Nickelodeon has created some of the best cartoons taht formed the foundation of millions of
childhoods.
And one of the most memorable and culturally historic eras in the network’s history is,
of course, the 90’s.
And being huge fans of that era of Nick Toons, it got us thinking.
What were the greatest Nick Toons to come out of that decade?
And for that matter…
What were the worst?
In all honesty, it was such a strong time for Nickelodeon, that there really weren’t
that many duds.
But in our opinion, there are a few that stand out as not living up to the quality of the
time.
And perhaps the bigger decision is figuring out which of the shows were the best?
After all, this is the decade that gave us Rugrats, Rocko’s Modern Life, Doug, Ren
and Stimpy, Hey Arnold!
And Ahh!
Real Monsters.
I’m Brad with WickedBinge.
And today we’re counting down the Top 3 Best and Worst 90’s Nicktoons.
We know it’s a controversial subject, so let us know in the comment section if you
agree with our picks!
THE WORST
3.
The Wild Thornberrys
To kick off our list of the worst 90’s cartoon shows from Nickelodeon, we’ve picked a show
which might surprise you – that’s if you remember it, of course.
We’re talking about “The Wild Thornberrys”, a show which, sorry to say, is a bit forgetful.
Now, granted, this show definitely has its’ share of fans.
For example, Common Sense Media was generous enough to give the show a 5-star rating, arguing
that the show inspired young people to be more sensitive towards animal protection and
also to be more accepting of other cultures.
However, others haven’t been so kind.
While the show does offer relevant, thought-provoking ideas which can have a positive impact on
young kids’ minds, honestly, this show just doesn’t meet the grade of other shows released
during it’s time.
Ever since it came out, critics felt like there was something seriously lacking about
it.
For quite a few people, the whole animal-loving theme wasn’t strong enough to center an
entire series around.
Others feel that the cartoon lacks what many other cartoons usually prioritize: Comedy.
That the Wild Thorneberries was a little too serious at times and didn’t focus as heavily
on making audiences laugh.
Perhaps this is why the show has scored so lowly: it was just too serious of a show to
air for such a young audience.
That said, other cartoons have done this incredibly effectively…
So maybe the stars just didn’t align for The Wild Thornberries.
2.
Catdog
What if… we had a Cat… and a Dog?
And we put them together?
I mean, I guess that’s uh… something.
I think the biggest problem with this show is that it kind of lacked creativity.
Admittedly, most 90’s Nicktoons were watchable, so Catdog wasn’t the worst thing ever.
But at least with a show like The Wild Thornberries, there was a pretty elaborate story with unique
characters.
A lot of thought went into it and it was more than unique.
Catdog really just seems like something an executive thought up last minute because they
needed a new show.
It also lacked the heart that a lot of other Nick Toons of the era had.
Rugrats and Doug, for instance, had a lot of relatable moments -- and even shows that
were less about any sort of profound emotional or character development, such as Rocko’s
Modern life, really nailed the comedy and goofiness.
Obviously, cartoons don’t need to be about lessons or preachiness.
That’s what made Ren and Stimpy so hilarious.
The creators didn’t like the idea that cartoons had to instill values into children.
In their eyes, they were better served providing goofiness and entertainment.
But even if Catdog shared the same approach, the comedy just wasn’t on the same level,
and thus, it was really just kind of… forgettable.
1.
The Brothers Flub
We’d like to apologize in advance if you’re a fan of The Brothers Flub, but we regret
to inform you that this show has occupied the first place in our countdown of worst
90’s Nick toons.
Honestly, out of the shows which aired on Nickelodeon in the 90s, The Brothers Flub
was a complete flop which many 90s kids try to erase from their memory when recalling
their childhood -- whether they like to admit it or not.
This show has been criticized on all sides.
On one hand, the character design and development is extremely poor, something which some critics
feel as if the producers should have invested more in, especially considering that the storyline
had potential.
After all, with two alien brothers travelling in outer space, there is a lot of character
development that could happen.
Then, apart from the vapid-nature of the characters’ personalities, they lack charm.
Yes, they’re very hyper-energetic characters.
However, the manner in which they are portrayed makes them come across as irritating as opposed
to intriguing.
To make matters worse, the plots for most of the episodes were predictable.
If a plot is predictable, you can be sure that your audience will not be engaged.
All in all, it was an extremely forgettable show which Nickelodeon likely won’t be releasing
on Blue Ray any time soon.
Now, let’s move on to the best shows.
But before we do.
We want to make a quick note.
We are aware that Spongebob Squarepants technically came out in 1999.
But, that said, given the long run of the show (12 seasons) -- we’re making a judgement
call -- It’s a 2000’s show.
So despite it being one of my personal favorite cartoons, we’re not including it.
And yes, shows like Catdog, which originated in 1998 cut it close too.
But given it’s lifespan was far smaller -- a sizable chunk of it was released in the
90’s decade unlike Spongebob.
