My favorite cartoons of the '80s and '90s
by CorleoneWarrior88 | created - 18 Mar 2015 | updated - 27 Jul 2015 | PublicHere is my list of the best cartoons of the '80s and '90s in my opinion. Ones I also loved as a kid.
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1. The Simpsons (1989– )
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.
Stars: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner
Votes: 435,361
2. Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995)
TV-PG | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Dark Knight battles crime in Gotham City with occasional help from Robin and Batgirl.
Stars: Kevin Conroy, Loren Lester, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings
Votes: 116,783
3. Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985–1991)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
A group of reclusive humanoid bears and a few trusted humans explore their lost heritage and prevent their enemies from exploiting it.
Stars: June Foray, Noelle North, Lorenzo Music, Katie Leigh
Votes: 11,880
4. Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999–2002)
TV-Y7 | 11 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The offbeat adventures of Courage, a cowardly dog who must overcome his own fears to heroically defend his unknowing farmer owners from all kinds of dangers, paranormal events and menaces that appear around their land.
Stars: Marty Grabstein, Thea White, Peter Fernandez, Simon Prebble
Votes: 50,865
5. Rocko's Modern Life (1993–1996)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The wacky misadventures of an Australian wallaby and his friends as he finishes his transition to American life.
Stars: Carlos Alazraqui, Tom Kenny, Charlie Adler, Mr. Lawrence
Votes: 21,584
6. Animaniacs (1993–1998)
TV-Y7 | 21 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The zany adventures of a trio of 1930s animated characters in the modern world.
Stars: Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, Tress MacNeille, Frank Welker
Votes: 25,817
7. Tiny Toon Adventures (1990–1995)
TV-G | 21 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The wacky adventures of the new young hip generation of Warner Brothers Looney Tunes characters, most of them descendants of the original classic toon cast.
Stars: Charlie Adler, John Kassir, Tress MacNeille, Joe Alaskey
Votes: 14,227
8. X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A team of mutant superheroes fight for justice and human acceptance in the Marvel Comics universe.
Stars: Cedric Smith, Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza
Votes: 48,654
9. Rugrats (1991–2003)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Phil and Lil and Susie find themselves in a slew of adventures - both real and imaginary. Baldly go where no baby's every gone before as the Rugrats turn the ordinary into the extraordinary every day.
Stars: Elizabeth Daily, Christine Cavanaugh, Nancy Cartwright, Kath Soucie
Votes: 38,448
10. The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988–1991)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Follow Winnie the Pooh's adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood.
Stars: John Fiedler, Jim Cummings, Ken Sansom, Paul Winchell
Votes: 4,776
11. Dexter's Laboratory (1996–2003)
TV-G | 23 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The misadventures of a boy genius and his annoying sister.
Stars: Kath Soucie, Jeff Bennett, Christine Cavanaugh, Tom Kenny
Votes: 53,693
12. DuckTales (1987–1990)
TV-G | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Huey, Dewey, and Louie are in for an epic surprise when they meet their wealthy but reclusive uncle, Scrooge McDuck. The family embark on globe-trotting adventures and treasure hunts, uncover family secrets, and face dangerous enemies.
Stars: Alan Young, Russi Taylor, Terence McGovern, Chuck McCann
Votes: 34,947
13. Pinky and the Brain (1995–1998)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Pinky and Brain are genetically enhanced laboratory mice who reside in the research facility. Brain is self-centered and scheming; Pinky is good-natured but feeble-minded. In each episode, Brain devises a new plan to take over the world.
Stars: Maurice LaMarche, Rob Paulsen, Tress MacNeille, Frank Welker
Votes: 32,828
14. Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994–1998)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A young man with spider-like abilities fights crime as a superhero in New York City while trying to have a normal personal life.
Stars: Christopher Daniel Barnes, Sara Ballantine, Edward Asner, Roscoe Lee Browne
Votes: 35,340
15. Gargoyles (1994–1997)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A clan of heroic night creatures pledge to protect modern New York City as they did in Scotland one thousand years earlier.
Stars: Keith David, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Jeff Bennett, Thom Adcox-Hernandez
Votes: 18,520
16. Daria (1997–2002)
TV-PG | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A smart and cynical girl goes through teenage life as a proud outsider in a world of mainly idiotic adolescents and condescending adults.
