User reviews

I used to love this show when I was very very young but when I went back and saw it, I was not really that impressed. Perhaps I could only remember the best episodes. Therefore I can give a somewhat unbiased review of this series. This show actually does follow an earlier show which originally came up with the name and concept of "Ghostbusters". It thus not a ripoff at all.

This show did have a few notable strengths, namely the title song, music by Saban and some good villains. The animation is OK and strangely enough, the title sequence is indeed better animated than the technically superior "Real Ghostbusters" or RGB, as are some of the backgrounds. However, the animation standards in most episodes were'nt really that good. I would have been less harsh had this show released in the late 70s or early 80s but given that it actually did air during the same time of the other RGB series (1986), one could expect higher standards.

Unlike the other GBs, these guys had all sorts of Ghost themed merchandise and equipment which was rather nice. The characters were nice but underutilized and rather static. The biggest problem with them was that they lacked expression and emotion of any degree! That was just primitive of the animation standards being followed. Their gait, mannerisms and action were also pretty primitive and repetitive. Other characters attempt to be wacky but ended up looking lame and static. While the two main characters made their Gorilla do pretty much everything (the solutions to a problem or a situation presented by him were mostly really illogical, more akin to pulling a rabbit out of a hat), the Gorilla still felt a bit useless.

Not so with the villains. Prime Evil was a superb main villain and will grab more attention than any character from RGB. Other villains were no where as good, but were actually better than the heroes themselves. Were it not for the excellent baddies in the series, it could indeed be classified as a rather poor production.

The poorest area of this series was in the writing. Plots were excessively simple and had no twists or any real attempts at storytelling. They all revolved around some sort of moral motive which was summed up by an annoying talking bat at the end of each episode. Ghostly Aesop's fables perhaps? There were also plenty of clichés and there was really no real action or dialog (from the heros) worth mentioning or remembering. But that can be forgiven if one considers that the intended audience were just young children.

Some fans of the admittedly superior "Real Ghostbusters" cartoon series unfortunately have a filthy reputation for slandering things that are not their cup of tea, especially Filmation's GB series. Therefore, when one comes in and starts to fart about how this is a FAKE, copy, crap etc, make sure to ignore them.

Remember that even though this series is perhaps best viewed and appreciated by very young children rather than a more mature audience, the other GBs cartoon, "The Real Ghostbusters" was also quite childish, even if far superior to this series. The best of all Ghostbuster cartoons was however, Extreme Ghostbusters (XGB) which actually was mature and made for adults for a change. So if the RGB fans laugh at this series for technical reasons, lesser production values or immaturity, note that the XGB fans also retain the right to laugh at RGB for the same reasons.

Filmation's Ghostbusters was created in the early eighties- several years before the hit live-action film.

The show was basically your run of the mill eighties slapstick children's show; where two guys and a monkey catch ghosts. They are continually pitted against their nemesis- Prime Evil.

The rights to the name "ghostbusters" were bought by columbia pictures when the film 'Ghostbusters' was released. When they turned the hit movie into an animated show it was then legally required to be called The REAL Ghostbusters. Because filmation held the rights to the animated medium.

It's a kooky show and interesting to watch. I remember renting it when I was a little kid and being really really confused. Expecting slimer and the gang; I instead got two inept dudes and an ape.

Fun stuff. Check it out!

Essentially the same stuff as you always saw w/ Filmation-block animation, same old scenes re-used to death, strange little teddy bear like cutesy side characters (here a pink bat?!), dopey morale at the end, you know.

I only bother w/ this one because I have a soft spot for the orig. '75 TV series which this was based on, w/ the F Troop guys and Bob Burns in an ape suit. We loved it as kids in my family growing up. It kinda disappeared and this was the only thing that ever spun off from it.

No doubt Filmation threw this series together in '86 once the Bill Murray flick hit so huge two years before, thus the jousting titles and the confused kids that followed.

My guess is that the 'Real Ghostbusters' toon was better than this, but if I had to sit and watch either, I'd go with this one just because Spencer, Tracy and Kong were more my speed over Venkmen and co. That's all.

Ummmm a rating...how about ** stars, mostly for the neat theme music AND the monkey.

On the contrary. If you would activate the comments option of the Ghostbusters DVD, you would realize that the reason producers had a lot of trouble nailing down the name "Ghostbusters." That was due to a '70s TV show of the same name.

