Who doesn’t miss the ’90s? It was the golden age of Pokémon, obnoxiously tie-dyed clothing, beanie babies, and all things colorful (gel pens anyone?).
But what do we miss most about the ’90s? Only the best cartoons to ever air on TV! From obnoxiously funny sea sponges to cutesy yet powerful superheroes, here are some of our fave ’90s cartoons we loved watching in our favorite decade.
Hey Arnold!
Move it football head! Hey Arnold! began airing in the second half of the decade, but was definitely a ’90s icon. Arnold is a fourth grader who lives with his grandparents in their inner-city boarding house. The show follows him and his friends as they deal with the woes of growing up including having crushes, dealing with heartbreak, and avoiding bullies. It also tackled more serious issues about the traditional “nuclear” family — Arnold lost both of his parents and had no siblings.
Doug
Doug Funnie is an all-around average guy who likes to journal. Through his entries, we got to take a peek into his life as he dealt with typical coming-of-age problems, but most importantly, his pursuit of Patti Mayonnaise. Doug was such a “normal” character that it was easy for the viewer to relate to him, get invested in his shenanigans, and root for him to come out on top. And just in case y’all forgot, Doug brought us the classic track Killer Tofu by The Beets.
Rugrats
Rugrats is such a classic. Every kid in America watched it or at least knew the theme song. The show focused on the adventures of Tommy Pickles and his squad (Chuckie, Phil, and Lil). These toddlers lived life with wild imaginations and the show shed some perspective on what new and exciting experiences might look like to a baby.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet will always have a spot in our hearts because of how iconic it was. The show featured a racially diverse group of characters and made an effort to teach kids about environmental issues such as pollution and deforestation. The strong positive message gave way to cheesy dialogue, but it succeeded in educating children about issues when so many others didn’t even try. Earth! Fire! Wind! Water! Heart! By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!
The Magic School Bus
Based off the classic series, The Magic School Bus probably taught ’90s kids about science more than their teachers did. Miss Frizzle, Liz, and the class would go on crazy field trips through time and space and we were always invited along. Like Captain Planet, The Magic School Bus was educational and wildly successful in engaging the audience. The show touched upon astronomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, history, and many other subjects that made our parents approve of us watching.
Animaniacs
Warner Brothers’ animated variety show was awesome — it was almost like Saturday Night Live in cartoon form. The main characters, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, were in most of the short skits that made up the show, but also featured a large cast of recurring characters, including Pinky and the Brain. Looking back at it now, the jokes were a bit “adult,” but were still innocently hilarious to kids.
Arthur
Arthur is based off the book series by Marc Brown, and followed the lives of Arthur, his friends, and his family. Airing on PBS, the show was directed towards a younger audience, but still tactfully dealt with issues such as dyslexia, cancer, and diabetes. It also had a kickass opening theme song by Ziggy Marley.
Spongebob Squarepants
Who can ever forget this beloved TV show? The series followed the life of a talking yellow sponge who “lives in a pineapple under the sea” and his life as a Krusty Krab cook. His best friends Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks were usually a part of his hilarious adventures in the sea — whether he was delivering pizza or trying to impress his ill-tempered neighbor, Squidward Tentacles.
The Powerpuff Girls
Three adorable yet fierce girls with superpowers caught the hearts of millions of girls worldwide. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup were a trio that could never be defeated by local villains and giant monsters. And who can forget the evil Mojo Jojo? Not only did this show follow the lives of superheroes, it also showcased issues girls normally deal with at a young age such as going to school, bed wetting, and sibling rivalries.
Dexter’s Laboratory
Dexter is your average boy-genius with a secret lab behind the bookcase in his bedroom. His parents are oblivious to all of this, but his older sister Dee Dee always finds a way to bypass security, enter the lab, and destroy all of Dexter’s latest inventions. Dexter also has a rival, Mandark, who uses his intelligence to gain power and destroy Dexter’s work.
What were some of your favorite ’90s cartoons? Let us know in the comments below!
xx, The FabFitFun Team
