Best Cartoons from the 90s: Do you miss the simpler days when 90s cartoons dominated television? Check out our ranking of the top Nickelodeon cartoons from the 1990s, vintage Cartoon Network programs, and other throwback favorites.
Best Cartoons from the 90s
Best Cartoons from the 1990s
The soul benefits from nostalgia. And for many, watching cartoons from the 1990s satisfies that gnawing nostalgia.
Sadly, time travel is still a sci-fi phenomenon. But you may quickly travel to a different time and place because of the endless streaming possibilities available.
In the 1990s, there was a surge of cartoons, unlike any other primetime television programming. Cartoons in the 1990s were a force to be reckoned with, showcasing avant-garde inventiveness, and ushering in a new era of adult cartoon TV shows.
Best Cartoons from the 1990s This animation renaissance is still going strong today. On the other hand, you might choose to complement your binge with a stiff drink and dinner ordered through a delivery service rather than a bowl of porridge on a Saturday morning.
Iconic 90s Cartoons You Can Still Watch Today
Best Cartoons from the 1990s So, let’s take a trip down memory lane with 15 classic 90s cartoons and instructions on how to view them now, returning us to dial-up tones, digital pets, and peace gestures.
1. Doug, a 1990s Nickelodeon cartoon featuring Doug (1991–1999)
Best Cartoons from the 1990s Doug Funnie is at least known if you grew up watching Nickelodeon cartoons from the 1990s. (And I’m willing to guess that many of you reading this still hum the lyrics to “Killer Tofu” every time you pass a tofu container.)
Much of the strangeness and grossness present in later Nicktoons is absent in Doug. Doug is a more grounded, wholesome, and true slice of life than outrageous shenanigans. even if the color scheme for the character design is crazy!
Watching an 11-year-old boy fantasizing about females and superheroes in his room is reassuring for my fellow preteens. When you are on the verge of your angsty years, it is comforting to know you are not alone.
Doug eventually makes it to Disney. Additionally, Doug became a computer game, a musical, and a movie after relocating to Disney.
3. The Animaniacs (1993-Present)
Best Cartoons from the 1990s In 1993, cartoons had taken over the entertainment sector. Fox Broadcasting Network and Steven Spielberg collaborate to produce one of the most ridiculous 90s animated series ever, Animaniacs – Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, in an effort to distinguish out from the competition.
Animaniacs features
Best Cartoons from the 1990s features its own orchestra, unlike other classic animated series, and places a lot of attention on the show’s musical score. There is also a long number of cameos and references to popular culture. Of course, there are plenty of inappropriate jokes, innuendos, and dubious slapstick routines (does anyone remember “Finger Prince”?) All the while continuing to be inspiring and educative.
But the show’s heavy meta content is what really sets it apart. Cartoon characters from the 90s children’s program Animaniacs live in the real world. And these animated characters create their own animated series, some of which are about other animated series! But you get the point—Animanicas pioneered meta. Even a song is sung about it.
Rugrats (1991-Present)
Is there a better representation of cartoons from the 1990s than Rugrats? Of course, when talking about a decade’s worth of programming, there are a lot of shows that come to mind. But Rugrats is essentially a 90s childhood frozen in time.
Old-school cartoons Rugrats
Rugrats, which ran from 1991 to 1993, was discontinued for three years. In that period, the program evolved from a straightforward children’s cartoon to a rating powerhouse. Then, in 1996, Rugrats returned after three years of reruns.
By the turn of the millennium, Rugrats had its own spinoff, All Grown Up, as well as movies and crossovers. However, those infants were relegated to the limbo of perpetual infancy before they ever made it past adolescence. Better still, we say.
Johnny Bravo (1997-2004)
It’s not uncommon to find that some of your favorite hilarious cartoon characters dated poorly when you watch old television programs or movies. Perhaps the humor is too cruel, or the previously endearing peculiarities have grown repulsive. However, there is still something endearing about the conceited, would-be playboy Johnny Bravo.
Old 2000s Cartoon Network Shows John Well done
In the program, Johnny constantly tries and fails to get women’s attention while staring in the mirror and acting like a total himbo.
The show is distinctive for its target audience because of the adult comedy and many cameos. Cartoon Network made a program that is appropriate for both children and adults because they were aware that parents would be watching in the background.
Rocko’s Modern Life (1993-1996)
It’s widely accepted that children’s programming ought to impart knowledge to its audience. Rocko’s Modern Life, however, chooses to buck the trend and instead reveals a more humorous side of 1990s animation.
90s kids’ program A Modern Life for Rocko
Rocko, the Australian wallaby residing in the US, is best characterized as eccentric. The show frequently descends into frenzy, craziness, and surrealism surrounding its titular protagonist, who normally plays the role of a good-natured straight man. This is blended with a dash of unmistakably adult comedy (Mrs. Bighead still eeks out out to this day).
Despite only airing from 1991 to 1996, Rocko’s Modern Life had a significant impact on viewers. Rocko and the gang appeared in Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, a Netflix movie special, in 2019.
90s Girl Cartoon Characters – Daria (1997-2002)
You could find yourself singing the themes of these well-known 90s cartoons as you go through this list. And you must recall the heavily distorted intro if you’ve seen Daria.
But Daria contains more than just a catchy soundtrack. Daria is a unique show, from the biting humor to the somber depictions of high school development. Additionally, the title character, Daria, is a unique mix of anxiety and boredom.
In fact, Daria, who first made a cameo appearance in Beavis and Butthead, was extremely popular in the 1990s. her own spinoff followed. The rest is history, I suppose.