I was living overseas at the time, so I only saw this series and not the "Real Ghostbusters." Until I came to the States, that is. Of course, I was familiar with the popular movie (and the fabulous MTV video), but I like both cartoons. I loved Lorenzo Music as the voice of Peter Venkman and Garfield, as well, but I digress.

Ironically, both were originally live-action, and Ghostbusters (with gorilla) came before Ghostbusters (with Slimer) in both instances, yet most people think that it's the other way around--or weren't aware of the '70s series at all. Like a previous user pointed out, that's the way it will be forever remembered by people.

I remember first seeing this when I was 6 or 7 years old and LOVED this show. I was a bit confused, because I was familiar with the 1984 movie, but found it much too scary at the time. This show was much better for a kid of my age. It wasn't as scary, and the slapstick humor was right up my ally. I laughed every time they had to go through the "suit up" scene. I probably would have liked the original 1975 live action show this was based off of had I known about it.

I was a big fan of this cartoon before I even knew about DiC's "The Real Ghostbusters", which didn't come on TV until several months after this show first aired. I liked "The Real Ghostbusters", but preferred this cartoon for some time. I remember I loved the toys. My cousin had the car. It was really cool because the wheels would raise up and would transform into the flying form and the submarine form.

As I got older I grew to like "The Real Ghostbusters" more and eventually, this show disappeared and "The Real Ghostbusters" was all that was left on TV. As I got older, I realized that the "The Real Ghostbusters" was the smarter show, but I maintained a lot of nostalgia for the original Filmation's "Ghostbusters". I think this show is much better for younger kids, while "The Real Ghostbusters" is better for older kids. Both good shows though.

I use to love this show as a child. It's not a rip off from the movie as i twas already mentioned many times. I had a really hard time getting a DVD and now I finally have it. I'm a teacher at a elementary school and I teach English as a foregin language. Guess what - this cartoon is a perfect tool for that. The language and the plot are simple enough for kids to follow it even without listening to the words, so the language sort of slips into their conscience. It's good for basic vocabulary and listening comprehension. The cartoon is also not violent (not really) and funny enough with a strong moral point at the end. So it's perfect for a classroom. At first I was afraid the children would hate it, because the plots are simplistc and the are quite a few goof-ups, but children up to the age of 10 simply loved it and learned quite a few things. We could always start a discussion about the moral of the story (told at the end), revize the new words they've learned and simply reenact some scenes (for pure fun and relaxation). This made me think about this cartoon in a whole new light. It's not just a trip down the memory lane, but it's also a useful tool for foregin language teaching (who would have guessed :)

It's a little known fact but the characters depicted in this series were around long before the movie version was. Back in 1975 there was a short lived TV series called "The Ghost Busters" that featured ghosts being hunted by a trio armed with strange equipment. After the success of the successful film (the title of which had to be paid for by the producers to Filmation who owned the name) they brought the characters back in this series. That's not to say that this show is BETTER than the theatrical Ghost Busters, but it is interesting to note that this isn't the rip off... the theatrical Ghost Busters was the rip off (even if it was a vastly superior rip off!

After reading a previous post, I feel the need to set the record straight. This is Not a rip-off of the film 'Ghostbusters', also, the naming of the cartoon did NOT force the other cartoon to be renamed 'The Real Ghostbusters'. This was a TV show that was on when I was kid in the mid-70's. I used to watch it all the time. The show starred the men from F-Troop, and was made by Filmation. Filmation still held the TV naming rights to the Ghostbusters name, so that is why the other cartoon had to be renamed. I had forgotten about this show until the cartoon came out, and everyone told me I was crazy and such a show had never existed, but I showed them who's crazy didn't I?? Hee hee, anyway, I just felt it was my duty to correct this error.

From 9/6/75 - 9/4/76 there was a live action show known as Ghost Busters. After the Ghostbusters film was a hit, Filmation put out an animated updated version of the show, the Original Ghostbusters in 1986. In the live show The Ghost Busters were a trio (Jake Kong, Eddie Spencer, and Tracy, the gorilla) that dealt with ghosts and other supernatural creatures. At the beginning of each episode, the trio get a taped message outlining their new mission. Once the message plays, the recording self destructs (ala Mission: Impossible). But unlike Mission Impossible, they never manage to get rid of the recording before it explodes.

