The Greatest Old Cartoon Network Shows of All Time, Ranked (2024)

Since launching in 1992, Cartoon Network has been a leader in animated kids' programming. Their current programming just keeps expanding to include critically acclaimed shows such as We Baby Bears, The Amazing World of Gumball, Teen Titans Go!, and Craig of the Creek. As the network continues soaring into the future, many fans continue to return to its many classic shows.

Because of its longevity, Cartoon Network has produced an endless array of hit series, from Dexter's Laboratory to Johnny Bravo. While different generations may have differing opinions about the best old Cartoon Network shows, what's certain is that Cartoon Network has, and will continue to, appeal to viewers.

Updated by Fawzia Khan on May 27th, 2024: Cartoon Network will always be an integral part of childhood for almost everyone in the world. The nostalgia attached to old CN shows is great, and rewatching them is always a great idea. This list has been updated with even more Cartoon Network shows that are classics.

25 Popeye The Sailor Was a Beloved Character on The Eponymous Show (1960-1963)

Popeye Became Synonymous with Spinach and Strength

With 220 episodes, Popeye The Sailor remains one of the most beloved cartoons of all time, mainly because of the titular Polish main character. Popeye's most defining trait was his superhuman strength, which allowed him to do anything from lifting cars and ships to turning himself into a tire to run over his enemies. His strength came from his always present handy can of spinach.

While Popeye was rude, violent, and likely uneducated, his antics kept kids entertained, and the message to eat greens kept parents satisfied. With unique and hilarious supporting characters like Olive, Popeye's girlfriend, and Swee’pea, Popeye's adopted child, this cartoon is one of the greatest and most nostalgic of all time.

Popeye The Sailor

TV-G

Adventure

Comedy

The continuing animated adventures of Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Swee'pea and Popeye.

Release Date

June 10, 1960

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

2 Seasons

Characters By

Jack Mercer, Mae Questel, Jackson Beck

Creator

E. C. Segar

Producer

Jack Kinney, William L. Snyder, Larry Harmon, Gerald Ray, John Halas

Production Company

King Features Syndicate, Famous Studios, Gene Deitch Associates (GDA), Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Films, Jack Kinney Productions, Larry Harmon Pictures Corporation, Rembrandt Films, TV Spots

Number of Episodes

220 Episodes

24 Tom And Jerry Is High Speed, Hilarious Fun (1940-1968)

A High Octane Yet Hilarious Toon

Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, the original Tom and Jerry is the most beloved rendition of this cartoon. Easily the most-known cartoon in the world, the perennial chase between cat and mouse holds a special place in the hearts of kids and adults alike. Stubborn Tom broke physics trying to get at precocious Jerry, who managed to outsmart him each time.

There were times when the two even joined hands in friendship, but their enmity was easily the most amusing part of the show. Causing trouble and creating havoc is what Tom and Jerry do best, and their chases are some of the most nostalgic and heartwarming things to watch for those who want to delve back into the world of toons.

Tom and Jerry

The Tom and Jerry franchise follows the rivalry between Tom the cat and Jerry the Mouse.

Created by

William Hanna , Joseph Barbera

First Film

Tom and Jerry: The Movie

Latest Film

Tom and Jerry: Snowman's Land

First TV Show

The Tom and Jerry Show

Latest TV Show

Tom and Jerry

23 Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (2004-2009)

One of Cartoon Network's Most Memorable Shows

Vivid, colorful, and fanciful, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends imagines a world where humans have imaginary friends that accompany them. The show had a unique animation style, and the story revolved around young Mac, who is forced to give up his imaginary friend Bloo by his mother. At sea about what to do, they find hope in the form of an orphanage for imaginary friends.

Mac must visit Bloo at 3 PM every day to keep him from getting adopted by someone else, and the two go on their daily adventures together. Every imaginary friend in the show was totally distinctive, which made them so eye-catching. Magic and reality blended seamlessly in this toon.

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

TV-Y7

Adventure

A boy and his beloved imaginary friend are able to stay together at an orphanage of sorts for imaginary friends that children have outgrown to be adopted by new children.

