21 Best Cartoons From the 90s That You’re Sure to Love

I earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Here are 21 cartoons from the 90s that you’re sure to love. If you grew up in the 90s, then you know that it was a golden age for cartoons.

From classics like SpongeBob SquarePants and Rugrats to shows like Hey Arnold! and Doug, there was something for everyone.

Many of these cartoons are not being aired today. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy them all over again. Streaming platforms such as Disney+ and Hulu have made it possible to enjoy our favorites from the 1990s.

1. Pepper Ann

Let’s start this list with a show that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Pepper Ann is a cartoon about a twelve-year-old girl navigating the ups and downs of middle school.

Pepper Ann 90s cartoon

The show follows Pepper Ann as she deals with everything from boy troubles to overbearing parents.

2. SpongeBob SquarePants

The series chronicles the adventures of the title character SpongeBob and his various friends in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom.

SpongeBob SquarePants 90s cartoon

The show quickly became a hit with both children and adults, due in large part to its humor and offbeat characters. 

3. Hey Arnold!

Hey Arnold! was created by Craig Bartlett that aired on Nickelodeon from October 7, 1996, to June 8, 2004. The show revolves around a fourth-grade boy named Arnold who lives with his grandparents in a large city.

Hey Arnold! 90s cartoon

The series focuses on his experiences navigating big city life while encountering various obstacles along the way. If you enjoy the show, you might also enjoy listening to the Hey Arnold! Music Collection.

4. The Powerpuff Girls

The Powerpuff Girls follows the adventures of three super-powered sisters, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. The girls live in the town of Townsville with their father, Professor Utonium.

The Powerpuff Girls 90s cartoon

With their powers of flight, super strength, and heat vision, the girls are more than a match for any villain.

5. Animaniacs

Animaniacs was a cartoon that aired in the early 1990s. It featured Yakko and Wakko, and their sister Dot.

Animaniacs 90s cartoon

The three furry siblings caused havoc everywhere they went but always managed to escape the clutches of their nemesis, Ralph the Guard.

6. Arthur

Arthur is a popular children’s TV show that follows the antics of an eight-year-old aardvark named Arthur Read.

Arthur 90s cartoon

The show is set in the fictional town of Elwood City and revolves around Arthur and his friends as they go through the ups and downs of childhood. 

7. Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers

Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers is an animated television series that ran from 1989 to 1990 on the Disney Channel.

Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers

The show follows the adventures of a team of rodents who work together to solve crimes and help those in need. Together, they use their brains and brawn to take on a variety of challenges, both big and small.

8. Doug

Doug is a Nickelodeon TV show that ran from 1991 to 1994. The show follows the life of Doug Funnie, a young boy living in the fictional town of Bluffington.

Doug cartoon

Doug keeps a journal of his adventures, which often involve his best friend Skeeter, his crush Patty Mayonnaise, and his rival Roger Klotz. 

9. Courage the Cowardly Dog

Courage the Cowardly Dog aired on Cartoon Network from 1996 to 2002. The main character is a dog who lives in a farmhouse in the middle of Nowhere with his owners, Muriel and Eustace Bagge.

Courage the Cowardly Dog

Courage is frequently terrorized by monsters, ghosts, aliens, and other villains, but always manages to triumph in the end.

10. Dexter’s Laboratory

Dexter’s Laboratory aired on Cartoon Network from 1996 to 2003. The series follows the adventures of Dexter, a boy genius who has a secret laboratory hidden behind a bookcase in his bedroom.

Dexter's Laboratory

11. Rocko’s Modern Life

Rocko’s Modern Life follows the everyday adventures of Rocko, a wallaby who has emigrated from his home in Australia to America. He lives with his dog, Spunky, and works at a local comic book store.

Rocko's Modern Life

The show is set in the city of O-Town and revolves around Rocko’s interactions with his eccentric neighbors and friends. 

12. X-Men: The Animated Series

X-Men: The Animated Series is an American superhero animated television series that debuted on October 31, 1992.

X-Men: The Animated Series

The series features a team of mutant superheroes led by Professor X. The series was incredibly popular during its run and is still considered one of the best superhero cartoons ever made.

13. Disney’s Recess

Disney’s Recess is an American animated television series that ran from 1997 to 2001 on ABC. The show follows a group of six elementary school friends as they go about their lives at school.

Disney's Recess

14. Tiny Toon Adventures

The Tiny Toon Adventures cartoon is a classic example of American animation. The show follows the adventures of a group of young animals who attend Acme Looniversity, where they learn to become the next generation of Looney Tunes characters.

Tiny Toon Adventures

15. Daria

Daria aired on MTV from 1997 to 2002. The show is set in the fictional suburb of Lawndale. Daria Morgendorffer is the title character and the protagonist of the show.

Daria cartoon

She is a smart, sarcastic, and cynical teenager who often finds herself at odds with the people around her. Many of the show’s plots revolve around Daria’s struggles with social pressures, whether it be from her family, friends, or school.

16. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a team of four brave and determined turtles who fight crime in New York City.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Trained in the martial arts by their sensei, Splinter, they use their skills to protect the city from evil villains like Shredder and Krang. The Turtles are also known for their love of pizza and their catchphrase, “Cowabunga!”

17. The Magic School Bus

The Magic School Bus is a 1994 American animated television series based on the book series of the same name by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen.

The Magic School Bus

The show is about an eccentric schoolteacher, Ms. Frizzle, who takes her class on field trips in a transforming school bus that goes anywhere.

18. Pinky and the Brain

Pinky and the Brain is a classic cartoon that first aired in the early 1990s. The show follows the adventures of two laboratory mice – Pinky, a relatively dim-witted but good-natured mouse, and the Brain, a genius mouse who is always hatched up with various schemes to take over the world.

Pinky and the Brain

19. Rugrats

The Rugrats was an animated television series that aired on Nickelodeon from 1991 to 2004. The show follows the adventures of a group of toddlers, Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, and twins Phil and Lil.

Rugrats

The babies often find themselves in various predicaments while their parents are preoccupied with work or other activities.

20. Pokemon

Pokemon is a Japanese anime television series that follows the adventures of Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu as they travel around the world to catch different types of Pokemon. The original series aired in 1997 and was followed by a number of spin-off series and movies. 

Pokémon

21. DuckTales

Most people are familiar with the Disney character Donald Duck, but fewer know about his adventuresome nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. These three young ducks star in the animated TV series DuckTales.

DuckTales

Final Words on These Cartoons From the 90s

There you have it! These are 20 of the best cartoons from the 90s that you can enjoy all over again.

Related Articles: