Top 10 Animated Shows That Deserve Another Season
For this list, we'll be looking at critically praised and/or popular animated series that were cancelled before the fans were willing to say goodbye, and which could benefit from an extension.
#10: “Recess” (1997-2001)
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Ah recess... that magical time of the school day during which anything seemed possible! With this animated series, Disney took that notion to wacky yet relatable extremes. The series followed six friends in their elementary school adventures as they tackled the social hierarchy of the playground, delving surprisingly deep into concepts of freedom, oppression and social conformity. These hard-hitting themes are just one of the many reasons for the show’s lasting popularity. Despite the fact that Recess ran for six seasons, received a theatrical movie, and several TV specials, we have no doubt that fans would be delighted to spend another season with T.J. and the gang.
#9: “ReBoot” (1994-2001)
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They don’t make ‘em like ReBoot anymore. This Canadian animated series took place inside the world of a computer and followed the adventures of Bob, a guardian in Mainframe who, along with his friends, kept the system safe from the virus attacks of MegaByte. Not only was ReBoot the world’s first fully computer-animated half-hour TV series, but it was also wildly popular, with a fanbase that has been campaigning for a revival for over a decade. Considering the fact that series ended on a cliffhanger, you can understand why fans were furious when a reboot of ReBoot (bearing little resemblance to the original) was announced instead of the revival everyone actually wants.
#8: “Totally Spies!” (2001-15)
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Even when an animated series has an impressively long run, sometimes... fans are still left wanting more. Such is the case with Totally Spies!, which ran for a total of 156 episodes. The series followed Clover, Sam, Alex, three average high-school girls who also happen to be spies for a secret organization. With its anime-inspired visuals and cross-genre premise, Totally Spies! was an incredibly ambitious series that ended up having a surprisingly wide appeal - which is just one of the many reasons it deserves some kind of revival. The show hasn’t officially been cancelled, but with no new episodes or announcements since 2015, fans are understandably concerned that this is the end.
#7: “Gravity Falls” (2012-16)
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Animated TV shows often get cancelled before their story can be completed, which is exactly why Alex Hirsch decided to end Gravity Falls on his own terms. Often referred to as a cartoon Twin Peaks, Gravity Falls followed twins Dipper and Mabel Pines as they uncovered dark secrets, frightening creatures and general weirdness that plagued the titular town. With all the mysteries and conspiracies surrounding the plot, Hirsch decided to give the series a definitive end before an unexpected cancellation could leave things unresolved. However, with a premise this odd, there’s always room for more, and there’s no doubt fans would love to see more of Dipper, Mabel, and the wacky townsfolk of Gravity Falls.
#6: “Teen Titans” (2003-06)
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At this point, it goes without saying that the original Teen Titans animated should be brought back. Regardless of whether or not you like its comedy revival, Teen Titans Go!, it simply can’t compete with the original series. It was a masterpiece of superhero animation, one that was ambitious in both its visual style and mature themes. Despite a massive fan following, Teen Titans was cancelled with major plot points left unresolved. Were there to be another season, the show’s incredible run could be given a proper ending, something that fans have wanted for over a decade.
#5: “Freakazoid!” (1995-97)
What happens when you combine the zaniness of Looney Tunes with classic superhero tropes? You get Freakazoid!, one of the greatest superhero parodies of all time, and a series that was well before its time. Taking inspiration from Mike Allred’s Madman, the series followed the titular Freakazoid, a superhero who usually defeated villains through the sheer annoyance of his insane cartoon antics. Though it only ran for 24 episodes, Freakazoid! gained a cult following of fans that would be delighted to see another season, or perhaps a reboot, of the absurdly creative (and creatively absurd) series.
#4: “Wolverine and the X-Men” (2009)
Cliffhangers suck, especially when the series is cancelled before they can be resolved. This is exactly what happened with the Nicktoons series, Wolverine and the X-Men, which ended after only one season. This Marvel series followed Wolverine as he struggled to reunite the X-Men after the disappearance of Jean Grey and Professor X. With overwhelmingly high ratings and incredibly positive reviews, one would think Wolverine and the X-Men would have gone on for more than one season, but Disney’s buyout of Marvel caused some financial issues that ultimately lead to the series’ cancellation. However, now that Disney is close to acquiring Fox’s properties, could another season be in the cards? We can only hope.
#3: “Static Shock” (2000-04)
It’s hard to think of a superhero cartoon that was as groundbreaking as Static Shock. The series presented a diverse cast of multi-layered characters who faced complex social issues in ways that were somewhat uncommon in kids’ cartoons at the time. An adaptation of Dwayne McDuffie’s Milestone Media comics, Static Shock followed the titular superhero in his crime-fighting adventures and ran for a total of four seasons. Though it might not be quite the same without McDuffie himself onboard, as the creator passed away in 2011, fans would be, pardon the pun, ec-static to see another season of Static Shock.
#2: “The Spectacular Spider-Man” (2008-09)
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On top of having arguably the best theme song of any Spider-Man cartoon (sorry 1967 series), The Spectacular Spider-Man is often referred to as the greatest Spidey TV series of them all. With a unique art style, the character designs by Sean “Cheeks” Galloway standing out in particular, and smart, mature writing, The Spectacular Spider-Man had an overwhelmingly positive reception from both fans and critics. However, despite this popularity, the series was cancelled due to the TV rights of Spider-Man reverting back to Marvel. Since Spectacular’s cancellation, there have been two other Spider-Man cartoons, so a revival seems unlikely, but there’s definitely a demand for a third season of the hit series. Before we get to our number one, here are a few honorable mentions: “Code Lyoko” (2003-07) “Shadow Raiders” (1998-99) “Thundercats” (2011-12)
#1: “Danny Phantom” (2004-07)
Who can walk through walls, disappear, fly, and had a killer theme song? The answer is Danny Phantom. This Nickelodeon series revolved around the titular character as he navigated the hurdles of high school while defending his city from ghostly attacks. An original creation of Butch Hartman, the show incorporated elements of classic superhero stories and spun them into something fresh and unique that played out well against its ghost-themed backdrop. Danny Phantom might have gotten a proper send-off in the form of a TV movie, but there is definitely a demand for more, especially after Butch Hartman himself proposed a “10 years later” storyline, complete with awesome updated character designs.
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