The best 2000s cartoons include Kim Possible, The Fairly OddParents, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Teen Titans, Ben 10, and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. It was a golden decade for animation, and this is my love letter to it.
The 2000s stir up fond memories of the fashion trends, music, and TV shows that defined an era. This ten-year span also produced some of the most rewatchable animated series ever made: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ben 10, Teen Titans, Samurai Jack, The Fairly OddParents, Phineas and Ferb, Danny Phantom, and The Spectacular Spider-Man.
In this era, the line between “kids’ cartoon” and “actually good TV” blurred. You could feel the influence of anime and manga creeping into Western animation, especially action cartoons, while networks like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon pushed weirder comedy and darker storytelling. So this is my rundown of the best 2000s cartoons, covering the phrases people actually search: best cartoons of the 2000s, early 2000s cartoons, 2000s Cartoon Network shows, 2000s Nickelodeon cartoons, 2000s Disney Channel cartoons, and even adult cartoons from the 2000s.
If you want quick companion hubs while you read, these pair perfectly with this post: best kids shows of the 2000s, best Cartoon Network shows (kids), Disney Channel cartoons, and cartoon shows inspired by anime.
The Golden Era of 2000s Cartoons
Animated shows dominated the 2000s TV landscape, bringing unforgettable cartoon characters and stories into our lives. Here is why they hit so differently:
- More arcs: long-form storytelling became normal.
- Sharper comedy: jokes for kids and parents.
- More personality: characters were not all simply “good” or “bad.”
- Network identity: CN felt different from Nick, which felt different from Disney.
Quick Jump
- 2000s Cartoon Network Shows (and Adult Swim)
- 2000s Nickelodeon Cartoons
- 2000s Disney Channel Cartoons
- Action, Superhero, and Anime-Influenced
- FAQ
2000s Cartoon Network Shows (and Adult Swim)
Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends (2004-2009)
🏠 Vibe: Wholesome chaos plus big feelings
🎬 Best for: Comfort rewatches
🧠 My take: Bloo is the kind of “problem friend” you would regret in real life and still miss
This show is the definition of “Cartoon Network knew what it was doing.” It is funny, but it also understands childhood attachment. If you like this flavor, you will probably enjoy browsing best Cartoon Network shows (kids).
Baby Looney Tunes (2001-2006)
🐣 Vibe: Cute chaos and the “baby version” trend
🎬 Best for: Younger kids and nostalgic comfort
🧠 My take: Not peak Looney Tunes, but a real time capsule of the era
Baby Looney Tunes rode the early-2000s wave of “classic characters, but smaller.” It aired on Cartoon Network and Kids’ WB, right in the era when cartoons felt like they were everywhere.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000-2015)
🌙 Vibe: Pure Adult Swim nonsense
🎬 Best for: Late-night weird comedy
🧠 My take: You know in ten minutes whether you are built for this show
If you are going down the ATHF rabbit hole, your internal links are stacked: Master Shake, Frylock, Meatwad, and Carl Brutananadilewski. For more adult animation in this lane, here is a strong follow-up: adult cartoons similar to Family Guy.
The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005)
👊 Vibe: Cute, action-packed, with iconic villains
🎬 Best for: Fast episodes with real personality
🧠 My take: This show made “girl power” feel normal, funny, and cool
Even though it began in the late 90s, it absolutely counts as one of the best 2000s kid cartoons, because it is what was actually on TV and in everyone’s brain throughout the decade.
Chowder (2007-2010)
🍲 Vibe: Surreal food chaos
🎬 Best for: People who like weird visuals
🧠 My take: Feels like it was animated on sugar and confidence
Chowder is divisive in the best way: it is either your thing immediately or it is not. If you want a character rabbit hole, you have it: Chowder cartoon characters.
Codename: Kids Next Door (2002-2008)
🕵️ Vibe: Spy agency parody for childhood problems
🎬 Best for: Gadgets and “kids vs adults” humor
🧠 My take: The treehouse HQ is still one of the coolest cartoon bases ever
KND is peak “kid logic turned into a conspiracy.” It pairs well with your broader topic pages like cartoon teenagers and chaotic cartoon characters.
Total Drama (2007-2014)
🏝️ Vibe: Reality TV satire
🎬 Best for: Drama, alliances, betrayals
🧠 My take: This show made “cartoon drama” a whole genre
Total Drama is messy on purpose, which is why it is so bingeable. Every episode ends with “fine, one more.”
