20 Truly Great Cartoons From The 2000s

TV & Film

Nov 30

As the popularity of adult cartoons and anime continues to boom, it is no surprise that many people are wanting to go back and watch some of their old childhood favorites. The 1990s and 2000s were two of the best decades for cartoons, and thankfully, many streaming services have picked up these cartoons, making them easier than ever to watch.

While many cartoons have gone viral on social media, there are others that have fallen to the wayside. Not to worry, I have compiled a list of 20 cartoons from the 2000s that I think are some of the best to come out of the decade. I have even listed where you can find them, so you can go watch them the second you’re done here!

RELATED:

Featured

Which Addams Has Been The Kookiest, Spookiest, And/Or Ookiest?

20. All Grown Up! (2003-2008)

This show was hit or miss with many fans, but I loved it. Getting to follow the Rugrats characters to high school, where they tackled different kinds of issues, was a lot of fun and a great way for fans to continue enjoying their favorite characters as they got older!

All Grown Up! is available to watch on Paramount+.

19. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (2001- 2007)

This show was the perfect balance of horror and comedy. Reminiscent of Courage the Cowardly Dog, the show followed the unique adventures of two kids who become friends with the Grim Reaper after they beat him in a game of limbo. The show is as ridiculous as its synopsis, and it is truly a gem that everyone should see!

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy is available to watch on HBO Max.

18. Chalk Zone (2002- 2008)

This show is widely underrated and has flown under the radar of so many people! This was one of the most unique shows on television and not only taught kids about teamwork, but it also taught adults about how important imagination and creativity are for children. The show followed a young boy who discovered that anything he drew with chalk came to life, and he could create a portal to a chalk world. One of the first things he drew was a best friend that he then would go on different adventures with.

Chalk Zone is available to watch on Paramount+.

17. My Life as a Teenage Robot (2003- 2007)

Similar to Chalk Zone, this show is criminally underrated! The show was about Jenny, a teenage robot who was trying her best to fit in at her public high school. The creators did a great job of tackling issues like acne, puberty, crushes, and bullies in a unique way by making them robot-focused. Jenny was likable and relatable even though she was made of metal.

My Life as a Teenage Robot is available to watch on Paramount+.

16. Duck Dodgers (2003- 2005)

This modern take on Looney Tunes did a great job of bringing the characters to a modern audience. While Baby Looney Tunes also came out in the 2000s, it did not receive the same level of reception as Duck Dodgers. This show also paved the way for series like The Looney Tune Show, which was an absolute gem that aired in the 2010s.

Duck Dodgers is available to watch on Boomerang.

15. Codename: Kids Next Door (2002- 2008)

This show was an absolute blast! Like many other shows on this list, the characters tackled important issues that kids face, but this show did it in a way that was fun and completely unique. Each episode felt like a spy movie for kids, and featured the coolest treehouse ever! I’m still jealous of those awesome sleepovers!

Codename: Kids Next Door is available to watch on HBO Max.

14. Tom and Jerry Tales (2006- 2008)

It was clearly a trend in the 2000s to create more modern versions of classic fan-favorite characters. This show was one of the best modern iterations of the old cartoon, and it brought the violence and humor of the original show minus the problematic content.

Tom and Jerry Tales is available to watch on Boomerang.

13. What’s New Scooby-Doo (2002- 2006)

While this show was not as good as the earlier Scooby-Doo series, it gave a new generation of fans their own Scooby-Doo show to watch so that we didn’t have to only rely on the old reruns. This show also paved the way for fantastic series like Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. that aired in the 2010s.

What’s New Scooby-Doo is available to watch on HBO Max.

12. Kim Possible (2002- 2007)

When the show first aired, it featured a strong female spy and villain who were matched with goofier and sometimes incompetent male counterparts. This was something that many of us millennials hadn’t seen before since most of our content was male leads with female counterparts that were typically just there as sex appeal. In 2022, Kim and Shego become LGBTQIA+ icons, and many regularly cosplayed as them on social media.

Kim Possible is available to watch on Disney+.

