Animation ManiaLists about films and TV shows told by the visuals-intensive medium that allows storytellers to weave fantastical legends told by unforgettable characters.
Updated April 21, 2020 22.0K votes 4.2K voters 94.7K views
Over 4.2K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of 14 Masterpiece Cartoons That Never Got the Recognition They Deserved
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Vote up the animated shows that are secretly classics.
Hundreds of cartoons have blared over childhood TV sets and filled the hours of entertainment-seeking adults. And while there's plenty of praise for long-running, award-winning shows like The Simpsons, Batman: The Animated Series, and Futurama, there are a handful of underrated cartoons that entertained, inspired, and get overlooked. You smile when you hear cartoon titles like Invader Zim, Gargoyles, or Mission Hill, but they probably wouldn't be the first shows that pop into your head.
Why is that? Sometimes they're cartoons canceled too soon. Other times these cult favorites were aired in a weird time slot, or were simply too niche to appeal to a large audience. Or maybe they were just the victims of bad luck - in a TV landscape stuffed with must-watch shows, these cartoons could have been overshadowed.
Refresh your memory and enjoy the nostalgia offered by this list of cartoons that didn't get the recognition they deserved.
The critically lauded Gargoyles featured a compelling story and a serious tone that was missing from many cartoons. The series followed a group of medieval gargoyles who defend modern-day New York City from ancient evils. Despite its loyal fanbase, the show didn't make record ratings for Disney and seemed out of place in its otherwise upbeat cartoon line-up. Gargoyles was canceled after three seasons, though it continues to crop up in comic book form.
The Nicktoons of the 1990s offered a lot of entertainment for kids in the form of Rugrats, Ren & Stimpy, and Doug, but Rocko's Modern Life was often overlooked. The slice-of-life adventures of the wallaby Rocko and his gluttonous buddy Heffer featured surreal animation, offbeat hilarity, and even snuck some dirty jokes past the censors.
This parody of superheroes and their day-to-day lives was cult favorite on Fox Kids. The nigh-invulnerable Tick's goofy crime fighting adventures made fans scream out "SPOON!" in victory. After the cartoon was canceled, it would inspire not one, but two attempts at a live action version.
This 1994 oddity might have inspired the creation of the entire Adult Swim brand. Space Ghost: Coast to Coast featured a little-known superhero from the 1960s, and repurposed his bygone show's animation to create a bizarre talk show. Space Ghost's show, featuring his band leader Zorak and director Moltar, aired sporadically on Cartoon Network - new episodes appeared months or even years apart. Guest stars included Björk, Jim Carrey, and Conan O'Brien.
Despite being on for 10 seasons, the show was considered niche and out of place among the mostly kid-friendly programming Cartoon Network was showcasing at the time. However, it inspired the network to pursue more grown-up animated shows and even develop a late-night block that would become Adult Swim.
Ever rooted for a villainous alien to take over the world? If you watched Invader Zim, you most certainly did. Equal parts hilarious and disturbing, Zim's quest to conquer Earth alongside his trusty-yet-malfunctioning robot GIR received critical acclaim and won an Emmy, an Annie, and other awards for its writing and stylistic look. However, the show's ratings made Nickelodeon pull the plug on this cult hit.
A cult favorite cartoon from the Kids' WB programming block, Freakazoid featured comedic superhero antics and goofy parody. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by other WB shows such as Animaniacs and Pinky & The Brain. The show would only last two seasons, but has been fondly remembered by those that appreciated the show's random references, off-beat humor, and its questions about the movie Congo.
