The Jackson 5ive animated series 1971

by Zimmermann 054: Michael Jackson

Every mishap on The Jackson 5ive somehow became a musical number, and that's the whole charm of it. The animated series premiered on a specific date in 1971, sending the brothers from Motown studios out to far-out adventures, and the band never voiced their cartoon selves because touring kept them busy. So the voices came from elsewhere, but the music stayed theirs: each episode carried two tracks from the Jackson 5 or a solo cut by Michael, and 46 hits ended up featured across the run. Michael's character had company, too, with pet mice named Ray and Charles plus a pet snake called Rosey. Still the coolest kids on the animated block.