The Ren and Stimpy Show (1991-1996)
It’s kind of amazing that a show like The Ren & Stimpy Show began on Nickelodeon as a children’s program. Ren and Stimpy’s television debut in 2021 is actually hard to imagine. But it had a significant enough impact on 90s cartoons to develop a devoted cult following.
The Ren & Stimpy Show makes extensive use of shock, surrealism, and gross-out for a children’s animation. A lot of the jokes use slapstick comedy, double entendre, and potty humor. But for many, the show’s outrageous humor is its greatest strength. Particularly horrifying might be Ren having a mental breakdown.
Cartoon Characters from the 1990s Stimpy & Ren
Unsurprisingly, some parents prefer that their children stay away from such a pornographic programs. Additionally, some episodes of the first season were entirely suppressed. In fact, John K, the developer, would deliberately assault the censors because he knew they couldn’t catch everything.
King of the Hill (1997-2010)
Did you know that liquid propane is 270 times more compact than gaseous propane? That is only one of the numerous facts about propane and its accessories that you can discover by watching King of the Hill. Yep. Mhmm.
King of the Hill, one of the many family-oriented 90s animated series, has been airing for 13 seasons. The program takes you to Hank Hill’s house and to the made-up town of Arlen, Texas.
King of the Hill is among the best cartoons from the 1990s
Each character is a very sincere representation of traditional small-town clichés. There is a cleverness to the show that makes the citizens of Arlen approachable despite all their eccentricities, even when it deals with more contentious subjects.
The Planeteers and Captain Planet (1990-1996)
Climate change isn’t cool in the least. And the idea that our earth is deteriorating under our feet might make us feel powerless. If only a hero would show, there to save the day!
Captain Planet and the Planeteers are someone in the 90s animated series
Five young people from around the world link up with Captain Planet to fight the horrors of pollution with the aid of magical rings given to them by Gaia, the spirit of the Earth. Additionally, no evildoer goes unexplored in the six seasons.
Cartoons from the 1990s: Captain Planet
The presentation goes far beyond the basics of environmentalism, covering topics like greed, corruption, sickness, and even the HIV/AIDS catastrophe.
Who knows, it might motivate you to adopt more environmentally responsible practices.
on Flux (1991-1995)
The late 1990s evolved into a time of extreme expression and experimentation as Y2K loomed in the background. Cartoon programs were also no difference in terms of this artistic expression.
90s TV series Flux Aeon
On Flux was unlike anything else seen on television prior to anime when it first aired on MTV as a collection of silent short films. On Flux differs from other 90s animated series in many ways than just presentation and animation design. The whole situation is ludicrous.
A harsh theme for an animated cartoon to take on is an avant-garde view of apocryphal earth. Particularly in light of the fact that, prior to the debut of Flux, sitcoms or comedies were the norms for adult cartoons.
The Simpsons (1989-Present)
Therefore, The Simpsons’ debut wasn’t actually in the 1990s. However, it still has a place on our list because, without The Simpsons, the 1990s would have been very different.
My favorite 90s animation In the Simpsons
The Simpsons were a feature on the Tracey Ullman Show before they got their big break on The Simpsons. But because the joke was so well received, it quickly evolved into the beloved animated sitcom that audiences now enjoy.
Goblins (1994-1997)
Disney decided to veer away from the happy, upbeat tales when they wanted to fill an after-school block of cartoons. Instead, they produce one of the most ingeniously dark cartoons from the 1990s, Gargoyles.
Old-school animation Gargoyles
Gargoyles is an action-packed, plot-heavy cartoon from the 1990s, in contrast to other shows from the era. The program centers on a trio of Scottish gargoyles that wind themselves atop a New York City skyscraper.
Hello Arnold! (1996-2004)
This most cherished Nickelodeon animated series from the 1990s depicts the life of Arnold, a cool, collected, and… cynical city child. Arnold first debuted as a series of Claymation shorts featuring an inventive youngster who would embark on adventures while remaining seated.
90s children’s television: Hey Arnold
But among 1990s cartoons, the modest Arnold became a phenomenon. Topics covered in Hey Arnold! include unrequited love, parental loss, child poverty, and even stalking.
However, the show occasionally features lighter moments and whimsical themes. Arnold is also a terrific role model because he frequently finds himself in morally challenging situations but always chooses the right course of action.
CatDog (1998-2005)
Anthropomorphic creatures were popular in the world of traditional cartoons. Nothing, not even the other talking animals in 90s cartoons, could have foreseen CatDog.
Catalog from the 1990s
The show’s creators decided to combine a cat with a dog to create CatDog. The monster that results from combining opposites must live as a pair. Two heads on either end of a torso, in the oddest, most unsettling way imaginable.
Beavis and Butt-Head (1993-Present)
Few networks in the 1990s were as adventurous as MTV. Beavis and Butthead, currently one of the most well-known shows, was one of the network’s craziest concepts.
Cartoons from the 1990s Toby & Beavis
Throughout the brief span of the show, Beavis and Butt-Head never held back. First, the two titular characters are both blatantly stupid buffoons. Add to that the fact that the pair is blatantly vulgar, self-absorbed, and unattractive but always looking to score.
But hey, it functions and was somehow relevant. Despite themselves, Mike Judge manages to create some of the greatest cartoon characters ever.
It goes without saying that the two paved the way for more irreverent comedy in vintage cartoons and 90s television in general. Even our favorite angsty teen, Daria Morgendorffer, is introduced by the duo. You can even abuse a Hank Hill prototype!
Top Cartoons from the 1990s: That’s All, Folks!
Best Cartoons from the 1990s Even though there are several series to choose from, picking one to watch might be challenging. So, make it simple for yourself and turn on one of these well-known cartoons from the 1990s.
This list should point you in the correct way whether you’ve never seen them or wish to relive your youth.
