Entertainment
30 Best ’90s Cartoons, Ranked
Many who grew up in the 1990s remember waking up on a Saturday morning, grabbing that bowl of cereal, and getting comfy on the couch to watch cartoons. It was the same tradition as kids in the ’80s had done, but by the ’90s, cartoons weren’t just restricted to Saturday mornings. Even coming home after school, cartoons were part of life for kids who grew up in the era. Not only were they great for younger audiences, but they had enough jokes to keep older viewers entertained.
The best ’90s cartoons will never die, not if today’s fans and creators have anything to say about it. Only time will tell what ’90s classics will continue well into the 21st century, or which will receive revivals and get the modern treatment they deserve. If you’ve been bitten by the nostalgia bug, these cartoons from the ’90s are great to comb over and pick up on all the things that went over your head.
30
‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’ (1990–1996)
The spirit of the Earth, Gaia, puts together a group of teenagers known as the Planeteers, who are given the power of the five elements to help protect the planet from pollution and those who take advantage of its natural resources. When the Planeteers unite their powers, they have the ability to summon an elemental being known as Captain Planet to help them in their fight.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers is a blend of a traditional superhero series combined with an educational theme that makes it one of the most unique cartoons of the 1990s. Despite mixed reviews over the series’ subject matter, Captain Planet was still a revolutionary cartoon at the time and captivated viewers with its characters and their elemental superpowers that varied from other popular superhero shows. While the series was surrounded in some controversy, young viewers still enjoyed the show’s passion and originality, cementing it as one of the most innovative cartoons of its time.
29
‘Rocko’s Modern Life’ (1993–1996)
Rocko’s Modern Life is another bizarre but clever ’90s cartoon that follows a wallaby, Rocko (Carlos Alazraqui), who moves from his home in Australia to the United States, but when he arrives, he realizes things aren’t exactly what he had imagined. Between his annoying neighbors and a series of never-ending life issues, Rocko tries to navigate his way through his new life and, with the help of his friends and canine buddy, Spunky, he manages to overcome any obstacle thrown his way.
Rocko’s Modern Life wasn’t an initial hit but, like other shows at the time such as The Ren and Stimpy Show, it gained a major cult following and became one of the most popular animated series of the 1990s. The series was hit with some concern over its slight adult humor and social commentary, but all in all, Rocko’s Modern Life puts a comedic spin on the difficulties that come with growing up and finding your place in the world and also emphasizes the importance of friendship and family, deeming it to be a top-notch cartoon of the ’90s.
28
‘Darkwing Duck’ (1991–1992)
Drake Mallard (Jim Cummings) may seem like an average avian citizen of St. Canard, but by night, he becomes the terror that flaps in the night, Darkwing Duck. Though he fights crime to keep the city safe, it’s born just as much from his egotism as it is from his altruism. Fortunately, he is kept in check by his adoptive daughter, Gosalyn (Christine Cavanaugh), and sidekick from DuckTales, Launchpad McQuack (Terry McGovern).
Darkwing Duck was one of Disney’s first attempts at an action series, which helped to give it a unique identity. It played heavily into darker superhero tropes, with Darkwing in particular mirroring the likes of Batman and The Shadow, while also poking fun at the tropes through moments like Darkwing providing his own narrations. Speaking of Darkwing, he’s a terrific character thanks to Cummings’ performance, and the writing emphasizes that, despite his many faults, he is a worthy superhero. —Tyler B. Searle
27
‘Tiny Toon Adventures’ (1990–1992)
Years after the classic Looney Tunes cartoons wrapped up, the characters opened a university in Acme Acres to educate the next generation in the art of cartoon comedy. The students included the likes of genre-savvy rabbit duo Babs (Tress MacNeille) and Buster Bunny (Charlie Adler and John Kassir), egotistical waterfowl Plucky Duck (Joe Alaskey), and Elmyra Duff (Cree Summer), a little girl who just wants to hug every animal she sees. Naturally, things quickly go wacky and loony, in and outside the classroom.
Tiny Toon Adventures was the first of several Warner Bros. cartoons produced by Steven Spielberg, and while other examples would surpass it in terms of comedy, it’s still a fantastic show. The show knows how to take the classic Looney Tunes style of humor and re-interpret it for newer, younger audiences, while still retaining a lot of its risqué bite. It also helps that the characters are all solidly constructed, paying homage to the classic characters while retaining more than enough originality so they can stand on their own. —Tyler B. Searle
26
‘Freakazoid!’ (1995–1997)
A freak accident infuses Dexter Douglas (David Kaufman) with the power of the internet, transforming him into the hero Freakazoid (Paul Rugg). Though he gained super durability, speed, strength, and the knowledge of the 1990s internet, he was also left easily distracted and a little bit wild. So while Freakazoid will save the day and stop the various villains who threaten him and his community, it’ll rarely be in the most direct and expected way.
