20. Ghostbusters
In 1986, a cartoon called Ghostbusters was released that had nothing to do with the more popular franchise of the same name.
However, contrary to common opinion, it was not copying the Ghostbusters we all know and love – it was actually based on a less popular live action TV show of the same name from eleven years earlier (which is why it was the other Ghostbusters cartoon that had to call itself “The Real Ghostbusters“).
It was, however, attempting to exploit the success of the Ghostbusters movie – and it failed. With its weird characters (a gadget-inventing ape, really?) and poor writing, it felt like a poor imitation, even though it wasn’t.