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The 2000s were an exciting time for cartoons as the new millennium began. With the advent of cable-exclusive cartoons in the previous decade, there was plenty of potential for the future. Cable gave more freedom in crafting cartoons than one would ever expect to air on network television.
While Saturday morning network television was on its way out, the cartoons didn’t stop coming. They only got better with shows about aliens, samurai, and warriors of the elements. On those merits, these are the classic cartoons of the 2000s worth checking out on streaming services.
2008-2011
3
65
Status
Ended
As the first Batman cartoon after the highly-revered and brutally explosiveThe Dark Knight,The Brave and the Boldstepped into a campier direction for the superhero. Inspired by the Silver Age of DC Comics, the show features Batman teaming up with different superheroes in each episode. His comrades range from the boisterous Aquaman to the snarky Green Arrow, working together to foil the crimes of villains ranging from The Joker to Crazy Quilt.
Embodying the design of the classic comics and the tone of the 1960sBatmanTV series, this is a superhero show that knew how to have fun. There was a knowing charm in how the series framed the fourth-wall-breaking Batmite and the beautifully uproarious musical episode, featuring Neil Patrick Harris as the singing villain, The Music Meister. During a time when superhero cartoons were heavier on the drama, this cartoon was more of the cheerful chaser.
MAX
Batman: The Brave and the Boldadapts the Silver Age of DC Comics into a campy and exciting Batman cartoon.
2008-2010
46
Beyond the mere aquatic association,The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjackcan be thought of as Cartoon Network’s surreal answer to Nickelodeon’sSpongeBob SquarePants. The series follows the plucky young Flapjack and the cantankerous pirate Captain K’nuckles at the grimy Stormalong Harbor. With their whale Bubbie acting as their vessel, they seek out candy treasures and track down Candy Island.
Developed by Thurop Van Orman,Flapjackhad a wondrous sense of mixing media and embracing gross/weird humor in its absurd stories. The show also established a lot of cartoon hallmarks that would carry into Cartoon Network’s future cartoons, with creative director J. G. Quintel going on to createRegular Show. If you’ve already binged all ofAdventure Time, consider venturing to its spiritual predecessor that sailed earlier into the waters of weirdness and candy quests.
Hulu
The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjackis a surreal and silly show about adventure and candy, paving the way for future Cartoon Network shows.
2003-2006
5
Based on the DC Comics ensemble,Teen Titanssuccessfully merged the young antics of the superhero squad with the youthful appeal of anime. The team, comprised of Robin, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy, was a balanced mixture of exaggerated humor and earnest action. It was the type of show that could have daring drama in how the teens tackle the villain Slade, but also indulge in teenage appetites with cartoony gags.
Created by DC cartoon veteran Glen Murakami, this version of theTeen Titansfelt perfectly suited for the young crowd, existing somewhere between the brutality of the comics and the silliness of cartoons. The levity of such characters made it easier to care about them when supervillains presented a real threat. Although absurd at times, it felt more grounded the goofierTeen Titans Gothat would succeed it years later.
Amazon Prime Video
Teen Titansmerged anime and comic books into a rousing saga of teenage superheroes.
2000-2003
4
52
Contrary to the title,X-Men: Evolutionrolled back the clock on the iconic superheroes to make them more relatable teenagers. The familiar characters of Wolverine, Cyclops, and Rogue are all back, but now have to deal with high school problems and bullying. All that is placed on top of the complicated civil war between mutants, which is still approached with great drama and exciting action.
Although styled much differently from theX-Mencartoon of the 1990s,Evolutionmanaged to captivate a new generation. The redesigns of the characters had a colorful allure, and the added teen element gave the show an edge over being so easily compared to the lastX-Mencartoon. With fresh animation and even a daring to craft new characters and stories, the cartoon lived up to being far more than a merging ofX-MenandSaved By The Bell.
Disney+
X-Men: Evolutiontakes the comic book ensemble and gives them a teenage makeover with relatable characters and thrilling superhero action.
2002-2007
87
Kim Possible’senergy was as dynamic as its sharp, angular character designs. The series centered around the teenager Kim, who tried to balance her high school life while being a secret agent. She’s aided by her sidekick friend Ron and his naked mole rat companion, Rufus, while battling against the mad scientist Dr. Drakken and his superpowered cohort, Shego.
Created by long-time Disney cartoon writers Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle, the show was quick-witted with characters and charmingly colorful with its action. Great creativity was evident in how the show played with aspects of spies and superheroes, turning up the pacing to a degree that demanded attention. It’s a show that’s still fun to watch as an adult and a rare gem for being a woman-led cartoon during a time when those were severely lacking.
Kim Possiblehas a fast-paced comedy with the premise of a teenage secret agent balancing school and saving the world.