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (2001-2007)
💀 Vibe: Dark humor and kid chaos
🎬 Best for: People who like “mean” cartoons
🧠 My take: Mandy is the blueprint for deadpan cartoon characters forever
Two kids win a limbo game and trap the Grim Reaper into being their forever friend. That premise alone screams 2000s Cartoon Network.
Duck Dodgers (2003-2005)
🚀 Vibe: Looney Tunes in space
🎬 Best for: Pop-culture jokes and sci-fi parody
🧠 My take: Daffy as a “hero” is always funny
Duck Dodgers is better than it has any right to be, and it is one of those “this was on TV constantly” memories that feels uniquely 2000s.
Ed, Edd n Eddy (1998-2009)
🍬 Vibe: Scam energy and suburban childhood
🎬 Best for: “Kids being kids” chaos
🧠 My take: Basically a documentary about boredom and bad ideas
If you want a fun internal link that fits the show’s designs, you even have: characters with dreadlocks.
Megas XLR (2004-2005)
🤖 Vibe: Garage dude plus giant robot
🎬 Best for: Mecha parody fans
🧠 My take: Loud, dumb, and somehow brilliant
Megas XLR is one of my favorite underrated 2000s cartoons, because it is clearly made by people who love the genre.
The Venture Bros. (2003-2018)
🧪 Vibe: Parody that becomes real story
🎬 Best for: Adults who like worldbuilding
🧠 My take: One of the smartest animated series of the era
It starts as satire, then becomes genuinely character-driven. If you are building a “best adult animation” section, this belongs near the top.
Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005)
🌌 Vibe: Stylish action storytelling
🎬 Best for: Visual storytelling fans
🧠 My take: Short, sharp, and ridiculously rewatchable
This is one of those series you start “for one episode” and suddenly you are done with the whole run.
2000s Nickelodeon Cartoons
Bob the Builder (1998 onward)
🚧 Vibe: Preschool comfort
🎬 Best for: Younger kids and pure nostalgia
🧠 My take: “Can we fix it?” is burned into an entire generation’s brain
Not every 2000s list includes preschool shows, but if you lived through the era, Bob was unavoidable, in the best way.
The Koala Brothers (2003-2007)
🐨 Vibe: Gentle, wholesome problem-solving
🎬 Best for: Calm, feel-good episodes
🧠 My take: The kind of show that feels like a warm blanket
A sweet “help your neighbors” series with a cozy tone, great for younger kids and honestly relaxing for adults too.
The Fairly OddParents (2001-2017)
✨ Vibe: Wish fulfillment with consequences
🎬 Best for: Fast jokes and creative premises
🧠 My take: The pacing is basically caffeine in cartoon form
Fairly OddParents is a core example of 2000s Nickelodeon cartoons: loud, clever, and constantly escalating. For a fun tie-in, you have a perfect universe link: Crimson Chin.
My Life as a Teenage Robot (2003-2009)
🤖 Vibe: Superhero plus teen awkwardness
🎬 Best for: Underrated Nicktoons
🧠 My take: This show deserved a bigger cultural moment
One of the best hidden-gem picks of the decade. Internal link: My Life as a Teenage Robot.
CatDog (1998-2005)
🐱🐶 Vibe: Pure cartoon absurdity
🎬 Best for: Classic Nick weirdness
🧠 My take: The concept is ridiculous, which is exactly why it works
Animation is the only medium where this premise makes sense, and the 2000s were the perfect time for it.
Invader Zim (2001-2006)
👽 Vibe: Dark, loud, chaotic
🎬 Best for: People who like “mean” comedy
🧠 My take: It feels like Nickelodeon accidentally let this happen
Zim is a perfect fit for your darker Nick content. Matching internal links: Invader Zim characters and dark Nickelodeon cartoon characters.
What’s New, Scooby-Doo? (2002-2006)
👻 Vibe: Mystery comfort food
🎬 Best for: Easy rewatch episodes
🧠 My take: The Scooby refresh a lot of 2000s kids grew up on
The formula still works because it is simple: spooky setup, funny chase, and a mask reveal.
Totally Spies! (2001)
🕶️ Vibe: Spy parody, fashion, and absurd villains
🎬 Best for: “Over-the-top but fun” energy
🧠 My take: Way more watchable than people give it credit for
A French-produced spy-girl series that became a staple of 2000s programming blocks worldwide.
