Underrated Animated '90s TV Shows That Were Ahead Of Their Time
The 1990s are back: butterfly clips, crop tops, and wide-leg jeans are flying off the shelves! That means it’s time for a new generation to bring the underrated cartoons from the exxxtreme decade to the surface (the more exes, the more extreme). Popular animated series from the '90s like Animaniacs, Powerpuff Girls, and Batman: The Animated Series are being rediscovered, but the real treasure lies in the oft-forgotten shows of the era.
As you read the list, think back to days spent at the mall trying to figure out which flannel shirt to buy. Or think back to this morning when you were shopping online for a new flannel shirt that looks just like the one you used to have. Either way, there is definitely at least one show on the list that you need to check out.
On the surface, Gargoyles might look like another cheap attempt at selling toys, but like its main characters, the show proved so much more than that. Much of the credit for that goes to co-creator and co-producer Greg Weisman, who always thought of the show as a superhero show mixed with Shakespeare for kids. Weisman and his team succeeded by creating character-driven plots and not underestimating the audience. Weisman gave the show's primary antagonists, human billionaire David Xanatos and gargoyle Demona, real motivations and full storylines that made them more than just “bad guys.” Xanatos and his multi-layered schemes meant he always had an escape, making his name synonymous with a TV trope to this day.
Beyond compelling villains, the main cast of Gargoyles provided real emotion and humor that made the audience connect with the ancient Scottish beings. It helped that the writers tackled real conflicts, including ostracized family members, prejudice, and gun violence, on top of the show's fantastical use of time travel and magic. The series' darker tone set it apart from other Disney cartoons at the time, but that has only added to its legacy.
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Ever wondered what happened to the characters of The Jungle Book after Mowgli left? TaleSpin (sort of) answered that by following Baloo the bear as he tried to successfully run an air cargo business. Along with a much more laid-back King Louie and businessman Shere Khan, the show featured original characters like Baloo's boss Rebecca Cunningham and his sidekick Kit Cloudkicker. Yeah, it's a bit of a far cry from the original work.
The Jungle Book film enjoyed renewed popularity after being re-released in both 1984 and 1990. The show's co-creator Jymn Magon cited the popularity as one reason he created a new property around established characters, with the other motivation being a looming deadline. Magon and the other writers pulled inspiration from the live-action show Tales of the Gold Monkey and the popular sitcom Cheers. Thus, TaleSpin offered familiar TV stories for adults while offering new adventures to kids just discovering the beloved characters.
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Recess was a show that took place at… recess. More than that, it revolved around a tight-knit group of friends as they navigated the ins and outs of playground politics. The main group consisted of T.J., Spinelli, Gretchen, Mikey, Gus, and Vince while sprinkling in memorable supporting characters like uppity ruler King Bob, smarmy tattletale Randall, and the Mean Girl-esque Ashleys.
Any child watching the show immediately recognized the social minefield of middle school that adults didn't understand. Whether it's the latest fad that everyone simply must take part in or how everyone is afraid of kindergartners, the writers painted a pretty accurate picture. Adults could also find humor and poignancy in the storylines, not just Miss Grotkey's historical asides. With references to movies and TV shows that would have gone over kids' heads and the tackling of more significant concepts like the drawbacks of capitalism, Recess was both for kids and kids at heart.
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Some spinoffs can stand alone more than others. You don't have to know Frasier Crane from Cheers in order to enjoy Frasier, for example. In that same way, audiences can enjoy Daria without seeing the character's original run on Beavis and Butt-head, though that knowledge might help you at pop culture trivia night. That's right: everyone's favorite deadpan teenager Daria Morgendorffer started life as a foil to Beavis and Butt-head. She became a star on her own show when MTV decided they needed something to attract more female viewers.
Co-creator Glenn Eichler said he didn't set out to write something so different, but that's just what happened. Fellow co-creator Susie Lewis wanted Daria to be more realistic than other MTV shows to reflect the main character's point of view and to showcase Daria as “a real teenage girl.” The show provided a thought-provoking but compassionate space for people who felt like outsiders just trying to navigate the world while also throwing in the odd musical episode or two, of course.
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The Tick began life as a newsletter cartoon but grew into a full-fledged character as creator Ben Edlund continued to work on his story. By 1994, the big blue fella debuted on Fox. As a superhero, the Tick's superpowers included indestructibility, large size, and his nigh-unbeatable optimism. Edlund used The Tick and his cavalcade of allies and adversaries to point out the absurdism inherent to most superhero stories. As such, The Tick could be enjoyed by comics lovers and haters alike.
The audience related to The Tick's world through Arthur, his flying-moth-suit-wearing accountant buddy. Arthur's perfect mix of mundane and fantastical elements sums up the show's humor in one. The Tick and Arthur fought the likes of Chairface Chippendale as well as having to pay rent on their apartment. The cartoon has twice been revived as a live-action show, proving that optimism really might be a superhero trait after all.