Release Date

August 13, 2004

Cast

Keith Ferguson , Grey Griffin , Phil LaMarr , Sean Marquette , Candi Milo , Tara Strong

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

6

Creator

Craig McCracken

22 I Am Weasel Was A Top Rated CN Show (1997-2000)

The Show Had The Most Memorable Characters

Another classic Hanna-Barbera production, I Am Weasel revolves around the successful and righteous I.M. Weasel, and his frenemy, I.R. Baboon. As noble as Weasel is, is how rude and obnoxious his friend Babboon tends to be. Sharing a universe with Cow and Chicken, the show takes a twist when I.R. Baboon is finally shown to be the hero of the show.

The random escapades of the two friends, along with the machinations of Red Guy, make for good animated fun. I Am Weasel became one of Cartoon Network's highest rated and most-loved shows very quickly, with only 79 episodes in total.

21 Mike, Lu, & Og Is A Well-Loved Retro Toon (1999–2001)

Fans Love The Animation Style

Set on a remote island, the show follows the trio Mike, Lu, and Og, who each have distinctive personalities and quirks. With delightfully old-style animation, viewers get to see Lu, Princess of the island, Og, an inventor, and Mike, an exchange student from Manhattan go on various adventures together.

Mike, Lu, & Og was short, sweet, and incredibly evocative, especially if rewatched today. With vibrant characters and a memorable title tune, this Cartoon Network show was one of the last to be produced under their banner, but very much a part of its golden era.

20 Flintstones Gave A Glimpse Into The Distant Past (1960-1966)

Flintstones Reminded Fans Of Classic Pop Culture

The Flintstones weren't created by Cartoon Network. But when original content came at a premium, the modern Stone Age family carried the network for several years. Fred Flintstone and his friend Barney Rubble survived in a time wholly different from the modern era, yet the writers made it all feel relatable thanks to clever writing.

The Flintstones was ahead of its time in several ways, even when it was airing on Cartoon Network. When sitcoms rarely showed much in the way of change, the Flintstones' cast was always expanding, adding pets, children, and even a magical alien. With the show having multiple sequels and spin-offs that also aired on Cartoon Network, fans of several generations have a soft spot for this classic series.

The Flintstones

TV-G

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

The misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles.

Release Date

May 1, 1960

Creator

Joseph Barbera and William Hanna

Main Cast

Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Jean Vander Pyl and Bea Benaderet

19 Jetsons Contained Some Funny Visions Of The Future (1962-1963; 1985-1987)

This Different Version Of The Future Excited Both Adults And Kids

While The Flintstones presented viewers with a halcyon vision of the past, The Jetsons offered viewers the future. George Jetson and his family enjoyed life in the not-so-distant future, where they enjoyed tons of new technology. Admittedly, while some of that tech is still unfeasible today, it's still fun to see how society has surpassed the technology on the show.

The Jetsons experienced a revival in the '80s, and Cartoon Network extended the series' relevance in the '90s when it joined the channel's original line-up. George's struggle to balance his demanding boss with keeping his family happy was relatable to adults, while the outlandish comedy made it an easy watch for children.

The Jetsons

TV-Y7

Sitcom

Science Fiction

The adventures of the futuristic Jetson family living in Orbit City

Release Date

September 23, 1962

Cast

Mel Blanc , Janet Waldo , George O'Hanlon

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

3

18 Codename: Kids Next Door Made The Battle Between Kids And Adults Literal (2002-2008)

Codename: Kids Next Door Proved Cartoon Cartoons Could Handle Action And Comedy

Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoons never produced anything quite like Codename: Kids Next Door. While most Cartoon Cartoons relied on heavy comedy and even absurdist humor, Kids Next Door was an action series only tinged with light humor.

Over multiple seasons, Kids Next Door built an elaborate world centered on the battle between kids and adults. There were traitors, double agents, and secret reveals galore that kept viewers tuning in from season to season. There's even a beautifully bittersweet final episode, one that fans remember even decades after the show's finale.

Codename: Kids Next Door (2002)

Animation

The adventures of a group of ten-year-old friends who fight for the right to do everything that adults restrict from them.

