Quick Links
The 1990s were a golden era for cartoons. Far from the bland formulas of the 1970s and the overt commercialism of the 1980s, the cartoons of this decade set high bars for quality animation and writing. Some of these cartoons were so revered that they’d debut in prime time, garnering the eyes of adults as much as kids.
Plenty of these shows are worth returning to if you haven’t watched ‘90s cartoons since childhood. Even if you didn’t live through the era, there’s still a timeless charm to the animated marvels at the turn of the century. Here are the ten classic cartoons that get every ‘90s kid warm feelings more than an expired Surge soda.
1993-1996
1
65
Status
Ended
Sega’s speedy video game mascot got the Bugs Bunny treatment withAdventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. The show retains the same premise as the Sonic games, with the radical hedgehog battling the evil robotic forces of Doctor Robotnik. But in addition to running circles around his mechanical enemies, Sonic would also sling zippy one-liners and stage zany gags fit for aLooney Tunesshort, becoming an early contender for thebest adaptation of a video game property.
There was a fittingly fast-paced nature to how the show’s absurdity matched Sonic’s speed. Matching the silliness of the animation were the iconic performances of Jaleel White, making Sonic sound like a nasally menace, and Long John Baldry going full-bluster with Doctor Robotnik. While there was a darker action-based Sonic cartoon released the same year, no less,Adventuresremains the more memorable for its manic nature that inspired a host of internet memes.
Tubi
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehogwields wild cartoonish slapstick on the iconic video game characters.
1996-2004
4
100
Canceled
With so many manic cartoons populating television,Hey Arnold!was a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle, despite taking place in a city and being labeled with an exclamation point. The football-headed Arnold is a tween living in an inner-city flophouse of colorful characters, including his eccentric grandparents. In addition to his quirky classmates, Arnold will also explore his neighborhood’s many urban legends and conflicts.
With a jazz soundtrack and a patient protagonist,Hey Arnold!was a more relaxing cartoon, despite being bluntly earnest in several episodes. Arnold’s quiet and patient nature was infectious, making it easy to see why the bully Helga is secretly attracted to him. There are some relatable stories and characters for this urban-based cartoon, featuring some surprisingly heartfelt tales of bullying, crushes, refugees, and therapy.
Paramount Plus
Hey Arnold!is a refreshing dose of the relatable as an earnest cartoon about growing up in the city.
1994-2001
48
Akin to Disney’sTRON,ReBootblazed trails as the first CGI cartoon of Saturday mornings. Also likeTRON, the show took place inside a computer. Guardian Bob protects the digital realm of Mainframe from deadly games and villains like the ruthless Megabyte, aided by his sister Dot and younger brother Enzo.
ReBootis so much fun to return to as an adult, where all the techno-babble dialogue makes more sense now. While the primordial CGI animation is dated, the story and characters were surprisingly thoughtful in assembly and parody. Some computer competence is placed in staging Megabyte’s schemes, but there is also enough levity to allow him to wail on a guitar for one episode.
ReBootuses early computer animation to stage a fun and exciting adventure about the inner workings of computer programs.
1992-1997
5
76
Before the live-actionX-Menmovies at Fox, the popular Marvel Comics ensemble received a faithful cartoon adaptation in the 1990s. The iconic mutants known as the X-Men continue to wage a war of acceptance among humans. While mutant telepath Charles Xavier has hope for humanity, his mutant rival, the magnet-manipulating Magneto, wants to wipe out all humans in this complex battle of bigotry.
Adapting arcs straight from the comics,X-Mendidn’t soften the darkness of its themes. From the first episode, which kills off one of the X-Men unexpectedly, there were real stakes in this show and a refusal to soften the ugly bigotry that befalls the mutants. The strong thematic storytelling mixed with gorgeous superhero action would be so highly regarded that Disney would keep the cartoon going with the long-awaited sequel series,X-Men ‘97.
Disney+
X-Men: The Animated Seriesis a thoughtful adaptation of the comic books that explores the greater themes of discrimination.
1998-2005
6
78
Cartoon Network had many original hit shows in the 1990s, but none were more iconic and influential thanThe Powerpuff Girls. Created by Craig McCracken, the series followed the three super-powered sisters Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, who were born from an experiment by Professor Utonium. The girls try to fit in with Townsville’s society while battling an onslaught of villains, from the big-brained Mojo Jojo to the devilishly flamboyant Him.
The Powerpuff Girlsstood out for their potent cocktail of the cute and violent. The central girls were big-eyed with rounded and retro designs, but often engaged in anime-style fight scenes where they’d usually knock out some teeth or break some bones. Plenty of witty humor was present, including the unforgettable villain ensemble episode, which uses lyrics of The Beatles throughout its script. The superhero antics were such a hit that the show lasted for multiple seasons, a theatrical movie, andan anime remake.
MAX
The Powerpuff Girlsfuses cute girls and absurd violence into an explosively eye-popping cartoon that is as funny as it is intense.
