The Best Nickelodeon Cartoons of All Time
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Nickelodeon cartoons are some of the best on cable and have made Nickelodeon the go-to source of basic cable children's entertainment. While Nickelodeon was known for its live action shows in the 80s and early 90s, it started to shift its programming focus over to cartoons. They even created their own cartoon company called, "Nicktoons." So, whether you like the old Nickelodeon shows are you're into their newer hits, you'll find all the best cartoons right here.
"Nicktoons" introduced the world to such famous Nickelodeon cartoons as Rugrats, Ahhhhh Real Monsters, Doug, and much more. It wasn't until 2000 that Nickelodeon really started to pick up steam with their massive hit, Spongebob Squarepants. Spongebob was so popular it became synonymous with cartoons in general. In addition to Spongebob there are many of other memorable Nickelodeon cartoon characters from these Nick cartoons.
Since then Nickelodeon has made cartoon hits as well as some off-kilter toons like The Fairly Odd Parents, Invader Zim, and Ren and Stimpy. Nick is also the creator of some cutting edge programming like Avatar: The Last Airbender and its current follow up, Avatar: Legend of Korra.
Nickelodeon might not make the live action shows that some of us grew up loving anymore, but they certainly have made up for it by producing some of the best cartoons around. Vote for your favorite old and new Nickelodeon cartoons here on this Nickelodeon shows list! And if you loved these toons, check out our list of the best Nickelodeon movies.
- 1Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass
- Premiered: May 1, 1999
A porous, pineapple-dwelling sea creature with an infectious laugh and unyielding optimism captured the imagination of viewers worldwide. Alongside a colorful cast of underwater pals, including a grouchy squid neighbor and money-obsessed crustacean boss, this iconic show has made waves in popular culture since it first aired, with countless memes and quotable moments ingrained in our collective consciousness.
- 2Lane Toran, Jamil Walker Smith, Francesca Smith
- Premiered: October 7, 1996
Taking viewers on a nostalgia trip back to a simpler time, this coming-of-age cartoon features a football-headed protagonist navigating the urban jungle alongside his ragtag bunch of friends. From life lessons learned in the streets of Hillwood City to humorous misunderstandings and misadventures, this show became an instant classic, leaving its mark on the hearts and minds of '90s kids.
- 3E.G. Daily, Christine Cavanaugh, Kath Soucie
- Premiered: August 11, 1991
Crawling straight into our hearts from the playpen, this lovable group of diaper-clad adventurers took us on imaginative journeys through the eyes of babies. With unforgettable characters like Chuckie Finster's wild red hair or Angelica Pickles' devious antics, these pint-sized protagonists showed us that sometimes the smallest among us can have the greatest impact.
- 4Susan Blakeslee, Daran Norris, Tara Strong
- Premiered: March 30, 2001
Mischievous magic was abound for an unlucky-in-everything young lad who found solace in his newfound fairy godparents. With their wacky spells and hilarious mishaps constantly turning reality upside down, this enchanting show kept viewers hooked as they laughed at (and occasionally empathized with) every fiasco brought to life by these well-intentioned yet bumbling magical beings.
- 5Billy West, Becca Lish, Doug Preis
- Premiered: August 11, 1991
Diving headfirst into adolescent awkwardness while sporting a green vest and khaki shorts was a lovable teenage artist whose wholesome adventures were set against the backdrop of Bluffington. Armed with his trusty journal and accompanied by his loyal dog Porkchop, this relatable protagonist taught us valuable lessons about friendship, self-discovery, and growing pains.
- 6Carlos Alazraqui, Tom Kenny, Charlie Adler
- Premiered: September 18, 1993
An anthropomorphic Australian wallaby navigated suburban living in a fast-paced, strange world full of humor and satire. With an endearing cast of quirky friends and neighbors, this cult classic provided biting commentary on modern life through bizarre adventures and slapstick comedy that kept viewers entertained and occasionally scratching their heads.