Let us know if we should do a Best and Worst 2000’s Nick Toons video.
But with that specification, let’s looks at the Best of the 90’s Nicktoons.
3.
Rugrats
If you’re a 90s kid, the name of this cartoon show will always bring back those nostalgic
cartoon memories of sitting in front of that television screen, absorbed in the moment,
enjoying this show.
It’s undoubtedly one of the quintessential 90s cartoon shows.
Why was this show so epic?
Well, first things first: it appealed to a wide audience.
I know it may sound strange that a cartoon series about toddlers going on adventures
could appeal to anyone but children, but in all honesty, it does!
The show is best described as a family show with great, intriguing, and well-developed
plots for most of the episodes.
The toddlers’ adventures were well crafted enough to pull in even older kids while not
boring parents who wanted to watch the show with their kids.
Afterall, the show focused on the parents as a B-plot -- and their banter, problems
and conversations were often relatable to parents at home.
It offered a lot to kids and wasn’t too serious of a show, but was also willing to
navigate complex, sensitive issues such as the loss of a mother (Mother’s Day) with
incredible finesse and delicacy.
It wasn’t too sentimental and raw for a child to assimilate the message negatively
but was done so well that a kid would value his or her mother even more.
Whether you’re a fan of the show or not, it’s undeniable that Rugrats was a well-developed
show which is a cornerstone of the 90s childhood experience.
Its popularity secures its position as the third longest-running cartoon series on Nickelodeon
and also a gem in the hearts of 90s kids.
2.
Doug
Honestly, out of all the cartoon shows which have aired on Nickelodeon, one which truly
encapsulates the joy and essence of being a teenager is Doug.
While it lasted only four seasons, this show gave us some of the best episodes ever seen
in a cartoon series in the 90s.
This show has ranked so highly for multiple reasons.
Firstly, the content of the show is so relevant for kids and budding adolescents.
Any show which follows the struggles of a teenager at school battling with self-esteem
issues, bullying, and acceptance is a show which has a relevant plot for teenagers throughout
the world.
So often, adolescents struggle with insecurities at school without any outlet.
Realizing that there is someone who is like them gives them the comfort of knowing that
they aren’t alone in the world.
What’s more, a lot of the messages and morals transmitted in the show, namely concerning
confidence, will encourage others who are unhappy with themselves to love themselves.
What’s more, thanks to the nature of the show’s storyline, Doug also features incredibly
dense character development.
Viewers feel connected to Doug and his story because they understand him.
What’s more, his daydreams of becoming a superhero are an interesting outlet his character
uses to get through his problems -- something that although seems goofy, is actually relatable
for many kids . In comparison to a television show like The Wild Thornberrys which also
handles dense themes and heavy subject matter, producers were able to manage the relevance
of teenage issues with the informality and charm of Doug’s character.
Doug is one of the best 90’s Nick Toons that really represented the early era of Nickelodeon.
1.
Hey Arnold
Topping our list of best 90’s Nick toons is none other than the brainchild of animator
Craig Bartlett, Hey Arnold.
The show focused on a 10 year old, football-headed city kid, named Arnold.
However, in comparison to the former, the show didn’t focus as much on the negative
aspect of adolescence as opposed to the fun, wild side of things.
Here’s why this show has topped our countdown.
Perhaps one of the best facets of this show was the amount of detail and care given to
development and detail of all the characters.
In terms of development, we definitely get an in-depth look at all sorts of real-life
issues.
For example, viewers get a detailed backstory of Helga, which describes her traumatic childhood
experience and feelings of neglect at the hands of her parents.
Because of this backstory, it helps the viewer understand why she is the person she is today.
The intertwining stories showcase bullying, poverty, loneliness, depression, loss and
dozens of other mature themes.
There are very few children shows that explore important issues to this degree.
And more often than not, it easily blends the seriousness with comedy.
For example, in the Veteran’s Day episode, Arnold and his best friend Gerald learn to
respect the veterans in their family for their military service -- an important message delivered
when Arnold’s grampa tells him the story in which he gave Hitler a wedgie.
Another important factor which makes the show so great is that Arnold is such a likeable
guy.
He spends his free time helping others solve their problems.
He’s such a giving person, so much so that when he finds himself in trouble, it’s sad.
His character is so pleasant and appeals to our sensitivity causing us to develop an emotional
bond and interest in his development.
Hey Arnold is the perfect 90’s Nick Toon.
It’s funny, entertaining and explore mature themes.
It’s a cartoon that didn’t treat kids like they were idiots -- and wasn’t afraid
to tackle serious themes without sacrificing the jokes.
A the character designs and animation style are very unique.
For better or worse, these shows will always have a place in our 90’s memories . We’d
love for you to share your thoughts on what you feel are the best and worst Nick Toons
of that era.
Don’t forget to like this video, subscribe and hit that notification bell.
But most importantly, stay wicked!