10 Best Animated TV Shows Of The 1990s

Cartoons have been entertaining generation after generation, evolving to appeal to a wider range of demographics. Starting off as simple theatrical shorts of the 1920s, to finding a place on prime time TV in the 1960s , to becoming some of the greatest entertainment the industry of television has ever produced.

But the real game-changer for animated shows was the 1990s. Within this decade, it felt as though the medium was in full throttle, moving away from just flat characters who found themselves in meaningless slapstick adventures.

Instead, the characters were written with more personality and depth, the narratives became (somewhat) more focused and for many animators, there was more effort put into the visual styling.

Moreover, it was a chance to be a little bit edgier in terms of storytelling, humour and subject matters. These shows were breaking new boundaries and would continue to influence the animated shows of today. They are truly the cream of the crop for the 1990s.

Unlike most children’s shows which delved into small town/suburban life, Hey Arnold focused on what it’s like to grow up in the big city.

The series is set in the fictional city of Hillwood (which is basically just New York going by a different name), and looks at the titular character living with his grandparents and experiencing urban life on a daily basis.

At its heart, Hey Arnold highlights the joys of friendship, growing up, and first love, with just a little bit of gritty drama in between. It boasts a large ensemble of characters that all range in personality traits, from the street-wise Gerald to the snooty Rhonda.

Furthermore, the show demonstrated genuine character development in many of the supporting cast, as Harold grew out of being antagonistic to Arnold and more of an ally, whilst Helga sought counselling for her bullyish behaviour.