The 25 Best 2000s Nickelodeon Cartoons
- 1May 1, 1999
No cartoon has affected late millennial and Gen Z humor more than SpongeBob SquarePants. Kids were instantly drawn to the antics of the goofy titular sponge (and perfectly written supporting cast) as he fails his driving test, takes care of pet snail Gary, and works his day job as a fry cook. To this day, it is the highest rated Nickelodeon show of all time as well as the most profitable property for Paramount, in terms of merchandising.
- Dig Deeper...The Best 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Episodes
- And Deeper...The Best Longest Running Animated TV Series
- #5 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- 2March 30, 2001
One of two Butch Hartman creations on this list, The Fairly OddParents is about a young boy and his fairy godparents. Slightly selfish Timmy gets into trouble often by trying to circumvent “Da Rules,” resulting in mishaps he has to fix. A live action film was released to celebrate the tenth anniversary and in 2022, a live action reboot premiered on Paramount+.
- Dig Deeper...Totally Messed Up Things on The Fairly OddParents
- And Deeper...The Best Longest Running Animated TV Series
- #17 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- 3April 20, 2002
This popular show came about after the success of the original Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius movie. Co-creator John A. Davis cleverly suggested creating the film first so that the 3D assets used in animation could be reused for the television show. Smart and funny, the series follows the adventures of a boy genius and his equally lovable friends and family. A spin-off titled Planet Sheen followed after the original run.
- #53 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #76 of 576 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- #102 of 418 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- 4August 11, 1991
In 1989, then-married duo Klasky Csupo was asked by Nickelodeon for potential show ideas. Having just had two sons, the idea of Rugrats was pitched. The misadventures of Tommy Pickles and company went on to become one of Nickelodeon's most successful shows, winning three Emmys and spawning several theatrical release films plus spin-off All Grown Up! in 2003.
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- 5February 21, 2005
Beyond just Nickelodeon cartoons, ATLA is often discussed among the greatest animated television shows of all time, period. Audiences young and old were captivated by its immersive world-building, incorporation of Asian philosophies, and stunning animation. Beginning with two siblings finding a boy in an iceberg, Avatar: The Last Airbender morphs into a fantasy adventure of epic proportions.
- 6April 3, 2004
Danny Phantom is about a ghost-human hybrid who acts as a superhero as well as a regular teenager. Hartman came up with the idea and was green lit immediately by Nickelodeon due to the success of The Fairly OddParents. Offering a mix of humor and heroics, Danny Phantom continues to be a cult favorite from the 2000s era.
More Danny Phantom- Dig Deeper...20 Hot Takes About 'Danny Phantom' That Are Hotter Than Ember's Flame
- #35 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #48 of 576 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 7October 7, 1996
Unlike the fictional worlds or suburbs of many of the cartoons on this list, Hey Arnold! has a distinctly city setting, described as an amalgam of cities that creator Craig Bartlett loved. Because of this, the adventures of Arnold and his friends are unique to the program and include things like urban legends, bustling public transportation, and dilapidated buildings. The series also gained acclaim for its ability to create heartwarming moments and the particular attention it paid to minor characters.
- 8April 4, 1998
Conjoined brothers and opposites in every way, CatDog have to learn to live with each other. The characters have stereotypical traits assigned to each species, with Cat being cunning and cultured, and Dog being loyal and enthusiastic. Show creator Peter Hannan was inspired by seeing neighborhood cats and dogs fight each other, and wondered how they would react to other outside elements.
More CatDog- #77 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #72 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #99 of 576 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 9September 1, 1998
Originally pitched as an adult animated sitcom, the series was retooled for Nickelodeon and centers around a documentary filming family named the Thornberrys. Youngest daughter Eliza was bestowed the gift of talking to animals, allowing her to communicate with the family's pet chimpanzee Darwin. The series boasts notable voice acting talent including Lacey Chabert, Tim Curry, and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea.
- 10August 1, 2003
My Life as a Teenage Robot is a funny take on the hormonal teenage superhero. Jenny goes to school and has crushes on boys but also drinks oil and is prone to short circuiting under certain conditions. A fun and action packed series, the show holds up well today.
- #182 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #212 of 576 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- #184 of 418 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- 11October 11, 2004
The Backyardigans is a musical children's series that stars five animal neighbors pretending to go on magical adventures. Each episode features multiple original songs and oftentimes the episodes are parodies of popular movies. Many critics noted that the references, music, and sophisticated nature of the show made it enjoyable for kids and adults. In 2021, the songs "Castaways" and "Into the Thick of It" went viral on TikTok.
