25 Animated Shows From the '90s and 2000s That Will Bring Back Pure Nostalgia (26 photos)
Almost every '90s kid grew up watching these cartoons on TV. The second they came on, we'd drop everything and glue our eyes to the screen. Our parents could never quite grasp the appeal, insisting their own generation was raised on "much better, far more sensible animation." 
One way or another, cartoons from the '90s and 2000s remain an unforgettable part of our childhood. We’ve rounded up 25 of the best animated shows guaranteed to take you on a trip down memory lane.
CatDog 
It’s hard to imagine '90s animation without
CatDog
. The show centers on the bizarre, conjoined creature of the same name. Cat and Dog have completely opposite personalities, and almost every episode boils down to how these two polar opposites manage to coexist in a single body.
SpongeBob SquarePants 
This iconic series follows SpongeBob, who lives at the bottom of the ocean in the town of Bikini Bottom. He works at the local Krusty Krab diner, frying up Krabby Patties with a secret formula. SpongeBob is surrounded by friends and colorful neighbors, including his best buddy Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks, a land squirrel living underwater.
Hey Arnold! 
Kids in the '90s loved these shows largely because the storylines felt so relatable. Nearly every child of that era saw a bit of themselves in the main characters.
Take
Hey Arnold!
, for instance. The main character is a nine-year-old fourth-grader living in the Sunset Arms boarding house with his grandparents, Gertrude and Phil. Arnold's parents vanished without a trace when he was just a year old. According to series creator Craig Bartlett, the adventures of Arnold and his classmates were heavily inspired by his own childhood experiences.
Darkwing Duck 
Walt Disney Television Animation holds a special place in the hearts of '90s kids. The beloved Darkwing Duck was a classic superhero spoof. Originally, the series was conceived as a James Bond parody titled
Double-O Duck
, but the idea was scrapped to avoid potential copyright lawsuits.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers 
Another masterpiece from Walt Disney Television Animation. Who could forget the chipmunk duo Chip and Dale, always getting into trouble; Monterey Jack, the cheese-obsessed big guy; his tiny fly sidekick Zipper, who saved the day more than once; and Gadget Hackwrench, the brilliant mouse inventor!
Rugrats 
As the name suggests, the show revolves around a group of toddlers: Tommy and Dil Pickles, Angelica Pickles, Phil and Lil DeVille, Kimi Watanabe-Finster, Susie Carmichael, and Chuckie Finster. The show captures day-to-day adventures from a toddler's perspective while their clueless parents navigate everyday adult life.
The Angry Beavers 
This show centers on two beaver brothers, Norbert and Daggett. Forced to strike out on their own after their mother gives birth to a second litter, the pair builds a dam on a lake. Norbert and Daggett bicker constantly, but at the end of the day, they're inseparable.
The Real Ghostbusters 
This American animated series was spun off from the blockbuster movie of the same name. A team of parapsychologists opens a unique paranormal investigation and elimination business—and ends up being the only line of defense protecting New York City from supernatural threats.
Sailor Moon 
This is the story of ordinary schoolgirls who can transform into powerful Guardians to save the world from dark forces. Guided by their respective guardian planets, each girl possesses unique magical abilities. Together, the Sailor Guardians are unstoppable.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 
While chasing a story, reporter April O'Neil runs into serious trouble when a gang of thugs chases her down an alley and into the sewers. She's rescued by four mutated, talking turtles whom she quickly befriends. Masters of ninjutsu named after Renaissance artists—Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo—these hero turtles become her greatest allies.
Jackie Chan Adventures 
The main character of this series is an archaeologist and freelance agent for Section 13, Jackie Chan, who travels the globe hunting for magical artifacts. Joining him on his quests are his feisty niece Jade and his wise Uncle, who raised Jackie and taught him martial arts.
Dexter's Laboratory 
Dexter is a ten-year-old boy genius living with his family in a typical American suburb. Hidden behind a secret entrance in his bedroom lies a massive, secret laboratory he built himself. As he conducts wildly ambitious experiments, Dexter constantly finds himself in hilarious mishaps that he has to fix all on his own.
