Crossover Chaos!!!

A list of some of history's memorable get-togethers before the year 2000...
On
March 06, 2008
Something about the "Crossover" theme has always fascinated me. When two or more groups of characters from completely different companies, creators or even intercompany group together in some event where just about anything can happen, it's just something you'd really have to see.

Here I will discuss the coolest, greatest, and not "the worstest" corporate-merging, get-togethers of the past.

BEWARE! SOME MAY BE MISSED, AS WELL AS COMIC BOOK CROSSOVERS! BUT thanks to Wikipedia, I shouldn't miss too much. Just the ones I Haven't experienced yet, just so you know.

First, The Video Game Section! Here I will list the coolest video game team-ups and rivalries in history.

Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! (GB)


Not a great Bomberman game (or even Wario for that matter). I mean why Wario and Bomberman? We hardly even knew Wario back then compared to today, and why Bomberman? What did he do to deserve this? Joking aside, this little crossover is clearly the most random I've ever seen that I just had to bring it up. Seeing how Wario is a platformer, while BM is an overhead-viewed astronaut-like guy who drops bombs. It's strange why they even thought of putting this together.

Anyway it's nothing special, it's still the same old tradional Bomberman game with Wario in it. It's not the best, but it's still a big surprise.

Battletoads And Double Dragon (SNES)

Another unexpected, but great, crossover. This one was more likely due to both games being arcade-style beat 'em ups, albeit with different controls. Here, the Dark Queen teams up with the Shadow Boss in their efforts to take over the universe. The 'Toads do the same and team up with the Shadow Boss's nemeses, the Double Dragons.

The game uses the Battletoads' fighting engine, which is smoother and thanks to the SNES' four-face-button technology (LOL) fighting with the Dragons is a lot easier! The game itself is also easier than both games in their respective series.

I say this because I actually remember reaching the ending of this game and still haven't finished Battletoads for the NES or even BT: Battlemaniacs...lousy Bike-rail levels...and that stupid Rat Race level I HATE YOU SO MUCH BUT I BEAT YOU I TOTALLY BEAT YOU EXCEPT FOR THAT STUPID BIKE-RAIL EHSDJALDDLSHKD!!!!!!!!

Ahem...the game is lots of fun, despite the fact that I wished it had some extra multiplayer feature. I mean there were 5 characters but only 2 were playable, oh well. Still, definitely worth emulaaaaaaaaa-buying on Ebay, or some retro game store near (or far from) you and the game features Adobo...I mean Abobo, and the Hot (if you imagine enough) Dark Queen.

Marvel Vs. Series
It all started when Capcom started making a new series of arcade fighting games with Marvel Comics. They started with X-men: Children of the Atom, then Marvel Super Heroes. They all had pretty much the same mechanics of a Street Fighter game, except in these games you could jump REALLY high, and Super Moves didn't have you QCF your joystick twice then press a button, which usually makes you do a "Hadouken" or something you didn't want. Then something surprised arcade gamers everywhere.

They came out with X-men VS. STREET FIGHTER!

"AT LAST" is right, as people spent quarters teaming Ryu with Wolverine, and Cyclops with Ken and so on so forth. Here you could tag selected members, combine super moves, and Aerial Rave your opponents. Oh the Aerial Rave (aka air combo), my one weakness.

With its success, they made a sequel a year later, Marvel Super Heroes VS. Street Fighter.

Now featuring a more diverse cast of Marvel Characters, but with the same old Street Fighters. It was an improvement, with the new assist command, and more Supers and better music.


And finally, Capcom decided to do the same thing with their side in the series and created: MARVEL VS. CAPCOM!

This time, the crossover was bigger than before with characters like Mega Man, Strider and Captain Commando, the game was so full of variety like a...a pizza! Yeah...this one threw in some uh...chicken and buffalo...uh...YEAH! They also upped the ante a little with the addition of NPC assist characters! From the obscure Pure and Fur, to the "wish they were playable" Psylocke. Despite a few disappointing removals from the roster, Capcom made up by releasing MvC2 years later. And it still rocks.