The Ghost Busters then head out to find, capture, or get rid of the supernatural being. In almost every case, the various creatures end up in the old castle. The various creatures they encountered included vikings, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, vampires, gypsies, werewolves, and of course, various ghosts.

A previous comment posted about this show is entirely false. Actually, this show claimed the name "Ghostbusters" first, as it was a follow up of the live-action 1970's sitcom "Ghostbusters," which featured a similar plot. Because of this live action show, makers of the Ghostbusters movie had difficulties using the name, since it was already taken. Similarly, the cartoon came before the "Real Ghostbusters" cartoon.

We used to watch this at my house as a kid - it was in the time slot right before "The Real Ghostbusters", on another network. As has been pointed out, it was nothing compared to "The Real Ghostbusters". However the claim that this show was a rip off is not entirely true.

In 1975 "The Ghostbusters" was released. This film is, in fact, a movie about two guys and a gorrilla who fought Ghosts with their dematerializer. When "The Ghostbusters" (starring Dan Aykroyd) was released, it was quickly made into a cartoon show, and as it was, some genius realized that they had the rights (or could obtain the rights) to a show which actually had a better claim to originality. The show was very slapstick, vaudeville, just like the movie it was based on, and worth a watch. But it's attitude (and quality) we're far different from what fans of the later film expected, and it was quickly labeled a rip off, and lost to time.

This cartoon was something that I fondly remember from my childhood of yesteryear. It was based on an older show from the seventies long BEFORE the dan akroyd/bill murray type ghostbusters that were more popular. The only thing about this show that I hated was the talking car.

The animated television series of Filmation's Ghostbusters was very good. I'd watch it whenever I could when it was on in the 1980s. The animation was very good and clear. The voices were good for the characters including the talents of Alan Oppenheimer, Linda Gary, Pat Fraley, Peter Cullen, Susan Blu, Lou Scheimer, and Erika Scheimer. Some of these talents were the voices of other classic 1980s animated programs such as He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and She-Ra: The Princess of Power, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to name a few. The stories in the cartoons were good. It was interesting and fun to watch. If you are able to watch this on television or on tape do so because this was one of the great animated shows of the 1980s in My opinion! I recommend it!

Although its a rip off trying to capitalize on the Original Ghostbusters, its way cooler and has cooler villains. I love the real cartoons, but this is still very fun.I found some copys of the cartoon for a dollar at the town's local dollar store

Actually, that this series was a "rip off" of the Ghostbusters films and The Real Ghostbusters cartoon show is a common misconception. Filmation had a live action show in the 1970s called Ghostbusters, and it was pretty much the same as this cartoon, except, obviously, live action. Filmation tried to capitalize on the success of the new Ghostbusters by creating this cartoon and re-releasing videotapes of the old show.

Personally, I do prefer the 1980s Bill Murray/Dan Akyroyd Ghostbusters, but to call this a ripoff is just naive.

I know this show was based on a 70's movie which predated the Columbia Pictures movie. However this cartoon had the misfortune of competing with the Real Ghostbusters cartoon. To be more specific it competed with the first two seasons(1986-1987) of the Real Ghostbusters which were it's best seasons. There was no way that this PERCEIVED imitation had a chance of challenging the superior writing, animation and witty dialogue of the Real Ghostbusters. Filmation tried to capitalize on the success of the Ghostbusters movie but they did it at the wrong time.

What Filmation should have done if the Real Ghostbusters cartoon was coming out was either scrap the Ghostbusters cartoon or if the cartoon was already completed, delay it's release by a few years. This cartoon is actually better than the Real Ghostbusters AFTER SEASON 2. The writing for the Real Ghostbusters was horrible after season 2 and the Filmation crew could have competed with their Ghostbusters cartoon. I won't say to avoid this cartoon as it is a good children's cartoon, much like He-man. Judge it based on it's own merits and it's decent though.

