Best cartoon theme song? Well I'm going to give my top 3... because I can.

3. Kidd Video - http://www.youtu.be/lq64MJKwElw
2. M.A.S.K. - http://youtu.be/RQdgbs0IUDg
1. Droids - http://www.youtu.be/SWQcUHj0_5w

While these are my top 3 favourites... none of them are my most Nostalgic, which goes to...

http://www.youtu.be/FysobubtDcI

To be honest I really had to think about this one... it's kind of a guilty weakness of mine. Considering the size of my collection, getting it down to 4 I think was pretty good. 

That's about 45% cartoon, 45% television, and 10% movies all said and done... yet it continues to grow.

One thousand years ago superstition and the sword ruled. It was a time of darkness. It was a world of fear. It was the age of gargoyles.

Dude, you totally cannot overlook some of those Disney shows, like Ducktales, Goof Troop and Gummi Bears. Those are some of the givens.

However, I was quite partial to Doug, Fox Kids' X-Men and Spider Man, David the Gnome, Muppet Babies and, of course, Animaniacs.

No cartoon theme songs come to mind, and the only theme song that is a kids show is,

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0KOfTV1dbc

and the rest are Sci-Fi theme songs.

Wow, Aestolia, Droids? I never got a chance to see that one. Big Star Wars geek and I'm surprised at the accuracy of some of that early Star Wars animation, but can't say that's my favorite song. Maybe it's all the sound effects in that link.

Conan the Adventurer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8syTIxbG6U (tracking is a bit off in this video, but the quality and volume are good)

 - LOLawesome. It's so bad it's good. But it's so good at being so bad that it wraps around and is good at being good somehow. Can you answer the riddle of steel? It doesn't f'ing matter when you're THE MIGHTEST WARRIOR EVER!!! (The "Feel the power!" thing is only from the latter seasons)

Ducktales - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frGLMtGsotc

 - Life really IS like a hurricane! ;-) If I liked ragae (?) more, I'd probably say TaleSpin. One of my favorite shows on at the time. Made flight seem like tons of fun, the way it should be! Kit's airfoil by itself made it worthwhile. ;-)

X-Men - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZAhqEiq4cA

  - I think everybody loves this intro.

I also liked Spider-Man's intro, but I could see how it'd get annoying (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EeIOeYKd-c). X-Men's is still way better.

Favorite (by a slim margin):

King Arthur and the Knights of Justice - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUucZVnno0 (whole intro)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEuU2y0QLoY (instrumental, then opening with song/sounds)

 - Okay, this is dope, and you know it. You might not have seen the show, but it's good. Not X-Men good, but the intro song wins for me. Even though I was in an anti-sports phase (being teased a lot by people who played/enjoyed sports), I still really liked this series where the heroes are a football team. Arthur's armor might not have been practical (gold LOL), but it certainly looked awesome, he had a cool sword, a *cooler* shield (cool shields don't happen often enough IMO), and damn could that guy sport a cape! Look at that cape! It's marvelous! That's like Dragon Warrior 1 NES art (http://www.theoldcomputer.com/game-box-art-covers/Nintendo/NES/d/Dragon%...) cape quality, right there! Maybe even better. I wish I could look good in a cape... :'(

Mr K. I certainly didn't over look them, they just aren't in my top 3, nor are any of them very nostalgic for me. However If we go that route, my top 3 Disney would be.

3. Darkwing Duck - http://youtu.be/375ENQbru8s
2. Gargoyles - http://youtu.be/o74MSIwQAVU
1. Talespin - http://youtu.be/bkXZQO-wz8s

Keep in mind that screenshot's no fake, close to 250 theme songs (as I said, it grows all the time) and at least 100 of them are 70-90's cartoon themes. Disney definately makes some good and memorable themes, just not my top 3.

Knightcrawler, Conan was a pretty awesome theme too, but for some reason it always reminds me of this one, which was ridiculously hard to find:

http://youtu.be/83xFZHDKnrY

The actual theme starts about 36-37 seconds in if you want to skip that far. SARMOTI!!