1996-2000
54
After delivering a stellar cartoon for Batman, Bruce Timm’s team gave Superman the same star treatment. The hero from the planet Krypton was given a multi-episode origin story, a stylish retro futuristic design, and action with weight and consequences. He’d also battle an impressive rogues' gallery, ranging from the conniving Lex Luthor to the god-like powers of Darkseid.
Timm’s Superman cartoon made the character more enduring beyond just building the character’s powers up slowly. There was a great sense of world-building in the build-up to Darkseid’s arrival and the exciting crossover arc with Batman. It was also shocking that the show featured some unexpected tragedy with Superman losing those he cares about. The show is worth watching for being a crucial precursor to the stellarJustice Leaguecartoon that followed.
Superman: The Animated Seriespresents the legendary comic book hero in a thoughtful cartoon that expanded the DC Comics animated universe.
1991-1995
52
Ren & Stimpypushed the limits of how weird and gross a cartoon can be. The series follows the absurd adventures of the angry chihuahua Ren and the dopey cat Stimpy. Their exploits extend from starting a hairball factory to falling in love with farts. That willingness to experiment with the absurd, gross, and dark made the show a real trailblazer forthe adult cartoons that would follow.
The bizarre nature of the show extended to appealing more to the older crowd, as reruns would often run on MTV. The dumb duo’s gross-out comedy and hilarious music made them more of an all-agesBeavis & Butthead. It’s incredible to return to this show as an adult and realize just how far this show went with its subtle and not-so-subtle gags about sexuality and murder. For example, the show’s iconic song, “Happy Happy Joy Joy,” has an infectious melody, but also dark humor with lyrics like, “I told you I’d shoot, but you didn’t believe me!”
The Ren & Stimpy Showwas a gross-out trailblazer of an absurd cartoon that paved the way for more surreal cartoons.
1994-1997
3
While the Disney Afternoon block was primarily known for eccentric adventures,Gargoylesstood out as the dark outsider of the lineup. The series centers around the fantastical gargoyles, the winged beasts that transform into stone when the sun falls. Cursed in stone for a thousand years, they awaken in 1990s New York City, where the leader, Goliath, and his brethren struggle to adjust to a new world. They find human allies like the cop Elisa and enemies like the rich Xanatos, who happens to be responsible for lifting the curse.
Gargoyleshad a much darker tone and mature storytelling than other Disney cartoons of the era. This is especially true of the controversial episode in which one of the gargoyles accidentally fires a gun and fears they’ve killed Elisa. The cartoon also had some levity with the fish-out-of-water antics, considering Goliath’s clan takes on names of New York City locations. The voice cast is also a treat for the ears, with Keith David leading the pack and a roster featuring the cast ofStar Trek: The Next Generation.
Gargoyleswas Disney’s strong attempt to weave animated action and fantasy for the 1990s.
Although it sounded more like an adult animated sitcom,Rocko’s Modern Lifebecame a hit cartoon on Nickelodeon for kids and adults. Rocko is established as a twenty-something Australian immigrant trying to make it in his chaotic new home of O-Town. Cartoonish absurdity follows him in relatable adult activities, made all the more unpredictable with his friends, the vivacious Heffer and neurotic Filbert.
Rocko’sappeal was destined to age like a fine wine for adults. Watching it as a kid, I saw plenty of hilarious moments involving Rocko’s flustered neighbor Ed Bighead and Heffer’s belching, which occupied an entire episode. But as an adult, there’s a surprising amount of knowing comedy, ranging from the subtle association of clowning to being gay to the overt scene of Rocko working as a phone sex operator. The adults who grew up would get another chance to enjoy Rocko’s antics when the show received a finale in the2019 special,Static Cling.
Rocko’s Modern Life stages absurd adult antics into a hilarious comedy cartoon fit for kids and adults.
1992-1999
109
It was a show so dark that the background designers just drew on black paper to save ink. Hot off the box office allure of Tim Burton’s movies,Batman: The Animated Seriestook the caped crusader and gave him a more mature cartoon than the live-action, PG-13 movies. Batman was established as a more intelligent and tragic hero, with most of his villains being bound by dark tragedy. The show could make you worry about the psychological torture of Two-Face while still reveling in the dark eccentricities of The Joker.
The Animated Seriesisn’t just the best Batman cartoon; it’s one of the best superhero TV shows, period. The dark design, earnest voice cast, and thrilling tone redefined action cartoons for the 1990s. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill gave the most perfect performances as Batman and Joker, as they continued in this role in everything from theJustice Leaguecartoon to the Batman: Arkham video game series.
Amazon Prime Video
Batman: The Animated Seriesgives the DC Comics superhero a thoughtful, dark, and mature cartoon presentation.
These are the cartoons that would reshape how animation on television is defined. WithoutBatman,there would be noJustice League,and if not for the weirdness ofRenandStimpy, there’d likely be noSpongeBob SquarePants. There were a lot of inspirational origins, but the biggest impact was that these cartoons became as appealing for adults as they were for kids. There’s no rose-colored glasses required to peer through the nostalgia and genuinely appreciate “Happy Happy Joy Joy.”