11. Invader Zim (2001- 2006)

This horror-comedy was truly terrifying for most millennials. The horror was perfectly matched with the comedy of watching the main characters, Zim and Gir, failed miserably at practically everything they tried. This show is even much more fun to watch as an adult!

Invader Zim is available to watch on Paramount+.

10. Teen Titans (2003- 2006)

While I am a bigger fan of Teen Titans Go!, this show was iconic. The show was the opposite of practically every other show at the time. It was dark and gritty, which drew audiences in and kept them interested. Its style was reminiscent of series from the 90s like Batman the Animated Series, which appealed to a vast majority of the audience. The show also dove into dark topics that centered around the young adult protagonists.

Teen Titans is available to watch on HBO Max.

9. Danny Phantom (2004- 2007)

If you have spent any time on TikTok in the last year, then you know that this show is making a huge comeback! Many Gen-Zers are just now discovering the show, and if their videos are any indication, they are obsessed. At face value, it was a simple and funny show, but under the surface, the show explored what life was like for a teenager who was different—what a “normal” day looked like for them and what it was like to have absent parents or parents that work and weren’t always paying attention. The show had plenty of goofy episodes, but there were also some that really pulled at your heart.

Danny Phantom is available to watch on Paramount+.

8. The Proud Family (2001- 2005)

This show was truly ahead of its time, and I am so glad that Disney+ chose to reboot it! The show tackled the typical issues that are associated with preteens and teens, but then it went a step further by exploring race-specific issues that many of us were unaware of in the early and mid-2000s. This is a show that I did not fully appreciate until I became an adult.

The Proud Family is available to watch on Disney+.

7. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius (2002- 2006)

Jimmy Neutron was the Dexter’s Lab of the 2000s, and it was great! The show explored what life was like for a boy genius who was going to public school and had less-than-genius parents. The writers did a great job of exploring the complexities of Jimmy’s life in a way that most cartoons don’t.

The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius is available to watch on Paramount+.

6. The Fairly Odd Parents (2001- 2017)

The Fairy Odd Parents — Image Source: IMDb

This show will forever hold a special place in my heart. The Fairly Odd Parents show did a great job of exploring life as an only child, especially when it dealt with issues like bullying, loneliness, and first crushes. Cosmo and Wanda are still fan-favorite characters for most millennials, and “Christmas Every Day” is a must-watch episode every Christmas!

The Fairly Odd Parents is available to watch on Paramount+.

5. Futurama (1999- 2013)

This is the only Adult Swim cartoon on this list, but no 2000s cartoon list would be complete without it. This show was a riot, and I am ecstatic that Hulu has decided to reboot it! The early seasons of this show were just about having fun and seeing how far the creators could push the boundaries before they got in trouble. The later seasons started to develop more substance and actually dealt with some pretty heavy topics.

Futurama is available to watch on Hulu.

4. Totally Spies! (2001- 2014)

This show had it all, fashion, spies, cute guys, and great music! The show attempted to dive into important topics, but most of the episodes just focused on having fun, looking great, and stopping crime. I am still hoping that this show gets a reboot in the future!

Totally Spies is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

3. As Told by Ginger (2000-2006)

This show was a game-changer for me as a pre-teen. The main character, Ginger, took audiences along as she navigated her pre-teen years and attempted to survive until high school. The show dove deep into topics like puberty, bullies, and parents getting remarried. It is one of the best and most influential shows to come out of the 2000s.

As Told by Ginger is available to watch on Paramount+.

2. Regular Show (2009- 2017)

I am still not fully convinced that this show was made for kids. I love this show, and it is still something that I watch regularly (pun intended). The show was mostly nonsense, but there were certain episodes (“Skip’s Story”) that were more mature and pulled at your heartstrings. Plus, it featured the voice acting talents of Mark Hamill and Robert Englund! The show also has some of the best Halloween episodes of all time.

Regular Show is available to watch on HBO Max.

1. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

There is so much that could be said about how great this show was! Dave Filoni and George Lucas brought Star Wars to the small screen and made it something that adults and kids could enjoy together. It also explored a time period that had only previously been mentioned to fans but had never been seen. Plus, it gave us Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex!

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is available to watch on Disney+.

READ NEXT:

Featured