While I am not a huge fan of cartoons – adult or otherwise, I have seen most of the ones on this list and do have many fond memories of watching cartoons as a child. I hope this list will be a nice trip down memory lane for many of our readers!
Production Period: 1991-2004
Channel: Nickelodeon
Following the life of a group of toddlers, Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil, and Angelica, and later Dill this is the longest running series on Nickelodeon with 14 years, and has earned a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. It has spawned 2 different series, All Grown Up, and Angelica and Susie’s Pre-School Daze; and 3 movies, The Rugrats Movies, Rugrats in Paris, and Rugrats Go Wild.
Production Period: 1990-1992
Channel: Cartoon Network
Based in Acme Acres, the show takes place at Acme Looniversity a school where young cartoon characters (most of which resemble a classic Warner toon) are taught how to become funny by a faculty of the popular Loony Toones characters. The show lasted 98 episodes and created 2 spin-offs, The Plucky Duck Show and Pink, Elmyra, and the Brain.
Production Period: 1993-1997
Channel: MTV
First airing as a short film featured on Liquid Television, Beavis and Butt-head are a pair of teenagers who spend their days with sarcastic conversations, bad ideas, and (brutally) critiquing music videos. Beavis and Butt-head lasted 7 seasons and put out 1 movie. It is considered a classic piece of 90’s youth culture and the MTV Generation.
Production Period: 1993-1995
Channel: Kids WB
Starring the Warner siblings, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, the Animaniacs was a variety show style cartoon usually consisting of anywhere from 1 to 3 segments. Though the most notable are the Warner siblings, there was a wide variety of characters with each pair or set acting in its own plot.
Due to a large audience of adults, making up over 20% of the viewers, The Animaniacs led to one of the first Internet-based fandom cultures. The show lasted 99 episodes, put out the movie Wakko’s Big Wish, and spawned another successful cartoon Pinky and the Brain.
Production Period: 1991-1996, later 2003
Channel: Nickelodeon, later Spike TV
This series follows the duo of the neurotic asthma hound Chihuahua Ren, and simple minded Manx cat Stimpy as they get caught in nonsensical adventures. The show’s violence and scatological humor, along with slow production times, led original creator John Kricfalusi to be fired in 1992. Games Animation took over in 1993 with a “lighter, gut funny type of show” instead of “truly frightening” episodes. In 2003 Kricfalusi re-launched the series as Rend and Stimpy “Adult Party Cartoon” on Spike-TV. This new version explored more adult themes, including a more explicitly homosexual relationship between the two main characters, and produced only 3 of 9 promised episodes before being removed.
Production Period: 1993-1995
Channel: Cartoon Network
Set in Megakat City, Chance “T-Bone” Furlong and Jake “Razor” Clawson are members of a paramilitary law enforcement agency called the Enforcers, that due to objecting orders have been forced to guard a city salvage yard. Hiding their identity and using homemade vehicles so they don’t get in trouble with the Enforcers, they become vigilantes and protect the city. There were 2 seasons, airing 25 episodes. It was eventually cancelled with 3 unfinished episodes, due to its violence.
Production Period: 1991-1994, later 1996-1999
Channel: Nickelodeon, later ABC
“Doug” follows the journal entries of Doug Funnie, who writes about his daily misadventures with his dog Porkchop, best friend Skeeter, and the other characters from the town of Bluffington. After 4 seasons and 52 episodes on Nickelodeon, he show was bought in 1996 by Disney, and aired on ABC. Releasing it as “The Brand Spanking New! Doug”, and later “Disney’s Doug”, the show many noticeable changes, and was far less popular with old audiences. Disney produced 3 seasons, and 64 episodes. A movie was also spawned by Disney, entitled “Dougs First Movie”.
Production Period: 1996-2004
Channel: Nickelodeon
Arnold is a fourth-grader who lives with his Grandma and Granddad in a boarding house in the fiction city of Hillwood (which highly resembles New York). Arnold is often caught up in a predicament, or helping a school mate with a personal problem. Originally a comic started in 1986, a claymation episode got it picked up by Nickelodeon, where it was formed into cel-animation and had 5 seasons and 100 episodes. In 2003 they released a movie named “Hey Arnold!: The Movie”
Production Period: 1992-1997
Channel: Fox Kids
Staring the original early 90’s comic cast drawn my Jim Lee, the cartoons follows the same story line as the comics. Along with loosely reproducing famous story lines and plots of the original series, it also created episodes that dealt openly with mature social issues, though mostly in subtext. This is one of the longest lasting shows on Fox Kids running 5 seasons and 76 episodes, second only to Batman, and is also one of Americas most viewed and highest rated morning programs in history.
