The 2000s marked a golden era for animation, and Cartoon Network defined Saturday mornings and after-school routines for an entire generation. While the channel launched iconic hits in the late nineties, its 2000s lineup shifted toward ambitious storytelling, surreal comedy, and genre-defining action. Looking back at these series reveals why they still hold up today.
Ranking the best 2000s Cartoon Network shows requires looking beyond pure nostalgia. Impact, writing quality, character design, and how well each series stands up to a modern rewatch matter just as much. Let's dive straight into the definitive ranking of the top ten shows that made the decade unforgettable.
10. The Powerpuff Girls
While Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup first hit television screens in 1998, the vast majority of their iconic run, merchandise empire, and cultural footprint defined the early 2000s. Created by Craig McCracken, the show paired sugar, spice, and everything nice with high-octane superhero brawls.
Townsville was constantly under siege by villains like Mojo Jojo, Him, and Fuzzy Lumpkins, giving the trio plenty of opportunities to save the world before bedtime. What made the series endure was its sharp contrast between adorable character aesthetics and clever, sometimes surprisingly dark satirical humor aimed at adult viewers. More insights on this are detailed by Variety.
9. Dexter's Laboratory
Genius boy inventor Dexter kept his ultra-advanced secret laboratory hidden behind a bookcase in his bedroom, much to the annoyance of his chaotic sister Dee Dee. Like its predecessor, Dexter's Laboratory anchored Cartoon Network's schedule through the turn of the millennium, cementing the network's creator-driven identity.
The episodes relied on rapid-fire visual gags, recurring segments like Dial M for Monkey and The Justice Friends, and Genndy Tartakovsky's distinct geometric art style. It laid the groundwork for the comedy-adventure hybrid shows that followed all through the decade.
8. Ed, Edd n Eddy
Few cartoons captured the chaotic, sunburned energy of long summer break quite like Ed, Edd n Eddy. Created by Danny Antonious, the show followed three neighborhood boys sharing similar names as they schemed to con their peers out of hard-earned pocket change for jawbreakers.
The Cul-de-Sac setting was a self-contained world devoid of adults, amplifying the stakes of every failed scam. The animation style featured jagged, shifting lines and vibrant, unnatural color palettes that gave the show a uniquely tactile, chaotic identity. It stands as the longest-running Cartoon Network original series of that era for good reason.
7. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
When a young boy named Mac is pressured to abandon his beloved imaginary friend Bloo, they discover a magnificent Victorian mansion dedicated to housing discarded creations from all over the world. Created by Craig McCracken once again, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends relied on fluid Flash animation that was remarkably polished for its time.
The sprawling cast—including Wilt, Eduardo, Coco, and the sharp-tongued Frankie—turned the foster home into a chaotic ecosystem of warmth and humor. It balanced heartfelt lessons about growing up with bizarre, fast-paced slapstick comedy. You can explore more about its production history via IMDb.
6. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
Blending suburban mundane life with genuine supernatural dread, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy gave Cartoon Network an deliciously dark comedic edge. After winning a limbo game against the literal Grim Reaper, two dim-witted children forced him into an eternal servitude of friendship.
The show thrived on gross-out gags, existential dread, and horror movie pastiches. Mandy’s unflinching cynicism contrasted sharply with Billy’s absolute vacancy of thought, creating a dynamic that subverted traditional children's television tropes at every turn.
5. Ben 10
When ten-year-old Ben Tennyson found an alien watch called the Omnitrix stuck to his wrist during a summer camping trip, his entire life flipped upside down. Ben 10 launched a massive multimedia franchise for good reason: it combined serialized comic-book action with clever sci-fi worldbuilding.
Ben could transform into ten distinct alien heroes, each with unique strengths and flaws. The show tackled themes of responsibility, family dynamics through his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max, and a genuinely threatening rogue's gallery led by Vilgax. It proved that children's animation could sustain serialized overarching plots without losing accessibility.
4. Codename: Kids Next Door
Adults are tyrants, vegetables are weapons, and children must organize to protect their freedom. Codename: Kids Next Door followed Sector V—five ten-year-old operatives known by their numbers, Numbuh 1 through 5—operating out of an impossibly large treehouse headquarters.
The show's ingenuity lay in its 2x4 technology, transforming everyday school supplies and household junk into fully functioning mechs, rocket launchers, and defense systems. Every mundane childhood grievance, from getting a haircut to visiting the dentist, was escalated into an epic espionage thriller.
3. What's New, Scooby-Doo?
Reviving a classic property for the 2000s generation, What's New, Scooby-Doo? modernized Mystery Inc. with a sleek art style, modern technology, snowboard chases, and a catchy theme song by Simple Plan.
While keeping the classic formula of unmasking real estate developers in rubber monster masks, the show embraced extreme sports, contemporary music, and fast-paced editing. It remains one of the best-executed legacy revivals in animation history, bridging classic Hanna-Barbera sensibilities with noughties pop culture.
2. Samurai Jack
Genndy Tartakovsky's masterpiece is a masterclass in visual storytelling. Samurai Jack followed a displaced warrior flung into a dystopian future ruled by the shape-shifting demon Aku, searching desperately for a portal back to his own time.
Dialogue was frequently sparse, letting breathtaking cinematic framing, ambient sound design, and sweeping orchestral scores carry the narrative. Action sequences played out like moving paintings, blending traditional Japanese folklore with sci-fi dystopia. It elevated the medium of television animation, proving that kids' networks could produce high art.
1. Teen Titans
At the pinnacle of 2000s animation sits Teen Titans. Developed by Glen Murakami and Sam Register, the series followed Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy as they lived together in Titans Tower, balancing teenage angst with city-saving heroics.
What made Teen Titans special was its seamless tonal balance. One episode could feature lighthearted anime-inspired comedy and food competitions, while the next would dive into heavy psychological trauma, sacrifice, and corruption arcs, particularly revolving around Raven and Terra. The character writing was nuanced, giving each hero room to grow, stumble, and bond. It captured the exact feeling of figuring out who you are while fighting the world's battles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I stream these classic Cartoon Network shows?
Streaming availability shifts frequently due to licensing agreements. However, many classic 2000s series are available for digital purchase on platforms like Prime Video or Apple TV, and select titles rotate through major streaming libraries. You can check official updates directly through the Warner Bros. Discovery corporate portal.
Why did 2000s cartoons look so different from modern animation?
The 2000s sat at a fascinating technical crossroads. Traditional hand-drawn cel animation was giving way to digital ink-and-paint, and early Flash animation was emerging. Studios like Cartoon Studios prioritized distinct, creator-driven art styles rather than standardized digital models, giving every show a unique visual signature.
Were these shows meant only for kids?
Not entirely. Many creators working during this era packed their scripts with subtle pop culture references, satirical jabs at corporate culture, and sophisticated subplots that appealed directly to teenagers and adults tuning in alongside younger siblings.
