Summary
The 90s proved to be a new era for animated television. Shows for every demographic, running on just as many networks, were vying for supremacy, with a number of them coming out on top, proving that they had what it takes tohold an audience.
Some of these shows would see their runs naturally come to their end, while others' humor and themes would keep viewers' attention for years on end. Whatever the case may be, the best shows of the era would create a path for themselves that would reach all the way to the present day. Here’s a list of some of the best 90s cartoons that are still around today.
There is probably no cartoon as iconic or well-known around the globe as The Simpsons. The simple formula of putting its beloved yellow family through every manner of hi-jinx is no doubt what has kept fans invested since its inception.
Debuting at the tale-end of ‘89, the show’s incredibly smart writing and consistently clever commentary on the world andits many facetshas enamored people for decades, and has lead to the winning of a metric-ton of awards. With seemingly no signs of stopping, The Simpsons will, no doubt, continue to bring joy to fans for years to come.
X-Men: The Animated series served as many people’s introduction to Professor X’sSchool For Gifted Youngsters. Mutants, like Cyclops, Wolverine, and Rogue, made names for themselves in the throes of this rather mature comic book show.
As well recieved as the show’s takes on some of the most popular X-Men comic storylines were, the show was left unfinished afteronly 3 seasons. Luckily, that’s where the recent X-Men ‘97 series comes in. Nearly 30 years later, it picked up exactly where that series left off, to massive fan and critical acclaim.
Mike Judge is known for his shows being rather dry in the way they deliver their humor. However, it’s always to their benefit, as is seen in the hit show, King of the Hill. It’s set-up of a working-class American family living out their day-to-day life in suburban Texas allowed for a masterclass in relatable humor for anyone that found themselves simply living in America.
The show lasted until the mid 2000’s, but stayed alive through memes and the general internet clip machine. There’s also a reboot series slated to bring the show back in 2025, that will surely breathe somemuch-needed new lifeinto the classic.
South Park is one of a number of projects by creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, but it’s the one that has been there from the beginning. At times, it seemed like the show’s mere existence was meant to stir up controversy, but as itcame into its own, it established itself as one of the premiere satirical animated shows out there.
While smart and vulgar in the same breath, the show’s true staying power resides in the fact that it’s just genuinely entertaining, brashness besides. It’s also incredibly surprising. For instance, the feature film, South Park: Bigger, Louder, and Uncut, was a musical that won a number of awards, and was nominated for an Oscar for its original songs.
Of course, not all 90s cartoons were made explicitly for adults. SpongeBob SquarePants established itself as a kid-friendly cartoon that parents could leave their kids parked in front of for hours without worry. It just so happened that the show would go on to become just about every millennial’s entire personality.
The show is endlessly quotable, with early episodes embedding themselvesinto the minds of those that grew up with them. With countless video game features, movies, and even a balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, it’s safe to say that everybody’s favorite porous sea animal has a long life ahead of him.
