90’s Cartoons You Totally Forgot About

Ahh, the 90’s. The 90’s were a glorious time for animated television series, and major studios like Nickelodeon, Disney, and Warner Brothers influenced the lives of millions of children, including me. It was like living through the industrial revolution, but with funny cartoons. You can bond with just about anyone by saying the words, “Did you ever watch [insert cartoon from childhood here]?” Most of these shows were an attempt to revolutionize television, and a lot of effort went into developing jokes that were entertaining for both kids and adults. With so many classics, here’s 7 cartoons from the 90’s that you totally forgot about:

Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (1994 – 1997)

Written from the perspective of children, this cartoon is all about three monsters, Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm, who are in monster school to learn how to scare humans.  They aren’t very good at it, and the show is really funny when you consider the difference in perspective between adult and kid audiences. The show is not scary, but it has some creepy action. Just right for a kid trying to grow up in the 90’s.

Doug (1991 – 1994)

One of Nickelodeon’s most successful debuts, Doug was a normal guy going through normal problems. Doug is at that awkward age in life when you learn how to make friends, start to fall in love, and have a ton of hormones raging through your body. The story takes place through Doug’s journal entries and is an example of the creative approach some of these cartoons took to entertain us. The show had memorable characters, and an endearing soundtrack.

Batman: The Animated Series (1992 – 1995)

Say what you will about cartoons, but this show is a work of art. No other cartoon from the decade contained so much complexity, and the show is pretty dark. With so many attempts at pulling off Batman outside of comic books, this adaptation might just be the best of all time. Some episodes drove me to tears, and Mark Hamill’s voicework as the Joker is iconic.

Animaniacs (1993 – 1998)

Even though the 90’s happened almost 30 years ago, I can still hear the classic theme song ringing in my head. This show is full of pop culture references and features a large cast of characters and guest appearances from other cartoons. Airing as a variety show, Animaniacs is littered with short skits aimed at making fun of the entertainment industry, and the show contains a lot of adult humor that you may not have noticed as a kid.

Freakazoid! (1995 – 1997)

Back in the days of dial-up internet (I can still hear that “theme song” too), computers were exploding into dominance, and this was one of the first cartoons in the 90’s based on the future of cyberspace. The main character gets sucked into his computer, spit back out, and now he can transform into a superhero at will, all because he was surfing the web. Don’t ask me how that makes any sense; this show was all about random humor at the expense of a nerdy kid that just wants to be cool but isn’t.

The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991 – 1996)

Probably one of the most disturbing cartoons of my childhood, but then again, a lot of these “kids shows” had adult content that went right over my head. Looking back, this one wasn’t as subtle as others on this list. This show is full of grim moments and constantly makes gross jokes about the body that probably wouldn’t be allowed on today’s television broadcasts. Nevertheless, I loved it, and, better still, so did my dad.

Rocko’s Modern Life (1993 – 1996)

If you ever wanted to know what daily life was like in the 90’s, this show is a great example. Rocko, an expatriate from Australia trying to fit into American life, is one of those characters that is such a lovable wallaby, you feel bad for him because nothing ever goes right. He goes through life dealing with young adult challenges, like friends eating your food, and is constantly engaged in misadventures. Even though Rocko’s life is a struggle, he keeps on trying and never gets angry. It’s not all so bad for Rocko though, his shirt is super cool. The show is set to receive an all-new TV special next year. Here’s the trailer, which debuted at this year’s San Diego Comic Con: