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Almost everybody claims TV shows were vastly superior in the 1990s, especially the cartoons. I half-agree; no show is perfect, of course, but I do feel the quality of television has really gone down the drain over the last couple of decades.

Let's just say I don't feel like I'm missing out these days, and I've no interest in Netflix or Disney-Plus or any of that stuff. Whenever I want to watch something, I resort to my own DVD collection or Amazon Prime.

I didn't watch all these shows on a regular basis. Some of them, I didn't start to take seriously until a few years ago. But there are a couple on this list that are as dear to me now as they were back in my early youth.

And so, from the top:

1. Rugrats. I can count on one hand the number of episodes I didn't like, and in hindsight, it's a very creative and rather bold show. Sure, the adults get a lot of flak for not keeping better track of their kids, and at least some of that flak is justified. Then again, we wouldn't really have a show at all without a bit of free range on the babies' part, would we?

Even though we know what the babies don't know, it's intriguing all the same to see the world through a baby's eyes. Besides, there's plenty of grown-up humor on the side; Grandpa Lou is still my favorite, with Stu at a close second.

And no, I've no desire to see (or acknowledge the very existence of) that reboot.

2. Doug. Not bad for Nickelodeon's first official cartoon. The Disney version is okay, but I agree the Nickelodeon version is more superior. I used to write little stories that basically told the episodes all over again, except I put myself in Doug's place and changed the names of the characters. So, yeah, it goes to show how much I liked Doug to reimagine myself as him.

3. Spongebob Squarepants. While I feel the franchise has long since been milked bone-dry, the first few seasons of this "nautical nonsense" are definitely worth mentioning. In a nutshell, they're incredibly funny, extremely quotable, and they manage to slip in a decent moral here and there. These days, I feel much like Squidward, especially with my job as a cashier.

4. Dexter's Laboratory. This show could have been better in some parts, and a lot worse in others. At least the episodes were very short, and it's rather cool how they managed to fit a complete story into such a small time slot. There's something endearing about Dexter and his "funny accent," too.

5. The Powerpuff Girls. My sisters were much bigger fans of this show than I was, but I'm revisiting that series and gaining a new respect for it. Like Dexter's Lab, it's a bit weird but thoroughly entertaining, and I easily feel the strongest connection with Bubbles.

6. Hey Arnold! As with Rugrats, I can count on one hand the number of episodes that didn't hold my interest, and it's amazing how deep some of these characters are when you take the time to analyze them. Helga G. Pataki was one of my motivators to take writing more seriously.

7. DuckTales. It's been so long that I can barely remember any episode anymore, but I've never forgotten how much we devoured that show on Saturday mornings, and the theme song has never faded. While I'm on the verge of watching it again (most likely through Amazon Prime), I can't say I'm too inclined to check out the reboot. From what I heard, even Donald Duck's actor disapproves of the reboot, claiming it hasn't got the same heart and soul as the old show. I believe him.

8. Batman: The Animated Series. This was a show I didn't appreciate until I got older, and my sister's the same way. I have Mask of the Phantasm in my personal collection, and what appeals to me the most is how they're able to convey a gripping story without the need for gratuitous violence, sex, and swearing. It seems like every Batman show these days likes to test the limits of "mature content," which does not sit well with me one bit. Each show also gets more and more depressing, with fewer and fewer lighthearted moments to balance it out. Really, guys, come on.

9. Gargoyles. Another show I didn't watch then but am paying a lot more attention to now, and I like what I see. Suffice it to say there's a lot of Goliath in my Beowulf, and a great deal of Demona in my Tyrell.

10. Aladdin: The Animated Series. This was a series we stumbled upon purely by accident. We thought the intro was just a music video for Aladdin, until we realized it was an actual show. Surprisingly, it holds up well to this day; it manages not to be too hokey, the animation can be decent, and I like how Aladdin and Jasmine take turns being "the hero" while the Genie's in no position to solve everything with a mere snap of his fingers. This is a fine example of how a "TV sequel" of a huge movie should be done.

And there we have it.

Template courtesy of HorrorExplorer : Best 90s Cartoons

All images property of their respective owners.