I think my personal favourite theme, if not entire soundtrack would be Batman The Animated Series.  In a time where cartoons had pretty stock music played as the scene asked for it (the casual theme, the action theme, the danger theme, the comedy theme...) BTAS' soundtrack consisted of an original orchestral soundtrack for each episode.  But as for just the opening theme itself, it stands up today as not being classified from a time period.  I love themes from the X-Men cartoon and the Fox Spider-Man show, but they really do date themselves with that heavy metal tone everything seemed to need in the early 90's.  BTAS' spin on the Danny Elfman Batman theme from the Michael Keaton movies still stands up today as a great piece of orchestral music. 

It also didn't need to rely on cheesy lyrics or any kind of words telling you this show was about Batman.  The musical style did all the talking.  I love more lyric based theme songs like the original Scooby Doo theme for instance, but the problem I have with lyrical pieces is they get stuck in my head to the point where they begin to bother me.  I can still hum the Batman theme, but without lyrics it doesn't get trapped in my skull for hours driving me insane. 

It also holds nostalgic value to me of getting home from school as soon as possible to watch the show every weeknight.   I still don't tire of seeing that bank getting robber to that themesong each week.

Another theme, oddly enough from Danny Elfman, that I feel deserves recognition is that from The Simpsons.  It's instantly recognizable and really sets the tone and pace of the show.  Another reason why I feel it's a favourite, and maybe one of the best in TV history is we're almost at 500 episodes now and the theme hasn't changed.   Many shows would probably restructure and come up with a new theme after a number of seasons to keep things fresh, but you can still hear that same theme played in front of each episode, and even abridged versions in front of syndicated ones.   In an age where opening themes are almost dropped completely in favour of words over the action style movie credits, the Simpsons still takes the time each week for their new episode to play the full theme. 

I think my final reason for liking it so much is its adaptability.   Often times they will play the same theme with but tweaked to fit a different genre of music, or even to parody another show.  I don't think any other TV show has done that before it, or as well afterwards beyond throwing in some jingle bells for a Christmas episode.  You've got salsa Simpsons themes, spooky ones, and even parodies like the Hill Street Blues version.  Wonderful stuff and all of them are highly listenable.

Yes Disney had some very good a catchy themes.  I also used to watch those shows almost religiously back when they had the Disney Afternoon every day after school.  But, most of my childhood was in the 80's, so I need a rockin' track!  If we are including cartoon movies too, then to me, the best cartoon theme of all time has to be Transformers: The Movie!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P5v4A5r0S8

If we are talking about only TV cartoons then I have to say Pole Position!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQGcq1-ZKgI

I challenge everybody to not sing any part of these AWESOME themes of PURE WIN!!!  Hey Oh!

Pokemon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwD05DEh0QU&feature=related

and lets not forget 

Cowboy Bebop http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X3Kcyv3XLA&feature=related

EDIT:Changed the link to a better sounding one.

Aestolia, I have a bad habit of starting sentences with "dude." I wasn't addressing you. It was just in general. I do it a heck of a lot more in common speech than I do in type, though.

Awesome weekly Wringer Mr Commodore, and im sure we all know your extremely busy!! So dont you worry about it. 

Well for me, most Nostalgic tune that conjures up fuzzy young'un feelings is TMNT (or Teenage Mutant HERO Turtles as it was here in the UK, as Ninja was far too violent a word! ha) Every time I hear it, the theme makes me think of the dark live action movie I loved so much, my figures, the games I had of them as well as allll the videos of the show. On top of the nostalgic value, its also a very good song that I feel captures the Heroic and Bad ass nature of the show and its protagonists. 

HOWEVER.....Swichereee - Switcheroo...THIS song does have Nostalgic value for me, however not a hard hitting as good old TMNT. But I believe its a better theme song, it makes me smile even to this day as well as making ANYONE else who hears it smile!! Its just a great track, amazing lyrics as well as getting you right in to the mood for the Crazy program to come!! 

THAT IS........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed-hUoeHcz0

It's alright Mr. K you brought up an excellent point that I did over look as well. Disney has always had very memorable music.

