Cartoon Network Shows: 35 Best from the ’90s and 2000s

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Cartoon Network shows defined a couple of generations of after-school TV. The channel gained traction in the ’90s and exploded in the 2000s, giving us timeless classics like Dexter’s Laboratory, 2 Stupid Dogs, The Powerpuff Girls, and Courage the Cowardly Dog, then doubling down in the 2000s with Samurai Jack, Total Drama, Regular Show, and Ben 10. Here are 35 of the best Cartoon Network shows, old and new, worth revisiting (you can also browse the official Cartoon Network YouTube channel for clips of Gumball, Teen Titans Go!, Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and many more).

The Best Cartoon Network Shows of the ’90s and 2000s

Evil Con Carne (2003-2004)

The first season of Evil Con Carne is the very definition of an “okay” show: the animation is simple and the humor doesn’t always dazzle, but it draws a steady stream of giggles. The characters are entertaining if not exactly heart-tugging, and the real charm is how gleefully it parodies supervillain cliches and nods to other franchises with a healthy dose of absurdity.

Space Ghost: Coast to Coast

Space Ghost Coast to Coast is a comedic late-night talk show conceived by Mike Lazzo for Cartoon Network, reimagining the 1960s Hanna-Barbera character Space Ghost as a hapless host. Across the series he interviewed a wild roster of real celebrities, from Conan O’Brien, Fran Drescher, and “Weird Al” Yankovic to Mark Hamill, Jack Black, Hulk Hogan, Jim Carrey, Willie Nelson, Adam West, Emeril Lagasse, and William Shatner.

Megas XLR (2004-2005)

Megas XLR was created by Jody Schaeffer and George Krstic for Cartoon Network, and it stuck with me through my teenage years when I was deep into astronomy and all things cosmos. Between the documentaries and magazines, this loud, joyful giant-robot show was a genuine source of inspiration, and it still holds up as a love letter to mecha anime.

Mike, Lu & Og (1999-2001)

I fondly remember catching Mike, Lu & Og on Boomerang, and it’s since climbed to one of my favorite Cartoon Network shows. Mike is my pick of the cast for her tomboyish streak, brought to life by the talented Nika Futterman (who also voiced iconic characters like Luna Loud, Chum Chum, Adam Lyon, and Sticks the Badger). A solid 7 out of 10 and very underrated.

Camp Lazlo! (2005-2008)

Camp Lazlo is one of the standout Cartoon Network shows, created by Joe Murray. Camp Lazlo is the perfect blend of a cartoon for both kids and adults, reminiscent of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. With talents like Tom Kenny and Murray’s creative genius behind it, it’s no wonder it earned the acclaim it did, a worthy continuation of the comedy-cartoon renaissance.

My Gym Partner’s a Monkey (2005-2008)

I genuinely adore this one, easily a favorite. The premise is a winner, offering inventive twists on familiar school-day tales plus a steady supply of wild-animal escapades. The voice acting is top-notch, capturing each creature’s quirks, and the cast nails recognizable school archetypes: the deep thinker, the in-crowd, the bully, and the ever-hopeful guidance counselor.

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (2008-2010)

I’ve long been a devoted animation fan, and Cartoon Network dominated my childhood viewing. My loyalty wavered a little when The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy wrapped, and I drifted toward Boomerang’s steady diet of Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, and Scooby-Doo. But a few shows kept me from turning away entirely, and Flapjack, with its gorgeous, gloriously weird animation, was right at the top.

Justice League (2001-2004)

I vividly recall tuning into Justice League as a kid, no more than ten, captivated by its storylines on our humble TV set. Its appeal has only grown since. The show dives into complex themes (grief, loss, heroism, ideology, faith, family, and politics) and blends those mature ideas with the thrilling action of DC’s finest heroes.

Teen Titans Go! (2013-present)

A gem among 2000s-and-beyond Cartoon Network shows, Teen Titans Go! brims with jokes aimed at both parents and kids, the kind you catch yourself quoting out in the wild. My fondness for the characters has only grown, and it’s astonishing how, across hundreds of episodes, each one stays distinct, hilarious, and engaging.

We Bare Bears (2014-2019)

Daniel Chong crafted We Bare Bears, an animated sitcom set in the San Francisco Bay Area following three bear brothers, Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear, as they try to fit into the human world. Grizzly is voiced by Eric Edelstein, Panda by Bobby Moynihan, and the enigmatic Ice Bear by Demetri Martin, and each brings his own flair to their entertaining, heartwarming adventures.