More The Backyardigans- #274 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #8 of 31 on30+ Nick Jr. Cartoons That'll Make You Wish You Were 7 Again
- #53 of 165 onThe Best TV Shows You Can Watch On Paramount Plus
- 12April 15, 2000
Invader Zim pushed the boundaries of what was possible for children's TV. With its off-beat humor, creepy animation style, and dark storylines, it's not surprising that the show was cancelled before the second season was complete. However, the show still has a dedicated cult following and looking back, is one of Nick's most ambitious and well-made projects.
- 13November 29, 2008
Following the popularity of feature film Madagascar, and in specific the penguin side characters, a full series was commissioned to follow their adventures. At the time of airing, the series premiere set a new record with 6.1 million viewers tuning in. The show includes slapstick humor as well as allusions to old school gangsters, making it popular with kids as well as those old enough to recognize references to The Godfather.
- #135 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #133 of 576 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- #103 of 418 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- 14August 16, 1999
In the fictional Southern California town of Ocean Shores, four friends take part in various sports like surfing, skateboarding, hockey, and more. Each member has their strengths and weaknesses and their competitive drive causes arguments, often the main issue to be resolved. Due to the themes of the show, several video games were released based on the series.
More Rocket Power - 15September 29, 2007
Following the events of the film it's based on, Back at the Barnyard is generally about farm animals pretending to not be able to walk and talk. Otis the holstein is back along with Abby, Pip, Nora, and others. The series is a bit more divisive than others on this list, with some not enjoying its sense of humor.
- 16April 19, 1997
The Angry Beavers utilizes the popular trope of opposite personalities having to cohabitate. Norbert is opinionated and sophisticated. Daggett is reactive and immature. Creator Mitch Schauer had the idea for the show while reminiscing about his time in Oklahoma, when he was homeless and would see beavers in a nearby river. Because of his counterculture leanings, Schauer would often butt heads with Nickelodeon, leading to censorship and an (unaired) final episode that airs out all their grievances and kills off the characters.
More The Angry Beavers- #154 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #99 of 193 on190+ Saturday Morning Cartoons From The '80s And '90s
- #183 of 576 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- 17
ChalkZone
December 31, 1999Rudy Tabootie and Penny Sanchez explore the ChalkZone after Rudy finds a magical piece of white chalk. An imaginative and adventurous cartoon, the series drove home the mature idea that people are responsible for the things they create.
More ChalkZone- #289 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #250 of 576 onThe 500+ Best Animated TV Shows Ever Made
- #266 of 418 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- 18April 12, 2003
In 2001, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Rugrats, the special “All Growed Up” aired to immense viewership. The popularity of the adolescent idea led to a two season order for a series based on the concept. The babies now see themselves tasked with pre-pubescent problems and audiences enjoyed seeing how the original Rugrats cast grew up.
More All Grown Up!- #271 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #217 of 418 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- #22 of 50 onThe Best Nickelodeon Cartoons of All Time
- 19August 14, 2000
A creative adventure series, Dora the Explorer sees Dora Marquez use maps, solve riddles, and enlist the help of her friends to overcome obstacles. The series was directly interactive with its young audience, breaking the fourth wall to ask for help. There is also an emphasis on the Spanish language. The series has generated two spin-offs and a 2019 live action feature film.
More Dora the Explorer- Dig Deeper...The Best Longest Running Animated TV Series
- #394 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #395 of 418 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- 20October 25, 2000
As Told by Ginger centers around Ginger Foutley, a pre-teen who is trying to climb the social hierarchy at her school. In contrast to other animated series, the characters in the show aged, were impacted by events in prior episodes, and even changed clothes. Its themes of jealousy, betrayal, and self-doubt were also unusually deep for the cartoon landscape of the time.
More As Told by Ginger- #456 of 538 onThe 500+ Best Cartoons Of All Time, Ranked
- #251 of 418 onThe 385 Popular Children Cartoons
- #18 of 50 onThe Best Nickelodeon Cartoons of All Time
- 21October 23, 2009A vivid imagination sends a boy and his sidekick on adventures.
- 22
Catscratch
July 9, 2005Catscratch is an American animated television series created by Doug TenNapel. It was aired on both Nickelodeon and Nicktoons on July 9, 2005. It was also shown on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland in 2006. It is a lighthearted adaptation of TenNapel's graphic novel, Gear, which is also the name of the cats' monster truck. The series features music composed by longtime TenNapel collaborator, Terry Scott Taylor. Catscratch's first DVD appearance was on Nick Picks Vol. 3, which came out February 7, 2006. - 23March 3, 2007A boy must choose whether to use his super powers for good or evil.
- 24April 26, 2008A devoted Honeybee Scout wants to earn every available badge.
- 25August 31, 2007Following the comic adventures of Tak, a jungle boy given the power of Juju.
