The 30 Best Old Cartoon Network Shows of All Time

Since launching in 1992, Cartoon Network has been a leader in animated kids’ programming. With their original Cartoon Cartoons series as well as a broad catalog of inherited Hanna-Barbera classics, they pushed animation into the mainstream of cable television. Their current programming keeps expanding to include critically acclaimed shows such as The Amazing World of Gumball and Craig of the Creek, but many fans continue to return to the titles of their past.

Cartoon Network has undergone a variety of changes over the past few years, especially given their recent reorganization due to the Warner Bros. Discovery merger blending Cartoon Networks Studios with Warner Bros. Animation. But one thing that will always stay the same, even with different generations having differing opinions as to their favorites, is the long-lasting appeal of Cartoon Network’s content.

Updated by Lauren Younkin on January 4, 2025: With several Cartoon Network shows slated to be removed from Max in 2025 as well as their website shutting down, the network is not quite the powerhouse it used to be. Though it is becoming more and more difficult to access their back catalog, many of Cartoon Network’s old series have an enduring popularity that keeps fans coming back to them even to this day. As such, this list has been updated to include more of their best shows and to comply with CBR’s current formatting standards.

30

The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Brings Comedy to Death

The Grim Reaper Must Bend to the Whims of Two Children

Originally a short segment on another Cartoon Network series, Grim & Evil, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy gave the existing characters of that show their own spotlight. The unlikely partnership of the series begins when Grim loses a game with Billy and Mandy while they are trying to save the life of their hamster, resulting in Grim being forced into becoming their servant.

As the presence of the Grim Reaper suggests, the show often dives into black comedy or even elements of horror, which is atypical for most children’s programs. However, there is still a level of slapstick involved that brings an air of levity to the series. This blend of the two made it unlike most shows on television at the time, which carved out a place for The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy in pop culture.

29

Batman: The Brave and the Bold Brought the Hero Back to His Roots

This Batman Is a More Lighthearted Version of the Caped Crusader

Taking a different approach from many of his brooding counterparts, Batman: The Brave and the Bold depicts a Bruce Wayne that is more in line with his Silver Age persona than his modern one. The show is much lighter in tone overall, playing into the camp aspects of the Batman franchise in a way that feels fun and fresh. It’s a great alternative for those who have grown tired of endless dark and gritty interpretations.

The Brave and the Bold has a relatively loose narrative, mainly focusing on Batman’s team-ups with other heroes across the DC Universe. Given its inclusion of a wide array of lesser-known characters, this series is likely to be the way in which many children are introduced to these heroes. Above all, the show feels like a celebration of DC as a whole, making it a worthwhile watch for any fans of the comics.

28

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Is a Heartwarming Tale of Friendship

Mac and Bloo Make for One of Cartoon Network’s Most Memorable Duos

Vivid, colorful, and fanciful, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends imagines a world where humans have imaginary friends that accompany them. The show has a unique animation style, and the story revolves around young Mac, who is forced to give up his imaginary friend Bloo by his mother. Lost as to what they should do, they find hope in the form of an orphanage for imaginary friends.

Mac must visit Bloo at 3:00 PM every day to keep him from getting adopted by someone else, and the two go on their daily adventures together. Every imaginary friend in the show is wholly distinctive, which makes them extremely eye-catching and fun to watch. Kids and critics alike came to love Foster’s, as is evidenced by the various awards the series won over the course of its runtime, and it is still hailed as one of the top Cartoon Network shows of all time to this day.

27

I Am Weasel Was a Top-Rated Cartoon Network Show

I.M. Weasel and I.R. Baboon Were Standout Characters

Another classic Hanna-Barbera production, I Am Weasel revolves around the successful and righteous I.M. Weasel and his frenemy I.R. Baboon. Weasel’s nobility is only matched by Baboon’s rudeness and obnoxious behavior. Sharing a universe with Cow and Chicken, the series takes a twist when I.R. Baboon is finally shown to be the hero of the show.

The random escapades of the two friends, along with the machinations of antagonist Red Guy, make for good animated fun. I Am Weasel became one of Cartoon Network’s highest-rated and most-loved shows very quickly, coming in at 79 episodes in total. Even though it was conceived as a spin-off, the series stands tall on its own merits.