This is my true favorite Capcom fighting series, so much that I don't enjoy the Street Fighter series alone...and boy do I hate that SNK team up. But that's my opinion.

Super Smash Bros.

Ahhhhhhhh...the one game that started the best thing that ever happened to Nintendo, and possibly the fighting genre in general. There was no other game like it.

For the first time, you could play a fighting game with Mario and Link, beat up Pikachu (if you're that kinda person) for hours thanks to the Damage Percentage meter, and play Samus in 3D for the first time. It also wasn't the same kind of fighter you'd expect from Street Fighter, no. Think "platformer with a fighting theme", and no energy bar, with special moves performed with a push of the B button, and throw stuff at people! With those kinds of features, you couldn't stop playing. That is until Melee and Brawl fall into your hands, which I will not mention in this article because they're not that retro yet.

Honorable Mention: Mickey Mousecapades
Hmm? What's this doing here you ask? Well, I'd always enjoy thinking that this game is one of the early chapters of the game Kingdom Hearts. And that it's a fun game yet frustrating sometimes if you don't know the secrets. But why? Well it features Mickey and Minnie fighting denizens of generic baddies and un-generic, like the Tweedle bros. (who, here, are somewhat like the Hammer Bros.) and the guys from Country Bears etc., by shooting stars/balls at them. And the main reason it's here, is because the

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final boss is Maleficent.

And behind the door she's (poorly) guarding, is Alice from Wonderland.


It's not much of a crossover, but a bunch known Disney faces from the classic movie lineup are here, just as baddies. The Japanese version makes the game more of a Mickey Mouse/Alice in Wonderland crossover, while the US version throws in the Crocodile from Peter Pan and the Snake from Jungle Book. You really don't see this much outside of children's books at your local Wal-Mart.

And now...the Animated section!

The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones

This would be the first crossover I've ever seen, and what began my fascination of the theme. Two families of the H-B lineup, from completely different periods of time finally meet up face-to-face, sharing different lifestyles. What also fascinated me about this show was the fact that I always knew this would happen someday, and it did. It just seemed bound to happen, just like perhaps someday there would be a Simpsons and Family Guy Crossover...well actually there was this one scene where Quagmire uh...you know I'll save that for a future article.

(Scooby's All-Star) Laff-A-Lympics
For those who don't know, it was about a select bunch of Hanna-Barbera co. characters, separated in three teams, competing for the gold in various Olympic and non-Olympic events around the world, and to the moon.

The Yogi-Yahooey's consisted of some of Hanna-Barbera's anthropomorphic line-up. Namely Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, Huckleberry Hound, Wally Gator, Yakky Doodle (Aw yeah) etc.

Then there were the Scooby Doobies. A team consisting of characters who were known for their 30-minute mystery solving adventures, Scooby Doo, and his cousin Scooby Dum, Shaggy Rogers, Hong Kong Phooey and, the coolest in my humble opinion, the Blue Falcon and Dyno-mutt to name a few.

Then the Really Rottens, the show's original characters consisting of villains who would do bad stuff to win. They're not important anyway since they weren't from different shows. Strangely, Detective Mumbly is part of the team. He's supposed to be a good guy. Before this aired, he appeared in mini-sodes where he'd reluctantly annoy criminals' and their evil deeds as a famous, snickering detective. Who looked like Muttley. Here, he assumes the roll of villainous subordinate of a guy who isn't Dick Dastardly. Weird.

Animaniacs Stew

Some of you might be thinking..."Hey this ain't a crossover!" Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeell in some ways it isn't. But I remember reading some places, episodes that had Bugs Bunny, Daffy, Foghorn etc. in the same place were labeled as crossovers. BUT there is an explanation for this. Both shows in general, episodes would only center on one or a a certain group of characters. Before this episode aired, Pinky and the Brain, Slappy the Squirrel, The Goodfeathers, etc. all had episodes of their own. As in, none of the Warner Bros. and sis, or any of the aforementioned and more, ever played a major role in any of their shows, but simply made "cameos". (one-shot appearances) Usually, at any random moment, running through the area being chased by Ralph the Guard. So there...

