Like you, I never knew of this version, as I was only familiar with the DIC version. Interesting stuff with this, too.

Indeed, as we now want more realism or, frankly, we've just become too jaded as a culture. I could never imagine this airing without being mocked ruthlessly. Some shows, I don't mind the serious ness, but others, I don't mind the cartoon skeleton with the plunger on his head, you know?