The 2000s are a decade that people originally weren’t supposed to see. At the turn of the century, it was thought all the world’s computers were going to crash due to the infamous Y2K bug. Instead, the decade introduced us to trends that defined the new millennium: frost-tipped hair, plain white t-shirts, and innovative cartoon shows.
The aughts, as fans have come to know them, would usher in a new era in cartoons. While theLooney Tunesand other animated shows were still popular with kids, the 2000 cartoons would open the door for more adult humor to make its way into the animated universe.The best cartoons from the 2000s can often inspire nostalgia with their simplicity and iconic characters that represent a long-gone era.
12’Danny Phantom' (2003 - 2007)
Creator: Butch Hartman
Some regardDanny Phantomas one of the lastgreat cartoons Nickelodeon produced, and with good reason.It’s a stellar entry among the early 2000s cartoons, coming fromButch Hartman(the guy behindThe Fairly Odd Parents) that mixes humor and action well for a pre-teen audience.
The show follows Daniel “Danny” Fenton (David Kaufman), a teen who accidentally turns himself into a half-ghost, becoming the titular superhero, “Danny Phantom.” If there is one criticism of this show, it’s that it had too short of a run, lasting for just three seasons.
Danny Phantom
Watch on Paramount+
11’Kim Possible' (2002 - 2007)
Creators: Bob Schooley, Mark McCorkle
Any fan’s early aughts childhood was not complete if they didn’t watchKim Possibleevery week – it’s hard to believe it’s one of theold cartoons from the 2000snow. The show follows the life of Kim Possible (Christy Carlson Romano), a high school student who is also a crime-fighter. Along with her sidekick and best friend Ron Stoppable (Will Friedle) and his pet mole-rat Rufus, the trio keeps the town of Middleton, USA safe from the dark corners of humanity.
Like Nickelodeon’sDanny Phantom,Kim Possiblehad a great mix of comedy and action that stayed suitable for the audience it was geared towards, and is, to this day, one of the best cartoons produced on the Disney Channel.
Kim Possible
Watch on Disney+
10’Fillmore!' (2002 - 2004)
Creator: Scott M. Gimple
For a long time, this Disney cartoon was largely forgotten; but hardcore fans rememberFillmore. The series follows Cornelius Fillmore (Orlando Brown), a 12-year-old who joins the safety patrol after being “arrested” for stealing a shipment of chalk.
A parody of the police procedural dramas of the ’70s,Fillmorehad a great voice cast and premise that kept both young and older audiences engaged with its plot.It truly was a shame that it only lasted 26 episodes, and the show could use a movie to give the show the ending it truly deserved.
9’Ben 10' (2005 - 2008)
Creator: Man of Action
When Ben Tennyson (Tara Strong) stumbles upon the powerful Omnitrix, his life literally changes as he gains the ability to transform into a variety of alien creatures with unique powers inBen 10. Alongside his cousin Gwen (Meagan Smith) and Grandpa Max (Paul Eiding), the young protagonist must master his newfound skills to stop an ever-growing threat of extraterrestrial villains.
WithBen 10’s wonderfully designed aliens, each more interesting than the last, and equally compelling characters, the show is a fantastic reminder of the excitement of viewers' childhoods.Every episode brings new thrilling adventures as Ben battles increasingly dangerous antagonists, and rewatching them today still carries a taste of those exhilarating moments.
Ben Tennyson, a 10-year-old boy, discovers a magical device that can turn him into 10 different alien heroes, each with its own unique abilities. With this newfound power, Ben, Grandpa Max and cousin Gwen help others and stop evildoers - but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t cause some superpowered kid mischief once and a while.
Watch on Netflix
8’The Fairly OddParents' (2001 - 2017)
For fans of old 2000s cartoons, it may feel likeThe Fairly OddParentsended just yesterday, and the series is still alive in audiences' hearts. It follows a seemingly ordinary boy, Timmy Turner (Tara Strong), whose life is never the same when he learns he has fairy godparents – Cosmo (Daran Norris) and Wanda (Susanne Blakeslee).