Stars: Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, Julian Rebolledo, John Lynn
Votes: 27,205
17. Darkwing Duck (1991–1992)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Short, Action
A bumbling superhero battles crime with the help of his daughter and pilot sidekick.
Stars: Jim Cummings, Terence McGovern, Christine Cavanaugh, Katie Leigh
Votes: 17,663
18. The Critic (1994–2001)
TV-14 | 522 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Jay Sherman is a New York film critic who has to review films he doesn't like for a living.
Stars: Jon Lovitz, Nick Jameson, Maurice LaMarche, Nancy Cartwright
Votes: 9,079
19. Beavis and Butt-Head (1993–2011)
TV-14 | 15 min | Animation, Comedy, Music
Animated MTV series about two teenage heavy-metal music fans who occasionally do idiotic things because they're bored. For them, everything is "cool" or "sucks."
Stars: Mike Judge, Kristofor Brown, Dale Revo, Tracy Grandstaff
Votes: 34,216
20. The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991–1996)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Ren, a psychotic Chihuahua, and Stimpson J. Cat, a dimwitted Manx cat who goes by the nickname Stimpy, have a host of unusual adventures.
Stars: John Kricfalusi, Billy West, Harris Peet, Bob Camp
Votes: 24,628
21. Beast Wars: Transformers (1996–1999)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Transformers' war continues in an older time, through a new generation. On pliocenic Earth, the heroic Maximals and the evil Predacons battle for survival against each other and against a violent planet.
Stars: Scott McNeil, Garry Chalk, Ian James Corlett, Richard Newman
Votes: 8,626
22. Aladdin (1994–1995)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Aladdin, the clever hero of Agrabah, continues his adventures with the help of his fiancee Princess Jasmine, his pet monkey Abu, Magic Carpet, Iago the greedy parrot, and of course his best friend the semi-cosmic Genie.
Stars: Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Dan Castellaneta, Frank Welker
Votes: 12,939
23. The Transformers (1984–1987)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Two opposing factions of transforming alien robots engage in a battle that has the fate of Earth in the balance.
Stars: Frank Welker, Peter Cullen, Corey Burton, Christopher Collins
Votes: 23,515
24. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987–1996)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The pizza-loving, shell-busting mutant turtles Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, with the guidance of their Sensei Master Splinter, face fierce enemies, save humanity from extinction and battle against life-altering mutations.
Stars: Cam Clarke, Barry Gordon, Rob Paulsen, Townsend Coleman
Votes: 37,712
25. Recess (1997–2001)
TV-Y | 23 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Comic tales of a group of good friends, four boys and two girls, during breaks in primary school, as they grow up, relate to each other, and have brushes with authority.
Stars: Andrew Lawrence, Ashley Johnson, Jason Davis, Rickey D'Shon Collins
Votes: 28,116
26. The Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
The continuing adventures of the staff of the ghost removal service.
Stars: Maurice LaMarche, Dave Coulier, Frank Welker, Arsenio Hall
Votes: 10,996
27. G.I. Joe (1985–1986)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
An elite special missions force fights against the terrorist forces of Cobra.
Stars: Jackson Beck, Christopher Collins, Michael Bell, Neil Ross
Votes: 5,631
28. The Mask (1995–1997)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A man finds a mystical mask that allows the wearer to make all sorts of unusual things happen.
Stars: Rob Paulsen, Frank Welker, Jim Cummings, Neil Ross
Votes: 13,244
29. The Powerpuff Girls (1998–2004)
TV-Y7-FV | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Three super-powered little girls constantly save the world (or at least the city of Townsville) from monsters, would-be conquerers and a few other gross things.
Stars: Cathy Cavadini, Elizabeth Daily, Tara Strong, Tom Kenny
Votes: 47,823
30. Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (1989–1990)
TV-Y | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Chip and Dale are chipmunks that start a detective agency, Rescue Rangers, with their friends. The gang deals with crimes that are 'too small' for the police to manage.
Stars: Tress MacNeille, Corey Burton, Jim Cummings, Peter Cullen
Votes: 21,490
31. Muppet Babies (1984–1991)
TV-Y | 25 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The Muppets, as babies, have adventures with their imaginations inside their nursery.
