7. Hey Arnold! (1996)
I was actually quite tossed up between choosingHey Arnold!orDoug. They’re both shows focused primarily around a young man and the trials and tribulations he faces as he grows up.
Both shows have a zany best friend, a bully, an interesting family dynamic, a love interest that isn’t reciprocated, and plenty of other similarities.
In the end,Hey Arnold!just holds up better thanDoug. Visually, it looks and moves much better thanDoug, and the storylines feel quite a bit more timeless.
Arnold and his friends will keep you entertained while teaching you plenty of valuable life lessons. And the adults will make you laugh with jokes that went over your head as a child.
Related:The Best Animated TV Show Intros and Openings, Ranked
6. Rocko’s Modern Life (1993)
Rocko’s Modern Lifeis meant to disgust as much as entertain, and it definitely does a great job of both.
Rocko, his dog Spunky, and his friend Heffer Wolfe get into plenty of nasty antics throughout the show, but that doesn’t stop it from teaching kids some important life lessons.
There are episodes about recycling, credit card debt, and even the power and influence of advertising.
Rocko’s Modern Lifealmost feels like it was created with kids going back and watching it as adults in mind, because just about every joke holds up—and it’s packed with stuff that you probably didn’t “get” as a kid that you’ll connect with now.
Related:The best cartoon TV characters
5. X-Men: The Animated Series (1992)
X-Men: The Animated Seriesfaithfully recreates many of the best storylines from the comic books in a way that’s relatable to kids without changing the core feel of the plotlines.
Like mostX-Menmedia, the show actually has some positive messages against prejudice, with the mutants serving as a stand-in for the oppressed.
Of the shows on the list, this is one of the few that doesn’t look perfect today, as the animation doesn’t quite hold up. However, the quality stories and entertaining cast of characters more than carries it through to 2019, especially forX-Menfans.
Related:The Best Cartoons and Animated Kids Shows of the 2000s, Ranked
4. Darkwing Duck (1991)
Let’s jump right from Batman to a cartoon character who certainly draws some pretty serious inspiration fromThe Dark Knight… and that’sDarkwing Duck.
The show lives in the same universe asDuck Tails, but it’s quite a bit different from that show in both tone and feel.Darkwing Duckactually dunks on a lot of the superhero shows that are on this list, but that’s part of what makes it so enjoyable.
Because the superhero genre is still so popular today (though mostly on the big screen), the jokes still hold up incredibly well, and the show looks great.
Related:The Surprising Voice Actors Behind Your Favorite Characters
3. Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
Now, we’re going to take it back to the comic book world withBatman: The Animated Series.
While not necessarily as dark as Christopher Nolan’s movies, the show takes a very dark tone for a cartoon aimed at children. It’s just splendid in every way, and whether you watched it in the 90s, or this is your first time, this show is worth watching.
If you’re still not sure, this iteration of Batman stars Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as Joker, which is an incredible cast. In fact, some say Hamill’s portrayal of the Joker is right up there with Heath Ledger’s iconic performance.
Related:The best DC animated TV shows
2. Rugrats (1991)
Rugratsis a show about a bunch of babies going on adventures. How could that possibly hold up for adults in 2019?
Turns out, there’s something timeless about imagination, and that’s really all theRugratsis. It’s Tommy Pickles and his ragtag gang of, well, rugrats, experiencing the world through their vivid imaginations.
The show used a crude animation style that actually helps it hold up today because of how interesting it looks.
And if that doesn’t work for you, the emotional beats (yes, there are lots of touching moments in this show designed for kids) will help you enjoy it no matter in what year you watch.
Related:The best 90s Nickelodeon cartoons
1. Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994)
When it comes to superhero cartoons,Spider-Mantruly is the gold standard by which all others should be judged.
Every detail from the storylines to the actual animation are as close to perfect as you’ll find for the time period, and this is 100-percent worth going back to even if you’re just a casual fan of Spider-Man.
The show is such an accurate representation of the comic book, and it feels like Spider-Man is animating right off the pages.
