The Herculoids (1967): the after-school adventure that still hits

The Herculoids debuted in 1967 as a 10-minute animated series created by writer Alex Toth. It followed Zandor, his wife Astrid, their two kids Dax and Ila, and a crew of bizarre alien creatures as they defended their home from invaders, monsters and cosmic threats. The show was pure Saturday-morning-style adventure stripped down to cartoon-short length, which meant every episode packed a fight, a moral and a resolution into ten minutes flat. It found new life in the 1980s when it cycled through local UHF stations as an afternoon rerun, which is probably where you caught it.

The premise and the cast

The Herculoids weren't superheroes in capes—they were a family with science and smarts on their side, plus an arsenal of alien allies. The voice cast included Don Messick (best known as Scooby-Doo), Mike Road and Ted Eccles, and their delivery gave the show a sense of real stakes even when the plots were as wild as they come. The creatures ranged from shape-shifters to telepaths, each with their own role in the family's defense. The show never explained much about how they got there or why these specific aliens chose to help; it just threw you into the action and trusted you to keep up.

Watch it: The Herculoids Complete Series DVD on Amazon (Own the full 1967 series on disc for a permanent collection and reliable access to all episodes.)

What held up and what didn't

The animation is flat and economical by design—that's 1967 Saturday-morning TV, not theatrical Disney—but it moves fast enough that you don't notice the corners cut. Toth's design sense (bold shapes, strong silhouettes) gives the aliens personality without needing a lot of detail. What hasn't aged as well is the pacing of the dialogue; by modern standards it feels stiff and expository, with characters explaining what you're already seeing on screen. But that was the house style for kids' TV in that era, and it's not a deal-breaker if you grew up on it or you're willing to meet it halfway.

The real charm is in the earnestness. These weren't ironic or self-aware; they were straightforward adventure stories with a family at the center. That's rarer now, and it reads as a strength rather than a weakness.

The toys and merchandise

The Herculoids never became a toy juggernaut like G.I. Joe, but the show did move merchandise. Action figures and playsets existed, though they're scarce in the collector's market today. If you're hunting for vintage Herculoids toys, expect to do some digging on eBay or specialty toy sites; the secondary market for 1960s cartoon tie-ins is thin unless the show became a cultural touchstone, which this one didn't quite reach.

That theme song

The opening is instantly memorable: a brassy, spacey number that sold the adventure in about 15 seconds. If you watched it as a kid, it's probably still in your head. That's not nostalgia talking—it's a genuinely catchy piece of work that did its job perfectly.

Where to watch it now

The Herculoids has been released on DVD and digital platforms. Streaming availability varies by region and service, so your best bet is checking your usual platforms or looking for the complete series on disc if you want a permanent copy. It's also occasionally syndicated on classic cartoon blocks, so keep an eye on your cable guide if you subscribe to retro-focused channels.

The verdict

The Herculoids scores 7.4 on IMDb from 1,534 user votes—solid for a 1967 kids' show, and the score reflects what fans remember: a well-made, entertaining piece of Saturday-morning television that didn't talk down to kids and didn't overstay its welcome. If you loved it as an after-school rerun, rewatching it now is a genuine treat. If you're new to it, go in expecting earnest, brisk adventure with no irony or winking at the camera—and you'll find exactly that. It's not going to blow your mind, but it's worth the time, and it reminds you why that era of animation had staying power.

Parents' guide

Rated TV-Y7 · Best for 6+. The Herculoids is a straightforward sci-fi adventure show with cartoon action and alien battles, but no graphic violence, language, or sexual content. Episodes are only 10 minutes long, making it easy to fit into a viewing schedule. The show emphasizes family teamwork and problem-solving, with a father, mother, and two children working together as the core cast.

Woke or not?

Not woke. The show centers on a traditional family unit (married parents and children) working together as heroes, with no messaging agenda. It's pure adventure storytelling from 1967 with no identity politics, no character rewrites, and no lectures—just earnest, straightforward entertainment.

Quick answers

How long is each episode?

10 minutes. The whole series moved fast by design, which actually works in its favor—no filler, no padding, just story and action.

Who created it?

Alex Toth wrote and designed the series. He was one of the best character designers in animation history and brought real craft to the visuals.

How many seasons did it run?

Two seasons, 1967–1968. That's typical for Saturday-morning cartoons of that era, but the show got plenty of syndication life in the 1980s and beyond.

Is it the same as the live-action Herculoids movie?

No. The 1967 cartoon is the original. There have been other adaptations and reboots over the years, but the cartoon is the classic.