Stars: Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Laurie O'Brien, Russi Taylor
Votes: 5,593
32. Bobby's World (1990–1998)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A boy named Bobby Generic creates adventures using his overactive imagination.
Stars: Howie Mandel, Gail Matthius, Tino Insana, Charity James
Votes: 4,896
33. Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999–2008)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The off-the-wall, day-to-day life of three friends who have exactly the same name.
Stars: Matt Hill, Sam Vincent, Tony Sampson, Erin Fitzgerald
Votes: 40,929
34. The Little Mermaid (1992–1994)
TV-Y | 25 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The 1989 animated feature adapted by Disney for television in a prequel that leads up to the events of the movie.
Stars: Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Edan Gross, Kenneth Mars
Votes: 6,088
35. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983–1985)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The most powerful man in the universe, He-Man, goes against the evil forces of Skeletor to save the planet Eternia and to protect the secrets of Castle Grayskull.
Stars: John Erwin, Alan Oppenheimer, Linda Gary, Lou Scheimer
Votes: 20,012
36. TaleSpin (1990–1991)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Baloo the Bear from The Jungle Book (1967) is cast as a 1930s Pacific Islands bush pilot.
Stars: Ed Gilbert, R.J. Williams, Sally Struthers, Jim Cummings
Votes: 15,931
37. Doug (1991–1994)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
The life of a young boy as he meets friends, falls in love, maneuvers his way through grade 6 and writes all about it in his journal.
Stars: Billy West, Fred Newman, Constance Shulman, Doug Preis
Votes: 20,036
38. The Tick (1994–1997)
TV-PG | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
An invulnerable, somewhat dim, superhero protects The City from all manner of evil-doers.
Stars: Townsend Coleman, Micky Dolenz, Rob Paulsen, Cam Clarke
Votes: 10,156
39. Pokémon (1997–2023)
TV-Y7 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Covering the continuing adventures of series protagonist Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, and his best friend Brock, the two meet a new coordinator named Dawn, who travels with them through Sinnoh and enters Pokemon Contests.
Stars: Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart, Ikue Ôtani
Votes: 47,787
40. Beetlejuice (1989–1991)
TV-Y | 22 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Adventures of the ghostly con-artist and his 12-year-old pal, Lydia.
Stars: Stephen Ouimette, Alyson Court, Tabitha St. Germain, Elizabeth Hanna
Votes: 7,944
41. Bonkers (1993–1994)
TV-Y | 27 min | Animation, Short, Action
Bonkers, an out of work cartoon, joins the Hollywood PD and helps his partners (first a doughnut munching stressbomb, then a beautiful blonde) catch cartoon criminals.
Stars: Jim Cummings, Earl Boen, Frank Welker, Jeff Bennett
Votes: 1,695
42. Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990–1996)
TV-Y7 | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A quintet of teenagers work together to encourage environmentally responsible behavior and can summon a superhero to deal with ecological disasters.
Stars: David Coburn, Joey Dedio, Kath Soucie, LeVar Burton
Votes: 12,594
43. ReBoot (1994–2001)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In the inner computer world of Mainframe, a guardian program sprite and his friends defend the system from threats from viruses and the User.
Stars: Michael Donovan, Kathleen Barr, Garry Chalk, Shirley Milliner
Votes: 5,785
44. Count Duckula (1988–1993)
TV-Y | 22 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a vegetarian vampire duck and his servants.
Stars: Barry Clayton, Jack May, Brian Trueman, David Jason
Votes: 4,228
45. 2 Stupid Dogs (1993–1995)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
A not-too-bright canine duo get into all sorts of mischief and trouble.
Stars: Brad Garrett, Mark Schiff, Jess Harnell, Jim Cummings
Votes: 4,589
46. Hurricanes (1993–1997)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Traveling soccer team that encounters new Teams and hurdles at each stop!
Stars: Chris Humphreys, Andrew Airlie, Michael Benyaer, Jay Brazeau
Votes: 193
47. Thundercats (1985–1989)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A team of humanoid cats fight evil in their adopted home world.
Stars: Bob McFadden, Larry Kenney, Earl Hammond, Lynne Lipton
Votes: 19,024
48. Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man (1994–1997)
TV-PG | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A crass, womanizing duck works as a private eye with his level-headed pig sidekick, all the while raising a family as a single dad.
