When you think about Cartoon Network, Adult Swim comes to mind. Although Adult Swim has its classics, Cartoon Network’s best series is for kids. From pure kid energy to life lessons, LGBTQIA+ visibility, horror, humor and superheroes, we’ve rounded up the best classic Cartoon Network cartoons that you’ll enjoy just as much as your kids.
The best Cartoon Network shows ever
Steven universe
Steven Universe isn’t just fun to watch for kids who like superheroes, outer space, and funny cartoons. Also, there are many gay and lesbian characters. In 2019, it was the first animated show to win the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Programming for Children and Families. Steven Universe also received five Emmy Award nominations and a Peabody Award in 2019.
Although the protagonist of Steven Universe is male, most of the other characters are female, queer, or both, and Steven’s mother is in a lesbian relationship.
Isn’t it super cute? Sugar developed the exhibition in honor of their artist brother, Steven…
Cow and chicken
Cow and Chicken is a Cartoon Network classic from Hanna-Barbera, who created The Flintstones, The Jetsons and Yogi Bear. David Feis designed Cow and Chicken for his daughter Charlie Adler voiced all the main characters. Will Ferrell, Mark Hamill and Pamela Adlon voiced characters in the three-season animated series.
The strong girls
Girl Rules! Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup (voiced by, EG, Daily of Rugrats) were the Powerpuff Girls. The Powerpuff Girls also paid tribute to artist Margaret Keane, whose “Big Eyes” portrait style inspired their wide-open gaze and after whom the show’s Mrs. Keane was named. The Powerpuff Girls were invincible, but still susceptible to everyday problems.
Craig McCracken originally called the female fighting trio “The Whoopass Girls” and Professor Eutonium’s “secret ingredient” was “Whoopass”. To make it kid-friendly, “Chemical X” was changed to Powerpuff Girls.
Time for adventure
Adults enjoyed Adventure Time as much as kids. Adventure Time is set in a post-apocalyptic world with hints of Mad Max. Finn and Jake face the Bubblegum Queen, Marceline the Vampire Queen, Lumpy the Space Princess, the Ice King, the Flame Princess and BMO. BMO is gender related, and Marceline and Princess Bubblegum meet after the end of the series. Rebecca Sugar said they were told, “Don’t you understand you’re working for a company?” when they tried to expand LGBTQIA+ representation on the show. So I saw walls and ceilings.
The use of music and original songs from Adventure Time, as well as the guest stars, are also distinctive. Rainn Wilson, Creed Bratton, LeVar Burton and Jonathan Frakes provided voices for the show.
The show won eight Emmys and a Peabody. HBO Max has Adventure Time: Distant Lands.
Dexter’s laboratory
Kids and adults alike love Dexter’s Lab. Dexter and Dee Dee’s love (and annoyance) is adorable and makes their argument relatable, and understanding Dexter’s accent can keep you engaged for hours. Entertainment? Parental Oblivion : Dexter’s pet monkey has abilities and fights criminals just as Dexter’s parents are unaware of his underground lab.
Teen Titans
Teen Titans fans love DC Comics. The show’s central characters had no secret identities, which creator Glenn Murakami said was intentional for the young demographic.
“I wanted the kids to connect with the characters. I thought the youth couldn’t project themselves onto characters without a secret identity. I appreciated that. We wanted everything to be amazing, really iconic in 2004. “Oh, the robot. Alien chick. Witch girl. A shapeshifting boy. It’s… We wanted it to be clean. Like retro Star Trek. We wanted direct.”
Regular show
A blue jay and a raccoon face mundane (avoiding park maintenance) and supernatural challenges (dealing with ghosts, going into space). The regular show features humor for kids and adults with music from The Replacements and The Velvet Underground. The 11-minute episodes are extremely weird and have something for everyone.
Ed, Ed and Eddie
Ed, Ed, and Eddie are outsiders from their cul-de-sac, but they don’t care as long as they can get their favorite candy. Anyone who’s ever been an awkward pre-teen or had a sweet tooth will find the program relatable, and its retro-style animation also makes it visually appealing.
