10 90s Cartoons That Still Hold Up Today
Image Source: Culture Slate
With the popularity of adult cartoons like Family Guy, Rick and Morty, and Tuca and Bertie, it’s easy to forget how many cartoons from the 90s are still great today. While not every 90s cartoon has aged well (*ahem* Johnny Bravo), tons have not only aged well, they have gotten better as we have gotten older!
Here are the top 10 90s cartoons with more to them than nostalgia.
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10. Ed, Edd N Eddy (1999-2008)
Image Source: IMDB.com
Ed, Edd n Eddy was a great show! The humor and antics of the kids resembled more of the classic Looney Tunes that our parents grew up with, and it gave millennials a fun modern version of those shows. I also connected with the Eds and their desire to raise money for candy while on summer vacation because I was always trying to find a way to get money for snacks and candy at the local gas station. As an adult, the show is just a really great time with humor that it takes an adult to truly appreciate.
9. Batman The Animated Series (1992-1995)
Image Source: Paste Magazine
Every millennial grew up with some form of Batman. The animated series was one of the best versions of Batman, in my opinion. As a kid, we were sucked in simply because we loved Batman, but as an adult, it feels like you’re watching a mini-movie with each episode. The stories are great and their female villains are portrayed better than in most live-action movies. This show should be the framework for all future Batman projects.
8. Dexter’s Laboratory (1996-2003)
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Dexter’s Lab was one of Cartoon Network’s most popular shows in the 90s and early 2000s. As a kid, I didn’t always understand what Dexter was talking about, but his adventures were always the best. As an adult, we can relate so much more to Dexter and his feeble attempts at keeping DeeDee out of his secret lab. As an adult, I have to say that the best character in the show is Dexter’s mom. She is an absolute superhero with everything she gets done in a single day!
7. CatDog (1998-2005)
Image Source: Paramount+
This show was weird. I had so many questions about how CatDog could function when I was younger, and honestly, as an adult, those questions haven’t gone away! CatDog is just a great time every time you watch it. The jokes have gotten so much better as I have gotten older, and there is not a single episode you can watch without laughing!
6. Hey Arnold! (1996-2004)
Image Source: vox.com
Hey Arnold! was one of the most popular shows on Nickelodeon during its run. Not only was the show an absolute blast when we were kids, but it also explored difficult topics that many of us couldn’t fully understand until we were older. The show dove into topics like immigration, broken families, alcoholism, and homelessness while still making us laugh with the antics of Arnold and his friends. This show also had some of the best Halloween episodes!
5. The Wild Thornberrys (1998-2004)
Image Source: IMDB.com
This show was iconic, especially in the late 90s and early 2000s. Not only was it one of the first cartoons to explore the dangers animals faced every day, but it also explored the dangers that conservationists face in trying to protect these animals and their habitats. The writers were genius to have a character with the ability to talk to animals so that we could hear horror stories from the perspective of the animals. As adults living in 2022, this show feels even more important and heartbreaking than when we were first introduced to it.
4. Rocket Power (1999-2004)
Image Source: Rotten Tomatoes
Rocket Power is a show that explored the “you pick your family” ideal of the 90s. While we see the typical family dynamic, we also see how there is a bigger family unit that includes the Rockets, the Squid, Twister, and Tito. The show explores the adventures the kids are going on but as an adult, you see the family dynamics at play and each character becomes more endearing than when we were kids.
3. The Sylvester And Tweety Mysteries (1995-2001)
Image Source: Amazon Prime Video
This was one of the best 90s versions of Looney Tunes. Rather than the typical format, we got the adventures of Tweety, Sylvester, and Hector the bulldog as they traveled the world helping Granny solve mysteries. As a kid, I could not get enough of this show and as an adult, it is a legitimately good time. The mysteries may be easier to solve, but like many on this list, the humor is what really makes the show.
2. Spongebob Squarepants (1999-Present)
Image Source: IMDB.com
Spongebob is a show that only gets better as we get older. While the newer episodes are definitely more tame than the earlier episodes, they are still enjoyable. The older episodes however are twisted and laced with adult humor. The characters and their shenanigans are things that most of us can relate to as we have gotten older and entered the adult world.
1. Courage The Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)
Image Source: IMDB.com
This was my favorite show as a kid, and it is still my favorite show as an adult. As a kid, the episodes were terrifying and gave every millennial nightmares more than once. As an adult, the episodes are still pretty creepy, but they are more endearing than they were when we were kids. We can better understand Courage’s story and recognize the sacrifices he makes for the ones he loves.
What was your favorite 90s cartoon?
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