Danny Phantom (2004-2007)
👻 Vibe: Teen hero plus supernatural action
🎬 Best for: Villains, lore, and “secret identity” drama
🧠 My take: One of the best early-2000s cartoons for rewatching
Butch Hartman’s ghost-hunting teen hero built a devoted fanbase that is still campaigning for more to this day.
2000s Disney Channel Cartoons
House of Mouse (2001-2003)
🎭 Vibe: Disney crossover chaos
🎬 Best for: Disney fans who love deep cuts
🧠 My take: Disney fan service before fan service was a strategy
If you are exploring this lane, keep the Disney hub nearby: Disney Channel cartoons.
Fillmore! (2002-2004)
🧢 Vibe: Middle school as a cop drama
🎬 Best for: People who like smart parodies
🧠 My take: Underrated Disney show that deserved a longer run
A clever crime-drama parody set in a middle school, with a tone way more sophisticated than its premise suggests.
The Emperor’s New School (2006-2008)
👑 Vibe: Comedy spin-off
🎬 Best for: Fans of Kuzco’s humor
🧠 My take: Kuzco’s personality is engineered for episodic comedy
If you like Emperor’s New Groove characters, you have a great internal tie-in: Yzma.
Action, Superhero, and Anime-Influenced 2000s Cartoons
Jackie Chan Adventures (2000-2005)
🧿 Vibe: Artifact-hunting action adventure
🎬 Best for: “Collect the talisman” long-form structure
🧠 My take: Way more bingeable than you would expect
Uncle’s “one more thing!” and the talisman hunt make this a surprisingly addictive watch start to finish.
X-Men: Evolution (2000-2003)
🧬 Vibe: Teen superhero reboot
🎬 Best for: Character-focused arcs
🧠 My take: It made the franchise feel fresh without breaking it
For a broader internal link in this genre, you have: animated superhero series.
Wolverine and the X-Men (2008-2009)
🐺 Vibe: Darker team drama
🎬 Best for: People who like “rebuild the team” plots
🧠 My take: Feels like late-2000s storytelling, more serialized and intense
A more mature, serialized X-Men series that ended too soon, just as it was hitting its stride.
Samurai Jack (2001-2004 core run)
🗡️ Vibe: Visual masterpiece
🎬 Best for: Atmosphere and storytelling without dialogue
🧠 My take: Proof you do not need nonstop jokes to be gripping
Samurai Jack is Genndy Tartakovsky at his most cinematic, with long, dialogue-free stretches that other cartoons would never dare attempt.
Teen Titans (2003-2006)
⚡ Vibe: Comedy, arcs, and anime influence
🎬 Best for: Season-long storylines
🧠 My take: The perfect balance of goofy and heavy
One of the clearest examples of anime’s influence on 2000s Western animation, switching effortlessly between chibi gags and genuinely dark villain arcs.
The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009)
🕷️ Vibe: Teen drama plus hero balance
🎬 Best for: Spider-Man fans who want a complete-feeling series
🧠 My take: Still one of the best Spider-Man adaptations
This pairs nicely with your Marvel hub: Marvel animated movies.
Kim Possible (2002-2007)
📟 Vibe: “School tomorrow, saving the world tonight”
🎬 Best for: Action, comedy, and teen drama
🧠 My take: Kim is still one of the best hero leads of the decade
For one clean character-level link from this universe: Monkey Fist.
Ben 10 (2005-2008)
⌚ Vibe: Monster-of-the-week done right
🎬 Best for: Powers, forms, escalating threats
🧠 My take: Toy-ready without feeling like a commercial
The Omnitrix premise (a watch that turns a kid into ten different aliens) was practically engineered for endless reinvention, and it worked.
Justice League (2001-2004)
🦸 Vibe: Team superhero storytelling
🎬 Best for: Ensemble casts and serious arcs
🧠 My take: DC animation at its strongest
Internal hub for deeper DC linking: DC animated movies.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
🌪️ Vibe: Epic adventure plus character growth
🎬 Best for: People who want a full, complete story
🧠 My take: One of the rare “recommend to anyone” shows
Avatar is widely considered the best Western animated series of the decade, with a complete three-season arc that holds up for kids and adults alike. For the “still technically a kids’ show” angle, your internal link is perfect: best kids shows of the 2000s.