Anyway, this special episode starts off with the WB&S in their new Test Kitchen cooking up something "different". They throw in a bunch of the other Animaniacs into a soup pot and mix them up, thus dubbing it "Animaniacs Stew". The results?

-Yakko, Wakko and their sister Slappy the Squirrell visit Saddam Hussein

-Mindy and The Brain play in the backyard and prepare for world domination, respectively.

-Runt and Pesto finally find a home, except the owner hates birds.

-Katie Ka-boom unwittingly goes out with Chicken Boo.

Probably the dumbest mash-up in cartoon history. And that's a compliment by the way.
There was also a movie called "Wakko's Wish". It featured all the characters from the show. It's not really a crossover, but one of those "films with an All-star cast" since the whole thing takes place in the same setting, and had many subplots focusing on the one or more characters.

There was even a special where they've also interacted with the Tiny Toons, but I haven't seen that yet, not even "Pinky, the Brain and Elmyra". Heard bad things about that one.

Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue

Well, I bet none of you expected this to happen, and now you're probably like "WTF IS GARFIELD AND TMNT AND TEH GUYS FROM DUCKTALEZ???!!" Yup that's them, along with ALF, Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Smurfs, and a bunch of other guys who aren't even from the same company. Fact, all of these characters (except for Garfield) were given "royalty-free access" by the licensors, due to public service aspect of the show.

The story was mainly about some teenager named Michael who is discovered taking drugs, by his sister. Worried, her merchandise comes to life to stop her brother from getting further under the influence.

The show is also a bit edgy. Not only because it's about drugs, but the fact that Simon the chipmunk, along with everyone else, knows what "Marijuana" is. Wow. I mean how do they know anyway?! Coming from shows that don't even feature the stuff you'd think they'd just say something like "This rolled-up piece of tissue paper with grass inside makes this kid all mean and junk, we gotta stop him!".

Despite all that, it was still very interesting seeing all those characters there, talking with each other and doing stuff...and singing together...yeah...they sang a song.

You know your really ******* high when cartoons start talking and singing to you about drugs.
-xjohnny911x (Youtube comment)

I remember way back when I discovered this and Youtube hadn't been invented yet, some Voice actor website would list something called "Cartoon All-stars 2000: Stop Samurai Jack", and would include Pokemon and Digimon characters in the list. However turns out that website also listed Calvin and Hobbes with voice actor list as well. Ha.

Justice League

An excellent animated crossover series. And just before the year 2000! Not only because it was a crossover of some of DC's greatest heroes, but the show itself was great with it's award-winning production staff, intense action sequences, suggestive humor and inspirational story-telling. This would be the second to the final chapter of the DC Animated Universe, the last chapter would be Justice League Unlimited released years later.

The continuing the adventures of Superman and Batman now joining forces with "from guest star to regular" The Flash, and new to the animated universe Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, Martian Manhunter and the Green Lantern. Still saving the world, from bigger threats they could only handle as a team.

What also made this show great, was the way all of the characters were portrayed. All the sissy-ness you've seen in previous animated incarnations from around the 70's have been completely removed. Nobody thinks out loud anymore or says things like "GREAT SCOTT!" and no corny super hero sequences. But they did sort of bring some back to the Unlimited series, except it was good this time.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Definitely, without a doubt, with no exception...the BIGGEST animated crossover in history! What makes this so big? Well, what other show or movie features a large cast from Disney, MGM and the Warner Bros? Including some of the guys by Fleischer (of Popeye fame) and Walter Lantz (Woody Woodpecker). The movie itself isn't a crossover in the same vein as the other's in this list. It is mainly about a world where flesh-and-blood and ink-and-paint coincide in the same universe. In fact, they coincide so much that it was also made possible for Bugs Bunny AND Mickey Mouse to act together in more than one scene. A personal favorite though, was the small piano duel scene between Daffy and Donald Duck. No, not that part where Donald seemingly calls Daffy an "African-American", but the fact that Daffy is such an annoying, wacky, son of a... and with Donald's short fuse I'd think they'd barfight each other. But that didnt happen, but just thinking about it makes me happy.

Anyway, despite these children's favorite character appearances, this movie also wasn't that good for children. With too many suggestive scenes, mild language and sexual innuendos going around, you're going to need to two pairs of hands to cover what your child might see and hear. Yup. Looney Tunes also had a few suggestive scenes and quotes that are considered offensive to today's standards. If you haven't noticed, just do some research and you might be surprised

The Simpsons
This cartoon has become so successful over the years that they've reached celebrity status, in an almost "live-action" sense. You see them in "Best TV Mom or Best TV Dads" in magazine top lists, promoting some lemon drink seen in a banner in Japan, and appear in some shows even, like the Emmy's or certain other events. And with their success, they've happened to "join forces" with familiar celebrities, and sometimes, other fictional characters. In fact, these fictional team-ups have earned this show its own section:

"A Star Is Burns"
In this episode, the Simpsons invite a guest character into the show. That guy from the short-lived series "The Critic", Jay Sherman. I can't say that I've seen enough of the Critic since it was only on when I wasn't around, but it was still funny and had a few things worth noting.

First of all, Jay's skin was yellow just like all the characters in the Simpsons universe. And what Bart said to Jay when he stated if they ever wanted to be in his show. "Nah, we won't be doing that".

"The Springfield Files"

One of the funniest episodes in the series, back when they were funny. Homer experiences an encounter of the third kind leading the two main characters from the X-Files, Agent Mulder and Scully (played respectively by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson themselves), to investigate. It also brought in a few cameo aliens into the mix.

Yeah you know who these guys are, but maybe except for that one guy who is Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still. Yeah I never heard of him either :P

"Marge Be Not Proud (Honorable Mention)"
Not really a crossover, but it does contain a short yet hilarious scene. Bart demands his parents they buy him the new "Bonestorm" video game or go to hell. But they say no, and after finding ways to get it but only to fail, he resorts to shoplifting with the encouragement of Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong and especially, Sonic the Hedgehog.

JUST...TAKE IT! TAKEITTAKEITTAKEITTAKEITTAKEIT! Take it!
-Sonic the Hedgehog

You know what else? Despite being a rival character, Sonic's always been involved with Mario somehow, but now he's in an official Olympic game with Mario, and a fighter in Brawl. Just thought I'd bring that up.

That's pretty much it, but there is definitely a lot more. And even to this very day.

Johnny Bravo
This "Cartoon Cartoon" title character, somehow, also has had a few adventures with some familiar faces.

Bravo Dooby Doo

Johnny meets the famous Scooby Doo Detective Agency's main cast. He's just about to visit his aunt, but his car breaks down. The gang gives him a lift to his aunt's house and it turns out...to be another spooky place, then Scooby Doo-hilarity ensues.

One of the funniest Scooby Doo parodies H-B studios has ever offered, next to A Pup Named Scooby Doo. Johnny's attraction to Daphne, his remark on the phrase "Jinkies" and that scene where he and Velma drop their glasses is just comic gold. Also, it is so far, the last Scooby Doo crossover since their old "new movies", from what I gather.

Velma: My glasses! I can't see without my glasses!
Johnny: My glasses! I can't be seen without my glasses!

Johnny Bravo has also acted alongside co-star Jungle Boy, as well as other celebrities like Adam West, Donny Osmond, and in later episodes, Don Knotts, the Blue Falcon, Weird Al and a whole bunch of other guys. But this is the only one I really remember being the funniest during season 1. Season 4's (the last season) had a Blue Falcon, Don Knotts, Weird Al and Shaq. But those were boring as that was also the show's declining season. I guess. Since those episodes were aired after 2000 I'll save those for a future article as soon as these are retro enough.