1.) Pokemon & Dragon Ball Z (A tie, I just could choose which one embodies my childhood more, when ever I hear them I immediately think of the 90s) - Come on this song is so encouraging and inspiring, it gave me an awesome sense and a mind set that I could do anything; With the awesome wailing guitar in the back ground and the action packed scenes this is just to good to pass up 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwD05DEh0QU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWD0kuJjaGU&playnext=1&list=PL78DCF3BAEB0...

(the first 1:30 is the one i am referring to)

2.) 90's X-Men series - This had so much win in it, awesome guitars, great cover of all the main characters, amazing animation, nuff said 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZAhqEiq4cA

Checked out the links and forgot about Pokemon since Team Rocket got repetitive so I stopped watching. Two cartoon themes came up in the suggestion for other videos I forgot about.

Captain Planet Closing theme (if closing themes count.) -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo0D6bzxLLw

Digimon - I will not post a link since the full version just drags on for me.

As of right now the best it would be between Pokemon and Captain Planet for me.

On another note Freakazoid, no, no, no. I never heard of him till I was an adult and watched some of it and the theme song/series just makes my head hurt. Also I have been considering getting the various X-Men cartoon series and after watching the intro posted above I should get that one since I thought I liked Rogue but it's Jubilee that wears the yellow jacket.

I sort of a little kid compaired to all the rest of ya so I don't have the biggest base for nostalgia yet, but my favorite theme has to be Pokemon (GOTTA CHATCH EM AALLLLLLL!!!!), with cowboy beebop in a close second.

Also, the best music in a cartoon, in my opinion has to be the sound track to Ed,EDD,nEddy.  It perfectly convays suburban childhood. When ever I think of my younger-self I alway hear that "FAST JAZZ" in the back of my head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrMvYHFeH60&feature=channel_video_title

just though I would give this link.

also did u see they have a new thundercats coming out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KGj6KGeUto&feature=fvsr

I'd have to say between the Pinky and the Brain theme, and the theme for season 2 of the original Scooby-Doo series. I really can't remember many other themes off of the top of my head, especially cartoon themes, since I barely watch any TV series on the TV, or TV shows on my laptop. Between those two, though, I'd probably have to pick Pinky and the Brain because, not only was that an excellent and unique premise (let's face it, how much of anything has two genetically mutated rodents trying to take over the world every single night), but the theme was very catchy, too. "They're pinky and the brain, yes pinky and the brain/their twilight campaign, is easy to explain/to prove their mousey worth/something something earth... you get the idea.

Edit: as well as the original Pokemon theme, thanks for reminding me with your comment, FinalFan

FinalFan that's quite the medley you linked... I'm just wondering if I should be proud or ashamed that I could sing along with pretty much every single one of those themes.

The only ones I couldn't were the 2 sweedish, the finnish and Dr. Snuggles

For me there are two that spring to mind:

Scooby Doo-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FysobubtDcI.

I must have watched this every day when I was little

and,

Dexter's Lab-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrTXnY5vsvc

It's still one of my absilute favorite cartoons.

Well, all of my favorites have already been mentioned. Ducktales was my favorite Disney one, Cowboy Bebop was one of my favorites (although that's not really a children's cartoon), but my favorite has to be pokemon. I know the CotGW guys aren't part of that generation, but that really was a pretty bomb song for a children's show. 

Also, anyone else notice how the Disney themes all have wicked basslines? :D

Hehe , yeah , i do agree that the freakazoid theme can get grating....but I still love it. lol. 

Pokemon is awesome, and you can really get behind singing it, It must be up there as one of the best. 

And I never ever saw Coyboy Beepbop, but there theme is Badass! 

I tried to stay away from anime themes when I picked my top, simply because the only anime I saw during my childhood (that I recall) were these two:

Astroboy - http://www.youtu.be/mGY9AOiNtcg

Thunderbirds 2086 - http://www.youtu.be/ze18d-3g3aI

I rewatched the end of the wringer to hear how  the Commodore worded the question again. I was focusing on childhood since he mentioned 'nostalgia juices' and 'old cartoons'. The question was best of all time though. Before he asked though he also said Cartoon 'music' not just themes so I'm just going to post a bunch more stuff here:

top 3 theme of all time for me. My top is going to have to follow suit with a number of other people...

