It might’ve been the best of times, or it might’ve been the worst of times, but one thing is for sure — the ‘90s were the time of some truly iconic cartoons. Whether it was because of their innovative style, the crazy and daring characters, or not so child-appropriate topics discussed in them, ‘90s cartoons went down in animation history not with a splash but with a bang. And although you might’ve forgotten some of these ‘90s gems, you can always reminisce about them by taking a look at our list of the best ‘90s cartoons!
From such animation gems as Rugrats and Animaniacs — both of which appeal to the younger and the older audiences — to everyone's beloved kooky SpongeBob SquarePants and Futurama, the ‘90s were ripe with quality content. And while some of the animated series from the decade gained infamy by pushing the boundaries of children's TV programming with their use of adult topics — spurring a whole new genre of adult cartoons in effect — others kept their sweetness and innocence. The latter two things, no matter the decade or the year (even if it is 2023), are eternal, so it's no wonder that even the wild ‘90s kept its family-friendly facade.
So, go and check out our list of the best ‘90s cartoons just a bit further down! Once you're there, you'll find short descriptions for the top twenty submissions, sort of a memory refresher on their plot, and some insights on the lovely decade. Be sure to vote for the series that you feel the most nostalgic for, and share these cool cartoons with your friends!
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#1 Ducktales
1987 | 4 seasons | 100 episodes
DuckTales is an animated series produced by Disney Television Animation that first aired in 1987. And no, it isn't a cartoon where you see ducks nesting, picking worms, or gaggling - it's full of adventures supplied by the legendary trio of ducklings supervised by their money-thirsty uncle Scrooge McDuck. And boy, what awesome shenanigans do Dewey, Huey, and Louie get into! From seeking treasures to thwarting enemies' plans of stealing Scrooge's riches, no day goes by without something exhilarating happening.
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98points
#2 Pinky And The Brain
1995 | 4 seasons | 66 episodes
Pinky And The Brain, an animated series created by Tom Ruegger, centers around the adventures of two genetically enhanced laboratory mice - Pinky and Brain. Pinky is a good-natured but a little bit dim-witted mouse, while Brain is highly intelligent and forever scheming plots to take over the world. While Brain's plans are most of the time plausible but impossible to achieve for the two mice, together they try to fulfill them anyway only to find failure. Pinky And The Brain is an original series in every aspect - from the two memorable leads to the very off-kilter, quality humor.
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82points
The Unique Style of Cartoons From The ‘90s
Before we go and write the appeal of ‘90s cartoons straight to nostalgia, we’d like to talk about the actual features that made the cartoons of the decade so iconic and unmistakable.
First off, as you might’ve guessed, most ‘90s cartoons were still hand-drawn. And, although that might be a bit subjective, anything that’s hand-made seems to have a bit more heart in it! Add that to the poor quality of your old TV or VHS apparatus, and voila — you have a cartoon that’s seemingly all glowy and fuzzy, when in fact, it’s just of lower quality compared to cartoons nowadays.
#3 The Simpsons
1989 | 33 seasons | 718 episodes and counting
The Simpsons, which is the longest-running American animated series, has made us laugh, cry, and feel love for the last three decades. It saw Baby Boomers laughing at hidden jokes their Millennial kids couldn't understand at the time, and it saw those same Millennials showing The Simpsons to their own kids - a staple animated series any generation can find relatable and loveable.
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81points
Another thing that sets ‘90s cartoons apart is the use of a then-innovative CAPS system. Basically, it was the predecessor of today’s computer animation, and it, being an early technology, came with a very distinctive look. That said, it was first used for animated movies, not for cartoons, coming to our TV screens a couple of years later. If you’re looking for some early examples of Computer Animated Production System in use, think of Disney movies like The Rescuers Down Under or Beauty and the Beast.
#4 Animaniacs
1995 | 5 seasons | 99 episodes
Animaniacs is an animated television comedy series created by Tom Ruegger Fox Broadcasting Company. Animaniacs is, essentially, a variety show with each episode comprised of usually three mini-episodes, each starring a different set of characters. And although Animaniacs is a kids' cartoon, the creators didn't shy away from using pop culture references, satirical social commentary, and even innuendos directed exclusively at adults. And this inclusion of the whole family was what probably made this series so appealing for the audiences - now you could watch morning cartoons together with your kids and have a great laugh yourself!
