Best Nicktoons

15. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (43 episodes, 2002-2006)
Spun off from the Academy Award nominated feature Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius was this fun little series.  The show was never spectacular but it was funny and had a fun supporting cast (notably Sheen and Carl who were spun off in the recent Nicktoon Planet Sheen).

14. Angry Beavers (63 episodes, 1997-2001)
One of the many zany, irreverent cartoons from the nineties that was just fun for kids and older audiences.  It has been a long time since I have seen it and should really look it up.  It also had a fun supporting character, Stump, who was a clear precursor to Plank from Ed, Edd n Eddy.

13. Fairy OddParents (131 episodes, 2001-present)
I have never really enjoyed this cartoon all that much.  Even as a kid I found Timmy Turner to be grating, he seems to be a corporate executive's idea of a kid rather than an actual kid.  However the show has been running continuously for over a decade so it does have a lot of staying power.  And I have to admit that I will from time to time find Cosmo's antics entertaining.

12. Rocket Power (61 episodes, 1999-2004)
Woogie, woogie, woogie.  One of the few cartoons to make extreme sports seem natural rather than forced.  The likable and relatable kids are passionate and are clearly having fun.  This is one of those shows that kids could relate to, because they saw themselves on screen.  Otto, Reggie, Twister and Squid acted like kids and the extreme sports looked pretty cool.

11. KaBlam! (48 episodes, 1996-2004)
Never the most popular, but that was part of the appeal.  While a lot of the other Nicktoons were rerun to death this was a much rarer find.  Not all of the segments were winners, Action League Now is the one that is easily the favorite.  But the irreverence, energy and rare anthology format made it stand out.

10. Wild Thornberrys (92 episodes, 1998-2004)
One of those Nicktoons that was safer and much more standard, yet still a lot of fun.  It was based around basic kid lessons and ecology but it was very natural.  Never heavy handed and it was all character based.  Eliza Thornberry is an admirable leading child character and of coursed the Tim Curry voiced Nigel has become a favorite of the internet.

9. Hey Arnold! (100 episodes, 1996-2004
Funny shaped kids do regular things.  There is a lot of sincerity in this series.  It is relatable enough with enough wacky adventures and odd supporting characters (namely Arnold's grandparents).  A lot of us who grew up with this show remember a lot of it.  Such as Helga's bubblegum sculpture of Arnold and Stoop Kid being afraid to leave his stoop.

8. Aaahh! Real Monsters (52 episodes, 1994-1997)
Many have found parallels between this and Monsters, Inc. which shares a similar concept.  The artwork is very good, making the monsters appealing to look at while still being odd and slightly scary.  The dynamic between the main trio is very entertaining.

7. Doug (52 episodes, 1991-1996)
To be perfectly honest, I am one of those rare people who prefers Disney's Doug.  Mainly because this was not airing frequently when I was a kid and I clearly lean towards Disney in any of my entertainment preferences.  Doug has been seen as boring by some, but there is fun in its simplicity.  This was one of the first slice of life cartoons and it is very much like a comfortable sitcom.

6. Rocko's Modern Life (52 episodes, 1993-1996)
Weird in all of the right ways.  I don't know how to analyze Rocko, it is just enjoyable.

5. Invader Zim (27 episodes, 2001-2002)
One of the biggest cult following to ever come from Nickelodeon.  This series was canceled to soon because it did too well with the wrong demographics.  The show did not perform great with young kids who bought toys but rather college students.  The show is artistically unique and the concept is very creative.  Just top notch humor and the show has reached almost legendary status among adults who love cartoons after it was released on DVD.

54. Ren and Stimpy (52 episodes, 1991-1996)
One of the most influential television cartoons of all time.  This was artistically a huge step forward from the limited assembly line animation that proliferated TV screens since the fifties.  This was based around the style of its creator John Kricfalusi rather than merchandise or ratings.

3. Avatar: The Last Airbender (61 episodes, 2005-2008)
This series was a huge surprise to everybody, Nickelodeon was not well known for action cartoons or having story arcs.  The love and effort that went into the art and writing clearly shows in the deep mythology that was created.  Kids and adults found it exciting and it is still finding new audience members.  Just a great work of art.

2. SpongeBob SquarePants (182 episodes, 1999-present)
Nickelodeon's long runner that is still popular with kids today.  A cultural icon that has a large periphery audience.  The show still works after all of this time because the characters are surprisingly versatile.  SpongeBob is believable as both incompetent and shunned as he is a savant and beloved by other characters.  The characters work in so many different settings and the premise is loosely defined that there are enough adventures to be had.  There is a lot of criticism towards the show and it is certainly not perfect, but it is still fun.

1. Rugrats (172 episodes, 1991-2004)
The show that very much made the network.  Even if it jumped several sharks (depends on your opinion when, but the obvious quality drop was after its initial 65 episode run).  Just a lot of imagination and creative gags in very simple settings.  There are jokes for adults, jokes for kids, the characters are all strong across the board.  The show has an expansive mythology, impressive for a comedy cartoon.  It still holds up and is great nostalgia for anyone who grew up with it.

10 Most Important Animated Series of the Animation Renaissance

The animation renaissance that I would date from 1982 to 1994 is my favorite era of entertainment.  I was born in 1991 and grew up with the influence and impact of these cartoons.  The renaissance is when animation was able to reach new audiences, new levels of success and heights of quality.  The medium reestablished itself as an indispensable part of our culture.  Here is a look at the most important animated series of this exciting period.

