The Planet of the Apes Cartoon That Accused the USA of Nuclear War (1975)

Описание: A 1970s Saturday morning cartoon that was too smart for kids… and accused the USA of nuclear war.

In this Golden Flicker documentary, we uncover the forgotten history of the 1975 animated series “Return to the Planet of the Apes” – the short‑lived cartoon spin‑off that turned Cold War anxiety into kids’ television.

Most fans know the classic Charlton Heston Planet of the Apes movies, but almost nobody remembers this ambitious 1970s cartoon. Produced after the live‑action TV show failed, “Return to the Planet of the Apes” ran for just 13 episodes – yet it quietly reshaped the franchise. With a technologically advanced Ape City closer to Pierre Boulle’s original novel, limited animation that looks like a moving graphic novel, and plots about chemical warfare and underground mutants, this was nothing like a typical Saturday morning show.

In this video essay, we explore how General Urko became a symbol of military paranoia, why the Underdwellers chant “USA” in the ruins of New York, and how the writers smuggled Vietnam and nuclear war allegories into a so‑called children’s cartoon. We’ll also look at the music, voice cast, and production history that make this one of the strangest, most underrated 1970s cartoons ever made.

If you grew up with classic Planet of the Apes, love forgotten cartoons, or are curious how much Cold War fear slipped into “kids’ TV,” this deep dive into Return to the Planet of the Apes is for you.

🦍 WHERE IT ALL STARTED Think you know everything about the movie that started it all? We compiled the most surprising facts from the 1968 classic that defined the franchise.
👉 Watch now:    • Planet of the Apes (1968): 10 Secrets You'...  

Chapters:
00:00 The “Oosa” Incident - When a Kids’ Cartoon Said “USA”
02:42 Why This Cartoon Exists - A Cheap Bet After Failure
05:04 A “Graphic Novel” on TV - Animation & Music
07:26 A Modern Ape City - Closer to Pierre Boulle
09:38 Pop Culture Gags & Vietnam Allegories
12:09 Mutants & Giant Apes
14:38 An Unfinished Ending - And Quiet Cancellation
15:58 Conclusion

Watch Next:
Planet of the Apes (1968): Production Secrets ➤    • Planet of the Apes (1968): 10 Secrets You'...  
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) - Why They Nuked The Franchise ➤    • Why They Nuked The Franchise - Beneath the...  

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#GoldenFlicker #PlanetOfTheApes #ReturnToThePlanetOfTheApes #1970sCartoons #ForgottenCartoons #AnimationHistory #SciFiHistory