26

The Life and Times of Juniper Lee Blends Magic With Reality

Juniper Is a Relatable Protagonist Even With Her Magical Duties

At the young age of 11, Juniper Lee is forced to take on a lot of responsibility. Her family are the protectors of the magical community kept secret by the Veil, and the role of Te Xuan Ze has now fallen to her. The Life and Times of Juniper Lee centers around her struggle to come to terms with this new identity while also dealing with the human side of her life that grows more and more complex the closer she gets to being a teenager.

The series received three seasons and is often compared to Disney Channel’s American Dragon: Jake Long given that both shows debuted and ended in the same years. Despite not gaining the same level of recognition as American Dragon, The Life and Times of Juniper Lee is a show with a lot of heart that received critical acclaim and was influential to a generation of children.

25

Total Drama Was a Spoof on Reality TV of the Time

The Series Came Back After 9 Years for a New Audience

Meant to be a humorous commentary on the reality TV game show craze of the early 2000s, the Total Drama series borrows elements from properties like Suvivor in a way that translates to a younger audience. Contestants compete to be the last one standing in order to win a cash prize, getting wrapped up in increasingly absurd challenges as the show goes on.

Airing on Cartoon Network in the US and the now Cartoon Network-branded Teletoon in Canada, Total Drama was a hit with audiences and went on to receive multiple seasons with new casts of characters. The show spawned the spin-offs Total DramaRama and Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race, and the main series was revived for a new season in 2023, all of which are a testament to its enduring popularity.

24

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack Is an Unorthodox Ride

The Series Would Influence Many That Came After It

Though wrapped in a bizarre and sometimes experimental package, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is a beloved show that received several award nominations in animated television. It has a relatively simple premise, centering around a young boy named Flapjack along with his mentor figures Bubbie the whale and Captain K’nuckles, but the way in which this premise is executed makes it extremely memorable for audiences.

Flapjack had a significant impact on Cartoon Network programming and the animation landscape at large. Many of the creatives involved would go on to create their own hit series, such as Alex Hirsh (Gravity Falls), Patrick McHale (Over the Garden Wall), and Pendleton Ward (Adventure Time). It’s easy to see its influence on Adventure Time in particular, given that protagonist Flapjack is a young blond boy that runs around saying his catchphrase “Adventure!” These shows wound up surpassing Flapjack in terms of popularity, but the inspiration they took from Flapjack’s cutesy but surreal comedy is undeniable.

23

Codename: Kids Next Door Made the Battle Between Kids and Adults Literal (2002-2008)

Codename: Kids Next Door Proved Cartoon Cartoons Could Handle Action and Comedy

Cartoon Network’s Cartoon Cartoons never produced anything quite like Codename: Kids Next Door. While most Cartoon Cartoons relied on heavy comedy and even absurdist humor, Kids Next Door was an action series only tinged with light humor, making it stand out from its counterparts at the time of its release.

Over multiple seasons, Kids Next Door builds an elaborate world centered on the battle between kids and adults. There are traitors, double agents, and secret reveals galore that keep viewers tuning in from season to season. There’s even a beautifully bittersweet series finale special, one that fans remember even decades after the show’s finale due to its unexpected use of both animation and live action segments.

22

Chowder Is Lighthearted Fun

The Show Is Inventive in Its Use of Food as a Device for Humor

Chowder is a weird and wonderful series centered around a cast of colorful characters that are all named after types of food, which is appropriate considering the main theme of cooking. The show incorporates many unique styles of animation and even won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation.

The cutesy genre of humor employed by Chowder was a precursor to other successful and beloved Cartoon Network shows like Adventure Time and Steven Universe that would come to dominate the platform. The antics in the series are creative and often heartwarming, making viewers want to root for Chowder in his effort to become the greatest chef of all time.

21

Generator Rex Is an Outbreak Story That Nails Its Themes

The Series Uses the Action/Adventure Genre to Explore Humanity

From Ben 10 creative team Man of Action, Generator Rex follows teenager Rex Salazar, the only cure to a pandemic of microscopic machines called nanites that have infected every living being in the world. The series boasts a stacked cast, including the likes of Spy Kids’ Daryl Sabara as the titular character, J.K. Simmons (White Knight), Troy Baker (Van Kleiss), and Grey DeLisle (Dr. Holiday) among many others.