A horrible attempt, unrelated to the movies or excellent cartoon versions. As I recall, this troupe of heroic ghost busters travel from place to place riding in a dune buggy (ala speed buggy, that awful hanna barbera cartoon with the genie... or that other HB cartoon) I saw this on video years ago, thinking i had picked up a 'Real ghost busters' video. Instead, I was exposed to a world of acrid fantasy and horrible writing topped off with... a monkey? If I wanted Donkey Kong, I'd get myself a barrel. It's a terrible work, most notable for the fact that its existence necessitated the renaming of the -REAL- ghost busters Cartoon to.... "The REAL ghost busters" and I think that clarification in the title really IS a good idea. Think lame, 4-fps animation and cheesy production values and you have this... THING... a wretch beyond all salvation. The monkey was kind of a cool idea, I guess.

This show was a follow up to the short lived 1970s live action show. Back in 1984 when the first Ghostbusters film was being made, they found Filmation owned the name. Columbia got permission to use it, likely paying for. But Filmation never gave up cartoon rights and that is why The Real Ghostbusters had the 'real' in it's title. Anyway, after the huge success of the first movie, Filmation updated the action show as cartoon.

Only the gorilla remained and sons of the original characters were brought on. As a matter of fact, those new characters are very similar to Ray and Peter. This show was pretty dumb where the action show was actually funny. They brought in a lot of strange characters. Is it any wonder this show vanished so quickly? Maybe this show was not a rip off, but you can not say that this series was not made to cash in on the movie's success.

Considering that this show WAS based off the old series staying Larry Storch and both this and the "Real Ghostbusters" cartoon (which WAS based on the hit movie) were released as roughly the same time it wasn't really a copy of either the original Ghostbusters movie nor the other cartoon. However, it was a pretty cheap way to capitalize on the success of the movie and its name recognition. I mean, do you think we'd see a remake of the original Filmation series if it wasn't for the big success of the completely unrelated movie of the same name? Thankfully, the producers of the other, much better series cleared things up with the "Real" prefix to the title.

That having been said, I don't remember this series being really any good. I do remember being a bit confused as a kid as to why the ghostbusters were a bunch of stupid kids with a darn talking bat. Soon though, kids realized the series wasn't the real deal and watched the real one.

Please no more, this is horrible....

Watching this as a kid because no-one told you otherwise you are lead to believe this "Ghostbusters" was based on the 1984 film, believe me it's not , it's more likely the producers ripped off the name before Columbia had a chance to make a cartoon based on the film, this horrible cartoon has no redeeming qualities about it whatsoever, it belongs in the same pile as Scooby Doo, Jabber Jaw, Josie And The Pussy Kats, and that is on a huge bonfire with all it's episodes and burned.

if you liked the 1984 movie "Ghostbusters" then this cartoon is not for you try watching "The Real Ghostbusters" which is actually based on the film, but if you like cartoons with bad animation and horrible characters the watch this.

if not then avoid it like the plague, it's precious time in your life wasted if you watch it.

When I found this show description, I was relieved to discover that at least it wasn't just some imagined thing that I had a bad memory of. The rest, however, is not so good. I think one of the major things that doomed it is that they fought the same ghosts every episode. And then there was the fact that nothing ever seemed to happen during the day. Small wonder it didn't make more than two seasons.

although it wasn't really a copy of the hit movie (there was a short lived series called Ghost Busters in the 70's I believe, using the same characters,) it was still pretty lame. It was directed at children, and these "ghostbusters" weren't as cool as "The Real Ghostbusters". Although it wasn't a copy (which many percieve it to be) it will forever be remembered as such.

When I bought a video of one of the episodes, I was expecting it to be good, I had never heard of it before. I buy everything with the name "GHOSTBUSTERS" on it, it's my favorite movie. I just wasn't thinking. I wasted some money right there. Although this show can be interesting at sometimes, it still isn't as good as "The Real Ghostbusters". My recommendation is not to see this, as it will disappoint any "Ghostbusters" fan looking for a good show.

This show was such an incredible rip-off of the "Ghostbusters" cartoon. I mean, Jake and a gorilla? It never compared with the "Ghostbusters" animated series based on the classic movie. But it did create a situation where the real Ghostbusters had to rename their show to that--"The Real Ghostbusters"...it's pretty funny, in retrospect.

What was filmation thinking when they created this piece of garbage. They were trying to steal fan base from the ghostbusters by taking it's name and corrupting it. Luckaly the producers of the ghostbusters movie saw this ploy and created the better "Real Ghostbusters"!