Mickey's 60th Birthday
I'm not a big fan of Mickey Mouse. And when I say "not big" I mean Bugs Bunny is a lot funnier (IMHO!!!) but at least he knows how to kick some types of ass in Kingdom Hearts. After reading about this special featuring a handful of sitcom characters I just had to go check it out. Mickey wants to make a big opening for his 60th birthday and finds the Sorcerer's magic hat. However "not-Yensid", voiced by Peter Cullen, warns him not to use other people's magic when he has his own. And just like in the movie he disobeys him and ends up cursed by the Sorcerer by making Mickey unrecognizeable to anyone who sees him unless he discovers his own magic, which he does of course. Throughout the special, he meets up with the cast of Family Ties and Cheers, unrecognized despite his overwhelming popularity.

In the meantime, the news is all over his mysterious disappearance.

The show also features Phylicia Rashad, Cheech Marin and the late John Ritter.

Space Jam

A Looney Tunes Movie with live-action elements, made during the day when it was okay to bring back old characters to the modern age...I think...all the others after this have done nothing for me, personally. I still remember this being one of the greatest movies on my list of great movies...yeah...for one thing, it starred Michael jordan. And second of all, he's not even an actor...though he HAS been in a lot of commercials...which might explain why he isn't so bad in the movie :D

The story's setting takes place during Jordan's first retirement, where he's switched to baseball and isn't doing so well. In the animated universe, an evil theme park owner in outer space notices his business is losing money, so he plots and commands the little Nerdlucks to kidnap the Looney Tunes characters. However the little Nerdlucks are no match for their zany antics and are challenged to a basketball game. The aliens go to the real world and steal talents of five famous basketball players and crush the Looney Tunes. Bugs Bunny and the gang get Michael Jordan to help them win the upcoming Championship game, despite that he's already retired.

The Looney Tunes revival in the movie is pulled off nicely, the characters aren't portrayed as old, aging, forgotten characters. They're still portrayed as if things haven't changed, though modern popular culture has caught up with them. What's also nice is Yosemite Sam and Elmer Fudd, who are usually the comic-relief villains of sorts, work together with the anthropomorphic cast and some other rivalries are put aside without the drama. Heck, the movie contains very little drama, another good reason to watch. This movie also had some great songs like "I Believe I can Fly" and "Fly Like an Eagle".

Other Crossovers I Have Little Info On Because I Vaguely Remember or Haven't Seen Yet

-The Mask: "The Aceman Cometh"
The Mask meets Ace Ventura, both characters originally played by actor Jim Carrey. The crossover concludes in the Ace Ventura: Pet Detective episode "Have Mask, Will Travel".
-The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat.
-"Hercules and the Arabian Night"
Hades and reincarnated Jafar set out to destroy Aladdin and Hercules. Wow.
-"Saturn Bomberman"
The Sega Saturn exclusive includes certain Hudson Soft characters like Bonk, Adventure Island and Galaxy Fraulein Yuna
-"Famicom Jump"
WAAAAY before Jump Super/Ultimate Stars there were two RPG's for the NES based on the previous Shonen Jump generation
-"The New Scooby Doo Movies"
The Mystery Inc. teams up with various celebrities from their generation, like Don Knotts, Phyllis Diller, the Harlem Globetrotters, Josie and the Pussycats, Sonny and Cher, and Seth MacFarlane...just kidding.

And that's pretty much all of them. And this theme is still utilized to this very day like The Grim Adventures of the KND and Capcom Vs. SNK. Some good, some bad, some obscure. And as soon as their retro enough, I will make a sequel article. Or someone else will. As long as it has a chance of being approved, you WILL see my name on it.



Thanks for reading. (LOL paint)
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