Though Generator Rex has episodes with humor and levity, the show is primarily driven by its overarching plot of Rex’s mission to uncover his missing past and deal with the fallout of the nanite event, which he may be more closely connected to than he knows. Both its animation and tone are more serious than the average children’s cartoon, with several instances of body horror in the depictions of humans being transformed by nanites into E.V.O.s (Exponentially Variegated Organisms). After the global pandemic of 2020, Generator Rex certainly makes for a timely rewatch.

20

ThunderCats Improved on an Already Beloved Series (2011-2012)

ThunderCats Provided a Cool Sci-Fi Universe

The 2011 ThunderCats series is proof that sometimes remakes can be great. While the original ’80s ThunderCats series was good enough for its time, its lore and world barely made any sense. The new series provided viewers with a darker take on the characters and setting. Despite this, it still felt appropriate for an all-ages audience, making it perfect for Cartoon Network.

Years before it became common, ThunderCats relied on interconnected, arc-focused seasons that kept viewers eager to watch the next episode. This show was well on its way to being a classic of the 2010s until it was canceled early as Cartoon Network pivoted away from a focus on action cartoons. Nevertheless, the season that is available is still very much worth watching.

19

Justice League Unlimited Defined the DC Universe for a Generation

This Series Was a Successful Test Run of Shared Universes

Justice League Unlimited was the culmination of a decade’s worth of storytelling dating back to 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series. After the Justice League narrowly survived a battle with Thanagar, the team built itself up bigger and better than ever. With Justice League Unlimited, the creators used characters from across the DC Universe, whether they’d been part of the Justice League before or not.

Meanwhile, Justice League Unlimited’s storytelling went to a level even beyond Justice League. Over three seasons, JLU pulled from classic comic book stories like “For The Man Who Has Everything” while also telling its own original stories. It was the perfect example of how well a shared universe could work, years before the MCU.

18

The Looney Tunes Show Is a Grounded Take on a Wacky Franchise

Bugs and Daffy Become Roommates

The Looney Tunes Show has a great central concept, exploring what happens when Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck become roommates. This allows for a more grounded take on the Looney Tunes franchise, throwing the characters into a host of fun, new situations. The show brings back all sorts of beloved characters, including Sylvester, Tweety, Porky Pig, and Foghorn Leghorn.

Above all, the series has all the makings of a great animation — lots of jokes, dazzling visuals, and strong voice acting. Although only airing in 2011, some of the most popular Looney Tunes characters were created in the 1940s and 1950s, an association which automatically instills a sense of nostalgia in viewers, regardless of the time period.

17

Totally Spies! Combines High-Octane Thrills With Slice-of-Life

Sam, Alex, and Clover Go Undercover With WOOHP

Totally Spies! offers plenty to enjoy. It holds a lot of visual appeal with its anime-inspired visuals and eye-grabbing costumes. Chock-full of humor, it’s difficult to go wrong with this show. While some viewers have complained that the concept feels a little too similar to Charlie’s Angels, Totally Spies! takes a different approach by giving its three protagonists a lot more agency.

Combining high-octane thrills with slice-of-life elements, the series follows Sam, Clover, and Alex as they juggle high school life with their covert work for the World Organization of Human Protection. Totally Spies! fans will be pleased to hear that the show is getting a new season set for release in 2024, which will be a continuation of the original series rather than a full reboot.

16

The Secret Saturdays Brings the Family Dynamic to the Forefront

The Plot and Characters Work Together To Make a Masterful Show

The Secret Saturdays is arguably one of the most tightly written shows in Cartoon Network’s history. While the premise of a family of cryptozoologists traveling the globe to protect cryptid species seems like the perfect set-up for a monster of the week type format, the series weaves its initially unrelated plot threads together into a cohesive narrative that leaves viewers satisfied. No episode is wasted, and every piece of information feels important.

