Man, who doesn’t miss the ’90s? Maybe old age is creeping up on us ’80s babies, but let’s be honest: Today’s cartoons lack the same energy and fervor they once had back in the day. Nickelodeon was a hot spot for some of our favorite cartoons growing up. We were able to latch onto a slew of shows because they were fully equipped with undeniable wit, humor, and even life lessons.
So we have some good news: “Nickelodeon will throw back to the ‘90s every day with the launch of ‘The Splat,’ a new multiscreen content destination spanning television, seven social media platforms, and a dedicated website aggregating the most loved Nick content from the 1990s and beyond,” according to the network. The new addition will be an eight-hour block of ‘90s TV programming on TeenNick from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, Us Weekly reports.
For Throwback Thursday, we decided to venture back in time and revisit some of our favorite Nickelodeon shows of the ’90s. Buckle your seat belts guys, because this is going to be a ride to remember.
10. The Wild Thornberrys (’98-’04)
This show was relatively weak. Maybe Nickelodeon wanted to impress the importance of education upon our minds. If that was the case, they failed miserably. Eliza Thornberry was the face of the show and had the gift of being able to communicate with animals. Sounds familiar, right? Even though we were enamored with the great Dr. Doolittle and his ability to talk to our favorite creatures, we weren’t really wowed by Eliza’s meager attempt to do the same. While she chopped it up with chimps and tigers, her parents were trying to televise their studies for the people to watch. We doubt anyone watched, because we were struggling to keep our eyes open for Eliza and company.
9. CatDog (’98-’05)
CatDog was a decent series. There were several cartoon animal shows that thrived on Nickelodeon like Ren & Stimpy, Rocko’s Modern Life, and The Angry Beavers. Unfortunately, for CatDog, they didn’t pack the same punch as the other shows mentioned. It featured conjoined twins – one being a dog and the other a cat. Cat was very serious, while Dog was the playful one. Though CatDog did manage to last seven years, it most certainly had its dull moments.
8. The Angry Beavers (’97-’01)
The Angry Beavers was CatDog on steroids. While they couldn’t usurp the throne from Ren & Stimpy, they performed modestly on Nickelodeon. Norb and Dag had the same traits as Cat and Dog. Norb was smart, laid-back, and cool – no matter the situation. As for Dag, he was a firecracker who loved taking aim at his older brother. These two brothers were cool because essentially, they were bachelors living on their own. Talk about swag. These beavers made us want to chuck deuces to our own parents and take on the world. Well, kind of.
7. Rocket Power (’99-’04)
The quartet consisting of Otto, Reggie, Twister, and Sam were super cool. Otto was a precocious athlete who loved the big moment. Whether he was trying to catch the next big wave or do a 540 on his skateboard, he exemplified the meaning of a daredevil. His older sister Reggie provided a sense of balance and stability. Every time Otto wanted to do something extreme, Reggie was there hovering over his shoulder as his security blanket. Sam and Twist were polar opposites. Though Sam lacked athleticism, his brains made up for his deficiencies. Twist’s absent-mindedness served as his biggest trait. While he did lack brain power, he made up for it with his ballsy persona.
6. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (’94-’97)
It felt like Halloween everyday when Aaahh!!! Real Monsters came on. The show’s concept was creepy and creative, and followed three young monsters trying to hone their skills in hopes of one day becoming fearful creatures. The main characters were Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm. Based in New York City, the monsters attended school to perfect their scare tactics. With The Gromble serving as headmaster, these guys worked day in and day out at the dump to become forces within their class. Let’s just say, these guys could have scared anyone off their rocker.
5. Rocko’s Modern Life (’93-’96)
Let’s take a trip back to O-Town! Rocko’s Modern Life was another classic. In 1993, Rocko made his grand entrance on Nickelodeon and wowed viewers with his sheer humor. Despite being a shy wallaby from Australia, Rocko’s team carried him to the finish-line. Heffer, Filburt, and his dog Spunky made up a formidable crew who had us laughing without any effort. These guys raised the bar and elevated the standards for cartoons. They weren’t Red & Stimpy good, but these guys were up there.
4. Hey Arnold! (’96-’04)
As we got older, we needed a crew who resembled us during our middle school days. For one, the diversity among the kids in Hey Arnold! was admirable. The interracial friendship between Arnold and his best friend Gerald was something to appreciate. Helga Pataki exuded an air of confidence that every girl aspired to have at 10 years old. At times, she was a bit snarky, especially around her crush Arnold, but at the end of the day, she had a big heart and just wanted to be loved.
3. The Ren & Stimpy Show (’91-’96)
When Nickelodeon first started with their original big three Nicktoons consisting of Rugrats, Doug, and Ren & Stimpy, one show decided to go against the grain. While Doug and Rugrats worked aggressively to deliver educational values to children, Ren & Stimpy aimed to deliver wry humor. They were able to push the envelope effortlessly with sexual innuendo and controversy, propelling them towards the level of The Simpsons, which was another marquee animation show in the ’90s. Ren was a small Chihuahua with a short fuse, while Stimpy was a lost cat who lacked any common sense. These guys had the perfect formula and made it work.
2. Doug (’91-’94)
Doug was that dude. He had a vivid imagination and was a wizard with the pen. He loved the idea of being able to escape to his journal and write away his feelings. As he allowed his thoughts to spill over onto the page, he was able to masterfully craft his alter-ego, Quailman. Who would have thought a superhero rocking a belt wrapped around his head with his underwear over his shorts would be cool? In addition, Doug’s team was awesome. Skeeter Valentine was Doug’s Shawn Hunter. He was the perfect homeboy. On occasion, he injected some swag juice into Doug’s game. Remember when he taught Doug how to dance? Timeless. How about his dog, Porkchop? He was the dog everybody wanted.
1. Rugrats (’90-’06)
Tommy, Chuckie, Phil & Lil were the only crew decked out in diapers that captured all of our hearts from the beginning. They all had different personalities individually, but together, they blended so seamlessly. Tommy was the leader of the pack who relished taking chances and exploring new adventures. Chuckie was the timid one who needed Tommy’s reassurance in order to make a move. Phil & Lil were the twins who marveled at the thought of picking each other’s noses on the regular and eating it afterwards. This crew of four instilled bliss into us from day one. Tommy Pickles and company proved that age shouldn’t deter you from going on wild adventures with your friends, even if you’re still in Pampers.
SOURCE: Us Weekly | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
this_permalink = “http://globalgrind.com/category/entertainment/”; this_site = “http://globalgrind.com”;http://globalgrind.com//embed/playlist/4076365View gallery
#ThrowbackThursday: The Top 10 ’90s Nicktoons Ranked was originally published on globalgrind.com