Description

Almost everybody claims TV shows were vastly superior in the 1990s, especially the cartoons. I half-agree; no show is perfect, of course, but I do feel the quality of television has really gone down the drain over the last couple of decades.

Let's just say I don't feel like I'm missing out these days, and I've no interest in Netflix or Disney-Plus or any of that stuff. Whenever I want to watch something, I resort to my own DVD collection or Amazon Prime.

I didn't watch all these shows on a regular basis. Some of them, I didn't start to take seriously until a few years ago. But there are a couple on this list that are as dear to me now as they were back in my early youth.

And so, from the top:

1. Rugrats. I can count on one hand the number of episodes I didn't like, and in hindsight, it's a very creative and rather bold show. Sure, the adults get a lot of flak for not keeping better track of their kids, and at least some of that flak is justified. Then again, we wouldn't really have a show at all without a bit of free range on the babies' part, would we?

Even though we know what the babies don't know, it's intriguing all the same to see the world through a baby's eyes. Besides, there's plenty of grown-up humor on the side; Grandpa Lou is still my favorite, with Stu at a close second.

And no, I've no desire to see (or acknowledge the very existence of) that reboot.

2. Doug. Not bad for Nickelodeon's first official cartoon. The Disney version is okay, but I agree the Nickelodeon version is more superior. I used to write little stories that basically told the episodes all over again, except I put myself in Doug's place and changed the names of the characters. So, yeah, it goes to show how much I liked Doug to reimagine myself as him.

3. Spongebob Squarepants. While I feel the franchise has long since been milked bone-dry, the first few seasons of this "nautical nonsense" are definitely worth mentioning. In a nutshell, they're incredibly funny, extremely quotable, and they manage to slip in a decent moral here and there. These days, I feel much like Squidward, especially with my job as a cashier.

4. Dexter's Laboratory. This show could have been better in some parts, and a lot worse in others. At least the episodes were very short, and it's rather cool how they managed to fit a complete story into such a small time slot. There's something endearing about Dexter and his "funny accent," too.

5. The Powerpuff Girls. My sisters were much bigger fans of this show than I was, but I'm revisiting that series and gaining a new respect for it. Like Dexter's Lab, it's a bit weird but thoroughly entertaining, and I easily feel the strongest connection with Bubbles.

6. Hey Arnold! As with Rugrats, I can count on one hand the number of episodes that didn't hold my interest, and it's amazing how deep some of these characters are when you take the time to analyze them. Helga G. Pataki was one of my motivators to take writing more seriously.

7. DuckTales. It's been so long that I can barely remember any episode anymore, but I've never forgotten how much we devoured that show on Saturday mornings, and the theme song has never faded. While I'm on the verge of watching it again (most likely through Amazon Prime), I can't say I'm too inclined to check out the reboot. From what I heard, even Donald Duck's actor disapproves of the reboot, claiming it hasn't got the same heart and soul as the old show. I believe him.

8. Batman: The Animated Series. This was a show I didn't appreciate until I got older, and my sister's the same way. I have Mask of the Phantasm in my personal collection, and what appeals to me the most is how they're able to convey a gripping story without the need for gratuitous violence, sex, and swearing. It seems like every Batman show these days likes to test the limits of "mature content," which does not sit well with me one bit. Each show also gets more and more depressing, with fewer and fewer lighthearted moments to balance it out. Really, guys, come on.

9. Gargoyles. Another show I didn't watch then but am paying a lot more attention to now, and I like what I see. Suffice it to say there's a lot of Goliath in my Beowulf, and a great deal of Demona in my Tyrell.

10. Aladdin: The Animated Series. This was a series we stumbled upon purely by accident. We thought the intro was just a music video for Aladdin, until we realized it was an actual show. Surprisingly, it holds up well to this day; it manages not to be too hokey, the animation can be decent, and I like how Aladdin and Jasmine take turns being "the hero" while the Genie's in no position to solve everything with a mere snap of his fingers. This is a fine example of how a "TV sequel" of a huge movie should be done.

And there we have it.

Template courtesy of HorrorExplorer : Best 90s Cartoons

All images property of their respective owners.