2001-2017
10
172
Canceled
The only Nicktoon to hold its own amid the Nickelodeon era ofSpongeBob SquarePantswasThe Fairly OddParents. As the catchy opening song clarifies, the series is about average kid Timmy Turner and his magical fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda. With Timmy’s parents barely being present and his babysitter being a nightmare, Timmy relies on his fairy’s magical powers to reshape his life and learn lessons about being careful what you wish for.
The comedy ofThe Fairly OddParentswas on a level so manic that it’s hard to imagine another cartoon that could keep up with it. The fast-paced staging of comedic stories about growing up, bullying, and dealing with the weird politics of fairy rules. There was wit and zip to this wild little cartoon that lasted longer than most Nicktoons and was recently revived with a new series.
Netflix
The Fairly OddParentsis a frenzied dose of over-the-top comedy for Timmy Turner and his magical godparents.
2001-2006
2
27
As the undeniable underdog cartoon of Nickelodeon,Invader Zimwould gain a massive cult following for its darkness and dorkiness. The loser alien Zim and the dimwitted robot Gir are assigned to conquer Earth from the humans. Despite Zim’s ambitions, he makes big mistakes trying to merge with human culture and comes into the crosshairs of the conspiracy theorist kid, Dib.
Created by cartoonist Jhonen Vasquez, this darkly comedic cartoon impressively weaves horror and sci-fi. Episodes weren’t afraid to get bizarre, such as the nightmarish episode in which Zim tries to pass as more human by hoarding the organs of his classmates.While the show didn’t last long in the ratings, it has since gone on to have a massive appeal in reruns and merchandise tosurvive cancellation, leading to the finale special,Enter the Florpus.
Paramount Plus
Invader Zimuses horror and sci-fi to weave a darkly comedic cartoon about an alien trying to conquer Earth.
62
After creating the Cartoon Network stapleDexter’s Laboratory, Genndy Tartakovsky migrated to action by developing the iconicSamurai Jack. A Japanese warrior is named Jack after he is flung into the far future. This dismal world is ruled by the evil demon Aku, forcing Jack to find a way back to the past and undo the damage to the future.
There is no other action cartoon likeSamurai Jack, and few have matched it since. The series drewgreat inspiration from media likeKung FuandLone Wolf and Cub, as well as from classic Japanese paintings with eye-popping artistry. Some episodes rely entirely on the spectacle, sacrificing dialogue for visual splendor. In addition to being fun, inventive, and genuinely thrilling with its sci-fi violence,Samurai Jackwas such a divergent cartoon that its legacy eventually led to a fifth and final season many years later, finally answering whether Jack truly got back to the past.
Samurai Jackhas stylish animation and inspired action sequences for its offbeat adventure of a samurai fighting a demon in a future dystopia.
2005-2008
61
Merging the youthful interests of anime and young-adult fantasy,Avatar: The Last Airbenderwas such a fascinating adventure to get lost within. Set in a realm where different tribes control elements, the oddly eccentric Ang is a bender of air believed to be the Avatar, capable of wielding all four elements of earth, water, fire, and air. With his water-bending friends Katara and Sokka, he’ll be thrown into a complicated war with the intimidating Fire Tribe.
With a world as fully realized asLord of the RingsorHarry Potter,Avatarstood out as more than just the only successful action-adventure show on Nickelodeon that could’ve passed for an anime. The characters were quirky, the animation featured thoughtful martial arts, and the serialized story was engaging as a fantasy epic.The Last Airbenderleft a lasting legacy that carried in the form of the lackluster live-action movie and the uniquely distinct sequel series,The Legend of Korra.
Avatar: The Last Airbenderbuilds a fantastic world of magic and adventure with charming characters and anime-inspired animation and action.
91
Following theBatmanandSupermancartoons of the 1990s,Justice Leaguewas the perfect extension of the maturation of the DC Comics animated universe. With a bigger hero ensemble, the Justice League fights back against a host of villains, including villain team-up groups like theSecret SocietyandLegion of Doom. The stakes grew so high that the sequel series,Justice League Unlimited, expanded the ranks to over 50 superheroes, with an astonishing number given compelling personalities.
Justice Leaguewas built for primetime Cartoon Network with high-quality animation and surprisingly mature writing. The show felt as grand as the massive cast, with intriguing arcs such as Lex Luthor’s presidential campaign and CADMUS finding a defense against the League. In the same way Batman redefined superhero cartoons for the 1990s,Justice Leagueset the bar so high with its astute levels of comic book referencing and writing so brilliant you don’t even need to crack open a comic book to appreciate the romantic drama between Green Lantern and Hawkgirl.
Justice Leaguebrings together several DC Comics superheroes and plot arcs into one of the best comic book cartoons ever made.
The cartoons of the 2000s really pushed the limits of what animation could do on television. The animation became more varied and alluring, the writing grew much wiser, and real drama could be found in everything from superhero affairs to fantasy epics. These classic cartoons remain a highlight of the decade and paved the way for a new millennium of cartoons not afraid to embrace horror, fantasy, superheroes, and samurai fights against robots.
