (I remember some friends spoiling Optimus Prime's death for me after they'd seen it first.) Then, due to their performance, G.I. Joe was released direct-to-video instead. I believe all three movies later aired on TV as part of their respective series, split up into separate episodes.

Ducktales: The Movie was also released in theaters, although I missed it and didn't get to see it until it came out on VHS. I did see Batman: Mask of the Phantasm in the theater. Twice, in fact. The day after Christmas with a friend and then again a few days later with my mom and little brother.

[toddly6666]

Did they play these movies at all times in the theaters or just matinee shows?

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Did they play these movies at all times to in the theaters or just matinee shows?

Mask of the Phantasm played all day and night.
It wasnt a "kid" film.