3. Cloud Age Symphony from Last Exile - http://www.youtu.be/NzWD-VSKQ_Y
2. Droids (it was my top old school one after all) - http://www.youtu.be/SWQcUHj0_5w
1. Tank! from Cowboy Bebop - http://www.youtu.be/T6zDfxZ4NcE

Bebop actually has the honour of being made into a seemless loop to as my cell phone ring.

To address one other question Commodore put forward though.  Best Music. including or excluding themes some of the absolute best music in a cartoon I can think of is .hack//sign. Here's a couple of examples:

Key of Twilight - http://www.youtu.be/EfwJOyfmXj4
The World (starts slow but really picks up) - http://www.youtu.be/azuxnVHcVQc
and the opening theme: Obsession - http://www.youtu.be/m2JzvWvu0Tw

.hack//sign had such well received music that the DVD releases actually have an option of 'music only' which I've not really seen on any other anime.

and i realize i'm posting alot.. >.> I just like hearing myself type.

Uncanny X-Men,

Knight Rider, 

Spiderman,

Dragon Ball / Dragon Ball Z,

Ranma 1/2,

Air Wolf,

A-Team

also did u see they have a new thundercats coming out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KGj6KGeUto&feature=fvsr

I am assuming that that link is for the new ThunderCats since I can not watch it due to "The uploader has not made this video available in your country. Sorry about that."

Astro Boy, I remember listening to that on a 45 rpm record on a Fisher Price record player, I preferred side B since it was only instruments.

I would definantly have to ge with,

Ch-ch-ch-chip n' dale rescue rangers! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfxIa-643zI 

as the best theme, although everyone else mentioned some fantastic ones too, such as POKEMON, which i still listen to today and its still amazing!

Duck Tales because I have not watched that show in over 10 years and I still remember every single word from the theme until this day. That's impressively catchy.

Just remembered this 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xGAwvRo7-E

Nice Captain

Commodore, you made this one really hard for me! I could post all my favorites, but the list would be too long, so I'll keep it down to three.

First off, I'll start with my Super-Hero show pick. While I love the X-Men theme and the theme of Batman: The Animated Series, it was the Spider-Man theme from the '90s that actually inspired me to pick up the guitar. Had I not watched this show, I don't think I'd have had the same drive to learn the instrument.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZw64rBswqc

Now, the next one is a bit of a cheat. While this particular version of the theme is from the movie, there's just something about the Lion version of the theme of The Transformers that I love. Again, probably the classic metal guitar, but I'm a sucker for it, lol. The original version is great, don't get me wrong, but this one is just so delightfully 80's tastic, you can't help but feel nostalgic about it (even if you're like me and didn't catch it during the first run).

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOhnKIVLzOw

But the one that takes the cake for me is the theme to The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest. Again, I love classic Quest, but as a kid, Real Adventures was in its first run, and I would rush to the TV to watch the show. I also was quick on getting my dad to buy me the PC game when I saw it, that took a few years for me to beat as a kid due to getting lost in it, as well as computer crashes, lol.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Q7nKNVPwc

That's one thing I do have to commend the animators of the past, they knew how important music is to a show. Unfortunately, music just isn't as good in modern TV shows, let alone animated shows. I can't remember the last show I saw that had a phenomenal soundtrack. But I've got a little hope, the music in the sneak peak for Tron: Uprising sounds pretty good, but then again, they're basing it off of Daft Punk's score, so you can't go too wrong, lol.

But yeah, all the shows I mentioned had some excellent background score as well, but Batman: The Animated Series is unparalleled in that department IMO. Take a listen:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOEjrVWhBaQ&feature=related

Only know The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest by name, nothing special about the music but like video segment. (I like tunnel traveling effects.)

Life is like a hurricane here in Duckburg.