The Fairly OddParentsdepicts the trio’s misadventures as the godparents grant Timmy’s desires through their magical powers, which, of course, often have unintended consequences. With vibrant animation to complement its clever humor (that mixes in a few life lessons), it’s the perfect cartoon to watch as a kid that still needs to learn patience, hard work, and the true value of things.
The Fairly OddParents
7’The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy' (2001 - 2007)
Creator: Maxwell Atoms
This hilarious Cartoon Network show had a very wacky premise.A dimwitted boy, Billy (Richard Steven Horvitz), and a cynical girl, Mandy (Grey DeLisle), “befriend” the Grim Reaper (Greg Eagles) by beating him in a limbo contest and putting him in eternal servitude.
First premiering as a segment on theGrim & Evil Show,The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandyfound its audience and paved its path as one of the network’s best cartoons of the decade. Thougha largely forgotten 2000s cartoon– except for hardcore fans – it’s worth going back to check out what this show was an animated masterpiece of dark comedy.
Watch on Max
6’Star Wars: Clone Wars' (2003 - 2005)
Developer: Genndy Tartakovsky
Today, it’s common to seeStar Warsshows on streaming services, but in the early 2000s, there was one series that truly bridged the gap of the latest Star Wars universe:Star Wars: Clone Wars. Serving as an interquel to Episodes II and III,Clone Warsfollows Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) and Anakin Skywalker (Mat Lucas) as the Galactic Republic begins the fall under the weight of intergalactic warfare and the Sith.
Visually stunning and with a riveting storyline,Star Wars: Clone Warsmade it possible for George Lucas’ space opera to be told on the small screenwith the same zeal and action found in the films. It remains one of thebestStar WarsTV showsthat’s worth rewatching again today.
Star Wars: Clone Wars
5’Teen Titans' (2003 - 2006)
Creator: Glen Murakami
Thanks to its endless reruns on Cartoon Network, it seems thatTeen Titans Go!is the more mainstream adaptation of DC Comics' crime-fighting group. However, its predecessor is often hailed as the superior cartoon.
Debuting on Cartoon Network in 2003,Teen Titanswas a successful adaptation of the comic book series and was one of the more popular shows on the network for its five seasons. The series came to an end in 2006 and was subsequently rebooted asTeen Titans Go. The new series was more oriented towards a kiddie audience, much to the grumbling of fans of the original series.
Teen Titans
Watch on Prime Video
4’Invader Zim' (2001 - 2006)
Creator: Jhonen Vasquez
The premise ofInvader Zimwas this: a little alien named Zim (Richard Steven Horvitz) wanted to show how big and bad he was by conquering the Earth, only for numerous obstacles to get in his way of achieving his ultimate goal.
While that may seem light on the surface, this Nickelodeon cartoon was deeper and darker than what its premise hinted at. The animation was top-notch, and the series had that perfect mixture of comedy, action, and sci-fi, with some horror elements thrown in there to keep the older crowd entertained. While the premise was quirky and silly,Invader Zim’s shockingly dark episodespresented several storylines that constantly pushed the boundaries of its absurd nature.
Invader Zim
3’Samurai Jack' (2001 - 2017)
Creator: Genndy Tartakovsky
Words cannot express how visually beautifulSamurai Jackwas. Premiering on the Cartoon Network in 2001,Samurai Jackwas a principal showcase of just how innovative the showrunners at the network were in creating original content. The masterpiece follows a samurai prince (Phil LaMarr) who gets flung into the far future by the evil demon Aku (Mako) where he reigns supreme.
Called “Jack” by the denizens of the future, this nickname becomes the adopted name of the prince, andSamurai Jack fights to overcomeobstacles to defeat Aku once and for all. After its initial run,Samurai Jackgot a revival in 2017 that wrapped up its sweeping storyline. Once it was done, it was a sad farewell to a beautifully animated show that carved out its legacy.
Samurai Jack
A samurai, sent through time, fights to return home and save the world.