Aside from the compelling story, The Secret Saturdays spends much of its time developing the connection between the titular family, composed of Zak Saturday and his parents, Doc and Drew. While typically an 11-year-old boy in the picture would spell nothing but trouble, the Saturdays consistently prove to be one of the healthiest family relationships on television. Even their three cryptids, Fiskerton, Komodo, and Zon, are viewed as full members of the family and treated as Zak’s siblings. All of these elements make the show well worth the watch for new viewers who may have missed it when it first aired.

15

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Broke the Mold

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Is a Unique Entry in the Franchise

There have been several Cartoon Network shows based on Scooby-Doo, but Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated was the first one to premiere on the channel. It very much broke the mold concerning Scooby-Doo content. While previous serials and films were relatively self-contained, this relaunch featured an overarching narrative.

As such, various mysteries were woven in from episode to episode. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated also took on a dark, edgy tone at times, making it a unique entry into the franchise. The show features multiple Scooby-Doo veterans, including the likes of Frank Welker as Fred and Scoob as well as Mindy Cohn as Velma, giving it a feeling of being both timeless and new.

14

Regular Show Has a Universal Appeal

The Series Features an Eclectic Mix of Characters

Regular Show follows Mordecai the blue jay and a raccoon named Rigby as they work together as groundskeepers at a local park. Despite what may sound like a mundane premise, the show often dips into the absurd, throwing Mordecai and Rigby into many hilarious situations.

The series features an eclectic mix of characters, including Benson the living gumball machine and Skips, an immortal Yeti who often fixes Mordecai and Rigby’s mistakes. Pop culture references and fun character dynamics also add to this Cartoon Network show’s charm. All things considered, Regular Show has a universal appeal, with humor that works well for all ages.

13

Young Justice Shows That Maturity Is Possible in TV for Kids

The Series Doesn’t Shy Away From Heavy Themes and Serious Consequences

Young Justice has had a complicated lifespan. The series debuted in 2010 and was abruptly canceled by Cartoon Network after two seasons despite its popularity; then, after several years without any new content, the show was picked up for a third season on DC Universe before being moved to Max for a fourth season. Fans typically agree that the show’s initial two-season run on Cartoon Network was its best, with Seasons 3 and 4 receiving mixed reviews.

The series revolves around sidekicks from the DC Universe breaking off to form their own team in an effort to be taken more seriously, and take them seriously the show definitely does. Young Justice uses a more adult tone than most children’s series to show their characters becoming adults, both in the emotional sense as they experience hardships and in the literal sense as time passes, and they grow older. Though the later seasons would bump up the show’s rating to actually make it more adult-oriented, many would argue that the series worked the most when it had to push the boundaries of what could be done within kids’ media.

12

Cow and Chicken Is a Crass but Clever Cartoon

The Characters’ Malapropisms Make for Rich Dialogue and Witty Banter

Cow and Chicken is one of the most crass and yet most clever Cartoon Network shows. It incorporates plenty of repulsive and surreal humor, but knows when to pull back. While the subject material is often immature, the characters’ use of malapropisms makes for rich dialogue. Even the series’ stand-in for Satan, The Red Guy, engages in the witty banter.

The premise requires some suspension of disbelief: an anthropomorphic 11-year-old chicken and a 7-year-old cow are supposed to be siblings, but this is just the tip of the absurd iceberg. The pair’s parents are a duo of presumably human characters who can only be seen from the waist down. For those who like raunchy but still kid-friendly humor, there are few shows that scratch the same itch as Cow and Chicken.

11

Ed, Edd n Eddy’s Humor Stems From Its Wily Characters

Fans Still Remember Ed, Edd n Eddy’s Earworm Theme Song

With a catchy theme song, Ed, Edd n Eddy invites viewers to watch as three similarly-named friends navigate the social ins and outs of their seemingly parent-free cul-de-sac. There’s an empty eeriness to the series which may put off some viewers, but for many, the tone is an irrevocable part of its charm.

Ed, Edd n Eddy‘s three titular leads are perfect foils for one another: Ed is tough but dim, Edd has the brains but is a nervous wreck, and Eddy is the scheming heart behind the trio. One of the funniest Cartoon Network shows, this series’ humor stems from its wily characters who are often at odds with one another.