The Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked (2024)

Every viewer has their own opinions about the best cartoons of all time. While all different animated shows have specific aspects that make them appealing to the audience, some cartoons have reached a wider audience and have impacted pop culture.

Cartoons such as Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, and Pokémon have influenced generations of viewers, withstanding the test of time while evolving with modern culture. Others, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Avatar: The Last Airbender, are great kid shows that even adults enjoy watching. These are some of the most popular cartoons of all time.

Updated on August 5th, 2024, by Fawzia Khan: Cartoons were the first TV shows that we watched as children, and they hold a special place in the hearts of people across the world. They invoke nostalgia, mischief, and joy, unlike any other genre. This list has been updated with even more of the best cartoon shows that kids and adults indulged in the most.

35 The Powerpuff Girls Remains A Symbol Of Girl Power

When one thinks of cartoons, The Powerpuff Girls automatically comes to mind. The adorable and colorful show followed Professor Utonium, and his successful attempt at creating tiny superheroines from Chemical X. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup may be small, but they were the mightiest protectors of Townsville.

Not only did this show have amazing protagonists, but it also had some killer villains. The Powerpuff Girls had some incredibly dark episodes too, so it had appeal for both children and adults alike. The adventures of the girls never get over, and the vibrant animation style keeps it evergreen.

The Powerpuff Girls

Three super-powered little girls constantly save the world (or at least the city of Townsville) from monsters, would-be conquerers and a few other gross things.

34 Recess Covered The Best Middle School Antics

Third Street School was the hub of all things naughty and funny, and the likable characters of Disney Channel's Recess made it even better. TJ was the roguish leader of the group, while tomboy Ashley kept things unpredictable. Gus was a nerdy little boy, Vince liked sports, and Mike and Gretchen were the sweetest of the friend group.

Antagonists in the form of tattletale Randal and crabby Miss Finster kept the friend group from having fun at school, often even threatening to cancel their recess period altogether. This show was innocent, sweet fun with a ton of adventure packed in.

Recess

Recess centers around six fourth-graders at Third Street Elementary: T.J., the charismatic leader; Ashley, the tomboyish athlete; Vince, the jock; Gus, the new kid; Gretchen, the brainy inventor; and Mikey, the lovable goofball. They navigate the complex social hierarchy of the playground, battling the tyrannical "King Bob" and his followers while upholding fairness and individuality.

33 The Flintstones Were Pure Stone Age Fun

Broadcasted in the 1960s, The Flintstones was one of the first few cartoons to look at the family unit as a subject of a comic animated series. Set in 10,000 B.C., Fred Flintstone was the slightly silly protagonist with a heart of gold, who worked "bronto cranes" to sustain his pregnant wife Wilma and their kids.

Their family is accompanied by his coworker Barney Rubble, and his wife Betty, who add to their familial hijinks. Dinosaurs, rock tools, and a number of prehistoric versions of modern day things make The Flintstones quite an imaginative watch. It definitely serves as a precursor to other family-based animations like The Simpsons and Family Guy.

The Flintstones

The misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles.

32 Johnny Bravo Is Mindlessly Funny

Simple and to the point, Johnny Bravo is the story of the titular character, who is quite an interesting young man. Johnny isn't the brightest, but he thinks he is God's gift to women. Only interested in building his biceps, striking poses, and flirting with ladies who want nothing to do with him, Bravo's antics are ridiculously funny.

What began as seven-minute long short cartoons became one of the most famous CN cartoons of all time. For those looking for a bit of mindless television, Johnny Bravo is sure to do the trick. Inspiration from Elvis Presley and James Dean are visible in Johnny's demeanor and his impossible tall blonde quiff.

Johnny Bravo (1997)

The misadventures of a dumb blond egomaniac who is deluded about his own manliness.

31 Popeye Endorsed Spinach And Won Hearts

Oddly shaped with a constant pipe in his mouth, Popeye the crude sailor became an unlikely hero to the masses after appearing in the Thimble Theater comic strip, and then later gaining his own animated series. The reason for his popularity was his endorsem*nt for spinach as the source of his power -- one can would turn his biceps into anvils, and he could lift ships and buildings singlehandedly.

