Tooter Turtle was a standout on the King Leonardo and his Short Subjects TV series.

Honorable Mention: Tooter Turtle (1960-1963)
Tooter Turtle was easily the most entertaining component of the King Leonardo and his Short Subjects TV series, and featured the best cartoon characters produced by Total Television until Underdog. Tooter Turtle was a clueless youth who enthusiastically changed his vocational aspirations from one episode to the next. Unfortunately, Tooter typically chose dangerous professions such as knight, fireman, sheriff, lumberjack and generally anything else that could get him killed. Mr. Wizard, who strove only to teach Tooter a lesson, granted his wish with his magic wand.

It didn't take long for things to go horribly awry, leaving the turtle to scream "Heeelp, Mr. Wizard!" With the chant of "Trizzle, trazzle, trozzle, trome, time for this one to come home," the wiz rescued Tooter and reassured him that "Be what you is and not what you is not. Folks that is what they is, is the happiest lot!" While some interpreted this as a call to conformity and acceptance of one's lot in life, Mr. Wizard's admonition may have also meant, "To thine own self be true." Allen Swift voiced Tooter in imitation of Mortimer Snerd, while Sandy Becker's delightful Mittle-European accent graced the voice of Mr. Wizard. A mini-classic of desire, morality, fate and comedy in 43 short episodes.

There are doubtless many other candidates for underrated cartoons in your own minds, and that's only for the good. Spread the word. At best, you may trigger a revival. At the very least, you would be paying tribute and showing appreciation to the many artists and writers that toiled on very good cartoons that, for one reason or another flew under the radar.

Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman is a longtime student and fan of animation. He lives in Anderson, Indiana.