I was lucky enough to grow up in the golden era of cartoons. I was there when Nicktoons was first launched. I saw the first episode of Spongebob as it aired. I spent many years bonding with a variety of colorful characters. Joining them on their wacky adventures. It might just be because I am older now but it feels like modern cartoons are missing some of the charm and magic that used to make these shows so special.
And this isn’t just a sentiment I hold either. Many prominent animators and writers often talk about the shift in cartoon design philosophies. Modern technology has streamlined the production process for cartoons. But, along the way, they lost some of the charm that came from old school animation.
So today we are going to be looking back at some of the cartoons that defined a generation. The shows that pioneered the genre into a new direction. Maybe you’ll have seen some of these shows before and have fond memories. Or perhaps you will find a new classic to enjoy.
Ed, Edd N Eddy!
One of my all time favorite cartoons. I would rank this as one of the greatest animated shows ever made. The show followed three young boys, who all shared a name, as they navigated life in their suburban cul-de-sac. Episodes often saw the trio trying to scam their friends so that they could buy jawbreakers from the local candy store.
The show leaned heavily on slapstick humor. But it never fell into the trap of being farce. Episodes were filled with intelligent writing, witty dialogue, smooth animations, and some of the wackiest ideas you’ll ever see. The show was so amazing because, despite all the lunacy, it was grounded in a very real and powerful idea. The joy of spending endless summer days with our friends. Getting into scrapes. Navigating the often complex social hierarchies that defined our youth. And, most importantly, the pleasures of being an innocent and ignorant youth.
The supporting cast of characters were caricatures of the kids we all knew while growing up. If you’ve ever wondered which cartoon character you look like, give this show a watch and I guarantee you will find someone you have striking resemblances to.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
Grim Adventures started off as a one half of a split series called Grim And Evil. Eventually both halves of this show split off into their own series. The Grim Adventures followed the dim-witted but loveable Billy and his stoic, no-nonsense best friend Many as they navigated life in suburbia. But they were also best friends with the Grim Reaper. Having won his friendship in a limbo contest.
The show shifted between the supernatural and the mundane. Seeing the literal embodiment of death having to navigate the real world while being enslaved to two children he despises makes for compelling television. The show is filled with engaging plots and intelligent writing.
The Powerpuff Girls
Sugar, spice, and everything nice. The ingredients you apparently need to create the perfect girl. But what happens if you accidentally mix in a dangerous compound known as Chemical X? You end up with the Powerpuff Girls. A trio of superpowered sisters who face off against a colorful cavalcade of super villains.
The Powerpuff Girls was a groundbreaking show. A female led show that never fell into the trappings of specific gender roles. The show was filled with a cast of powerful women, both heroes and villains. And it never once leaned on any of the tropes that are so harmful when writing women characters.
As a superhero show it was superb. The villains were diverse and engaging. Drawing a lot of comparisons to the famous rogues galleries of Batman and Superman. Each episode sees the Powerpuff Girls come up with creative and imaginative solutions to their predicaments.
Courage The Cowardly Dog
Older cartoons never used to pull their punches when it came to horror. Writers of the day knew that children were tougher than we give them credit for. And no show quite leant into this idea more than Courage The Cowardly Dog. Courage lived with his two owners in a dilapidated shack slap bang in the middle of nowhere. Each episode would see some menacing foe appear and terrorize the poor dog and his family. Courage would have to use all his wits to save the day. While his two owners often remained blissfully unaware of the danger they were in.
The show was dripping with atmosphere. The animation style lent itself to the horror genre in a unique way. This was also one of the first shows to use mixed animation styles, in a similar vein to Smiling Friends.