Production Period: 1993-1996
Channel: Nickelodeon
Following the wallaby Rocko, and his surreal life in the city of O-Town, the cartoon was laced with double entendres, sexual innuendo, and written by a guy who had little to no experience with cartoons or kids. The shows success mostly came from the fact that it was aimed at kids and their parents, and every story was “funny” and “strong”. The animation was very unique, with no parallel lines, hand painted backgrounds, odd colors, and oddly shaped anthropomorphic animal characters. The original writer and creator Joe Murray could no longer continue the constant work and handed the show off to someone else after the 3rd season, but still reviewed every episode. Even though Murray encouraged the show to continue, they stopped after the 4th season, with 52 episodes behind it.
Contributor: Trigun472
Finally someone else who appreciates the Swat Kats
That was my favourite cartoon for a long long time 
I disliked pretty much everything on Nickelodeon, so I’d have to say Swat Kats is the only cartoon on here I’d have to agree with you choosing. 
wow. rocko’s. . that was quite a show. i remember when rocko and fillburt were arguing, someone knocked on the door and they both yelled, “WHAT THE HEllo, misses bighead.” hahahaha! it was then and there when i started to look for “hidden meaning” (later known as double entendres and *****ual innuendo) in all shows. rocko’s and the animaniacs were full of ‘em. i love ‘em.
What the f….. Where’s the Simpsons? Where’s Family Guy? Where’s Ranma 1/2? I hate to be overly critical, but Rocko?! That ‘toon SUCKED! I’d rather watch Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Ren and Stimpy, Animaniacs, how I miss you.
Powdered Toast Man still holds a special place in my heart, and I often find myself singing, ‘Pinky and the Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain.’ Thanks for an awesome list.
Happyhappyjoyjoy,happyhappyhappyjoy….
Vera Lynn (105)
YES! Bullwinkle IS out on DVD! My favorite line is when the Sea Captain couldn’t see the ship following them like Bullwinkle did. The Sea Captain said, “It must be a figment of your imagination.” Bullwinkle angrily replied, “WHO’S a Fig Newton?!”
Of course, I love To Kill a Mockingbird. Boo Radley is one of my dogs’ names – the other is Scout Finch!
swat kats (which i’ve never heard of) but no Simpsons???
Rocko’s Modern Life was a great show when i was a kid i didnt get some of the jokes but i watched it on the internet and some of the jokes were ment for older people it was a great show
i see people putting all these shows that were either started in the 80s or after the 90s so relax just enjoy the list
ya heard me
Couldn’t help but have rugrats theme song running through my head as soon as I saw the picture. Anyone else? Great list, although there will always be debate about most popular shows i guess. Starting a conversation with “Do you remember *insert fav show name here*” always results in very animated (pun intended) discussion and debate about which shows were best. So many of my favs are on the list, although I never really got into Beavis & Butthead and Ren & Stimpy – a bit too weird/gross for my taste. I also loved watching Captain Planet and Pinky and the Brain. Narf zoik!
I didn’t realize that since the Simpsons had one episode in the *0′s it didn’t count as a 90′s cartoon. In that case since Family Guy started in the 90′s where is it.
By the way the Neilson Ratings for 90′s animated series are;
Simpsons 9.2
South Park 9.2
Family Guy 9.2
Futurama 9.2
X-Men 9.1
Sailor Moon 9.1
Superman 9.1
Rocko’s Modern Life 9.1
Courage the Cowardly Dog 9.1
Freakazoid 9.1
I have a lot of spare time at work.
I’ve never heard of swat kats myself…
other than the aforementioned the list is great. Other cartoons I recall are Recess, Ahh Real Monsters, Garfield, TMNT, Pokemon, Gumbi (although it probably doesn’t count as a cartoon), Arthur, Dragon Tales from PBS (taught me how to whistle). I’ve been a long time reader and this list actually reaally lured me in, enough to post a comment. :]
They should make a list of 90s shows with people in them haha (don’t know the technical term). Power Rangers, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Goosebumps, and zoom, definitely a list I would look forward to.
BooRadley (127) Yea! I will get Bullwinkle some time this week. It was so sophisticated, really.
South Park didn’t come on until the late 90′s. That and Family guy would be in the list for best cartoons of this decade. We need an 80′s list since most of us probably grew up in the 80′s.
Transformers…Voltron…anyone?
Thank you for not including DB and DBZ- what an utter piece of crap.
