Top 90s Animated TV Shows: A Year-by-Year Breakdown

The 1990s was a great decade for animation, with some of the best animated TV shows ever made being released in the 1990s. While many current animated TV shows conform to the distinctive 3D animation style popularized by Shrek, the best TV shows of the 1990s were 2D and followed a simpler style, which is an instant nostalgia hit for many today.

That said, the misconception that animated TV shows were purely for children largely died in the ’90s, with great adult cartoons like Family Guy becoming extremely popular towards the end of the decade. Even shows aimed at a younger audience often included jokes that only adults would understand, which meant that audiences of all ages often loved the animated TV shows in the 1990s.

Moomin

1990

The Moomin TV series was based on the charming books by author Tove Jansson, which featured the adventures of a family of Moomintrolls. Unlike many modern TV shows, which are extremely conflict-heavy, Moomin was extremely gentle and funny, with beautifully drawn visuals that are similar to some of the most acclaimed anime series of all time.

Each episode of Moomin introduced us to more of Moominvalley, which was full of beauty spots and interesting characters. While some episodes had a spooky tone, the overall approach to the show was one of peace and showing kindness through small actions. Moomin is an underrated 90s anime that deserves more attention from modern viewers.

Rugrats

1991

Like many animated 1990s TV shows, Rugrats had a CGI reboot, which does not hold up to the original series. The show’s premise was surprisingly successful, following a group of toddlers and young children as they navigated daily life, their families, and each other. Seeing the world through the eyes of babies allowed for some extremely creative stories.

The show was a classic favorite on Nickelodeon and has held up well. Rugrats appealed to children, who loved the adventures of Tommy and his friends, while the show observed life as a parent, which was relatable to many adults. Rugrats often explored themes of culture and strong emotions, which made it deeper and less “babyish” than it would seem at first glance.

Batman: The Animated Series

1992

Many cartoons from the 1990s had a horror feel, and while Batman: The Animated Series was aimed at a younger audience than the movies, the show still embraced the darkness of Gotham City. Batman: The Animated Series kept some of the campy tone from the movies, but blended this with horror and a deep insight into some characters’ backstories, including Harley Quinn.

Batman: The Animated Series is still considered one of the best installments in Batman’s story, and much of the series’ lore became canon, making its way into later movies. The show not only holds up today, but is arguably even better when watched by modern viewers, having influenced the more recent movies featuring Batman‘s iconic villains like The Joker.

The Animals Of Farthing Wood

1993

Many 1990s TV shows might have been aimed at children, but they did not shy away from representing both trauma and harsh facts of life onscreen. The Animals of Farthing Wood was a beautifully animated drama about a group of mismatched animals who must flee the threatened Farthing Wood and go on a quest to find a new home in White Deer Park.

At times, The Animals of Farthing Wood was a kids’ TV show that could be genuinely frightening, and there were many animal deaths. However, the epic tale was an ambitious and non-patronizing TV show that had complex characters, admirable leaders, and prioritized showing the way that different groups must work together when facing a common threat like environmental destruction.

Gargoyles

1994

Gargoyles is one of the most unfairly forgotten 1990s animated shows, as it was often overshadowed by the success of Batman and The X-Men. That said, Gargoyles is worth rewatching today, as the character design and plotlines still hold up. The show is surprisingly complex, focusing on a group of gargoyles who awake each night in New York City.

The show is heavily influenced by some unexpected sources, including the works of Shakespeare, mythology, and other fantasy. The gargoyles, led by Goliath, must guard the city while dealing with the threat posed by the show’s many villains. Gargoyles grew a cult following for its dark tone, diverse characters, complex antagonists, and intricate storylines, which often lasted several episodes.

Pinky And The Brain

1995

Pinky and the Brain was a hilarious sci-fi comedy about a pair of laboratory mice, with a memorable theme song that explained the premise that one is a genius while the other is insane. Each episode follows a new attempt to take over the world, masterminded by The Brain, and while the show followed this formula, it never felt repetitive.

While Pinky and the Brain was aimed at a younger audience, it was full of sci-fi references and satire that older viewers would get, including Orson Welles, genetic engineering, and classic sci-fi and horror. The show was extremely self-aware, and Pinky and the Brain grew a dedicated following, an 87% positive audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and even won Emmy Awards.

Hey Arnold!

1996

Hey Arnold! was one of the most insightful animated TV shows of the 1990s, and while there were plenty of coming-of-age shows airing at the time, Hey Arnold! stood out. Most episodes of the Nickelodeon show followed the life of Arnold and his friends living in the fictional city neighborhood of Hillwood, which was home to a varied and diverse range of characters.

The characters in Hey Arnold! dealt with issues from poverty to bullying, but the show aired one of the most devastating holiday episodes in TV history when it addressed America’s invasion of Vietnam. Hey Arnold! did not rely on jokes every few minutes but instead, presented a story that respected kids’ emotional intelligence, making it the best animated TV show in 1996.

South Park

1997

South Park‘s satirical take on pop culture made the show an icon that continues to skewer real-world events today. South Park‘s season 27 episode broke viewership records, and one factor that has helped the show keep its legendary status is its unusual production method. Each episode of South Park only takes about a week to create, so it rarely ages before episodes air.

The show was always controversial, which often added to its appeal for viewers of most ages. While younger children may not have been interested, it gained a following among teens, who popularized many of the show’s most well-known quotes. South Park was crude, but it was smart with its humor, sparking a cultural phenomenon that is especially relevant now.

The Powerpuff Girls

1998

Most superhero cartoons of the 1990s were more geared towards the style of The X-Men, with skintight spandex costumes and adult main characters. On the other hand, The Powerpuff Girls was a very quotable breath of fresh air, following three crime-fighting sisters who were not only children but cute. The big-eyed animation style has made the show extremely distinctive, even today.

The adventures of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup earned the show a huge fanbase, a range of merchandise, and an 83% positive audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Powerpuff Girls regularly broke sexist stereotypes with quotes like, “If you can’t handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen,” and was one of the most popular 1990s TV shows on The Cartoon Network.

Futurama

1999

Created by Matt Groening (The Simpsons), Futurama is one of the best animated sitcoms of all time. While Futurama looks similar to The Simpsons in its animation style, the show went in a different direction as a sci-fi comedy with even more zany humor. Futurama was set 1000 years into the future, but it is extremely relevant to modern life.

The series follows Fry as he navigates his new life in the future, with a fantastic ensemble cast of aliens, robots, and other less definable characters. While Futurama is largely still a comedy, it has some extremely powerful moments that give it a long-lasting cultural legacy. The show is still running, while often inspiring nostalgia for the 1990s in its viewers.