90s kids had more cartoons than any generation before them. Broadcast networks ran Saturday morning blocks, syndicated afternoon blocks filled weekday evenings, and new cable channels showed animation all day. Studios competed with creator-driven shows that were funnier, stranger and smarter than the decades before.
Quick answer
The best 90s cartoons include Rugrats, Doug, Hey Arnold!, Animaniacs, Batman: The Animated Series, X-Men, Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Pokémon, Recess, Arthur and The Simpsons. Kids watched them on Saturday mornings, after school on cable, and on new all-cartoon channels.
Nicktoons and cable cartoons
| Cartoon | Premiered |
|---|---|
| Doug | 1991 |
| Rugrats | 1991 |
| The Ren & Stimpy Show | 1991 |
| Rocko's Modern Life | 1993 |
| Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | 1994 |
| Hey Arnold! | 1996 |
| The Angry Beavers | 1997 |
| CatDog | 1998 |
| The Wild Thornberrys | 1998 |
| A sponge who lives under the sea | 1999 |
More in 90s Nickelodeon shows.
All-cartoon channel classics
| Cartoon | Premiered |
|---|---|
| Dexter's Laboratory | 1996 |
| Johnny Bravo | 1997 |
| Cow and Chicken | 1997 |
| I Am Weasel | 1997 |
| The Powerpuff Girls | 1998 |
| Ed, Edd n Eddy | 1999 |
Saturday morning and afternoon favorites
| Cartoon | Premiered |
|---|---|
| TaleSpin | 1990 |
| Tiny Toon Adventures | 1990 |
| Darkwing Duck | 1991 |
| Goof Troop | 1992 |
| Animaniacs | 1993 |
| Bonkers | 1993 |
| Gargoyles | 1994 |
| The Magic School Bus | 1994 |
| Pinky and the Brain | 1995 |
| Timon & Pumbaa | 1995 |
| Arthur | 1996 |
| Recess | 1997 |
| Pepper Ann | 1997 |
| 101 Dalmatians: The Series | 1997 |
Superhero cartoons
| Cartoon | Premiered |
|---|---|
| Batman: The Animated Series | 1992 |
| X-Men | 1992 |
| Spider-Man | 1994 |
| Iron Man | 1994 |
| Superman: The Animated Series | 1996 |
| The Tick | 1994 |
Anime imports
| Show | US debut |
|---|---|
| Sailor Moon | 1995 |
| Dragon Ball Z (first dub) | 1996 |
| Pokémon | 1998 |
| Digimon | 1999 |
Pokémon changed everything for anime in the US. Read the full Pokémon US timeline.
Prime-time and teen cartoons
| Cartoon | Premiered |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons | 1989 |
| Beavis and Butt-Head | 1993 |
| Daria | 1997 |
| King of the Hill | 1997 |
| South Park | 1997 |
| Futurama | 1999 |
Some of these were made for older teens and adults.
Fun fact: Saturday morning cartoons were so tied to cereal ads that many 90s kids remember the commercials as clearly as the shows. See 90s cereals.
Throwing a cartoon party? Try a Saturday morning theme from 90s party ideas or a cartoon trunk from 90s trunk or treat ideas.
Where 90s kids watched cartoons
| Where | When | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday morning network blocks | Saturday mornings | Superhero and comedy cartoons |
| Syndicated afternoon blocks | Weekdays after school | Disney afternoon shows |
| Kids' cable channel | All week | Nicktoons |
| All-cartoon channel | 24 hours | Original "Cartoon Cartoons" and classics |
| Public TV | Mornings and afternoons | Educational shows |
Dig deeper: 90s Saturday morning cartoons, 90s Nickelodeon shows, 90s Cartoon Network shows and 90s Disney cartoons.
Why 90s cartoons were different
Creator-driven
Shows reflected one person's vision and humor.
Jokes for adults
Many layered in references parents would get.
Serialized stories
Superhero shows told multi-episode arcs.
Anime arrives
Imported shows introduced a new style.
How to watch 90s cartoons now
Streaming services
Many studios have put their 90s catalogs on their own streaming platforms.
Digital purchase
Seasons are often available to buy.
Physical media
DVD box sets of many shows exist.
Why the 90s were a golden age of animation
Several things came together in the 90s to create a boom in TV animation. Cable channels dedicated to kids and cartoons needed a steady stream of new shows. Networks competed fiercely for Saturday morning viewers. Studios began giving creators more control, which led to shows with distinct art styles and unusual humor. And the success of prime-time animated sitcoms proved that cartoons could appeal to adults too.
The result was an explosion of variety. In a single week, a 90s kid might watch a superhero drama, a surreal comedy about animal roommates, a show about a group of babies, an educational series about a magical school bus and an anime about monsters you could catch and train.
Cartoons that grew up with their audience
One reason 90s cartoons are remembered so fondly is that they respected their audience. Superhero shows told serious stories with real stakes. Comedies hid jokes for parents. Shows about kids dealt with friendship, family problems and growing up honestly. Many adults rewatch these shows today and discover layers they missed as children.
The rise of anime in America
The 90s were also when many American kids discovered Japanese animation. Shows about magical heroes, martial arts and monster-collecting adventures arrived on afternoon and Saturday blocks, often with heavy edits for American audiences. Pokémon, which debuted on US TV in 1998, became one of the biggest kids' phenomena of the decade and opened the door for anime to become mainstream.
The cartoon economy
Cartoons in the 90s were also big business. Many shows came with toy lines, cereals, lunchboxes, video games and clothing. Kids could eat breakfast from a cartoon-branded bowl, play with the action figures after school and take the lunchbox to class. That merchandise is a big part of why the shows are so tied to childhood memories, and why vintage cartoon merch is collectible now.
Related reading: Meet the casts in our character guides: 50 iconic 90s cartoon characters, Rugrats characters, Hey Arnold! characters, Powerpuff Girls characters and Dexter's Laboratory characters.
More cartoons & tv guides
Conclusion
The 90s were a golden age of cartoons, with something for every kid and plenty for adults. Revisit your favorites, or find the ones you missed, using the lists above.
Frequently asked questions
What were the most popular cartoons in the 90s?
Some of the most popular 90s cartoons were Rugrats, Doug, Hey Arnold!, Animaniacs, Batman: The Animated Series, X-Men, Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Pokémon, Recess, Arthur and The Simpsons.
What cartoons were on Saturday mornings in the 90s?
Saturday mornings featured shows like X-Men, Recess, Pepper Ann, Spider-Man, Power Rangers (live action), Bobby's World and many Disney and Warner Bros. series.
When did Pokémon come on TV in the US?
The Pokémon anime debuted on US television in September 1998. See when did Pokémon come out in the US.
What was the last 90s cartoon?
Several famous cartoons premiered at the very end of the decade, including a sponge-and-starfish undersea comedy in May 1999 that became one of the longest-running cartoons ever.
What was the most popular 90s cartoon?
The Simpsons, Rugrats, Batman: The Animated Series and Pokémon are among the most popular and influential cartoons of the decade.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Nicktoons (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Cartoon Network (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Saturday-morning cartoon (opens in a new tab)
Dates and facts were checked against these references. Release dates can vary by region; we use North American dates unless noted. Spotted an error? Tell us.