When I started making this list it made me realize I have watched a lot of animated television. There are so many great shows from classics to adult animation and so much more. I grew up watching DVD’s in long car rides so I feel more than qualified to tackle this task. And I know this is one of the most controversial topics in journalism but I will do my best to balance my personal enjoyment with a comprehensive and objective review of these shows.
Honorable Mention One: Kim Possible
This series is not the big name that a lot of the others that will follow it are, but honestly, it doesn’t matter. This show stars the titular Kim Possible who deals with high school as well as being a spy. It’s not necessarily the bravest premise, but it makes up for it with interesting characters and a lot of great jokes. Her best friend Ron Stoppable, who is as incompetent and clumsy as she is capable, as well as his pet naked-mole rat Ralph keep the show light-hearted and entertaining.
Honorable Mention Two: Rocky and Bullwinkle
Now this is a throwback, way back. This show truly does stand the test of time though. From the alternate titles that comment on every cliff-hanger, to classic goofball and straight man comedy, this is a classic, that deserves its status as one of the greatest cartoons ever. Now that all of these are out of the way it’s time to break some hearts and step on some toes to show the top ten best animated TV shows.
Number 10. Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers
Starring two chipmunks who start a detective agency aided by their wacky friends; Chip N’ Dale are classic characters from early Disney cartoons seen in a creative new light here. This show has funny characters with cool little features and traits that are always present. The show is a little odd at points but it’s all simple and reasonable enough for children to follow. The clear highlight of this show is the theme song, there are very few as catchy as this.
Number 9. Duck Tales
This show is pretty similar to the previous in the sense that it has classic Disney characters reimagined. Instead of Scrooge McDuck solely being a terrible bourgeois capitalist, he is also redeemed by his nephews, and together they work to either save their fortune or go on quests of some sort. Another amazing theme song, unique interesting characters, and classic gags like villains escaping jail using a shovel baked into a cake.
Number 8. Animaniacs
This was a favorite in my household, but it may not have been the same across the map. If you haven’t seen this show, you’ve seen clips. From “United States, Canada, Mexico Panama…” to so many other classic educational videos as well as just silly gags intermixed. The three siblings that escape from Warner Tower every night and are chased down by a blundering fool of a cop, are incredibly mischievous but also are given so many opportunities for clever humor and clearly intelligent jokes. Not only did the main characters bring so much to this show, but for the sake of this article I am including the side series’ that are in the show. That means, Pinky and the Brain, The Goodfeathers and so many more.
Number 7. SpongeBob SquarePants
This is going to make quite a few people angry. I was not a SpongeBob kid growing up, but it’s still a classic. I feel bad putting it this low on the list, but there truly are great shows above this, but despite logistics this show is still good. It lacks the appeal to parents and adults that a lot of great cartoons have, but that doesn’t always have to be a problem. The characters are all unique and interesting, as people grow older they relate to Squidward more because of how accurately he is foiled with SpongeBob. Some of the gags are stupid, however there is a clear respect from the writers from how to be funny and how to make a good show. I think like a lot of shows it fell of in the later seasons. I know this is a lot of people’s favorites from this list, and it burdens me to put it here, but in a truly objective stance, it doesn’t hold up as well as what’s to follow.
Number 6. Tom and Jerry
This is what cartoons are supposed to be. No boring scenes or episodes. Sure, the premise of every episode is roughly the same, Tom the house cat has to try and capture the crafty and tricky mouse Jerry. But they never let this be all that happens, there’s an episode where Tom goes to heaven and is chased as a ghost by a vacuum cleaner, there’s episodes with lots of fireworks for the Fourth of July, one where Tom gets measles and in one Tom is a piano player that drives Jerry crazy. I want to touch on a lot of the racial stereotypes that are portrayed by Tom’s owner Mammy Two Shoes, these are episodes that began in the 40’s and while that isn’t an excuse to portray harmful stereotypes, the show makes action later to correct these wrongs. In the DVD, Whoopi Goldberg comes on and talks about the harmful stereotypes of Black Southerners, and this is something that I would love to see come to more cartoons and shows.
Number 5. Gravity Falls
Despite only being two short seasons of about twenty episodes each, (Thanks a lot Alex Hirsch) Gravity Falls is amazing. Starring two twins Dipper and Mabel, who are left with their Great Uncle Stan for the summer, they begin to realize that there is something strange about the town of Gravity Falls. Now, no spoilers, but this show gets kind of weird, and by kind of I really mean quite a bit, but its all worth while and usually quite funny. There’s a captivating cast of quirky characters, a lot of mystery and plot developments, and so much family bonding. Gravity Falls is a must watch for anyone who loves silly but intelligent cartoons.
Number 4. Looney Tunes
What is there even to say? This is the cartoon to end all cartoons, all of my knowledge of opera comes from the parody episode with Elmur Fudd and Bugs Bunny. You’ve got Daffy Duck, Buggs Bunny,Elmur Fudd, Porky Pig, Yosemite Sam, character after character of lovable iconic stature. So many of the great episodes still hold up, even the ones that are over fifty years old. Not all the originals are as strong, but once they kind of worked out the kinks, there is nothing but quality jokes that are enjoyable for an entire lifetime. I have nothing bad to say about this show and how many lives it has impacted over the years.
Number 3. Scooby-Doo
It’s no surprise this show is up here, season after season of quality television is truly a spectacle of the series. Now, not every Scooby-Doo series is great, in the context of this list I’m discluding the Netflix series and the Velma series, Scooby-Doo: Where Are You? is only a bit older than these two but I believe it strays much less from the original design of the show. But even comparing the 60’s series to that 2000’s series, there is little drop in quality, episodes are still creative, entertaining, and filled with that same brand of humor that is trademark to the show.
Number 2. The Simpsons
This choice might ruffle some feathers, not everyone likes the Simpsons, especially the more recent seasons, but they certainly deserve this spot. A funny family that has represented America so well, given us so many classic lines, jokes, and gags that it is impossible to deny the impact it has had on comedy. Homer Simpson has become a household name, the characters are iconic and unique, yet confined to their general characteristics. Sure, the show has some dips in quality in the modern era, but there are still plenty of modern episodes that shine as bright as those before them. The Simpsons has done so much for TV and humor, and set the idea that having a highly educated group of writers really does a lot, even for a sillier show. It gave birth to the Adult Animation Genre and inspired so many shows as a result. If you ask people what their favorite episode or character is there could be such a variety of valid answers and not just due to the sheer quantity of the show, but the standard of quality so many of the episodes have been held to. Simply, if it wasn’t good, it would not have stayed on for over thirty years.
Number 1. Phineas and Ferb
This has everything a good cartoon needs. It might lack the immense popularity of some other shows but it is lacking no where else. It boasts an enormous variety of well written and catchy songs, with the obvious inclusion of the iconic theme. It has great characters, silly, sure, but great. There is so much smart adult humor, smart jokes, and hilarious moments that I don’t think there’s anyone who shouldn’t enjoy this show. Its easy for a kid to follow, fun and calm enough for a parent to enjoy and really shows its talented cast of voice actors and writers. This is simply a must watch.
As always, this lists are almost completely opinion, I tried to back that with some reasoning and logic, but this really is going to be different for everyone. Also, for my fellow Shaun the Sheep and Wallace and Gromit fans, I didn’t include any claymation, it feels like a separate category in my eyes. Please let me know what I got wrong, and what shows I missed all together!