Hey, did anyone know that Mark Mothersbaugh wrote and performed the theme to Rugrats? Mark, by the way, is the lead singer of Devo.
Transformers and Voltron were 80s.
Oh, nevermind >.
I loved loved loved the Animaniacs, it was sooooo funny. There were some really creative and funny songs that were in the show that Yakko, Wakko and Dot would sing. Cracked me UP! And Tiny Toons was great too.
ive watched all of these and they are AMAZING! so many childhood memories…
that one rockos modern life when he imagines that his audience is naked….good times and how taboo for kid shows now!
it doesnt matter that the simpsons started in 1989…the title of the list isnt most popular 90′s cartoons that began in the 90s. the show ran throughout the entirety of the 90s, and its best episodes were right in the middle of the decade. if i said, the simpsons was one of the most popular cartoons of the 90s, would you stop me and say “no it wasn’t, it started in 89″? the fact that it began in 89 doesn’t stop it from being one of the most popular show, let alone most popular the most popular cartoon, of the 90s.
lack of Angry Beavers makes kitty sad =(
As much as I like Rocko’s Modern Life, it was far from the most popular cartoon of the 90s. Best, maybe.
But really, who actually remembers Swat Kats?
List needed:
Powerpuff Girl;
Dexter’s Lab;
Ahh! Real Monsters;
Pokemon (original of course. i would get up early to watch before school);
Recess;
Invader Zim;
Garfeild;
Dragon Ball Z;
Pepperann (way too cool for 7th grade)
I only saw one episode of Freakazoid, but that episode remains a forever love in my heart
Never heard of swatcats
Didn’t really watch X-men, Beavis, or tiny toons
Hated animaniacs with a passion. Dont know why
Nick’s Doug kicks Disney’s Doug’s arse
Anyone watch Cow and Chicken?
I Am Weasel? (You don’t need pants for the victory dance, cause I are better than weasel!)
LOVED all others (Rocko: Is that CHEESE you have there? Can I have some CHEESE?)
I find myself randomly singing songs from Hey Arnold
“We’re rats, we’re rats.
We’re furry and forlorn.
We live in sewers, love in sewers
And our hearts are torn.
We love, we cry.
We sing in harmony.
I love him, he loves her.
And darn it, he loves me.
We’re rats, rats, rats, rats, rats!”
^If anyone remembers that they will always have a special place in my heart
Also the log song from R&S:
“It rolls downstairs
Alone or in pairs
Rolls over your neighbors dog
It’s great for a snack
It fits on your back
It’s Log, Log, Log!
It’s Log, Log
It’s big, it’s heavy, it’s wood
It’s Log, Log
It’s better than bad, it’s good!”
(If you haven’t noticed, I have a strange retention for jingles and songs)
And one last, 90′s cartoon related tidbit: My cousin’s aunt and uncle’s names are Doug and Patty. And I find that quite humerous.
The End
Also “The Tick” and Bobby’s World
I love this list!!! esp the Nickelodeon cartoons,Rugrats,Doug and Hey Arnold! were some of my favorites.I think ‘As Told By Ginger’ should have an honourable mention.
I agree with the person who said they should make a 90′s rerun channel!
It was my birthday yesterday. (Sunday).
Makes me feel lots older though.
I was 16 and did lots of kids party games with my mates.
This list was a great present.
felinefevah (142) Invader Zim I had a friend who thought this was the funniest. I hadn’t thought about it in years. Thank you.
luv all the listed cartoons….
Angry Beavers? I miss Angry Beavers. /cry
I thought i was the only one who love hey arnold!! Criminey!
Thanks for clarifying cedestra…even though I had already clarified in my own post that I was talking about the 80′s. Might wanna read the entire comment first.
How about TMNT?
Or Celebrity Deathmatch, does that count as a cartoon?
This really was quite the trip down memory lane. felinefevah pointed out a lot that should’ve been included, though!
Being the perfect age at the time for mindless humor like Beavis & Butthead I remember literally rolling around on the floor with my brother, that crippling type of laughter. When Beavis got stuck in the pipe? Or when they started their own band and called it Metallica? Heheheh
This list makes me angry.
alright list, some i wouldnt even let my dog watch, but hey, its from someone else’s perspective, i thought “Pinky and The Brain” would atleast over ride The Rugrats, i would have included a couple that started in the 80′s running into the 90′s like “Thunder Cats” and the old school “Transformers” which had a little more imagination to it and correct me if i’m wrong, but i have a vague recolection that there was even early animations of Spiderman and Batman.
all the cartoons like Beavis and Butt-head, Ren and Stimpy, and Animaniacs will always be classics in my mind with the X-Men not far behind.
oh, and how could you forget Itchy and Scratchy, the Simpsons may not be on the list, but thats how i learnt to disimbowel and skin a cat.
