Cartoon Network is undeniably one of the greatest networks when it comes to children’s TV. While its current range of content is also impressive, the late 1990s and early 2000s provided the channel with some of its best shows. This includes the likes of Courage the Cowardly Dog, Ed Edd and Eddy, and Teen Titans.
A Ranker list on the network’s best original animated series supports this claim. The multiple stylistic influences and narratives in each one of these shows make them instant classics for both nostalgic viewers as well as new ones.
Regular Show
Even though it is named Regular Show, this Cartoon Network original is quite surreal in its humor and narrative style. The primary characters are a raccoon and a blue jay who serve as the groundskeepers at a park. Whenever they wish to take a breather, chaos and hilarity ensue.
More than the episodic arcs, the characters of Regular Show stand out on their own. From the bird Mordecai to the green male Muscle Man, the characters have their fair share of hope and angst. Alongside the hilarity, Regular Show’s attempts at handling mature themes along with sexual innuendos and over-the-top violence have also made it quite controversial.
Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends
Friendships can be integral to a child’s development stage, even if they are bonded with some imaginary pals. Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends explores this concept with a literal house filled with such friends that are adopted by new kids.
Not only does the show end up exploring values of friendship in this process but it also touches upon abandonment issues and the pressures of growing up. With such heartwarming themes, it is not surprising to find the 2000s Cartoon Network show winning over even present-day viewers.
Looney Tunes
Even though the original Looney Tunes premiered as a Warner Bros original, the animated anthology series became a staple of Cartoon Network’s programming in the years to come. Dealing with the over-the-top misadventures of anthropomorphic animal characters such as Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird, the Looney Tunes explored the limits of physical humor with occasional hints of satire.
Regardless of reruns or new revivals, the episodes of Looney Tunes serve as important fragments of animated history. The former also included some of the finest Golden Age voice actors in the industry such as Mel Blanc (Bugs, Daffy) and June Foray (Granny).
Teen Titans
The success of the DC superhero team-up show Justice League paved the way for Teen Titans, a branch of younger characters within the DC Animated Universe. Capturing the teen angst of its heroes along with their issues growing up, Teen Titans added a fresh spin on the animated superhero drama formula.
Despite all their superpowers, the characters of the titular team were humanized in their own solo arcs. Apart from Robin, Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy, the show is also notable for its dark take on the series antagonist Slade (aka Deathstroke), voiced by a delightfully scary Ron Perlman.
The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy
Billy and Mandy are unlikely friends with opposite personalities. But when they end up befriending the Grim Reaper himself, the duo embark on several hellish adventures with hilarious results. Despite its target audience being children, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy had a Gothic horror-like vibe to it, particularly with the character of the ever-cynical Mandy.
In other words, the cartoon proved that its home network strove to create new narratives for children that went beyond the conventional theatrics. Through its loud and surreal humor, Billy and Mandy even explored larger questions about life and existence.
Codename: Kids Next Door
In the tumultuous world of Codename: Kids Next Door, a group of 10-year-olds is in a constant battle against adults over issues such as going to the dentist, doing homework, or attending summer camp. When all measures fail, they resort to the sophisticated technology that they build from the confines of a secret treehouse.
The “Rugrats-like” approach to the central rebellion of the children provided an interesting perspective to viewers. Instead of expecting young children to be perfect role models, Codename: Kids Next Door celebrated imperfections among such children. Today, it’s also widely regarded as one of the kids’ shows that should be revived as adult shows, with fans wondering how these kids would be once they actually grow into adults.
Tom And Jerry
A timeless classic for all generations, Tom and Jerry can be considered one of the crown jewels of the Hanna-Barbera era of Cartoon Network originals. The episodes of Tom and Jerry are mostly centered on the titular cat and mouse’s eternal rivalry as they try to outsmart each other with wildly innovative contraptions.
Despite neither Tom nor Jerry having any speaking parts, the two have gone on to become some of the most popular animated characters of all time. The simple sense of exaggerated slapstick comedy in the show has aged well.
Scooby-Doo
Another memorable Hanna-Barbera show with iconic characters, Scooby-Doo started out as a horror comedy with undertones of investigative mystery. The titular Great Dane accompanied a team of four paranormal investigators who encountered all sorts of creepy ghoulies, most of whom turned out to be humans in disguise.
Despite using a largely unchanged premise in its multiple seasons, Scooby-Doo and its future spin-offs have continued to entertain audiences with the wide variety of villains and its foolishly charming situational humor. The central chemistry between the extremely naive Scooby and Shaggy has been another major reason for the show’s success.
Ed, Edd, And Eddy
The basic premise of Ed, Edd, and Eddy deals with a trio of pre-teen boys who spend their days, hatching one failed plan after the other to get part-time jobs, opportunities to impress girls, or just create chaos in the playground. With each of the three characters having their own flaws, Ed, Edd, and Eddy normalized imperfect characters and documented their coming-of-age struggles.
With a decade-long run, it is Cartoon Network’s longest-running show. Its haphazard animated style and reckless protagonists have only gone on to set it apart from all other Cartoon Network classics.
Courage The Cowardly Dog
Courage the Cowardly Dog proves that some Cartoon Network shows were aimed at demographics other than just young children. In fact, some of the supernatural imagery in Courage could be quite scary for kids. Similarly, some episodes dealt with the philosophies behind family and fear, along with other-worldly concepts that would be best appreciated by adult viewers.
Regardless of who watched it, Courage the Cowardly Dog is undeniably a Cartoon Network original that continues to hold relevance today. All the jokes aside, Courage’s desperate attempts at saving his owners against supernatural creatures capture a sense of claustrophobic tension that can rarely be replicated by any other horror cartoon.