Release Date

December 6, 2002

Creator

Tom Warbuton

Cast

Lauren Tom , Dee Bradley Baker , Cree Summer

Seasons

6

Number of Episodes

78

Network

Cartoon Network

17 Thundercats Improved On An Already Beloved Series (2011-2012)

Thundercats Provided A Cool Sci-Fi Universe

The 2011 Thundercats series is proof that sometimes remakes can be great. While the original 80's Thundercats series was good enough for its time, its lore and world barely made any sense. The new series provided viewers with a darker take on the characters and world. Nonetheless, it still felt appropriate for an all-ages audience, making it perfect for Cartoon Network.

Years before it became common, Thundercats relied on interconnected, arc-focused seasons that kept viewers eager to watch the next episode. This show was well on its way to being a classic of the 2010s until it was canceled early, as Cartoon Network pivoted away from a focus on action cartoons.

Thundercats

TV-PG

Action

Adventure

After his home kingdom is destroyed by the ancient devil priest Mumm-Ra, the young Thundercat Lord Lion-O leads a team of survivors as they fight evil on Third Earth.

Release Date

July 29, 2011

Creator

Ted Wolf

Cast

Will Friedle , Matthew Mercer , Kevin Michael Richardson , Emmanuelle Chriqui

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Production Company

Warner Bros. Animation, Studio 4°C

Number of Episodes

26

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

16 Justice League Unlimited Defined The DC Universe For A Generation (2004-2006)

Justice League Unlimited was the culmination of a decade's worth of storytelling dating back to 1992's Batman: The Animated Series. After the Justice League narrowly survived a battle with Thanagar, the team built itself up bigger and better than ever. With Justice League Unlimited, the creators used characters from across the DC Universe, whether they'd been part of the Justice League before or not.

Meanwhile, Justice League Unlimited's storytelling went to a level even beyond Justice League. Over three seasons, JLU pulled from classic comic book stories like "For The Man Who Has Everything" while also telling its own original stories as well. It was the perfect example of how well a shared universe could work, years before the MCU.

Justice League Unlimited

TV-Y7-FV

Action

Adventure

A continuation of the Justice League animated series finds the original members of the team joined in their battle against crime and evil by dozens of other heroes from the DC comics universe.

Release Date

July 31, 2004

Creator

Jack Kirby

Cast

George Newbern , Kevin Conroy , Phil LaMarr

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

3 Seasons

Production Company

DC Comics, Warner Bros. Animation

15 The Looney Tunes Show Is a Grounded Take on a Wacky Franchise (2011-2013)

The Looney Tunes Show Explores What Happens When Bugs and Daffy Become Roommates

The Looney Tunes Show has a great central concept, exploring what happens when Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck become roommates. This allowed for a more grounded take on the Looney Tunes franchise, throwing the characters into a host of fun, new situations. The show brings back all sorts of beloved characters, including Sylvester, Tweety, Porky Pig, and Foghorn Leghorn.

Above all, the series has all the makings of a great animation — lots of jokes, dazzling visuals, and strong voice acting. Although only airing in 2011, some of the most popular Looney Tunes characters were created in the 1940s and 1950s, which automatically instills a sense of nostalgia in the viewers.

The Looney Tunes Show

TV-PG

Comedy

Animation

An updated iteration of the classic Looney Tunes characters focusing on their satirical misadventures living in suburbia.

Cast

Jeff Bergman , Bob Bergen , Fred Armisen

Production Company

Warner Bros. Animation

14 Totally Spies! Combines High-Octane Thrills With Slice-of-Life (2001-2014)

Fans Love Totally Spies!'s Anime-Inspired Visuals and Eye-Grabbing Costumes

Totally Spies! offers plenty to enjoy. It holds a lot of visual appeal, with its anime-inspired visuals and eye-grabbing costumes. Chock-full of humor, it's difficult to go wrong with this show. While some viewers have complained that the concept feels a little too similar to Charlie's Angels, Totally Spies! takes a different approach by giving its three protagonists a lot more agency.

Combining high-octane thrills with slice-of-life elements, the series follows Sam, Clover, and Alex, as they juggle high-school life with their covert work for the World Organization of Human Protection. Totally Spies! fans will be pleased to hear that the show is getting a reboot, set for release in 2024.

Totally Spies! (2001)

Animation

Anime

A trio of boy-focused, fashionista teen girls from Beverly Hills balance their personal and school lives with their work as super-spies.