He even had a girlfriend, Olive Oyl and cared for their adopted child Swee'Pea. Popeye was the least expected hero to a generation, but the show remains one of the most popular cartoons of all time. Eccentric but enjoyable, it would still entertain a legion of kids.

Popeye (1980)

PG

Comedy

Musical

Where to Watch

• stream
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See Also

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*Availability in US

Director

Robert Altman

Release Date

December 12, 1980

Cast

Robin Williams , Shelley Duvall , Paul L. Smith , John Wallace , Paul Dooley , Richard Libertini , Ray Walston , Donald Moffat

Writers

Jules Feiffer

Runtime

114 Minutes

Main Genre

Comedy

Budget

$20 Million

Studio(s)

Paramount Pictures , Walt Disney Productions , Robert Evans Productions , King Features

Distributor(s)

Paramount Pictures , Buena Vista International

30 Tom And Jerry Is Cartoons At Their Most Pure

Tom and Jerry is one of the quintessential and timeless cartoons ever produced. It follows a simple premise of Tom, a house cat, tirelessly attempting to capture a mouse, Jerry.

Tom and Jerry has everything a cartoon short needs: quick laughs, destruction, and plenty of schadenfreude. First released in 1940, Tom and Jerry are still seeing new shorts and media produced as recently as an animation/live-action hybrid film in 2021. On top of that, there is no shortage of other Tom and Jerry movies and cartoon strips available, ensuring there will always be laughs within reach.

Tom and Jerry

The Tom and Jerry franchise follows the rivalry between Tom the cat and Jerry the Mouse.

Created by

William Hanna , Joseph Barbera

First Film

Tom and Jerry: The Movie

Latest Film

Tom and Jerry: Snowman's Land

First TV Show

The Tom and Jerry Show

Latest TV Show

Tom and Jerry

29 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy Is An Emmy Award-Winning Cartoon Of A Grim Reaper Forced Into Servitude

The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy is a hilarious gothic cartoon that revels in the supernatural. The story of the siblings Billy and Mandy begins with their encounter with the Grim Reaper following the impending death of Billy's hamster. In order to save Billy's hamster, they struck a deal with "Grim" that if he loses a game of Limbo, he must serve as Billy and Mandy's best friend forever.

Billy & Mandy is a great show of the many supernatural exploits of the polar opposite siblings and new reluctant servant. Billy & Mandy even went on to win multiple Emmy awards for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation."

The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

TV-Y7-FV

Adventure

Comedy

The ill-tempered Grim Reaper gets into a wager that forces him to become the life-long companions of two scheming youngsters after he loses.

Release Date

August 24, 2001

Cast

Greg Eagles , Richard Steven Horvitz , Grey Griffin

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

7

Creator

Maxwell Atoms

Production Company

Cartoon Network Studios, Cartoon Network, Polyphony Digital

Number of Episodes

85

28 Kim Possible Was A Trailblazer Universally Beloved By Children

Kim Possible was a monumental show for the Disney Channel. It was released at a time when female-led shows still heavily gravitated toward girls and female-led action shows and films were far from the norm. It flips the script with the James Bond-like Kim Possible and often has its male lead, Ron Stoppable, as the "damsel in distress."

Kim Possible broke through that barrier by being a show that appealed to all kids and even adults. It's smart, funny, and boasts great action sequences. To this day, it's one of Disney's most successful shows, animated or otherwise, and will forever have a lasting legacy in the cartoon world and the lives of those who grew up with it.

Kim Possible

Action

Comedy

Animation

A high school cheerleader and her clumsy best friend balance their duties as global crime-fighters with the typical challenges of adolescence.