Stars: Jason Alexander, Gregg Berger, Nancy Travis, Dweezil Zappa
Votes: 6,655
49. Freakazoid! (1995–1997)
TV-G | 30 min | Animation, Short, Action
Washington, D.C. has a new defender: Freakazoid. The comedy and insanity never stop when he's around, and he's only one of the weird heroes of the series. It's better than a nice tub of good things.
Stars: Paul Rugg, David Kaufman, Joe Leahy, Tress MacNeille
Votes: 8,551
50. Jem (1985–1988)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
Jerrica Benton is secretly the leader of the glamorous and exciting music group, Jem and the Holograms.
Stars: Samantha Newark, Patricia Alice Albrecht, Cathianne Blore, Cindy McGee
Votes: 3,052
51. Inspector Gadget (1983–2023)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Outfitted with high-tech gizmos, a bumbling inspector clashes with the fiendish Dr Claw. Although his enthusiasm for the law never fails, Gadget's gadgets often do. Luckily, Gadget is backed by his clever niece Penny and her faithful dog.
Stars: Don Adams, Holly Berger, Frank Welker, Luc Durand
Votes: 23,281
52. The Smurfs (1981–1989)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The Smurfs are tiny blue creatures that live in mushroom houses in a peaceful forest. They repeatedly try to outwit Gargamel, an evil sorcerer, his apprentice, Scruple, and his mangy cat, Azrael.
Stars: Don Messick, Danny Goldman, Lucille Bliss, Michael Bell
Votes: 20,992
53. The Magic School Bus (1994–1997)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
An eccentric teacher takes her class on wondrous educational field trips with the help of a magic school bus.
Stars: Lily Tomlin, Daniel DeSanto, Lisa Jai, Tara Meyer
Votes: 11,170
54. Timon & Pumbaa (1995–1999)
TV-Y | 22 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The further misadventures of the lovable warthog Pumbaa and his meerkat buddy Timon from The Lion King (1994).
Stars: Ernie Sabella, Kevin Schon, Jim Cummings, Jeff Bennett
Votes: 11,120
55. Arthur (1996–2022)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Based on the books by Marc Brown, these are the adventures of Arthur, an 8-year-old aardvark, and his family and friends as they grow up and learn how to be good neighbors to one another.
Stars: Daniel Brochu, J.T. Turner, Jodie Resther, Bruce Dinsmore
Votes: 15,891
56. Goof Troop (1992–1993)
TV-Y | 22 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The classic Disney character Goofy is a single father raising his son, Max, in Spoonerville. Pete, a frequent antagonist from the old cartoons, lives next door with his family.
Stars: Rob Paulsen, April Winchell, Jim Cummings, Bill Farmer
Votes: 9,310
57. Johnny Bravo (1997–2004)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The misadventures of a dumb blond egomaniac who severely overestimates his own manliness and his supposed "success" with women.
Stars: Jeff Bennett, Brenda Vaccaro, Mae Whitman, Tom Kenny
Votes: 39,258
58. Hey Arnold! (1996–2004)
TV-Y7 | 15 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The everyday life of Arnold, a fourth-grader in a nameless city that resembles Brooklyn, New York, who lives in a multi-racial boarding house with his grandparents and a motley assortment of friends and neighbors.
Stars: Francesca Marie Smith, Jamil Walker Smith, Dan Castellaneta, Justin Shenkarow
Votes: 36,546
59. Cow and Chicken (1997–1999)
TV-PG | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The program focuses on the misadventures of two unlikely yet somehow biological siblings: Cow and Chicken.
Stars: Charlie Adler, Candi Milo, Dee Bradley Baker, Michael Dorn
Votes: 21,679
60. Pepper Ann (1997–2000)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The quirky adventures of a 12-year-old girl trying to get through life with her family and friends.
Stars: Kathleen Wilhoite, Danny Cooksey, April Winchell, Clea Lewis
Votes: 4,048
61. Marsupilami (1993)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The often off the wall, nonsensical antics of an animated creature with an enormously long tail and his life in the jungle.
Stars: Jim Cummings, Steve Mackall, Samuel E. Wright, Jason Marsden
Votes: 1,460
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