2 Stupid Dogs

2 Stupid Dogs still captivates me with its enduring freshness and rapid, hilarious humor. It paved the way as a progenitor of the World Premiere Toons that became the “What a Cartoon!” series, blazing a trail that Dexter’s Lab, The Powerpuff Girls, and Johnny Bravo eagerly followed. Its only real drawback is how little of it was made, but those couple of hours are timeless.

Uncle Grandpa (2013-2017)

Peter Browngardt created Uncle Grandpa, which aired from September 2, 2013, to June 30, 2017. It grew out of Browngardt’s short from The Cartoonstitute and also serves as a spin-off from Secret Mountain Fort Awesome (which itself originated from that same Cartoonstitute short). It’s pure anything-goes absurdism, with a magical “uncle and grandpa to everyone in the world” helping kids out of jams.

The Looney Tunes Show

The Looney Tunes Show was a dynamic animated sitcom on Cartoon Network, produced by Warner Bros. Animation, spanning two seasons of 26 episodes each. It modernized the beloved Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies characters, often likened to a cartoon Seinfeld. It’s full of charm and wit, and a real pity it ended as soon as it did.

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends

Craig McCracken created Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends (just “Foster’s” to most of us). Cartoon Network Studios produced it as their first show animated mainly in Adobe Flash, with Ireland’s Boulder Media handling the animation. It’s always held a special place in my heart, an undeniable classic built on one of the most charming premises the channel ever ran with.

Samurai Jack

The animation dazzles and the story grips you tight; among all the bold ideas Cartoon Network has brought to life, this is the pinnacle. A demon named Aku hurls a samurai into the far future right before the warrior can defeat him, and now, in a world Aku rules, Samurai Jack fights to find his way back to his own time and undo the chaos.

Total Drama

Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis created Total Drama (TD to fans), a Canadian series that debuted on Teletoon in Canada on July 8, 2007, and reached U.S. audiences on Cartoon Network on June 5, 2008. With a roster of memorable characters, slick animation, and inventive challenges, it grew into a genuinely fun cult classic.

Codename: Kids Next Door

In mid-2001, Cartoon Network aired “The Big Pick II,” a special that ran 11 pilots and let viewers vote one into a full series. The winner centered on a team of kids with codenames Numbuh 1 through 5 (all initially ten years old, though later episodes varied their ages). As Sector V of the global, espionage-themed Kids Next Door, their missions keep you rooting for them all the way.

Chowder

I’ve always loved the classic CN shows, from Dexter’s Laboratory and Foster’s to Johnny Bravo and Ed, Edd n Eddy, but my daughter (6 when she started, 8 now) took a particular shine to Chowder. The voice work is a delight, and as an aspiring animator myself I genuinely admire the show’s fluid, mixed-media animation.

I Am Weasel

When I first watched Cow and Chicken, I immediately recognized a familiar style, and years later I learned the same mind created both cartoons. The Weasel felt like a standard late-90s staple on the surface, but its apparent “simplicity” never failed to land a laugh. I came for kids’ entertainment and stayed because it stood out as a genuinely remarkable series among its peers.

Over the Garden Wall

Pat McHale’s animated short “Tome of the Unknown” was the foundation for this miniseries, developed under Cartoon Network Studios‘ shorts program. Elijah Wood voices Wirt, Collin Dean plays Greg, and Melanie Lynskey voices the bluebird Beatrice. Every element, the characters, the storyline, the menacing villain, and the immersive atmosphere, shines. It’s a masterpiece.

Regular Show

J.G. Quintel drew many Regular Show characters from his CalArts student films, “The Naive Man from Lolliland” and “2 in the AM PM.” The former won the 2005 Nicktoons Film Festival and gained wider recognition after the Nicktoons Network aired it. Eager to reach a bigger audience, Quintel pitched Regular Show to Cartoon Network’s Cartoonstitute, the program that let young creators develop pilots with no outside interference.

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (formerly “Grim and Evil”) is Cartoon Network’s kid-friendly take on horror, and it absolutely nails the concept. A few recurring bits, like Irwin’s relentless crush on Mandy, can feel repetitive, but its blend of dark humor and childlike wonder keeps it a strong contender for one of the channel’s very best.

Ben 10

Ben 10 shines, especially in its debut season, with a diverse cast of characters and aliens, sharp plotlines, and a theme tune you’ll never shake. It’s well suited for kids, though its PG-rated action means you might keep the very young ones in mind, and parents will enjoy it just as much alongside them.