Freakazoid! can best be described as controlled chaos boiled into an animated show. Its humor completely demolishes the 4th-wall as Freakazoid leans heavily into cartoon physics and gags, to the point where the show can be considered a progenitor to the type of humor that would develop around meme culture. Things get even better when you look at the voice cast for the show, including Ed Asner, Tim Curry, and Ricardo Montalban. —Tyler B. Searle
25
‘Spider-Man: The Animated Series’ (1994–1998)
After being bitten by a radioactive spider, Peter Parker (Christopher Daniel Barnes) gains enhanced strength, durability, powers of precognition, and the ability to climb walls. He eventually decides to adopt the superhero persona of Spider-Man to keep New York City safe, both from regular criminals and a plethora of superpowered ones. When he’s not stopping the likes of the Hobgoblin (Mark Hamill) or The Kingpin (Roscoe Lee Browne), his time is divided between attending school, being there for his friends and family, and maintaining his photography job at the Daily Bugle.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series did for the web head what Batman: The Animated Series did for the caped crusader. Despite numerous cases of network censorship that included limited physical violence and a mandate that Spider-Man can’t harm any pigeons if he lands on a roof, the show captured the universal appeal of Spider-Man through a healthy emphasis on Peter’s social life and the struggles of his loved ones alongside the action. The show also crossed over with numerous other Marvel TV shows at the time, allowing Spidey to team up with the likes of the X-Men and Iron Man (Robert Hays) long before the MCU was an idea. —Tyler B. Searle
24
‘Superman: The Animated Series’ (1996–2000)
To the people of Metropolis, Clark Kent (Tim Daly) is a mild-mannered reporter from Kansas who works at the Daily Planet. However, he is actually an alien from the planet Krypton who protects the Earth as Superman with a wide array of powers derived from Earth’s sun. While most of the people of Metropolis love the Man of Steel, he does have one major enemy in Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown), the genius, megalomaniac founder of Lexcorp, who sees Superman as a challenge to his authority.
Superman: The Animated Series was made by the same team behind Batman: The Animated Series, so it’s no surprise that its writing quality turned out as good as it did. Its stories included a healthy mix of lighthearted capers like classic Silver Age storylines, and darker, more mature outings, especially when they involved Darkseid (Michael Ironside). Though it was canceled prematurely, many of its storylines would later be used in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, which capped off the DCAU. —Tyler B. Searle
23
‘Gargoyles’ (1994–1997)
After spending thousands of years in a cursed petrified state, a series of gargoyle statues are transported from Scotland to New York City, where they each come alive at night. At night, the nocturnal creatures awake from slumber and serve as guardians and protectors of the city, but at sunrise, they turn back into stone, concealing their power and ancient magic from the outside world.
Disney’s Gargoyles was a unique 90s cartoon series that was known for its dark tones, complex storylines, and well-developed characters which were brought to life by an array of voice talents, including Keith David, Ed Asner, and Tim Curry. The series ran for three successful seasons and while it may have been a short-lived show, Gargoyles has an extremely loyal following of fans and remains to be a beloved 90s cartoon.
22
‘The Angry Beavers’ (1997–2001)
Brothers, Daggett (Richard Steven Horvitz) and Norbert (Nick Bakay) decide to venture from their hometown in Oregon and gain their own sense of independence, living in a nearby forest. After building an impressive bachelor pad, the brothers soon find themselves in a series of whacky and comical situations that keep their lives entertaining.
The Angry Beavers is a highly underrated animated series from the 1990s that ran for a successful five seasons on Nickelodeon. The series never loses its touch of unpredictability and always delivers some zany or out-of-this-world scenario for the brothers, who are complete opposites and constantly at childish odds over something. The characters’ in-depth development and creator, Mitch Schauer’s dedication to keeping fans on their toes is what makes The Angry Beavers a top-notch animated series of the 1990s.
21
‘Ed, Edd n Eddy’ (1999–2008)
In a seemingly average suburban neighborhood, three friends, Ed (Matt Hill), Edd (Samuel Khouth), and Eddy (Tony Sampson), try to survive their adolescent years and rely on one another to make it through each day. The boys find themselves in endless shenanigans with the local group of colorful neighborhood kids or being chased by the Kanker Sisters, or on a quest for their favorite treat, jawbreakers.
Ed, Edd n Eddy is a ridiculously humorous animated series that had an impressive run for six seasons and featured an array of characters that stood out with their own signature qualities. Between a boy, Johnny, whose best friend is a piece of wood known as Plank to Ed, who really loves butter toast, Ed, Edd n Eddy gave young audiences the effective encouragement to be themselves and embrace their own sense of weirdness and uniqueness.
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