I was meant to be an environmentalist. How do I know this? Because I use to watch the now defunct, Captain Planet, religiously when growing up. Perhaps this simple cartoon which packed in the message about environmentalism has subconsciously altered my thinking about the planet we live in. Captain and the Planeteers was duking it out with evil polluters to save the world from Eco-crisis. Cheesy, definitely but also it was very educational. Perhaps this explains the rash of younger generation who have taken on the cause of green.

Captain Planet and the Planeteers was a TV Series from 1990-1996. According to IMDB, the premise of the cartoon is a quintet of teenagers work together to encourage environmentally responsible behavior and can summon a superhero to deal with ecological disasters. Originally the voice of Captain Planet was slated for Tom Cruise but that fell through. Still it was a great cartoon which I am sure influenced my generation. As one user comments,

This cartoon impacted on my life a lot when I was younger. It made me really care about the environment; not just the cute ponies and flowers, but for every environmental issue that came up on the TV or in the newspaper. I wanted to take on the world. I think we need to have ‘important’ cartoons like ‘Captain Planet’ back, because when I was impressionable and making up my own identity during my teenage years, it wasn’t there for me and remains only a memory of when I was a little girl.

I totally agree. It’s hard to watch cartoon networks now a days. It’s filled with commercials with the latest sugar laden cereals and hottest toys that you know your children will beg you to buy. I used to watch cartoons with a friend’s child and it was pretty comical.  During commercial breaks, he would say.. “I want that or I am getting that” to EVERY single commercial. And he’s pretty irresistible so I can only imagine how it hard it will be with my own. The Advertisers definitely knows who the power buyers are.. The children. I hope someone will create another Captain Planet and the Planeteers to educate children about the need to conserve and protect. We need more cartoons like Captain Planet to breed the next generation of future Environmentalists.

Did anyone else watch Captain Planet growing up and what did you think of it? Did it influence you in any way?

Source: IMDB