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80points
The Philosophy of ‘90s Cartoons
While we’re trying to stay objective here and stray away from the nostalgia that comes with remembering the ‘90s, it was hands down, one of the best decades in recent history. Businesses were a-booming, technology was developed at a rapid pace, people were earning good money, and each tomorrow was warmly welcomed.
So, it is no surprise that all of this cultural background is reflected in cartoons from the ‘90s. On the one hand, there’s always that feel-good quality about them; on the other — cartoon creators of the time did not hold back on experiments and creating innovative and distinctively ‘90s characters and never-before-seen stories.
#5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
1987 | 10 seasons | 193 episodes
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 1987 animated series adapted from superhero comics of the same name. Here, the four mutant turtles, named after famous Renaissance painters, spend their days living in the sewers under New York City, training in martial arts with their rat sensei Splinter, eating pizza, and battling various enemies such as Shredder and Krang. It was the first time these heroes in a half-shell made their appearances on TV screens, and it propelled them to heights of fame unknown before. So, it would be actually quite a wonder if you've never heard of these teenage turtles before!
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79points
#6 Rugrats
1991 | 9 seasons | 172 episodes
If you need your memory refreshed, Rugrats centers around a group of toddlers living their life to the fullest with the help of their imaginations. There are also their (mostly) clueless parents and one older girl, Angelica, who always keeps on sabotaging the youngsters' fun. The series was widely successful both among the audiences and critics, with some of them naming Rugrats as the best animated kids' series ever!
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78points
Why ‘90s Cartoons Were the Best?
Tough question, folks! But, to summarize all the things we’ve discussed before coming to this point, our conclusion would be this:
‘90s cartoons and shows embody so many people’s lovely childhoods that we cannot separate those brilliant memories from the awesome cartoons we’ve watched! But, if you’d like to look at it sans the nostalgia angle, cartoons from the ‘90s were the children of open-minded, brave, and very creative animators who paved a whole new way for cartoons of the future!
So, keep on scrolling through this wonderful memory-evoking list further, and discover even more iconic ‘90s Nickelodeon cartoons, Cartoon Network shows, and series of this decade that made us who we are today!
#7 Dexter's Laboratory
1996 | 4 seasons | 78 episodes
Dexter's Laboratory follows a boy genius Dexter, who, unbeknownst to his parents, runs a high-tech laboratory in his room. Here Dexter invents various useful and useless devices and materials with his older sister Dee-Dee constantly trying to sabotage his plans. There's also a rival boy genius and Dexter's superhero pet monkey. And you know the rest - time for misadventures! Dexter's Laboratory was probably one of the earliest Cartoon Network series known to attract not only kids but younger adults too and proved again that animated series should be given the credit that they deserve.
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77points
#8 Tiny Toon Adventures
1992 | 3 seasons | 98 episodes
Tiny Toon Adventures was the first collaborative effort of Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. Tiny Toon Adventures is set in a fictional town called Acme Acres, where most of the Tiny Toons and Looney Toons characters live. In the very same town, there is Acme Looniversity - a university to teach the characters how to become funny. Although Tiny Toons is mainly a classical cartoon of the likes of Tom & Jerry, it does do some social commentary and even strays onto moral topics - like ecology - from time to time.
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77points
#9 Hey Arnold!
1996 | 5 seasons | 100 episodes
Hey Arnold! is an animated comedy series created by Craig Bartlett that originally ran from 1996 to 2004. The series follows the life of one Arnold Shortman, a fourth-grader living with his paternal grandparents in the fictional town of Hillwood, Washington. Together with his friends, Arnold is trying to navigate the challenges of urban life while dealing with various problems encountered along the way. Although Arnold is the series's protagonist, even minor characters get an episode dedicated to them - an unusual yet ingenious idea to keep the series fresh and interesting. And as for older audiences, Hey Arnold! gives an insightful glimpse into the rundown streets and decrepit cities that we live in through children’s eyes.
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71points
#10 Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers
1989 | 3 seasons | 65 episodes
Chip' N Dale: Rescue Rangers, a 1989 animated series, follows the already established characters of Chip and Dale in a whole new setting - here, the two chipmunks start a detective agency. These tiny inspectors solve various crimes that are 'too small' for police, and it is usually other animals that are their clients. Although there are plenty of villains that are responsible for the crimes against the tiny animal fellows, it is usually the gangster Fat Cat and the mad scientist Norton Nimnul that are the culprits of the misdeeds.