Release Date

June 7, 2002

Cast

Christy Carlson Romano , Will Friedle , Nancy Cartwright , John DiMaggio

Seasons

4

Creator

Bob Schooley, Mark McCorkle

Number of Episodes

87

Network

Disney Channel

27 Teen Titans Is A Great Superhero Show Made For A Younger Audience

DC Comics is loaded with an amazing catalog of cartoons. It's one of the areas that it continues to outclass Marvel in, not for the lack of trying. One of the most popular cartoons of the 2000s was Teen Titans, based on the comic series of the same name.

Teen Titans takes the Justice League format and brings it down to a teenager level, complete with fast action and relatable moments kids will enjoy. Teen Titans may not have had a long lifespan, being only 65 episodes, but its passionate fans led to a spinoff/revival in Teen Titans Go!, which is now approaching its 400th episode, while bringing back many of the original show's voice actors.

Teen Titans

Animation

superheroes

A team of five teenaged superheroes save the world from many villains around their city while experiencing things normal teens face today.

Release Date

July 19, 2003

Cast

Scott Menville , Hynden Walch , Khary Payton , Tara Strong , Greg Cipes

Seasons

5

Producer

Warner Bros. Animation

Number of Episodes

66

26 Gravity Falls Is A Twin Peaks-Inspired Show That Tells A Memorable Story

Gravity Falls makes the absolute most of its two-season and 40-episode run by telling an over-arching and cohesive story set during a summer break. In Gravity Falls, siblings Dipper and Mabel Pines stay with their great-uncle ("Grunkle") Stan, who runs the "Mystery Shack" in Oregon.

Gravity Falls draws inspiration from Twin Peaks by introducing numerous different mysteries and supernatural events in the small town of Gravity Falls with genuinely shocking twists and turns. Gravity Falls is witty and clever, resulting in a broad generational appeal. With its short run, by design, Gravity Falls doesn't fall into the same trap as other cartoons of wearing out its welcome. It ended exactly when and how it needed to – not that that will stop fans from asking about a revival.

Gravity Falls

TV-Y7

Twin siblings Dipper and Mabel Pines spend the summer at their great-uncle's tourist trap in the enigmatic Gravity Falls, Oregon.

Release Date

June 15, 2012

Cast

Jason Ritter , Kristen Schaal , Alex Hirsch

Main Genre

Adventure

Creator

Alex Hirsch

25 The Fairly OddParents Is Nickelodeon's Second-Longest-Running Cartoon

The Fairly OddParents follows 10-year-old Timmy Turner, who is granted two fairy godparents. Wanda and Cosmo, and later Poof, can grant Timmy's wishes to help with his everyday problems. Timmy usually uses his wishes to exploit his mean babysitter Vicky and his fairy godparents-obsessed teacher, Mr. Crocker.

The show originally ran from 2001-2006, before being revived in 2008 and running till 2017. It is the second-longest-running cartoon series on Nickelodeon behind SpongeBob SquarePants. The show also famously crossed over with another Nickelodeon Show, Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, in the "Jimmy-Timmy Power Hour" episodes that were beloved by fans of the network. A sequel series titled The Fairly Odd Parents: A New Wish will premiere on May 20 on Nickelodeon.

The Fairly OddParents

After being tortured and humiliated by his babysitter, a ten year old boy is put under the care of two fairy godparents, who can grant him almost any wish, which leads to dire consequences.

24 X-Men: The Animated Series Was So Popular It Landed A Revival

X-Men: The Animated Series was one of the staples of cartoons of the 90s. The show follows the X-Men as they band together to fight various enemies within the Marvel universe. It also touched on some more serious topics throughout its run, including divorce, the Holocaust, and depression.

The series proved to be extremely popular among fans and also crossed over with another beloved animated series, Spider-Man. The love for the series continues today and was instrumental in the revival by Marvel Studios coming to fruition beginning in 2019. Most of the series' cast and crew have returned for X-Men '97, which is available now on Disney+ and has been received well by critics and fans.

X-Men: The Animated Series

TV-Y7

In X-Men: The Animated Series, a team of mutant superheroes fight for justice and human acceptance in the Marvel Comics universe.

Release Date

October 31, 1992

Creator

Main Genre

Animation

Main Cast

23 Gargoyles Was An Underrated Gem

Gargoyles follows a group of nocturnal creatures who turn to stone during the day. When they are betrayed in the year 994 in Scotland, they are permanently turned to stone until they are re-awoken a thousand years later in New York City. The clan sets out to protect New York City by night.

Gargoyles was something of an underrated series throughout its entire run. It is consistently ranked as one of the best cartoons ever made but sometimes gets forgotten about. The show was originally pitched as a comedy series before becoming Disney's first animated drama series. A live-action film adaptation was pitched by Jordan Peele in 2018 but has not received an update since, but Disney did announce a live-action reboot of the series for Disney+ in 2023.

Gargoyles

TV-Y7

Adventure

Action

A clan of heroic night creatures pledge to protect modern New York City as they did in Scotland one thousand years earlier.

Release Date

October 24, 1994

Creator

Greg Weisman

Cast

Keith David , Salli Richardson-Whitfield , Jeff Bennett

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

3 Seasons

Production Company

Buena Vista Television, Disney Television Animation, Walt Disney Animation Japan

Number of Episodes

78 Episodes

22 Spider-Man: The Animated Series Frustratingly Ended On A Cliffhanger

Spider-Man: The Animated Series is a beloved take on Spider-Man that was one of the best superhero animated series of the 90s. The show follows Peter Parker as he balances his duties as Spider-Man with his personal life. It features some of his greatest villains, including the Sinister Six (dubbed the Insidious Six in the show), Venom, Carnage, the Kingpin, and many, many more.

The show was well-known for adapting famous Spider-Man comics into episodes or even multi-episode arcs. It also featured crossovers with other Marvel heroes, including the X-Men, Iron Man, the Punisher, Daredevil, and Doctor Strange. The series frustratingly ended on a cliffhanger and fans to this day still hope for the show being revived at some point to resolve its lingering plot threads.

Spider-Man: The Animated Series

TV-Y7

Animation

Superhero

Action

Adventure

A young man with spider-like abilities fights crime as a superhero in New York City while trying to have a normal personal life.

Release Date

November 19, 1994

Creator

Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

Cast

christopher daniel barnes , Sara Ballantine , Edward Asner , Roscoe Lee Browne

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

5 Seasons

Production Company

New World Entertainment Films, Genesis Entertainment, Marvel Enterprises.

21 Rugrats Was One Of The First Nicktoons On Nickelodeon

Rugrats focuses on a group of toddlers and their misadventures. Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil use their imaginations as they learn about the world around them. A running gag throughout the show is that the parents do not know that the babies communicate with one another, and they appear to not know any vocabulary. It was one of the original Nicktoon cartoons, beginning in 1991.

The show slowly gained popularity in the form of reruns before becoming one of Nickelodeon's biggest hits, running for 13 years and leading to a franchise for the network. It had the most episodes for a Nickelodeon show at 172, before being surpassed by SpongeBob SquarePants in 2015. A spin-off, All Grown Up, follows the babies as teenagers and a CGI reboot was released on Paramount+ in 2021, which was eventually canceled.

Rugrats (1991)

TV-Y

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

The cartoon misadventures of four babies and their snotty older cousin as they face the things in life they don't understand.

Release Date

August 11, 1991

Creator

Gabor Csupo, Paul Germain, Arlene Klasky

Cast

Elizabeth Daily , Christine Cavanaugh , Nancy Cartwright , Kath Soucie

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

10

20 Adventure Time Was Popular With Both Children And Adults

Adventure Time is one of the best modern cartoons for both adults and children. While aimed at a younger audience, the characterization, and fantastical elements have enticed many adult viewers. The show follows Finn and his magical dog, Jake, who fight evil in the Land of Ooo.

While Adventure Time is one of the darkest Cartoon Network shows, this only adds to the intrigue of the overall story. The cartoon quickly became an iconic show, backed up by an impressive 100% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also has a spin-off special, Adventure Time: Distant Lands, as well as a series spin-off, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, that streams on Max.

