Top 10 Cartoon Network Shows That Will Make You Nostalgic
#10: “Camp Lazlo” (2005-08)
Summer camp can be a weird and wacky time in real life, so a cartoon focused around it is even more so. Following the misadventures of various animal campers at Camp Kidney, especially the title happy-go-lucky spider monkey Lazlo, whose rebellious streak against authority often leads to many of the misadventures in the series. Although “Camp Lazlo” features plenty of summer fun only possible in a cartoon, the warm colors and relatable characters are sure to bring to mind memories of your own summer vacations past. In fact, they were designed that way!
#9: “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy” (2003-07)
Top 10 Times Cartoon Network Shows Got Serious
Who knew Death himself could be so much fun? After the cynical Mandy and the idiotic Billy win a game of limbo against the grim reaper, the personification of death must become their best friend for eternity; leading to a host of supernatural escapades. Decidedly more “grim” than most cartoons, “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy” is nevertheless a very funny and entertaining show. With a timeless art style and characters who are lovable and occasionally terrifying, this is a show we look back fondly at – even… from beyond the grave!
#8: “Total Drama” (2007-14)
Top 10 Things Only Adults Notice in Total Drama
Who doesn’t “wanna’ be famous?” “Total Drama” is an anthology comedy show that parodies reality competitions; pitting a group cartoon teens against one another in various themed challenges. While even more exaggerated than the “reality” shows it’s based on, “Total Drama” still manages to engage our nostalgic memories by featuring a varied and often relatable cast of characters whose interpersonal friendships, relationships, and rivalries feel true to the teenage experience. With each season bringing a new spin on the familiar formula, “Total Drama” changes and grows as much as any teen.
#7: “The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)
Top 10 Best Cartoon Network Shows No One Talks About
This cartoon, like its protagonists, is full of sugar, spice, and everything nice… about Cartoon Network. The show follows the eponymous trio of young sisters created with superpowers, who frequently save their cities from villains and other disasters, when they aren’t dealing with more mundane problems. Their childish naiveté and their work as superheroes make them and their show a perfect distillation of our childhood innocence and our wish fulfilment. Plus, as one of the channel’s early original hits, it’s a show that’s near and dear to the hearts of those who grew up with Cartoon Network.
#6: “Johnny Bravo” (1997-2004)
Top 10 Johnny & Moira Moments On Schitt's Creek
Another early Cartoon Network original, “Johnny Bravo” chronicles the life of the titular, overly macho, wannabe ladies’ man, whose failed attempts to impress women and his interactions with other characters form the bulk of the plots. Thankfully, the show had more success than Johnny does with women… or karate… or basically anything else. With its ‘50s aesthetic and a protagonist with the voice of Elvis and twice the swagger, “Johnny Bravo” is sure to bring older viewers back to another era, while younger ones will probably appreciate a time when censorship was a bit laxer on tongue in cheek humor for adults in kids’ cartoons.
#5: “Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends” (2004-09)
Set in a world where children’s imaginary friends are real, “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” is set in the title locale, which is a foster home for imaginary beings whose creators have outgrown them. The series follows a young boy Mac, who visits the home to spend time with his mischievous former imaginary friend Bloo, getting into various misadventures together along with the other residents. While the concept alone is nostalgic, the standard episode structures, which sees Bloo or Mac get into trouble and then attempt to hide and/or get out of it, are also something of a throwback to farces, which are relatively uncommon these days.
#4: “Courage the Cowardly Dog” (1999-2002)
Top 10 Scariest Courage the Cowardly Dog Episodes
This unusual series follows the eponymous scaredy-dog and his attempts to save his oblivious, elderly owners from assorted supernatural threats. “Courage the Cowardly Dog” is a surprisingly scary show, but that’s part of what makes it stand out even among cartoons today and what helps us look back at it fondly. Not everyone likes being scared by their cartoons, but those that do will love “Courage,” as will those who have a love for horror and B-sci-fi films, which the show takes many of its visual and story cues from.
#3: “Codename: Kids Next Door” (2002-08)
A kid themed spy show isn’t entirely original, but few shows take the concept as far as “Codename: Kids Next Door.” Following a group of five kid spies as they battle against villainous teens and adults, this show takes everyday worries and problems faced by kids, like homework or cooties, and turns them into evil schemes that the kids must foil. With its inventive premise that draws on the culture of being a kid, “Codename: Kids Next Door” is sure to elicit nostalgia, even if you’ve had your memory erased.
#2: “Dexter’s Laboratory” (1996-2003)
Top 20 Serial Killers on Dexter
The first big hit among original Cartoon Network shows, “Dexter’s Lab” follows the titular boy genius whose secret high-tech lab is both a refuge for him and a way for him to tackle problems, both great and small. Possessing a distinctive and influential animation style, a small but memorable cast, and even having several shows within the show, “Dexter’s Laboratory” paved the way for nearly every other cartoon on our list, which helps make it nearly the most nostalgic Cartoon Network show. Unfortunately, not all of us can relate to being a child prodigy… even if we wish we could have been. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Cow and Chicken” (1997-99) “Teen Titans” (2003-06) “What a Cartoon!” (1995-97) “6teen” (2004-10) “My Gym Partner’s a Monkey” (2005-08)
#1: “Ed, Edd n Eddy” (1999-2009)
Top 20 Best Cartoon Network Shows From the 2000s
Following the misadventures of three young boys with the same name, as well as their other neighborhood friends, “Ed, Edd n Eddy” is the most nostalgic show on Cartoon Network. The animation and setting are so timeless you could tell us it was made anytime between the 1940s and today, and we’d probably believe you. The interactions between the Eds and their fellow kids echo how real kids act and the whole “hanging out in a neighborhood” premise is as nostalgic as it gets. It doesn’t hurt that it’s currently Cartoon Network’s longest-running show, either, which means more generations of kids and adults have nostalgia for it.
0
0
report
0
0
report