Cartoon Heroes

This article is about the song. For the greatest hits album, see Cartoon Heroes: The Best of Aqua.

"Cartoon Heroes"
Single by Aqua
from the album Aquarius
Released	31 January 2000 (2000-01-31)
Length	3:38
Label	Universal
Songwriter(s)	Søren Rasted Claus Norreen
Producer(s)	Søren Rasted Claus Norreen
Aqua singles chronology
"Good Morning Sunshine" (1998) "Cartoon Heroes" (2000) "Around the World" (2000)
Music video
"Cartoon Heroes" on YouTube

"Cartoon Heroes" is a song by Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua from their second studio album, Aquarius. The song was sent to radio stations worldwide on 1 January 2000 and was released as a retail single on 31 January 2000. It was their first release anywhere for over 14 months due to the time spent touring the world, resting, and recording Aquarius.

Although a commercial success, "Cartoon Heroes" failed to follow the success of earlier songs such as "Barbie Girl" and "Doctor Jones". In Denmark, the song debuted at number one, selling enough copies to earn a quadruple-platinum sales certification within 48 hours of its release;^[1] it went on to become the country's highest-selling single of 2000. It also topped the charts of Italy, Norway, and Spain and reached the top 10 in at least nine other countries, including Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Music video

The music video for this song was filmed in December 1999. It starts with an American newscaster reporting on broadcast that a one-eyed sea monster attacks the world prompting an SOS call for Aqua in space. The quartet wakes up in zero gravity and Søren pushes up the gravity lever. They put on their hero suits and prepare to drive their spaceship to planet Earth where the sea monster is deep in the ocean. The quartet then puts on their diving suits and they fight the sea monster they seek. The green slime that bursts out of the sea monster's defeat transmits to the ending where the triumphant quartet returns to the ship with Søren and Claus who's had their leg and arm injured and the ship goes to the surface.

The video directed by Czech movie director Tomáš Mašín is said to be one of the most expensive music videos ever made, reportedly costing $3.5 million to produce ($6.19 million in 2023).^[2][3]

Track listings

European HDCD single, Canadian and Japanese CD single[4][5][6] "Cartoon Heroes" (radio edit) – 3:38 "Cartoon Heroes" (Love to Infinity classic radio mix) – 3:08 European maxi-HDCD single[7][8] "Cartoon Heroes" (radio edit) – 3:38 "Cartoon Heroes" (Metro's That's All Folks remix) – 6:22 "Cartoon Heroes" (Hampenberg remix) – 5:41 "Cartoon Heroes" (Junior's Playground mix) – 7:53 "Cartoon Heroes" (E-Lite extended remix) – 9:09 UK CD1[9] "Cartoon Heroes" (radio edit) – 3:45 "Cartoon Heroes" (TNT mix) – 7:28 "Cartoon Heroes" (Love to Infinity classic mix) – 6:28

UK CD2[10] "Cartoon Heroes" (radio edit) – 3:38 "Cartoon Heroes" (Sleaze Sisters Anthem mix) – 7:50 "Cartoon Heroes" (Metro's That's All Folks radio edit) – 4:05 "Cartoon Heroes" (video) – 5:05 UK cassette single[11] "Cartoon Heroes" (radio edit) – 3:45 "Cartoon Heroes" (Love to Infinity classic mix) – 6:28 Australian CD single[12] "Cartoon Heroes" (radio edit) – 3:38 "Cartoon Heroes" (Love to Infinity classic mix) – 6:28 "Cartoon Heroes" (TNT mix) – 7:29 "Cartoon Heroes" (video) "Cartoon Heroes" (behind the scenes video)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Cartoon Heroes" Chart (2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 16 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[15] 7 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[16] 2 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[17] 23 Denmark (IFPI)[18] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 5 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 9 France (SNEP)[21] 40 Germany (GfK)[22] 13 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[23] 8 Ireland (IRMA)[24] 10 Italy (FIMI)[25] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[26] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 35 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 6 Norway (VG-lista)[29] 1 Scotland (OCC)[30] 6 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 11 UK Singles (OCC)[34] 7

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Cartoon Heroes" Chart (2000) Position Australia (ARIA)[35] 99 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 64 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[37] 39 Denmark (IFPI)[38] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[39] 50 Germany (Official German Charts)[40] 97 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] 13 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 77

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Cartoon Heroes"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44]	Gold	35,000^^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[1]	4× Platinum	40,000[1]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45]	Gold	5,000^*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[46]	Gold
Sweden (GLF)[47]	Platinum	30,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Cartoon Heroes"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Worldwide	1 January 2000	Radio	Universal	[48]
Denmark	31 January 2000	CD		[1]
Canada	1 February 2000			[49]
Japan	2 February 2000			[50]
United Kingdom	14 February 2000	CD cassette		[51]

References

1. Sexton, Paul (26 February 2000). Williamson, Nigel (ed.). "Global Music Pulse" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 9. p. 53. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
2. Garland, Emma (17 July 2017). "How Aqua's "Cartoon Heroes" Became One of the Most Expensive Videos Ever". Vice. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
3. "The jaw-dropping price tag of the most expensive music videos". Finance 101. 14 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
4. Cartoon Heroes (European HDCD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 2000. 156 385-2.
5. Cartoon Heroes (Canadian CD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 2000. 012 156 385-2.
6. Cartoon Heroes (Japanese CD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 2000. MVCE-9019.
7. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
8. Cartoon Heroes (European maxi-HDCD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 2000. 156 382-2.
9. Cartoon Heroes (UK CD1 liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 2000. MCSTD 40226, 156768-2.
10. Cartoon Heroes (UK CD2 liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 2000. MCSXD 40226, 156799-2.
11. Cartoon Heroes (UK cassette single sleeve). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 2000. MCSC 40226, 156769-4.
12. Cartoon Heroes (Australian CD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Australia. 2000. 156 650-2.
13. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
14. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
15. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
16. "Aqua Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
17. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9727." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
18. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 8. 19 February 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
19. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 10. 4 March 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
20. "Aqua: Cartoon Heroes" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
21. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
22. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
23. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 02.3. – 09.3. 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 3 March 2000. p. 12. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
24. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Cartoon Heroes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
25. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
26. "Tipparade-lijst van week 12, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
27. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
28. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
29. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 February 2000.
31. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
32. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
33. "Aqua – Cartoon Heroes". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
34. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
35. "2000 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
36. "Jaaroverzichten 2000" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
37. "Rapports annuels 2000" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
38. "Års Hitlister 2000: IFPI Danmark: Singles Top 50". IFPI Danmark. Archived from the original on 16 November 2001. Retrieved 8 April 2021 – via Musik.org.
39. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 52. 23 December 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
40. "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 2000" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
41. "Tabla 16. CD-Singles Más Vendidos en 2000" [Best-Selling CD Singles in 2000] (in Spanish). AFYVE. p. 228. Retrieved 8 June 2021. Click on Música grabada.
42. "Årslista Singlar, 2000" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
43. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2000" (in German). Retrieved 27 June 2019.
44. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
45. "New Zealand single certifications – Aqua – Cartoon Heroes". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
46. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
47. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2000" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
48. Ferro, Charles (15 January 2000). "Universal's Nets Cast Wide for 2nd Aqua Set" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 3. p. 79. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
49. "Album Releases: February 2000". Jam!. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
50. "カートゥーン・ヒーローズ | アクア" [Cartoon Heroes | Aqua] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
51. "New Releases – For Week Starting 14 February, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 12 February 2000. p. 31. Retrieved 28 July 2021.