DuckTales 
'90s cartoons were always big on friendship, family bonds, and heart. The fan-favorite
DuckTales
follows billionaire Scrooge McDuck and his grandnephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, alongside Webby. As the world's richest duck, Scrooge constantly protects his vast fortune from villains eager to ruin him by any means necessary.
Oggy and the Cockroaches 
This French animated slapstick comedy follows Oggy, a lazy cat endlessly tormented by three mischievous cockroaches. The show has almost no dialogue, making it instantly understandable to anyone anywhere. Oggy lives near his cousin Jack, who often gets dragged into the chaos. Fun fact: the creators named the three cockroaches—Dee Dee, Marky, and Joey—after members of the legendary punk rock band the Ramones.
The Flintstones 
Even though it originally debuted long before the '90s and 2000s,
The Flintstones
earned a rerun-powered spot on our list. The core premise was a satirical look at modern suburban American life transposed onto a fantastical Stone Age setting. The show paved the way for animated family sitcoms like
The Simpsons
and
Family Guy
.
Scooby-Doo 
Scooby-Doo is easily one of the most iconic four-legged characters in animation history. Cruising around in the Mystery Machine, Fred, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma, and Scooby travel from town to town solving uncanny mysteries, uncovering clues, and exposing paranormal "monsters" as clever hoaxes.
Tom and Jerry 
Generations of kids grew up laughing at the endless rivalry between Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse. This iconic, virtually wordless slapstick classic remains timeless, delighting viewers of all ages to this day.
Timon & Pumbaa 
A spin-off of
The Lion King
, this show quickly took on a life of its own as a childhood staple for '90s kids. Following the adventures of Timon, the carefree meerkat, and Pumbaa, the lovable warthog, the duo navigates life in the African jungle by their famous problem-free philosophy: "Hakuna Matata."
Pokémon 
No retrospective of '90s animation would be complete without mentioning this iconic anime. Based on the hit Japanese video game franchise,
Pokémon
takes place in a world inhabited by pocket monsters possessing extraordinary powers. Human Trainers capture and raise these creatures to battle each other in high-stakes competitions.
The Simpsons 
The Simpsons
stands as one of the most famous animated series in television history. Following a family of five in the fictional town of Springfield, the show brilliantly satirizes working-class American culture, societal tropes, and everyday life.
The Pink Panther 
Originally created for the opening titles of live-action comedy films named after a priceless diamond, the sleek Pink Panther grew into a star in his own right. Though initially aimed at older audiences, the cool cat’s animated shorts were staples of kids' Saturday morning TV throughout the '90s.
The Little Mermaid 
The Little Mermaid
animated series serves as a prequel to Disney's legendary feature film. Set beneath the waves in the undersea kingdom of King Triton, the show follows the youthful adventures of Ariel alongside her loyal friends Flounder and Sebastian the court crab.
Aladdin 
Based on the hit animated movie, this series picks up after Aladdin’s engagement to Princess Jasmine. Still living outside the Agrabah palace, the former street rat fights off dark sorcerers, ancient curses, and magical threats alongside his trusty friends: Abu the monkey and Iago the parrot.
TaleSpin 
This iconic Disney series follows Baloo the bear, a bush pilot who flies a seaplane for a cargo delivery company called "Higher for Hire," owned by Rebecca Cunningham. Flying across uncharted territories, Baloo and his friends constantly cross paths with air pirates and strange hazards, always finding a way out of tight spots.
The Wild Thornberrys 
'90s cartoons spanned an incredible variety of themes and genres, and
The Wild Thornberrys
was one of the most unique. The show follows a quirky family traveling the world in an RV to film nature documentaries.
Nigel, the eccentric patriarch, hosts the show, while his wife Marianne serves as the camera operator. The main protagonist is their redheaded younger daughter, Eliza, who secretly possesses the gift of talking to animals. Her older sister Debbie prefers civilization to wilderness expeditions, while adopted wild child Donnie brings endless chaos to their adventures across the globe.