Grind the cowardly dog
Being brave doesn’t mean being terrible. Courage, the Cowardly Dog, overcomes his fear of kicking, however necessary. Courage protects its owners, Muriel and Eustace, from otherworldly monsters and ghosts. Some of the more violent scenes may not be suitable for young children.
Chowder
Chowder is about an apprentice chef whose appetite and absent-mindedness get him into trouble. The names of the characters in the series alone make it fun: Chowder’s caregivers are Mung and Truffles Daal, his rock monster friend is Schnitzel, and he has a gas pet cloud named Kimchi. Paul Reubens and George Takei voice cats.
Samurai Jack
Samurai Jack was partly influenced by David Carradine in Kung Fu. Phil LaMarr voices the time-traveling, demon-fighting warrior. In his mission to save the Earth, he faces aliens, demons, robots and more. The show ran from 2001 to 2004 and returned in 2017 for a fifth, darker season. Samurai Jack has won eight Emmy Awards and produces video games and merchandise.
Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo helps adults and children avoid encounters. The narcissistic main character, based on Elvis Presley and Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, lives with his mother and tries to date women despite his good looks. Adam West, Donny Osmond, Shaquille O’Neal and Seth Green voiced characters on the show. It is not known if Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will star in a Johnny Bravo action film.
Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends
Craig McCracken, creator of the Powerpuff Girls, also created Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. Some of the imaginary friends can be adopted by new children. The show ran from 2004 to 2009 on Cartoon Network. McCracken said The Muppet Show influenced him because it appealed to young people and parents.
“I wanted an all-ages concert,” he said. “We give children more credit than others, and we know that adults are not suffocators. By striking a balance, you appeal to both children and adults.”
Ben 10
Ben 10 is Cartoon Network’s longest running franchise (so far). Ben 10 has five television series, one special, and five television feature films. Ben Tennyson, the grandson of an interstellar explorer, finds what he thinks is a watch but is the Omnitrix, a device that allows him to move into alien life forms with a variety of superpowers. With such powers come villains and keeping his identity.
The series follows Ben’s superhuman development and struggles.
Young Justice
Young Justice ran for two seasons in 2010 and 2012 and will return for a third in 2019. Batman, Green Arrow, Superboy, The Flash, Aquaman tutor Robin, Kid Flash, Miss Martian, Aqualad, Artemis and Speedy to join to Justice League.
Zatanna, Blue Beetle, Beast Boy, Wonder Girl, Batgirl, Cyborg and others joined later. The plots are complex and mature, but kids and parents of superhero fans can watch.
The Dark Adventures of Billy and Mandy
What if the Grim Reaper was your servant and friend? Billy and his borderline psychotic, cynical sister Mandy beat the Grim Reaper in a limbo match (by cheating!) and got Death as their slave. Billy and Mandy use their Grimm talents to explore the Underworld and meet Dracula, the Bogeyman and the Wolf Man.
The show lacks consistency, which is great because Mandy and Billy’s machinations usually end up killing characters. The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy is best suited for ages eight and up due to the violence and disturbing themes.
The Amazing World of Gumball
The Amazing World of Gumball gets more acidic and darker each time, but it remains fun. Gumball, a 12-year-old blue cat, and his brother Darwin, a goldfish, are constants while Gumball is in middle school.
In Season 3, The Amazing World of Gumball introduces The Void, a dimension that stores all of history’s mistakes, and Rob, a background figure who becomes a meta villain.
Uncle Grandpa
At the center of Uncle Grandpa is a Santa Claus-like figure who is everyone’s uncle. Uncle Grandpa helps children all over the world, often with humorous results. Uncle Grandpa joins a sensible Belly Bag, a sensible slice of pizza, Pizza Steve, a dinosaur, Mr. Gus, and a living picture of a tiger, the Giant Realistic Flying Tiger.
Mark Hamill, Adam Devine, Lena Headey, Pamela Adlon, Shaquille O’Neal and Brian Posehn voice characters.
Sheep in the big city
They are sheep in a big city and there are many charming puns. Everything doesn’t have to be elaborate. Sheep in the Big City is perfect because it doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is.
Final lines
Cartoon Network is the best place where you want to watch something animated. Cartoon Network has given us some of the best shows over the years. They have everything from action-packed shows to fun ones. Cartoon Network was excellent no matter what decade or period you were looking at.