Clarence (2013-2018)

Clarence blends humor and warmth beautifully. I appreciate the range of economic backgrounds and home situations among the characters, and the way it captures the absurd choices kids that age really make. It’s goofy fun, and while a few jokes might fly past kids under ten, our slightly immature twelve-year-old is hitting just the right age to love it.

Ed, Edd n Eddy

As they stumble through adolescence, Ed, Edd, and Eddy find themselves baffled by girls and pretty much everything else. Eddy may not be the sharpest, but he’s the schemer of the group, forever roping his friends into grand plans. Together the trio chases summer escapades full of part-time gigs, treehouse hangouts, and the inevitable awkward run-ins.

Cow and Chicken

David Feiss created the brilliantly weird Cow and Chicken, alongside its sub-cartoon I Am Weasel. It debuted on Cartoon Network, which has been broadcasting since 1992. At one point the channel ran three hits back to back: Dexter’s Lab by Genndy Tartakovsky, then Cow and Chicken, then Johnny Bravo by Van Partible. Of the trio, Cow and Chicken always stood out most to me.

The Tom and Jerry Show

Warner Bros. Animation and Turner Entertainment teamed up on The Tom and Jerry Show, a flash-animated series brought to life by Renegade Animation. Building on the legacy of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera’s icons, it debuted on Teletoon in Canada on March 1, 2014, then hit Cartoon Network in the U.S. and Boomerang, keeping the cat-and-mouse rivalry going for a new generation.

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

In the iconic ’70s series, the Scooby Gang kept things simple, cruising the Mystery Machine to one spooky location after another. Mystery Incorporated keeps the Scooby Snacks and the trap-prone Daphne, but wraps it all in a serialized, town-wide mystery, making it the smartest and most ambitious version of the franchise.

The Amazing World of Gumball (2011-2019)

Ben Bocquelet created The Amazing World of Gumball (or just “Gumball”/”TAWOG”) for Cartoon Network. Of its eclectic cast, Nicole Waterson is my favorite, maybe for her veneer of normalcy, maybe for her sheer tenacity. Either way, the show keeps me laughing, and every character, villains included, brings a unique comedic touch.

Steven Universe (2013-2019)

I grew up on Cartoon Network’s golden era (Dexter’s Lab, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, Courage the Cowardly Dog), and Steven Universe shines as brightly as any of them. With impeccable characters, a stellar soundtrack, and flawless animation, it feels like the channel hitting a second renaissance. A modern-day masterpiece about an intergalactic team protecting Earth: three skilled warriors and one unpredictable young boy.

Adventure Time

Years ago I stumbled onto Adventure Time on YouTube, and it’s since become a Cartoon Network staple. My affection grew from that first one-shot, and it deepens with every episode. The characters are goofy and there’s no shortage of “wow, that was random” moments, but where a show like Chowder occasionally overplays that hand, Adventure Time nails it every single time.

The Powerpuff Girls

I always ranked The Powerpuff Girls among Cartoon Network’s very best, right up there with Dexter’s Laboratory. The quality wavered a little in later episodes, but the show consistently delivered fun and wit, and my siblings and I share a lot of fond memories of daily viewings. The voice cast shines, with Tara Strong as Bubbles plus stellar work from E.G. Daily, Tom Kane, and Cathy Cavadini.

Dexter’s Laboratory

Looking back on the old Cartoon Network shows of my childhood floods me with nostalgia, and Dexter’s Laboratory stood out as one of the funniest and most distinct. It follows Dexter, a boy genius with a secret lab hidden beneath his house. It always puzzled me why he had to keep it from his parents, and then there’s his sister Dee Dee, whose chaos somehow adds to the whole charm.

Johnny Bravo

Johnny Bravo always cracked me up, strutting around determined to be the world’s most desirable man while getting shot down by every woman he meets. For anyone new to the channel’s history, Johnny Bravo is one of the pioneering “cartoon cartoons” of the 1990s, and a big part of why CN’s early lineup became so beloved.

Courage the Cowardly Dog

Courage the Cowardly Dog truly shines, with top-notch animation, funny characters, and wildly imaginative plots. It leans hard into supernatural, bizarre territory, from alien ducks to Bigfoot to eccentric barbers, and it holds its own against the very best the era had to offer. Genuinely creepy and genuinely brilliant in equal measure.

That’s 35 of the best Cartoon Network shows, spanning the ’90s, the 2000s, and beyond. Which one takes you straight back, and which classic did I leave off? Let me know in the comments.