Release Date

November 3, 2001

Cast

Jennifer Hale , Katie Leigh , Katie Griffin

Seasons

6

Number of Episodes

156

13 Regular Show Has a Universal Appeal (2010-2017)

The Series Features an Eclectic Mix of Characters

Regular Show follows Mordecai the blue jay and a raccoon named Rigby, as they work as groundskeepers at a local park. Despite what may sound like a mundane premise, the show often dips into the absurd, throwing Mordecai and Rigby into many hilarious situations.

The series features an eclectic mix of characters, including Benson the living Gumball machine and Skips, an immortal Yeti who often fixes Mordecai and Rigby's mistakes. Pop culture references and fun character dynamics also add to this Cartoon Network show's charm. All things considered, Regular Show has a universal appeal, with humor that works really well for all ages.

Regular Show

TV-PG

Animation

Comedy

Adventure

The surreal misadventures of two best friends - a blue jay and a raccoon - as they seek to liven up their mundane jobs as groundskeepers at the local park.

Cast

J.G. Quintel

Creator

J.G. Quintel

Main Cast

J.G. Quintel, William Salyers and Sam Marin

12 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Broke the Mold for Scooby-Doo Content (2010-2013)

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Is a Unique Entry In the Franchise

There have been several Cartoon Network shows based on Scooby-Doo, but Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated was the first one to premiere there. It very much broke the mold concerning Scooby-Doo content. While previous serials and films were relatively self-contained, this relaunch featured an overarching narrative.

As such, various mysteries were woven in from episode to episode. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated also took on a dark, edgy tone at times, making it a unique entry into the franchise. The show features multiple Scooby-Doo veterans, including the likes of Frank Welker as Fred and Scoob, as well as Mindy Cohn as Velma.

Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated

TV-Y7-FV

Animation

Mystery

Adventure

Comedy

Scooby-Doo and the gang attempt to solve creepy mysteries in the town of Crystal Cove, a place with a history of eerie supernatural events.

Cast

Frank Welker , Matthew Lillard , Grey Griffin , Mindy Cohn

Creator

Joe Ruby, Ken Spears and Mitch Watson

11 Cow & Chicken Is a Crass But Clever Cartoon (1997 – 1999)

The Characters' Malapropisms Make for Rich Dialogue and Witty Banter

Cow & Chicken is one of the crassest, yet most clever Cartoon Network Shows. It incorporates plenty of repulsive and surreal humor, but knows when to pull back. While the subject is often immature, the characters' use of malapropism makes for rich dialogue. Even the series' stand-in for Satan, The Red Guy, engages in the witty banter.

The premise requires some suspension of disbelief: an anthropomorphic 11-year-old chicken and a 7-year-old cow are supposed to be siblings, but this is just the tip of the absurd iceberg. The pair's parents are a duo of presumably human characters who can only be seen from the waist down. For those who like raunchy but still kid-friendly humor, there are few shows that scratch the same itch as Cow & Chicken.

Cow and Chicken

TV-PG

Comedy

Animation

The program focuses on the misadventures of two unlikely yet somehow biological siblings: Cow and Chicken.

Cast

Charlie Adler , Candi Milo , Dee Bradley Baker , Michael Dorn

Creator

David Feiss

10 Ed, Edd & Eddy's Humor Stems From Its Wily Characters (1999-2009)

Fans Still Remember Ed, Edd & Eddy's Earworm Theme Song

With a whistled earworm theme song, Ed, Edd & Eddy invites viewers to watch as three similarly named friends navigate the social ins and outs of their seemingly parent-free cul-de-sac. There's an empty eeriness to the series, which may put off some viewers, but for many, the tone is an irrevocable part of its charm.

Ed, Edd & Eddy's three titular leads are perfect foils for one another: Ed is tough but dim, Edd has the brains but is a nervous wreck, and Eddy is the scheming heart behind the trio. One of the funniest Cartoon Network shows, this series' humor stems from its wily characters, who are often at odds with one another.

ed edd n eddy

TV-Y7

Comedy

Animation

The off-the-wall, day-to-day life of three friends who have exactly the same name.

