All too often, cartoons are seen as silly kids stuff. This was especially true in the '90s. People simply didn't believe animated works could be as compelling as live action ones. That's why it's so noteworthy when artists put so much effort into this format.
Several shows from this era have miraculously found fresh esteem from audiences looking back. Sadly, many more have fallen into relative obscurity. It's not that they're devoid of merit; in fact, this is the era in which more and more writers attempted serious storytelling accessible to all ages. These shows simply failed to leave a lasting cultural impact. To lose sight of such enjoyable adventures would be a real shame, so curious viewers owe it to themselves and the animation medium to give these gems a shot.
9 Godzilla: The Series
The 1998 Godzilla film was meant to start a new branch of the kaiju franchise in the West. Sadly, the filmmakers made several changes to the atomic lizard which left fans cold. What many didn't expect was the animated spin-off making up for the movie's shortcomings.
Godzilla: The Series sports a perfect combination of creative inspiration and love for the monster's legacy. The smarter writing gives its engaging characters more agency, a tough feat in any creature feature. Additionally, it makes better use of Godzilla's abilities in the 1998 film — such as tunneling — while restoring the power of his Japanese counterpart. It even brings back his atomic breath. Each episode comes with a unique foe for Godzilla to fight, and the animated format allows more freedom in how these bouts play out. These improvements make the series a must for any kaiju fan.
8 The Magic School Bus
It's tough to educate kids without boring them to tears. When they sit down in front of a TV, they don't want a lecture; they just want to rot their brains. The '90s saw a few successes in educational shows, such as Between The Lions and Blue's Clues, but none had the energy of The Magic School Bus. It may be fading with time, but it lives on in the hearts of many '90s kids.
The premise is fantastic: a transforming bus capable of going anywhere from the atomic level to the vast reaches of space. As a result, viewers never know what each episode will bring. It's all carried by the charm of Ms. Frizzle, who delivers factoids with endlessly entertaining enthusiasm. Sure, it's cheesy, but her attitude and charisma make it infectious more often than not. If only all field trips were this fun...
7 Batman Beyond
Even trickier than education is passing the mantle of a well-established icon, especially one as big as Batman. Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and the folks at Warner Bros. Animation attempted such a crazy stunt in 1999. What's crazier is that it actually worked.
Set in a neo-noir future, Batman Beyond follows a teenaged Dark Knight under the mentorship of Old Man Bruce Wayne. Together, they resume the good fight as the scum of Gotham City try to seize control in the hero's absence. The show sports the same strong writing as previous shows Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series. The difference is that it deals more with issues relating to youth, such as drugs, peer pressure, parental prolems, and body alterations. This distinguishes it among Batman shows and even other superhero tales. Few focus this extensively on such subject matter, and the ones that do rarely go this dark.
6 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
When a franchise is around long enough, a spin-off inevitably comes along showcasing younger versions of the characters. The creators of this show took that as a chance to shake things up. That's not to say the formula is unfamiliar.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo still revolves around a gang of quirky kids who solve mysteries with their talking dog. However, the members of Mystery, Inc. are more vibrant and defined. Their biting attitude goes hand-in-hand with the expressive animation: a squash-and-stretch style that the franchise hadn't seen before. Further separating the show is its self-awareness. The gang's precociousness lets them poke fun at the franchise's familiar conventions, the best example being a running joke with a bully literally named Red Herring. Other Scooby-Doo stories have toyed with this tongue-in-cheek humor, but none have done it with such devotion or finesse.
5 Men In Black: The Series
This comes from the same guys as Godzilla. Viewers can tell by the general look, and it benefits from the same consistent creativity in creature design. A movie can only fit so many wacky aliens in its run time; the Men in Black show doesn't have that problem. It can introduce a new one in practically every episode.
The creators also use this chance to show more of this world and the characters in it. What were they like before they joined the MIB? How does that affect them now? These questions go beyond Agents K and J, as viewers also follow the journeys of their peers and coworkers. Even the dog and the spindly worm things get time to shine. Most impressively, this expansion doesn't water the series down. On the contrary, the writing maintains the dry wit and gross-out gags. These factors make Men in Black: The Series arguably more inspired than the myriad movie sequels.
4 The Critic
Given the unflattering aesthetic, viewers might expect this show to take shots at film criticism. After all, Siskel & Ebert were incredibly popular at the time and received their share of ire from filmmakers. That said, The Critic goes in the completely opposite direction.
Instead, it takes jabs at the entertainment industry. The flightiness, pettiness, and all-around shallowness of celebrity culture are fair game. They try to hide these flaws behind glitz and glamour, but the sleeze sometimes slips through the showmanship. Contrasting that presentation with the despicable nature of Tinseltown is hilarious, and The Critic captures it beautifully. The series never misses a beat in its relentless assault.
3 Peter Pan And The Pirates
Peter Pan has seen countless adaptations, spawning stage productions and films throughout the decades. Although audiences may be familiar with these, the property lends itself unexpectedly well to a weekly adventure format.
Neverland is a sprawling locale with all sorts of nooks, crannies, climates, and culture, enough to support dozens of swashbuckling escapades from episode to episode. On top of that, the breadth of the show and its setting lets the writers go deeper with the themes and characters. Tied into the enduring nature of Neverland, the island's inhabitants ponder their aspirations (or lack thereof) in greater detail than ever before. This even extends to minor members of Hook's crew and the Lost Boys. Such development deserves commendation, especially given how safe most renditions of Peter Pan play it.
2 Gargoyles
Disney's shows are often lighthearted, corny, and cartoonish. Even their adventure series like DuckTales never take themselves too seriously. This makes Gargoyles a true standout in their TV catelogue. The tale portrays the winged creatures stranded in modern New York. Don't let that cliched premise fool you, though. Rather than using it purely for "fish out of water" humor, the writers mine palpable drama from this premise through dramatic, serialized storytelling.
These medieval characters must acclimate to their new home and come to terms with their past failures. Only then can they stop new threats that emerge due to their presence. Potent narrative threads like this are more reminiscent of an operatic epic than a Saturday morning cartoon. The mature pathos holds firm for the entire show, respecting children enough to know they'll do the same.
1 Tiny Toon Adventures
Another example of the "younger version" trend seen in A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, this show is also another success. Tiny Toon Adventures follows junior renditions of the Looney Tunes as they learn from the original characters. Oddly enough, though, that's not solely where the success lies. Rather, it stems from its creatives.
The show was crafted by many of the same people as Animaniacs, making this a precursor in several respects. Viewers enjoy the same quick-witted self-assurance as the characters satirize pop culture. They're simply doing it with the added slapstick sensibilities of the Looney Tunes.