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10 Best Cartoons Of The 1990s


Often times, we tend to look back on the 1990s with rose-colored glasses, allowing nostalgia to cloud our view of what was an all-around standard decade. When it comes to media, though, the 90s truly is in a league of its own, particularly when it comes to cartoons.

With so many animated properties to choose from, it can be hard to pick a handful of the best cartoons from the 90s, so naturally, we need to establish some ground rules. First of all, we’ll only be dealing with shows that premiered between 1990 and 1999. Second, we’ll only be focusing on shows that were targeted towards a kid-friendly audience. Now, with those two caveats in mind, here are the 10 best cartoons of the 1990s:

  1. The Angry Beavers

    The Angry Beavers ran on Nickelodeon from April 19, 1997 through June 11, 2001. Still, despite its short-lived status, the series managed to capture the hearts of television viewers thanks to its charming irreverence, heart, and appreciation for film and TV. It was an Odd Couple-esque story of Beaver siblings Norbert and Daggett, and the episodes would primarily take place from inside the duo’s intricate dam that appeared more spacious than most modern homes. Outside of the dam, there was a colorful supporting cast of woodland critters, each with distinct and dynamic personalities that helped round out what ended up being an incredibly entertaining series.

  2. The Powerpuff Girls

    Running from November 18, 1998 through March 25, 2005, The Powerpuff Girls is considered by many to be the show that helped catapult Cartoon Network into the upper echelons of children’s programming networks in the late 90s. In fact, the series even managed to spawn a feature film in 2002, and it was rebooted by Cartoon Network in 2016. Despite featuring three young female leads, The Powerpuff Girls appealed to both sexes, and to both adults as well as the show’s targeted kid audience. From a visual standpoint, the pint-sized superheroes were something new and distinct, and the trio’s expansive and bizarre rogues gallery added a nice touch of whimsy to a show that remains beloved and enduring to this day. 

  3. The Ren & Stimpy Show

    Often simply referred to as Ren & Stimpy, The Ren & Stimpy Show was a staple of Nickelodeon’s animated arsenal from August 11, 1991 through December 16, 1995. In fact, along with Rugrats and Doug, Ren & Stimpy was one of the original three Nicktoons. The show proved to be controversial due to its off-color humor, sexual innuendo, and violence, but these are the things that made it so unique. Even today, Ren & Stimpy still maintains a dedicated and loyal cult following, which speaks volumes about the impact this series had on children and young adults of the 90s.

  4. Doug

    Doug is a slice-of-life series that ran on Nickelodeon from August 11, 1991 through January 2, 1994 before it was acquired by Disney, where it would air on ABC’s Saturday morning lineup from September 7, 1996 through June 26, 1999. It was a coming-of-age story featuring the titular character, who used his imagination and his trusty journal to deal with a number of relatable topics, such as trying to fit in, platonic and romantic relationships, self-esteem, bullying, and much more. Regardless of what you were going through in life, chances are there was an episode of Doug that addressed the situation, which is what makes this series so enjoyable.

  5. Rocko’s Modern Life

    Airing on Nickelodeon from September 18, 1993 until November 24, 1996, Rocko’s Modern Life was the story of an anthropomorphic wallaby attempting to overcome daily hardships to often-hilarious results. Joining him on his journey were his two closest friends: the gluttonous steer Heffer, and the neurotic turtle Filburt, as well as Rocko’s faithful-but-stupid dog Spunky. The series appealed to children, but also adults, as it regularly dealt with more mature matters, such as workplace woes and dating. This blended well with the same combination of absurdity and dry wit, often depicting Rocko as a stranger in his own skin in comparison to the rest of the modern world.

  6. Rugrats

    Few can argue that before Spongebob Squarepants, no other series did more for Nickelodeon than Rugrats, which aired from August 11, 1991 through August 1, 2004 and spawned three theatrical films. The series followed a group of toddlers with a knack for getting into trouble, as they let their imaginations run wild while they traversed through everyday settings. The show tackled a plethora of life lessons through the unique perspective of tiny tots. Not only that, but the show proved to be incredibly inclusive, featuring racially diverse supporting characters, empowered women, and it even addressed religious differences. Above all else, Rugrats was funny, educational, and inspirational, which certainly helps explain the show’s staying power.

  7. Darkwing Duck

    Despite airing in syndication for years, Darkwing Duck’s initial run on The Disney Channel only lasted from September 8, 1991 to December 5, 1992. However, the eponymous anthropomorphic duck superhero whose alter ego was Drake Mallard still feels like he’s been around forever. The show is essentially DuckTales meets Batman: The Animated Series, which means it wasn’t always number one when it comes to humor. In any case, it was still loaded with action, and its mock-pulpy tone make it arguably the most unique of Disney’s duck-themed properties.

  8. Gargoyles

    Gargoyles aired in syndication and on ABC from October 24, 1994 through February 15, 1997, and featured a small group of nocturnal creatures known as gargoyles that turn to stone during the day. However, after spending a thousand years in a petrified state, they awake to find that rather than medieval Scotland, they’re now in New York City. Despite the unique premise, what truly made Gargoyles stand out was its complex character arcs, Shakespearean themes, and mature content, making it one of the most surprisingly dark series to come from Disney at the time.

  9. X-Men

    X-Men, which is often referred to as X-Men: The Animated Series (a la Batman), ran on Fox as part of the network’s Fox Kids lineup from October 31, 1992 through September 20, 1997. Although the show can be campy at times, what positions X-Men so favorably on this list is the fact that it had such a huge influence and created a whole new generation of fans by adapting beloved storylines like Dark Pheonix and Weapon X. It opened the doors for millions of would-be comic book readers, and let’s not forget, the show had arguably one of the greatest opening themes of all time.

  10. Batman: The Animated Series

    Originally debuting on Fox Kids, Batman: The Animated Series aired from September 5, 1992 through September 15, 1995, and is by far the greatest and most influential cartoon of the 1990s. The series was the first in the continuity of the shared DC animated universe, spawning further animated TV series, comic books, and video games with most of the same creative talent. It would also lead to two critically acclaimed films: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (theatrical) and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (direct-to-video). Not only that, but the series would also go on to heavily influence the Batman comics as we know them today, including fleshing out Mr. Freeze’s tragic backstory, as well as introducing The Joker’s on-again/off-again psychotic girlfriend Harley Quinn. Factor in the stylistic animation and the incredible soundtrack, and you’ve got all the makings of a TV show that will continue to stand the test of time for years to come.

    What do you think? Are there any cartoons we might have missed? Let us know in the comments section!

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