These 10 Best Cartoons From the ’90s Take Us Back

The best ’90s cartoons are worth rewatching over and over again — because they weren't just for kids.

Picture this: Legos and Hot Wheels strewn across the shag carpet. The smell of Eggo waffles is thick in the air. It’s a Saturday morning in 1998, and ’90s cartoons are on the menu.

The ’90s were the golden age of cartoons, and many of them have aged well. These 10 cartoons were the best of their time, so snuggle up for a healthy dose of nostalgia. If you listen closely, you can almost hear your mom yelling at you for sitting too close to the screen.

10. The Ren & Stimpy Show

Nickelodeon / YouTube

First episode date: Aug. 11, 1991

No. of seasons: 5

No. of episodes: 52

Network: Nickelodeon

Bottom line: We’re not going to lie: We have no idea how Nickelodeon aired this show as a children’s cartoon. The writers snuck adult humor in left and right, including some shockingly dark humor. Back when we were kids, all of that flew right over our heads.

We just loved the antics of the nutty Chihuahua, Ren, and his pal Stimpy, a Manx cat with the intelligence of a pebble. Looking back, we’re surprised we were allowed to watch it.

9. Recess

Disney / YouTube

First episode date: Aug. 31, 1997

No. of seasons: 6

No. of episodes: 128

Network: Disney

Bottom line: The best ’90s shows captured what it was really like being a kid. “Recess” did just that, taking us through the familiar trials and tribulations of six fourth-graders on the playground. If you’ve forgotten how intense the drama out there can get, watch this cartoon.

The characters each portray a particular schoolyard stereotype, from jocks and nerds to rebels. Whichever one you relate to, “Recess” will definitely bring back a memory or two.

8. Dexter’s Laboratory

Cartoon Network / YouTube

First episode date: March 24, 1996

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 78

Network: Cartoon Network

Bottom line: “Dexter’s Laboratory” had us all whipping up secret potions out of shampoo and deconstructing the TV remote in hopes of saving the world with our genius inventions. Most of us only succeeded in annoying our parents, unlike Dexter.

Dexter was legitimately a genius, but his plans are constantly foiled by his well-intentioned, doe-eyed big sister, Dee Dee. All the while, their parents haven’t a clue that there’s an entire chemical lab under their house. How?!

7. Hey Arnold!

Nickelodeon / YouTube

First episode date: Oct. 7, 1996

No. of seasons: 5

No. of episodes: 100

Network: Nickelodeon

Bottom line: “Hey Arnold!” kept it almost too real, but that’s what made it so good. It’s easy for adults to dismiss “insignificant” problems, like struggling to make friends or getting a bad grade, but to kids, these problems aren’t small at all.

This show got that. Arnold, Gerold, Helga, Grandpa, Pookie and all the other characters taught us some valuable lessons about family, friendship, empathy, love and even loss.

6. Pinky and the Brain

WB Kids / YouTube

First episode date: Sept. 9, 1995

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 66

Network: WB

Bottom line: If it seems like ’90s kids grew up to favor a witchy aesthetic and a darkly sarcastic sense of humor, keep in mind the shows we watched. The whole premise of “Pinky and the Brain” was that Brain was deadset on world domination.

He never succeeded thanks to his dimwitted companion, Pinky, but his determination was admirable.

5. Courage the Cowardly Dog

Cartoon Network / YouTube

First episode date: Nov. 12, 1999

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 52

Network: Cartoon Network

Bottom line: Admittedly, “Courage the Cowardly Dog” came out at the very end of the ’90s. “Spongebob Squarepants” did, too, but while Spongebob reeled in a new era of cartoons, Courage wrapped up the previous one. Courage, a chicken of a dog, is taken in by a sweet old lady and her obnoxious curmudgeon of a husband.

As fearful as Courage was, he always mustered the bravery to stick up for his adoptive family when it really counted, and we loved him for it.

4. Animaniacs

WB Kids / YouTube

First episode date: Sept. 13, 1993

No. of seasons: 55

No. of episodes: 99

Network: Fox Kids

Bottom line: The Warner siblings, Yakko, Wakko and Dot, were similar to Tiny Toons Adventures, only with a more off-beat, adult sense of humor.

It’s been about three decades since the show came out, and we still haven’t a clue what animals the siblings are supposed to be. Bunnies? Cats? Whatever they are, they took mayhem wherever they went. They even took it all the way to a 2020 reboot.

3. Doug

Nickelodeon / YouTube

First episode date: Aug. 11, 1991

No. of seasons: 7

No. of episodes: 117

Network: Nickelodeon

Bottom line: Doug was the ’90s cartoon everyone needed in middle school. The ages of 11 to 13 are inevitably awkward, and Doug made our acne-ridden, low-rise jeans-wearing selves feel seen.

The show was somewhat like a grown-up version of Charlie Brown, in which the slightly tragic lead dealt with all of the most pressing topics on the average preteen’s mind.

2. The Powerpuff Girls

Cartoon Network / YouTube

First episode date: Nov. 18, 1998

No. of seasons: 6

No. of episodes: 79

Network: Cartoon Network

Bottom line: There’s a lot to love about the “Powerpuff Girls.” The three super-powered kindergarteners were symbols of girl power, but they also demonstrated that there’s more than one way to be powerful.

Each character taught us that it was OK to make mistakes, ask for help and embrace our own individuality. Messages like that never get old.

1. Rugrats

Nickelodeon / YouTube

First episode date: Aug. 11, 1991

No. of seasons: 9

No. of episodes: 172

Network: Nickelodeon

Bottom line: “Rugrats” is a work of comedic genius that’s deeper than we realized back in the day. The characters are all babies, yet their commentary on life is witty, meaningful and funny as heck.

Most ’90s cartoons only had a few seasons, but “Rugrats” was so good that it lasted for nine. There was later a reboot called “All Grown Up!” depicting the Rugrats as teenagers with five more seasons.