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71points
#11 Futurama
1999 | 7 seasons | 140 episodes
If Futurama has always seemed oddly familiar to you, then you're right, as you definitely have seen the other famous creation by the same writer Matt Groening, and, yes, it's The Simpsons. But, though such a prehistory of Futurama might lead you to imagine the same Simpsons just in space, boy, are you wrong. From gut-wrenching events (don't tell me I didn't warn you about The Dog) to subtle and not-so-subtle adult humor, this show is not just another animated series but an excellent sitcom undoubtedly worthy of being on this list. And if seven seasons of Futurama aren't enough to quench your thirst, you can always watch one of the series-based movies, play a video game, or collect the official merchandise.
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68points
#12 The Magic School Bus
1994 | 4 seasons | 52 episodes
The Magic School Bus is a cartoon series based on books of the same name written by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. The series, same as the books, centers around a teacher called Miss Frizzle, her class, and the eponymous school bus. Together they go on exciting field trips where they discover interesting locations, creatures, time periods, and so much more! These fantastical field trips enabled the show to keep both its entertainment value and be an educational show, presenting various scientific topics to children.
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66points
#13 Batman: The Animated Series
1992 | 2 seasons | 85 episodes
Batman: The Animated series is, you guessed it, an animated series based on the legendary DC Comics hero. Although you wouldn't expect it from usually light-hearted superhero series, Batman is actually praised to this day for its thematic complexity, film-noir aesthetics, and artistic presentations. So much so that some sources name it the best comic book television series of all time! And if the premise of the series is the usual one - Batman fighting against his enemies in order to save the citizens of Gotham City, it is a whole new take both on cartoons and the superhero lore nevertheless.
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65points
#14 The Powerpuff Girls
1998 | 6 seasons | 78 episodes
The Powerpuff Girls, a superhero animated series, follows three kindergarten-age girls, Buttercup, Blossom, and Bubbles, and their father and creator, Professor Utonium. Despite being of a very young age, the girls fight various monsters and villains that are terrorizing their city of Townsville with the help of their superpowers. Besides their unbelievable adventures, the superhero trio also has to deal with age-appropriate problems, such as bed-wetting, loose teeth, and going to school. And if it already seems like great fun, there's usually a homage or a small parody of some other pop culture events thrown into each episode for good measure. Oh, and a fun fact - the series was originally named Whoopass Stew! which, if you'd ask us, seemed pretty great already!
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64points
#15 Doug
1991 | 7 episodes | 117 episodes
Doug is an animated series created by Jim Jinkins that follows Douglas 'Doug' Funnie in his early adolescence years. Doug falls into a myriad of predicaments while attending his new school in Bluffington, where he has just moved. Doug also has a crush, Patti Mayonnaise, whom he tries his hardest to impress. The series incorporates many topics relevant to teens - from fitting in to self-esteem - making it a very respectable attempt at pleasing the tween audiences.
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61points
#17 Disney's Recess
1997 | 6 seasons | 65 episodes
Recess is an animated series that centers around the lives of six elementary school kids and their interactions with their classmates and teachers. The title refers to the time slots between their class periods during which the kids live out entirely different lives made out of their own government and class structure. Recess is made lively by its realistic and goofy characters, witty humor, and relatable qualities of the story. One of those series that has an appeal both for kids and adults!
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58points
#18 Rocko's Modern Life
1993 | 4 seasons | 52 episodes
Rocko's Modern Life animated series centers on the surreal life of an anthropomorphic wallaby - an immigrant from Australia. Rocko, together with his friends - an eccentric steer, a neurotic turtle, and Rocko's pet dog Spunky - live in a fictional town called O-Town, where they experience various adventures and deal with their lives in general. Rocko's Modern Life quickly became famous for its adult humor, double entendres, innuendos, and satirical commentary; you know, the stuff that is definitely not for kids!
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56points
#19 Courage The Cowardly Dog
1996 | 4 seasons | 52 episodes
Courage The Cowardly Dog, an animated horror/comedy series, follows Courage - a kindhearted yet easily scared orphaned dog whose parents were sent into outer space by a crazed veterinarian. Now Courage lives with an elderly couple, Muriel and Eustace, in the middle of Nowhere. Somehow it seems that the trio always gets into some bizarre, nightmarish misadventures with various entities, monsters, and occurrences haunting everything they do. Courage The Cowardly Dog is a truly one-of-a-kind series filled with surreal humor, an eerie atmosphere, and always original happenings.
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56points