10. Tiny Toon Adventures (98 episodes, 1990-1992, Syndication and Fox Kids)

They're Tiny, they're Toony, they're all a really great.  Tiny Toon Adventures was the first television cartoon that Steven Spielberg was a producer on.  This was Warner Bros. animation's return to fame, the studio would reach heights they hadn't seen since the Termite Terrace shorts.  Tiny Toons is unlike any other franchise update, it creates its own characters and identity while being true to the spirit and quality of the original Looney Tunes.  The characters match up with Bugs and Daffy but are able to have their own identities and dynamics.  Also this series features great appearances from the original Looney Tunes, bridging the two generations.  This series is full of sight gags, pop culture irreverence and wit.  It is everything that Warner Bros. does at their best.

9. Gargoyles (78 episodes, 1994-1997, Disney Afternoon and ABC)

Disney theatrical animation was the king of the animation renaissance, but the output of Walt Disney Television Animation was just as influential.  The Disney cartoon with the biggest following is easily this action cartoon.  The tight storytelling, heavy action and high quality designs were unseen in television animation.  TV animation is normally economical and made for the assembly line, but everything about Gargoyles (the writing and the art) was an artistic endeavor.  This show has a strong, dedicated fan base.  The legacy of the show has continued in comics written by series creator Greg Weisman.

8. VeggieTales (48 episodes, 1993-present, Home Video)

Not a TV series like the rest of this, this was an original series for a whole different medium.  VeggieTales is important because it was created by nonprofessionals for a market that was not being reached.  The fun characters and funny gags were different from the sanitized, uncreative material that conservative Christians usually receive and they have supported the franchise for twenty years.  The series with a message is so accessible that it has a large following outside of Christian children.  It is rare to see animation used for something outside of money, but VeggieTales is continuing proof that the medium can be used for anything.  It is also a great example of early successful computer animation.

7. Animaniacs (99 episodes, 1993-1998, Fox Kids and Kids' WB)

Tiny Toons brought Warner Bros. back, and the studio continued to improve with this fun series.  Irreverent and wacky, Animaniacs pulls no punches and follows no formulas.  It is a return to animation for the sake of fun and it really holds up.  The series gifted us with great characters, jokes and really catchy songs.  The series spun off into Pinky and the Brain, continuing the incredible collaborations of Spielberg and WB.

6. Batman: The Animated Series (85 episodes, 1992-1995, Fox Kids)

This is the best comic book adaptations have ever been.  This is better than superhero movies and even superhero comics.  This series had a great grasp on Batman in the characterization and the visual style of Gotham.  The series was dark and mature, but exciting and fun enough to win over kids as well as adults.  The universe was so real that it expanded into feature films and further adaptations of DC comics: Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond and Justice League.  This show was so good that it did not stop with this show, the legacy of it is still being felt in the comic books.

5. DuckTales (100 episodes, 1987-1990, Syndication and Disney Afternoon)

Disney's greatest television success.  It was made in a time when toyetic, cheaply produced assembly line animation ruled the airwaves and audiences responded with this change in quality.  DuckTales had a high budget, the best animation a TV series could have and great characters.  The series had varied adventures, rather than sticking to one formula.  It kept the spirit of the Carl Barks comics, immortalizing Scrooge and his nephews and gifting the world with the breakout character of Launchpad.  DuckTales was successful well into the nineties and is still remembered fondly today.

4. Ren and Stimpy (52 episodes, 1991-1996, Nickelodeon)

Television animation is rarely associated with an artist or creator, Ren and Stimpy is the exception.  The star of the series was really the style and personality of John Kricfalusi.  Animation die hards watched this series as well as mainstream children audiences.  Today, Nicktoons are the most successful cartoons on television and that started in 1991.  But while the other initial Nicktoons were runaway hits (Rugrats) or supported by the network (Doug), Ren and Stimpy was remembered as a great piece of animation.  The surrealism and mature humor is still unlike anything in TV animation.

3. Adventures of the Gummi Bears (64 episodes, 1985-1991, NBC and ABC)

While this is one of Disney's best animated series it is hard to argue that it is better than DuckTales or Gargoyles.  Other cartoons from Walt Disney Television Animation such as Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck and many others seem to have larger followings but this was the start of quality TV animation in general.  Disney put money into the animation and storytelling, it was unlike the cheap efforts from Hanna-Barbera or the cheaper efforts of Filmation.  Gummi Bears was when television animation became more than just a pastime or diversion for children.  Gummi Bears' influence is still being felt today.

2. Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures (19 episodes, 1987-1988, CBS)

While this popular series only aired 19 episodes due to resistance from watchdog groups (in one of the most ridiculous controversies of all time), the field of animation was watching.  Read any animation article or book from 1987 on and chances are this series will be mentioned.  Animators and aficionados hold this show in such high regard because it was the first time on television that a cartoon was lead by an artist's vision.  This was not made to sell toys, it was made to entertain by luminaries that believed in it.  Ralph Bakshi, John Kricfalusi, Andrew Stanton, Bruce Timm, Rich Moore and many other animation luminaries worked on this show or got their start on it.  The humor of the series led to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Ren and Stimpy, Animaniacs and many others.  This series was pleasing to the eyes, the heart and the funny bone.  It was short lived, but its influence was monumental.

1. The Simpsons (521 episodes, 1989-present, Fox)

This was not just a cartoon that was enjoyed by animation buffs.  It was not just enjoyed by children.  This was a pop culture phenomenon that everybody was watching.  It had an older target audience, but found its way into pretty much every demographic.  One of the few times that a cartoon had that large and lasting of a reach.  The Simpsons is continuing today and holds a lot of weight worldwide.  Definitely the most important television cartoon of all time.