10 Cartoons That 90s Babies Are Still Nostalgic About

Cartoons were a quintessential part of the 90’s baby experience, maybe more than any other generation. With more people than ever before having access to cable television, the sheer volume and quality of cartoons were unmatched. The genre went from something mostly watched on Saturday mornings to being available 24/7 on channels like Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network. Here are ten cartoons that 90’s babies are still thinking about.

Cartoons were a quintessential part of the 90s baby experience, maybe more than any other generation. With more people than ever before having access to cable television, the sheer volume and quality of cartoons were unmatched. The genre went from something mostly watched on Saturday mornings to being available 24/7 on channels like Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network. Here are ten cartoons that 90s babies are still thinking about.

Some of these will have aired in the 90s, while others will have started in the early 2000s.

In parenthesis is the year the show debuted, and the total number of episodes.

Grab your sugary cereal and let’s take a walk down memory lane.

Fairly OddParents, Nickelodeon (2001, 172 episodes)

This turn-of-the century Nickelodeon hit focused on down-on-his-luck ten-year-old Timmy Turner, who gets blessed with two fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda, who grant him wishes with a few notable restrictions.

Recess, ABC (1997, 65 Episodes)

Nothing encapsulated the childhood complexities of the schoolyard better than Recess, which focused on a group of six fourth-grade friends, each with their own unique personality traits. The Cold War themes probably escaped us all as kids, but our parents definitely noticed.

Dexter's Laboratory, Cartoon Network (1996, 78 Episodes)

Dexter’s not-so-secret laboratory was the focus of this Cartoon Network hit, where the titular character came up with all sorts of gadgets, only to be foiled by his sister Dee Dee and others.

Hey Arnold!, Nickelodeon (1996, 100 Episodes)

This has to be one of the most universally beloved cartoons of the era, as viewers loved watching Arnold and his friends making their way in the urban setting of Hillwood, Washington.

Doug, Nickelodeon and ABC, (1991, 117 Episodes)

One of the OG 90’s cartoons, Doug dealt with more mature topics than some of the other shows on the list, like romantic relationships, bullying, and making new friends after moving to a new place. The inner monologue of Doug, exposed via his journal, made this cartoon ahead of its time.

Kim Possible, Disney Channel (2002, 87 Episodes)

As 90s babies grew up, so did their cartoons. And, for many, Kim Possible, about a teenage girl who is among the best crime fighters in the world, was one of the last cartoons they truly loved.

Arthur, PBS Kids (1996, 253 Episodes)

If your parents only let you watch PBS Kids because the other channels were too risqué, you were a big Arthur fan. The aardvark kept us entertained with his tales of his third-grade life and frequent feuds with younger sister D.W.

The Powerpuff Girls, Cartoon Network (1998, 136 episodes)

The late 90s and early 2000s girl power movement had a cartoon to rally around, and that was The Powerpuff Girls. Kindergarteners Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup used their superpowers to do the most classic trope in the book: fight the bad guys.

Spongebob Squarepants, Nickelodeon (1999, 292 Episodes)

Does SpongeBob SquarePants even need an introduction? Arguably the most successful children’s cartoon ever, tails of SpongeBob and friends birthed a monster media franchise that has made Paramount billions.

The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius (2003, 58 Episodes)

Following the success of the movie to start the franchise, boy genius Jimmy Neutron moved to Nickelodeon, where the show made being incredibly smart very cool.