Cast

Matt Hill , Sam Vincent

Creator

Danny Antonucci

Main Cast

Matt Hill, Sam Vincent, and Tony Sampson

9 ​​​​​​Teen Titans Features One of the Most Powerful DC Teams (2003-2006)

The ​​​​​​Teen Titans Team Comprises Robin, Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy

Featuring one of the most powerful DC teams, the Teen Titans main team features Robin, Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy, as they work to stop different threats. The characters are well-rounded, with each member receiving at least one episode to dive into their personal lives and professional struggles.

The series also features many iconic villains, like Slade Wilson, who serves as Robin's ongoing personal nemesis — although he's also an antagonist for the team as well. Besides a mature depth rarely seen in kids' cartoons, Teen Titans also boasts plenty of action, making it a thrilling watch for younger viewers.

Teen Titans

Animation

superheroes

A team of five teenaged superheroes save the world from many villains around their city while experiencing things normal teens face today.

Release Date

July 19, 2003

Cast

Scott Menville , Hynden Walch , Khary Payton , Tara Strong , Greg Cipes

Seasons

5

Producer

Warner Bros. Animation

Number of Episodes

66

8 Ben 10 Is the First and Best Entry In a Sprawling Franchise (2005-2008)

Ben 10 Is a Sci-Fi Series That Delves Deep Into Its Interpersonal Relationships

Ben 10 is the first, and best, entry in the franchise. The series follows Ben Tennyson, who receives an Omnitrix watch, which allows him to transform into a variety of alien races — each with their own specific skillset. The series' original villains, like Vilgax and Charmcaster, are formidable threats, and just as good as any superhero cartoon of its era.

More than just a sci-fi actioner, Ben 10 dives deep into its interpersonal relationships, namely that between Ben and his paternal cousin, Gwen. Together with their grandpa, Max, the family-centric adventures reach heights rarely seen in Cartoon Network shows.

Ben 10

TV-Y7

Superhero

Sci-Fi

The story of Ben Tennyson, a typical kid who becomes very atypical after he discovers the Omnitrix, a mysterious alien device with the power to transform the wearer into ten different alien species.

Release Date

December 27, 2005

Cast

Dee Bradley Baker , Steven Blum , Tara Strong , Paul Eiding

Main Genre

Action-Adventure

Seasons

4

Creator

Man of Action

7 Courage the Cowardly Dog Can Often Feel Like a Fever Dream (1999-2002)

Cartoon Network's Courage the Cowardly Dog Is Unashamedly Terrifying and Bizarre

Courage the Cowardly Dog is, for many, like a fever dream. The series takes a simple premise: Courage lives with his owners, Eustace and Muriel Bagge, on a farm in the literal middle of Nowhere, Kansas. There, disturbing occurrences are the norm — like a creepy barber coming to the farm or a giant foot leading a criminal organization — and it falls to Courage to save the day.

What makes the series so great is that it is unrelentingly scary and bizarre, seemingly without a care for who the audience is. Many fans might remember phrases like, "Return the slab," and there's plenty of nightmare fuel imagery to ensure that Courage the Cowardly Dog won't ever be forgotten.

Courage the Cowardly Dog

TV-Y7

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.

Release Date

November 12, 1999

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

4

Creator

John Dilworth

Main Cast

Marty Grabstein, Thea White and Lionel Wilson

6 Adventure Time Has Innumerable Crowd-Pleasing Elements (2010-2018)

Adventure Time Deals With Real-World Issues in Abstractedly Astute Ways

From a litany of pop culture references to the Dungeons & Dragons roots, Adventure Time has many great crowd-pleasing elements. The character development and world-building are incredibly detailed. Even side characters get their time in the sun. But it's Finn the Human and Jake the Dog that audiences get to spend most of their time.

Together, the duo (and typically a bevy of side characters) go on mythically absurd adventures and encounter all types of fantastical beings. What makes Adventure Time so great, however, beyond its candy-colored charm, is that it deals with several real-world issues in abstractedly astute ways, like mental wellbeing, and major existential concepts.

Adventure Time

TV-PG

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

A 12-year-old boy and his best friend, a wise 28-year-old dog with magical powers, go on a series of surreal adventures in a remote future.

Release Date

April 5, 2010

Cast

John DiMaggio , Jeremy Shada , Tom Kenny , Hynden Walch , Dee Bradley Baker , Pendleton Ward

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

10