The Real Ghostbusters, there were triumphs, failures, and bizarre moments that helped to shape the franchise and Saturday mornings. There’s a reason any animated series featuring New York’s resident proton-slinging protectors comes with high expectations and fears that have nothing to do with ghosts, monsters, or world-ending deities.
Since the conception of the Ghostbusters movie, television has always been a part of the franchise. In 1975 Filmation’s The Ghost Busters aired starring Larry Storch of Ghostbusters of its iconic name and theme song. Having toyed with and rejected titles like “Ghost Breakers,” Columbia Pictures paid Filmation for the rights to their series’ name under the condition both could use it for TV programs. Upon the success of 1984’s Ghostbusters, both Filmation and Columbia began work on an animated series to capitalize on the quirky horror-comedy. In Columbia’s case, it’d be the next step for a pop culture sensation.
Ghostbusters television serials have had their ups, downs, and impact on the franchise. Starting with The Real Ghostbusters, the multiple animated series based on the original movie helped expand the lore and create some of its most iconic characters. Having once topped Saturday morning charts, the fact that a new Ghostbusters series hasn’t aired since 1997 makes for a strange mystery, and the announcement of another one an exciting prospect. Considering the history of Ghostbusters shows, their inconsistent quality, and a lack of a new cartoon since Extreme Ghostbusters, the franchise is ready for a new, modern take. However, setting such high standards at their best makes for an optimistic future and proves what can be done with the Ghostbusters mythos when there’s talent, love, and creativity behind the series.
The Real Ghostbusters
Entitled The Real Ghostbusters as a jab at Filmation’s unrelated Ghostbusters cartoon airing simultaneously, the show ran for 140 episodes over the course of 7 seasons. Taking place shortly after the events of the 1984 movie, The Real Ghostbusters followed the team as they attempted to rebuild their business and confront the supernatural, this time accompanied by the new mascot, Slimer, seen in the original film. Rivaling the original movies as the best take on the franchise's characters and lore, it also had its share of dramatic challenges.
With writers like the famed J. Michael Straczynski behind the scenes and talent like Arsenio Hall, Maurice LaMarche, Lorenzo Music, Laura Summer, and Frank Welker in the recording booth, The Real Ghostbusters show rose to the top of Saturday morning ratings. With clever jokes, a colorful cast, and stories as fun as they were terrifying at times, it almost instantly became one of DiC’s animated crown jewels. However, when ABC became more involved and demanded questionable changes to the show, the ratings dropped. Citing odd choices like changing Janine’s glasses because “sharp objects scare children,” the forced inclusion of Slimer as the star, and a general attempt to make the show more appealing to younger audiences, talent like Straczynski left, and the show became Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters. Eventually, Straczynski returned to attempt to save the series, often writing episodes acknowledging the changes and criticisms made by ABC in a tongue-in-cheek way. The Real Ghostbusters ended in 1991 but wouldn’t see its finale until 1997 when Extreme Ghostbusters aired.
Slimer!
After Slimer became a lead in The Real Ghostbusters cast, an animated series attempted to give the green ghost more screen time. Entitled Slimer!, the short cartoons reflected more of the series’ comedic aspects. While very different in art style and tone, Slimer! was established as part of The Real Ghostbusters universe and introduced new characters to the series as part of the show’s second incarnation.
Coming after ABC insisted on changes for The Real Ghostbusters, a Slimer sub-series aired as an attempt to reflect their more child-friendly direction. The show consisted of Ghostbusters’ complicated canon with Dweeb’s appearance as a villain on both shows. Despite having helped establish Slimer as a household name, the cartoon only ran for 13 episodes before being canceled.
Extreme Ghostbusters
Under the working name of “Super Ghostbusters,” an animated series was commissioned to bring the franchise into the ‘90s. Later titled Extreme Ghostbusters, it was a 1997 sequel to The Real Ghostbusters that hoped to tie up loose ends and focus on the next generation. Not as popular or as memorable as the original series, Extreme Ghostbusters still managed to establish its place within the franchise with its darker direction and unique characters.
Taking place years after the original Ghostbusters disbanded, Extreme Ghostbusters saw Egon Spengler as a mentor to a new generation of college students who decided to pick up the proton packs. Consisting of darker stories, scarier situations, and more hideous villains, while many praised and liked how far it went at times, others felt it lacked the original charm of The Real Ghostbusters, which had its story concluded in the final episodes. Although their series ended after a single season and faded into obscurity, Egon’s students later returned in IDW’s comics and other parts of the Ghostbusters lore.
Ghostbusters: Ecto Force
After Extreme Ghostbusters ended, to coincide with 2016’s Ghostbusters movie a new animated series known as Ghostbusters: Ecto Force seemed like it was coming to television. While it never aired, descriptions and concept art exist to explain its premise. Supposedly part of the 2016 Ghostbuster’s universe, it’s one of the most mysterious projects teased in the wake of the divisive reboot’s release.
Announced by original Ghostbusters director, the late Ivan Reitman, Ghostbusters: Ecto Force promised to take a more international approach to the series. The concept involved a team of paranormal investigators in the year 2050 traveling across the globe to help local ghost hunting teams. Citing east Asian cultures such as Japan, China, and Korea, Ghostbusters: Ecto Force hoped to explore different mythologies. Although Reitman claimed the series was “on hold” because of other animated projects, with the challenges 2016’s Ghostbusters reboot had to establish itself and the ing of Reitman, it’s unsure what the status of Ghostbusters: Ecto Force is.
Netflix's Ghostbusters Series
In 2022, after nearly four decades of Ghostbusters, Ghost Corps announced several new projects were on the horizon. Among the next generation of video games, comics, and sequels, two animated spinoffs were revealed. The first one in 25 years, Netflix’s revelation of a new Ghostbusters cartoon gave audiences a glimpse of what was to come, but left more questions than answers.
Produced by original Ghostbusters movie, Reitman expressed enthusiasm for the medium of animation and the potential to tell new stories with the series he inherited from his father, the late Ivan Reitman. “The world of the unknown can only be properly explored through the limitless reach of animation,” the producer commented. With the critical success of his previous work on Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the animated series that came before it, there’s cautious optimism for what comes next. There’s hope that Netflix’s undertaking can once again give new life to a name still associated with a standard of Saturday morning quality.
Ghostbusters is a series that’s gone for so long, come so far, and evolved way beyond the original movie that spawned it all. In the animation, it speaks volumes that a name can still carry such a fond legacy of ‘80s and ‘90s cartoons despite their decline and shortcomings. Where Ghost Corps' cartoons go from here is still unclear but no less exciting.