Adventure Time

TV-PG

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

A 12-year-old boy and his best friend, a wise 28-year-old dog with magical powers, go on a series of surreal adventures in a remote future.

Release Date

April 5, 2010

Cast

John DiMaggio , Jeremy Shada , Tom Kenny , Hynden Walch , Dee Bradley Baker , Pendleton Ward

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

10

19 Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends Focuses On The Importance Of Friendship

Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends is one of the most impressive cartoons from Cartoon Network. The charm of this series is evident in the concept. Madame Foster takes in imaginary friends that kids have outgrown, giving them a community and home.

The concept was just quirky enough to create intrigue, and the storyline and characters were amazingly crafted, giving the audience everything they wanted from a children's show. In addition to the goofy situations and characterization, the overarching theme is a wholesome focus on the importance of friendship.

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (2004)

TV-Y7

Adventure

A boy and his beloved imaginary friend are able to stay together at an orphanage of sorts for imaginary friends that children have outgrown to be adopted by new children.

Release Date

August 13, 2004

Cast

Keith Ferguson , Grey Griffin , Phil LaMarr , Sean Marquette , Candi Milo , Tara Strong

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

6

Creator

Craig McCracken

18 BoJack Horseman Tackled Tough Topics

BoJack Horseman ran on Netflix for 6 seasons, following the misadventures of BoJack, a horse and washed-up star of the popular 1990s sitcom Horsin' Around. BoJack plots a monumental comeback to become relevant through a tell-all biography.

The series received praise from critics and viewers alike for its realistic take on hard-hitting topics such as addiction, abuse, racism and depression. As it landed two Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Animated Program, it also has been credited for the rise of a "sadcom", a show that balances both comedy and sad thematic elements.

BoJack Horseman

TV-MA

Animation

Comedy

Drama

BoJack Horseman was the star of the hit television show "Horsin' Around" in the '80s and '90s, but now he's washed up, living in Hollywood, complaining about everything, and wearing colorful sweaters.

Release Date

August 22, 2014

Cast

Will Arnett , Amy Sedaris , Alison Brie , Aaron Paul , Paul F. Tompkins , Diedrich Bader

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

6

17 Futurama Keeps Returning After Year-Long Hiatuses

Futurama follows Philip J. Fry, a delivery boy who is accidentally preserved for a thousand years and awakens in the 30th century. The series then follows his adventures adjusting to his new time alongside his friends Leela and Bender, as well as his great-grandnephew, Professor Farnsworth.

The series was extremely popular upon release but was canceled after 4 seasons. However, due to its popularity, the series continued with 4 films that were remade into a fifth season, and Comedy Central picked up the show for additional episodes. It was then revived yet again by Hulu in 2022 and premiered the following year.

Futurama

TV-14

Animation

Comedy

Sci-Fi

Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy, is accidentally frozen in 1999 and thawed out on New Year's Eve 2999.

Release Date

March 28, 1999

Cast

Billy West , John DiMaggio , Katey Sagal , Tress MacNeille , Phil LaMarr , Lauren Tom , Frank Welker , Kath Soucie

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

8

16 Courage The Cowardly Dog Has A Signature Style

Courage the Cowardly Dog was short-lived, with only four seasons, though the show is well-remembered as one of the overall best '90s cartoons. The titular character is a fearful dog that lives in an area of strange occurrences. Despite his cowardly nature, Courage works hard to protect his owners from dangerous paranormal villains.

Courage the Cowardly Dog is another cartoon beloved by children and adults alike. The creepy atmosphere and themes are a rare addition to cartoons, leaving a lasting impression on lovers of darker shows. The character even crossed over with Scooby-Doo in the 2021 film, Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog.

Courage the Cowardly Dog

TV-Y7

Adventure

Comedy

The offbeat adventures of Courage, a cowardly dog who must overcome his own fears to heroically defend his unknowing farmer owners from all kinds of dangers, paranormal events and menaces that appear around their land.

Release Date

November 12, 1999

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

4