:’D WOW WOW WOW!!!!!! I loved my childhood!!! Thank you for reminding me about how great things were when I was growing up!! The 90′s were definitely the best time for kids to grow up!! Especially down here in South Africa!!
I used to adore the animaniacs and tiny toons!!! And I forgot that Swat Kats even existed!!!
Superb list!!
BooRadley: I went to Best Buy today and they didn’t have it. I had to order it (Bullwinkle). I could not believe it. So I guess I’ll have to wait. Such is life!
Rockos Modern Life? The best cartoon of the 90s? Where are you from?
South Park anyone??
Although vulgar and controversial, a cartoon nonetheless.
can’t believe rugrats was last! that came out when i was 4 and ran till i was 18!!! its possible that show is just monumentally epic in my own microcosm. but dang, that’s a long time. and everyone loved it.
tiny toon adventures was a poor man’s rugrats. pshaw.
sponge bob is the bomb and anyone who says anything differently is a terrorist
but rocco’s modern life being #1? seriously? i mean it was a great show but by no means deserves #1… #15 at best.
where’s teenage mutant ninja turtles?
NEVER heard of swat… what was it? kats? i have no idea.
nickelodeon back in the golden years… am i the only 20 something here who misses nickelodeon? (i’m talking about welcome freshmen, salute your shorts, all that, stick stickley, aah! real monsters, angry beavers, are you afraid of the dark, legends of the hidden temple, pete & pete, clarissa, alex mack, you know??? oh the list goes on and on, there’s a facebook group called “bring back my 90′s nickelodeon” with all the shows and it has almost 300,000 members in it).
sorry for the diatribe, all. feel much better. but this list blows hardcore.
*very* disappointed.
I liked Samurai Pizza Cats.
One night in paris was pretty amusing
Nice list although to Nickelodeon based,and no doubt The Simpson’s should have been no.1 or at least on the least,thats a shame.
Just wanted to point out that Ren & Stimpy was actually created prior to 1990 by John K. I remember my junior/senior year of high school my friends watching skits. I assume it was part of another show like the Simpsons were on the Tracy Ullman show. I don’t know what network it ran on or show it was a part of, but it didn’t gain popularity until it hit Nick.
O em gee. [Sorry I had to put that. Sucks] I totally love Rugrats! It was my favorite since I was little. I also loved Doug, although I forgotten abou that, and Hey Arnold.
Last year I was in love with Beavis and Butthead. I Dunno Why They Were Giving It On MTV last year. But I really fell head over heels in love with the show. It was so stupid that it was funny! BEVIS AND BUTTHEAD RULES! C:
WHAT? No Spongebob?
Freakazoid and Pienkie and the Brain.
It’s log it’s log it’s big it’s heavy it’s wood. It’s log it’s log it’s better than bad it’s good!
I would have bought every single psuedo product they had on Ren and Stimpy, had I been older than 9.
Just in case no one has said anything yet… the picture used for X-Men is too new. Those characters feature a newer drawing style and look than the actual series used.
The 90s had nothing on the 70s. Talk about psychodelic and original. Wild crazy stuff. More thought provoking and intelligent.
Do a list on that. The 70s cartoons. Unless been done already and I missed it.
We’re tiny, we’re toony,
we’re all a little loony.
and in this cartoony we’re invading your tv.
We’re comic dispensers,
we crack up all the censors…..
(I better just stop there.)
Rocko’s Modern Life, classic, and Rugrats…Good times.
Captain Planet, catdog and pinky and the brain I also remember fondly.
But nothing beats The Simpsons during the 90s! Really bad nowadays.
These young’uns are missing out badly.
Awww, no Darkwing Duck?
DangermouseDavs – totally forgot about DW, Darkwing was awesome when i was a kid
Chip and Dale “The Rescue Rangers”
i can still hear the theme song “ch, ch, ch, chip and dale recue rangers”
now its stuck in my head.
no pokémon???? that was the one cartoon I watched religiously everytime it was on. I still know the theme song of by heart, all these years later.
oh please someone tell me y inspector gadget, VR Troopers, Beetleborgs,
SWAT Kats had the raddest intro of any show ever
sailor moon? moonlight knight
dudes Invader Zim should’ve totally been on here.
a man doug was the *****