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Bobby's World ran from 1990 to 1998, outlasting every other children's show of the era until the Power Rangers came along. Co-creator and lead actor Howie Mandel based the show on his stand-up act and provided the voice for young Bobby and his dad Howard. The show followed Bobby and his family through the ups and downs that a typical family faces. When Bobby became overwhelmed or confused, he escaped into his imagination… the titular Bobby's World.
The classic cartoon mixed live action and animation during the intros and outros of each episode. Mandel often appeared in these segments as himself talking to Bobby and various guest stars. Perhaps the greatest legacy of Bobby's World is that it allowed the main characters to change and grow over time. Bobby's mom gave birth to twins, who continued to grow up throughout the show's run. Howard was fired from his job and dealt with the fallout. Bobby experienced moving to a new house, starting a new school, and even grieving a family friend. Rumor has it Mandel would like to revive the show.
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Before Charlize Theron brought Aeon Flux to the big screen, there was the 1991 animated series that has become a cult classic. In the show, climate change has wreaked havoc on humanity, who now live in two cities, Monica and Bregna. Aeon is a spy/assassin from Monica, and her mission is to infiltrate Bregna to take down its fascist leader Trevor Goodchild.
Series helmer Peter Chung created an art style that some might call anime-like today, but it featured sci-fi elements and a grittiness that other shows did not have at the time. The storylines often revolved around personal choice and remaining free at all costs. For her part, Aeon is a harsh assassin, but her moral code and adherence to anti-fascism make her likable and a predecessor to the rise of other '90s female icons like Xena and Seven of Nine. Aeon Flux also hinted at various LGBTQ+ relationships throughout the run of the show. Clearly, Chung created a series set apart.
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The Critic only ran for 23 episodes, but fans still remember the parody films that the show's main character Jay Sherman had to critique. We're talking about made-up films like Death Wish 9 or Crocodile Gandhi. The titles and clips might not have taken up much screen time, but they provided a lot of insight into Sherman and his world. He steadfastly refused to offer less than his honest opinion, often putting him at odds with his boss or love interests.
The show even garnered a loving critique from the man himself, Roger Ebert. The famed reviewer praised the show's creator for accurately portraying some parts of a movie critic's life. He stated that some critics do get approached for good reviews in exchange for more prominent headlines. Ebert commends Sherman for his honesty. A thumbs up from the most famous movie critic of all? Well, that doesn't stink.
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Kablam! creators (Bob Mittenthal, Will McRobb, and Chris Viscardi) set out to make a “live-action cartoon show.” Their response became a variety of segments featured on Kablam!. They included stop-motion using old action figures, paper cutout stop motion, and live action mixed with CGI animation. All these segments were presented by the brother-sister duo of Henry and June, traditionally animated characters.
The producers specifically sought artists who wanted independence, a chance to push the limits of kids' television. They wanted to provide a different look than other Nickelodeon cartoons like The Ren & Stimpy Show. Ultimately, Kablam! offered just that: a funny show that helped change the landscape of Nickelodeon and beyond.
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Home Movies followed the adventures of aspiring director Brendon Small and his friends Melissa and Jason. Every episode dealt with Brendan's newest movie project, usually something to do with what is going on in the main characters' lives. The adults in their lives are all disappointments, from absent parents to teachers that don't seem to care about much, let alone their students. Brendon's terrible films provide an outlet for him and his friends.
This mixture of childhood innocence and absurdity would follow much of the creative team as they brought Bob's Burgers to life years later. Loren Bouchard co-created Home Movies before eventually running Bob's Burgers. Several actors would make the leap into Bob Belcher's world from Home Movies, most importantly H. Jon Benjamin as Bob. Home Movies proved adult animation could be funny and absurd while still being grounded in everyday life.
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Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist featured Jonathan Katz serving as a therapist to a rotating cast of outlandish patients while dealing with his son and assistant. The production team also featured beloved comedy names like Loren Bouchard and H. Jon Benjamin. The show ran on Comedy Central for seven years, with many stand-up comedians providing improvised dialogue as Dr. Katz's patients. However, the real heart of the show was the relationship between Katz and his son Ben.
The animation style, known as “Squigglevision,” looked different from everything else on TV at the time and would make way for Flash animation later. The adult themes and setting of the show proved that animation could work for older audiences as well, similar to how comic books became more than simply for kids. Dr. Katz paved the way for future cartoons and sitcoms that would mix serious topics with comedic timing.
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Shows like Beavis and Butt-head and Aeon Flux actually began life as animated shorts on the MTV animation showcase Liquid Television. Much like Kablam!'s producers wanted to feature independent artists, Liquid Television creators encouraged animators to be as transgressive as they could get. Even without a formal animation department, the creativity flowed out of the on-air promotion team.
Liquid Television followed in the footsteps of another beloved show - Mystery Science Theatre 3000 - in making irreverent entertainment that would capture a whole new generation. A cynical and disillusioned group of Gen X teens and young adults were looking for shows and movies that reflected their outlook on the world. MTV would provide the space for all that disenfranchisement to call home. The legacy of Liquid Television can be seen in other titles on this list as well as in animation that is streaming today.
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