I know I’m biased, but I grew up with some of the best cartoons of all time. Not all of them hold up to today’s standards—but I can definitely think of a few that still have the magic sauce and are absolutely worth watching.
5
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix and Paramount+
Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place in a world where people are born capable of controlling the elements, such as fire, earth, water, and air. However, the Avatar can control all four, while others can only control one, and they must use those powers to keep the world in balance. The Last Airbender focuses on the life of Aang, who disappeared for a hundred years while the Fire Nation was at war with the other nations.
Avatar: The Last Airbender isn’t just worth watching today; it’s worth watching multiple times. At this point, it’s a yearly watch in my home, from start to finish. The jokes, the characters, the world, and politics—it all has strong legs. What’s most impressive about ATLA is that it managed to breach subjects of gender roles, sexism, war, genocide, and more in a manner fitting for a younger audience.
4
Ed, Edd n Eddy
Watch Ed, Edd n Eddy on Apple TV
Ed, Edd n Eddy chronicles the adventures of three friends and their elaborate and oddball scams to make money, so they can spend it on jawbreakers. Eddy is usually the face of the scams, while Double D (that’s Edd) is the brains, and Ed tends to be the muscle. Their victims? The other kids in their cul-de-sac are almost always free of adult supervision.
After rewatching the series, I was pleasantly surprised that the show’s comedy still held up, but I’m most surprised by the characters; how all the kids in the neighborhood act is what makes it particularly timeless. It’s as if the creators bottled up the essence of being a child and what kids do when parents aren’t around. You could take the template for these characters and place them in another period, and it would totally work.
3
Courage the Cowardly Dog
Watch Courage the Cowardly Dog on Apple TV
In Courage the Cowardly Dog, the main character, being a talking dog, isn’t even the weirdest part of the show. Instead, it’s the bizarre and sometimes trippy paranormal activity that goes on out in the middle of nowhere, where Courage and his owners live. Usually, these forces threaten Muriel, one of Courage’s caretakers, whom he loves dearly, and the episodes revolve around him overcoming his fear to save her.
What keeps this show from fading into obscurity is just how unique the stories are, like a Twilight Zone-esque cartoon. The creepy and unsettling creatures that appear in every episode always remind me of the hoaxes and conspiracies of aliens and monsters that are covered in tabloids. Also, Courage the Cowardly Dog doesn’t have any offensive material or comments on events of that time, so it’s easily watchable in any decade.
2
The Powerpuff Girls
Watch The Powerpuff Girls on Apple TV
When you take the powers of essentially Superman and stick them into the bodies of three elementary-aged little girls, you’ve got The Powerpuff Girls. They fight crime both big and small, save the day, and also deal with kid stuff, which has its own layer of comedy, considering Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup were created in a lab. You’d think the show is just meant for little girls (and I don’t blame you for thinking that), but you’d be dead wrong.
Yes, female empowerment is a common thread in The Powerpuff Girls, but you don’t have to be a girl to appreciate the personalities of each character. They don’t just punch things to solve problems, although sometimes it is that easy, but they usually win by outsmarting their archenemy, Mojo Jojo, and the weird kaijus they often fight. For a kids’ show, the fight scenes are surprisingly good and are often framed in such a way that emulates comic books.
1
Steven Universe
Watch Steven Universe on Apple TV and Disney+
Steven Universe focuses on a young boy, Steven, and the Crystal Gems, a team of alien beings whose powers and form are connected to gems. Even Steven, the main character, has a gem where his belly button should be. Together, they keep the world safe from other Gems that seek to harm Earth and their way of life.
In another 10 years, Steven Universe will still be just as relevant and still worth watching because it has some of the sweetest messaging I’ve ever seen in a cartoon. It explores toxic behavior and how you can correct it, gender, morality, and the power of love and compassion. On top of that, it’s wrapped up in an animation style that’s unique and beautiful. If you have kids of your own, I highly recommend watching Steven Universe with them!
What prevents a good cartoon series from getting stale comes down to style and substance, while avoiding the excuse of it being “from a different time.” Since we’re on the subject of cartoons, you might be able to find your next favorite anime, or perhaps you want live-action, in which case there are numerous miniseries with high IMDb ratings to enjoy.
