I like to rewatch cartoons from the ’90s for nostalgia and to see if I will appreciate them more with my adult mind. Many times I am disappointed with the latter part, but there have been a few times I was surprised. Some shows even had me wondering how they got away with what they packaged as kid-friendly.
These cartoons had either subtle humor, deep scenes, or satire that went over my tiny brain. I find myself recommending them to people now, even if they don’t have kids to watch them with. But in the end, these kids’ cartoons left me with the impression that they were partly written with adults in mind.
Animaniacs (1993)
Watch Animaniacs on HBO Max
In my opinion, Animaniacs had one of the best opening theme songs that I listen to on Spotify even today. I also like how they varied parts of the lyrics in some episodes to keep it fresh (something the Spotify version lacks). I really enjoyed the insane musical numbers and the variety-show format that featured memorable characters — particularly, Pinky and The Brain — and wacky, over-the-top scenarios.
However, it was clear that this show was also intended to cater to adults, with numerous pop-culture references from movies such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casablanca, and Jurassic Park. Let’s not forget the satire and suggestive humor. I haven’t watched the 2020 reboot yet, but I’ll certainly get to it eventually to see if they went all out with the adult themes.
Hey Arnold! (1994)
Watch Hey Arnold! on Paramount+
Hey Arnold! captured my attention as a kid due to the main character having a football-shaped head. It’s considered an animated sitcom, but watching now as an adult, I think that wasn’t entirely accurate — it’s more of a slice-of-life comedy drama. Almost every character had a story to tell, and it was handled in ways both kids and adults can enjoy.
You had lighthearted and funny stories where Arnold throws a party to seem cool, and a boy who refuses to leave his stoop, called “Stoop Kid.” Then there were the deeply emotional stories like the one of his Vietnamese landlord, who escaped the fall of Saigon during the Vietnam War, reuniting with his long-lost daughter.
For a Nickelodeon show, Hey Arnold! didn’t shy away from mature storytelling, and it’s a blast to watch now.
Gargoyles (1994)
Watch Gargoyles on Disney+
As a kid, I watched Gargoyles for the monsters and the action. As an adult, I still watch it for those things, as well as the complex, emotional storylines and intriguing characters, backstories, and mythology. If you knew the kid-friendly face Disney put back then, you’d wonder how they managed to produce such an incredibly dark, moody, and mature show.
Gargoyles lasted three seasons (there’s also a movie), but I wish it had lasted longer. Thankfully, there is a reboot coming that will hopefully retain the elements of the show. Maybe with a Disney+ release, it will fully embrace its adult themes like X-Men ’97 did.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994)
Watch Spider-Man: The Animated Series on Disney+
One thing I liked about the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy is that it captured the essence of why I liked Spider-Man: The Animated Series. Spider-Man struggled not only with fighting villains but also with balancing his superhero activities with his personal life.
There were episodes where Spidey was catching Ls from all fronts, but to watch him triumph in the end while cracking jokes made him my role model. Spider-Man: TAS balanced responsibility and consequences so well that it can inspire anyone, young and old.
The show also ended on a devastating cliffhanger, introducing the complex multiverse concept years before it became mainstream in adult entertainment. Let’s hope the rumors of the revival are true, because I just have to know how the story ends.
Rocko’s Modern Life (1993)
Watch Rocko’s Modern Life on Paramount+
As a kid, Rocko’s Modern Life was that quirky Nickelodeon show of a wallaby from Australia trying to live a normal life in America. It was full of kiddy humor in the vein of slapstick and over-the-top gags. Plus, the animal characters were whimsical and goofy enough to grab my attention and keep me sitting through the episodes.
But now that I’m grown, I see that what everyone says about it is true — there was an adult show hidden here. Rocko’s Modern Life had satire, innuendos, and suggestive themes that pushed the boundaries of what kids’ entertainment could be. It was often criticized by adults, especially parents, for being too edgy, and some scenes were even censored.
Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
Watch Batman: The Animated Series on HBO Max
Batman: The Animated Series is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated series of all time. Since this was a kids’ show, they could have made it lighthearted (even campy) with Batman facing some wacky villain every week. But the makers went extra hard with mature storytelling and complex villains (complete with tragic backstories).
Furthermore, they created a unique art style they called Dark Deco. It blended Art déco architecture with noir elements to produce a dark and haunting Gotham from which Batman could comfortably operate in the shadows.
Not to mention, this is where we were introduced to one of the best Batman villains ever: Harley Quinn. Also, the voice actor behind The Dark Knight (Kevin Conroy) introduced the Batman voice in this very show to distinguish between Bruce Wayne and his alter ego.
All I’m saying is that for a kids’ show, they didn’t need to go this hard. But they did. The one episode that sticks with me to this day is “Heart of Ice,” which tells the story of Mr. Freeze.
Nostalgia with a twist
As I rewatched these cartoons with less innocent eyes, I kept thinking that maybe this is how the writers intended them to be enjoyed. I now have a deeper appreciation for them. This is especially true for Rocko’s Modern Life, which may have ruined my innocent view of it in a good way.