Bonus: SpongeBob’s 2000s Orbit (Because It’s Unavoidable)
SpongeBob is technically late 90s, but it owned the 2000s. If you are trying to build topical authority, this is one of your best internal-link clusters:
More Adult Animation That Defined the Era
American Dad! (2005 onward)
🇺🇸 Vibe: Satire plus absurd family comedy
🎬 Best for: People who like sharp jokes and chaotic episodes
🧠 My take: Quietly became one of the most consistent adult animated shows
An internal-linking goldmine: Stan Smith, Roger Smith, American Dad characters, and best American Dad episodes.
Every 2000s Cartoon on This List, at a Glance
The full rundown sorted by network and air dates.
| Show | Network | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends | Cartoon Network | 2004-2009 |
| Baby Looney Tunes | Cartoon Network / Kids’ WB | 2001-2006 |
| Aqua Teen Hunger Force | Adult Swim | 2000-2015 |
| The Powerpuff Girls | Cartoon Network | 1998-2005 |
| Chowder | Cartoon Network | 2007-2010 |
| Codename: Kids Next Door | Cartoon Network | 2002-2008 |
| Total Drama | Cartoon Network | 2007-2014 |
| The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy | Cartoon Network | 2001-2007 |
| Duck Dodgers | Cartoon Network | 2003-2005 |
| Ed, Edd n Eddy | Cartoon Network | 1998-2009 |
| Megas XLR | Cartoon Network | 2004-2005 |
| The Venture Bros. | Adult Swim | 2003-2018 |
| Star Wars: Clone Wars | Cartoon Network | 2003-2005 |
| Bob the Builder | Nick Jr. / preschool | 1998 onward |
| The Koala Brothers | Preschool (BBC/Disney) | 2003-2007 |
| The Fairly OddParents | Nickelodeon | 2001-2017 |
| My Life as a Teenage Robot | Nickelodeon | 2003-2009 |
| CatDog | Nickelodeon | 1998-2005 |
| Invader Zim | Nickelodeon | 2001-2006 |
| What’s New, Scooby-Doo? | Kids’ WB | 2002-2006 |
| Totally Spies! | ABC Family / syndication | 2001 onward |
| Danny Phantom | Nickelodeon | 2004-2007 |
| House of Mouse | Disney / ABC | 2001-2003 |
| Fillmore! | Disney | 2002-2004 |
| The Emperor’s New School | Disney Channel | 2006-2008 |
| Jackie Chan Adventures | Kids’ WB | 2000-2005 |
| X-Men: Evolution | Kids’ WB | 2000-2003 |
| Wolverine and the X-Men | Nicktoons | 2008-2009 |
| Samurai Jack | Cartoon Network | 2001-2004 |
| Teen Titans | Cartoon Network | 2003-2006 |
| The Spectacular Spider-Man | Kids’ WB / Disney XD | 2008-2009 |
| Kim Possible | Disney Channel | 2002-2007 |
| Ben 10 | Cartoon Network | 2005-2008 |
| Justice League | Cartoon Network | 2001-2004 |
| Avatar: The Last Airbender | Nickelodeon | 2005-2008 |
| American Dad! | Fox / TBS | 2005 onward |
2000s Cartoons FAQ
What made 2000s cartoons different from previous decades?
Cartoons in the 2000s drew on a broader range of influences, with many shows borrowing from anime and manga. The decade also pushed toward more complex storytelling and character development, which helped cartoons pull in older audiences.
Are any of the 2000s cartoons still running?
Yes. Some series that began in the 2000s ran long past the decade and are still cultural staples. Others continued through reboots, sequel series, or specials.
What are the most popular Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s?
The standouts include Teen Titans, Ben 10, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Codename: Kids Next Door, Samurai Jack, and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.
What are the best 2000s Nickelodeon cartoons?
Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, Invader Zim, and My Life as a Teenage Robot are the most beloved Nicktoons of the era.
What should I watch first for a “best of the decade” starter pack?
If you only pick five: Avatar, Teen Titans, Ben 10, The Fairly OddParents, and one comedy cornerstone that fits your taste, whether that is Foster’s, KND, or an Adult Swim pick like Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
Which 2000s cartoon did I leave off? Drop it in the comments. I keep this list growing whenever someone reminds me of a classic.
