Television series

Aquaman

Name: Aquaman
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Released: 1967
Cast: Pat Harrington Jr., Bud Collyer, Tommy Cook, Jerry Dexter, Ted Knight

Other titles called Aquaman: the 2018 film.

This 1967 CBS animated series follows Aquaman and Aqualad defending Atlantis and Earth's oceans from underwater threats. Breezy eight-minute episodes capture the campy energy of mid-60s superhero animation—bright, earnest, and wonderfully strange. Perfect for anyone who loves Saturday morning cartoons, Silver Age DC comics, or the kitschy charm of pre-camp television.

TVMaze rating

3.2

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love vintage Saturday-morning cartoons with a clean, cheerful sense of adventure, where a brisk undersea rescue or a sea-monster scrap is the whole point and nobody needs brooding to stay interested.

Skip it if you want a modern animated series with sharp writing, serialized storytelling, or characters who grow over time, since this one is thin on story and leans on repetitive, stock-style plotting.

What it asks of you: Each episode runs only about eight minutes, so it asks for a few idle minutes at a time, with limited animation and simple, direct storytelling rather than sustained attention.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Batman: The Animated Series1992

The gold standard of superhero animation. Sharp writing, gorgeous art deco design, and genuine emotional weight prove cartoons could be serious art. Harley Quinn was invented here.

But Darker and more complex than 60s fare—if you love pure campy fun, this might feel overly earnest.

Superman: The Animated Series1996

Captures the spirit of classic Superman while bringing real sophistication. The animation is fluid, the villains complex, and it respects its source material without winking at it.

But Less colorful and weird than the 1967 version. Some episodes lean slow and procedural.

Space Ghost Coast to Coast1994

The exact same animation house, the exact same era, but a talk-show wrapped in a superhero frame. Hilarious, surreal, and impossible to categorize. Pure Saturday morning weirdness.

But It's deliberately nonsensical and very 60s in pacing—patience required, and not all jokes land today.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Aquaman

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea1954

Both explore wonder and threat in the deep ocean, building a mythology around an underwater world humans barely understand. One is earnest adventure; the other is campy fun. Same dream, different register.

Jules Verne's underwater epic in live-action splendor. Captain Nemo is a tragic villain, the submarine is a character itself, and the ocean depths feel genuinely alien and beautiful. A template for everything Aquaman aspires to be.

But Nearly two hours of 1954 pacing—long stretches of maritime procedure before the action kicks in.

The Fantastic Four1994

Vibrant Saturday morning adventure in the same era, with the same earnest camp. Family-friendly superhero action with actual stakes and a team dynamic that's genuinely warm.

But Animation quality is uneven, and some plots wear thin across 22 minutes.

Spider-Man1978

Iconic theme song aside, this 1967 series has surprising charm—scrappy animation, devoted voice work, and surprisingly dark moments for its time. A true cult classic.

But The animation is choppy by any standard, and budget constraints show badly in later episodes.

The New Adventures of Batman1977

A gentler, goofier Batman for the 70s. Full of weird villains, surreal situations, and Bat-gadget comedy. Pure fun without pretension.

But Genuinely silly to a fault—if you want competent action, look elsewhere.

Jonny Quest1964

Adventure animation done right. Globetrotting, exotic locations, real danger, and stunning model animation. The 60s Saturday morning show that still holds up.

But Dated in places, and the racial politics of a 1964 show won't age well for modern viewers.

The Herculoids1967

Wild alien-planet adventure with a family defending a world. Strange creature design, bold colors, and imagination that punches above its budget. Deeply strange in the best way.

But Plot-light and slow-paced by modern standards; it's about atmosphere and spectacle, not story.

The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau1968

Both use the ocean as a world to explore. Aquaman imagines it as a kingdom to defend; Cousteau shows us the actual kingdom we're destroying. One is fantasy, one is heartbreaking reality—together they show why the ocean matters.

Real underwater photography so stunning it barely seems real. Cousteau narrates with quiet reverence, revealing the ocean as alien landscape and character. Meditative, gorgeous, genuinely awe-struck.

But Not a story or adventure—pure documentary observation. Very slow, very contemplative.

The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau poster

Creature from the Black Lagoon1954

An underwater creature protecting its world from surface invasion—the mirror image of Aquaman. He's the hero defending the deep; this is the deep defending itself. Same conflict, inverted perspective.

The last great Universal monster picture. Underwater scenes shot in 3D are genuinely eerie and beautiful. The creature is sympathetic; the humans are the invaders. Gothic, strange, unexpectedly moral.

But 1950s monster-movie pacing is glacial, and it's not really a superhero story—more of a tragedy.