Youth is called the formative years for good reason, as little minds develop and soak in as much information as possible to prepare them for the nightmare that is adulthood. Media consumed as children can be a perilous journey. Yes, there are rating systems, but what kid is not attracted by the taboo of seeing something they shouldn’t or just getting caught up in the flicker of a screen displaying something unknown? TV has been integral in creating these types of memories, sometimes with an entire series staying consistent in its confusion and scarring of young minds, and others surprising viewers with a few select episodes which to this day still feel impactful.
These 10 TV shows from the1990smay have helped shape our interests in media as adults, but as kids, they certainly left their mark.
10’Courage the Cowardly Dog' (1999 – 2002)
One of thebest shows that Cartoon Network put out in the ’90s.Courage the Cowardly Dogpresented a surreal and sometimes nightmarish world, where a dog living in a small, remote home was frequently subjected to terrifying imagery and unsettling events. Often surreal, dark, and emotionally intense, the show has continued to resonate with many long past its initial airing.
Inspiring Online Urban Legends and Creepy Pastas
Highlighting the show’s staying power,Courage the Cowardly Doghas become the subject of many Creepy Pastas, with fans who saw it when they were young using it as inspiration to craft their own stories. Notably, the fictionalized ‘final episode’ which was deemed too terrifying and never aired on TV remains a classic online tale. Still, the themes of isolation, horror, and uncanny approach to animation don’t need new interpretations of the work to terrify younger audiences.
9’The Ren & Stimpy Show' (1991 – 1996)
Is there any other show that is more influential yet equally disappointing at the same time?The Ren and Stimpy Showwould land on the TV screen and instantly become controversial, making it all the more alluring for children to check out; it was one of those shows you knew whose parents would allow it at their home and go there. Pushing the boundaries of good taste, the show was met with ire for its gross-out content delivered without any absolute morality; Ren and Stimpy were always flawed and never learned their lesson.
Groundbreaking and Unapologetic About Traumatizing Kids
Dealing with themes of depression and anger in specific episodes was a lot to take in, especially when accompanied by the gross-out visuals and sexually suggestive themes. The uproarious cartoon was certainly brain-breaking for many children growing up with it, yet the show held a sad truth that would be more ruinous. Many would come to learn that creator John Kricfalusi was later alleged to be involved in various unsavory altercations with young fans. While these instances were alleged, the mere thought certainly left a dark cloud over the many kids who grew up with the show.
8’Are You Afraid of the Dark?' (1990 – 2000)
While not as widely distributed as other anthology shows at the time, likeGoosebumps, due to its initial airing on YTV, a Canadian network,Are You Afraid of the Dark?remains as one of the most well-written and scary shows of its kind in the 90s. Here, young viewers would tune in to watch a memorable cast of other kids telling stories around the campfire, with each taking turns trying to scare each other.
The Scariest Horror Anthology Series Aimed at Kids
The writers behindYou Are Afraid of the Dark?were not afraid to try to touch on common fears and deliver them in a way that both delighted and terrified their audience. Killer clowns, strangers lurking around corners, ghosts, being abandoned by your family. These were just the beginning of the types of common phobias the show explored. Specific episodes have stood the test of time, either due to phenomenal and nightmare-inducing practical effects, or touching on more meta horror, which confounded kids while also keeping them up at night pondering existence; good times!
7’Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1997 – 2003)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer’sinfluence on television runs deep, bringing interest in the supernatural and horror in a way that would spin off into countless other shows, including the phenomenally underratedAngel TV series.The show would primarily deliver episodic episodes light on horror, backed by a phenomenal cast that many kids felt they grew up with across 7 seasons and 144 episodes.
Surprisingly Horrific Episodes and Character Deaths
While Buffy remained broadly accessible due to its drama focus, it made many viewers feel like they were working along with Buffy and her friends to stop evil. Yet,specific episodes here are frightening, as many will be quick to tell you how much the episodeHush, with its silent stalking demons, scarred them.At the same time, the show’s willingness to evolve with complex plots as the series progressed saw key characters die; even though we knew Buffy was going to come back when she sacrificed herself in season 5, it did not make the loss any less shocking.
6’X-Files' (1993 – 2018)
Across 11 seasons and 218 episodes, not to mention movie, comics, and video games spin-offs,X-Filesis one of the mostnotable cult favorite TV series to come out of the 90s. Following Agents Mulder and Scully, the series would weave grander conspiracies across its seasons, while delivering countless episodic stories into the extraordinary, the horrific, supernatural, and extraterrestrial.
Some Episodes Caught Young Viewers Off Guard
The program’s popularity made it more accessible to a broader audience. Although the show wasn’t aimed at kids, many youths found themselves tuning in.While some episodes were filled with intrigue, others were pure horror. Notably, season 2, episode 4’s “Home” was a controversial one, with Fox refusing to re-air the episode for years. Delving into backwoods horror similar toThe Hills Have EyesorWrong Turn, the episode featured a cannibalistic, inbred family. This is just one of many examples, but many kids can remember at least one episode that shook them to the core and haunted them throughout their childhood.
5’Batman: The Animated Series' (1992 – 1995)
Groundbreaking television that made a whole generation of kids obsessed with the Caped Crusader, as the creators ofBatman: The Animated Series, understood that kids did not need watered-down stories or constant in-your-face sound to stay engaged. The animated series had a more nuanced and atmospheric approach to storytelling that became highly influential.
Surprising Its Young Audience with Moral Ambiguity
The series' mature and considered approach to storytelling, however, did lead to some episodes hitting pretty hard, particularly when it waslooking to humanize its villains and show how the lines between good and evil are never as clear-cut as theyseem. The episode “Heart of Ice” is often pointed to whendiscussing the show’s brilliance, painting Mr. Freeze as a deeply tragic villain, wracked with personal demons and living in perpetual suffering for his mistakes. For little minds, moral ambiguity can be a lot to grapple with, butBatman: The Animated Seriesdelivered heavy themes in a way that paid off later in life for its young fans.
4’Eerie, Indiana' (1991 – 1992)
Moving to a new town is traumatizing enough for a small kid. Still, for those tuning in, Marshall Teller’s arrival at the fictional city of Eerie, Indiana, turned the idea into pure nightmare fuel. While only lasting one season, the show has garnered an endearing cult following.The mix of supernatural horror and suburban bizarreness is a delectably macabre blend that sometimes presented disturbing scenarios to its young viewers.
Nightmares in Suburbia
Growing up, there was always the fear of strangers, butEerie, Indianaupped that natural anxiety and upped it with parents who kept their kids ‘fresh’ in Tupperware coffins, of an orthodontist that installed experimental devices that allow people to talk with dogs; who, of course, are plotting humanity’s demise. The show is considered ahead of its time with its dark stories and satirical approach to suburban life. Underappreciated on its release, only 19 episodes were made.
3’ReBoot' (1994 – 2001)
While dated by today’s standards,ReBoot’svisuals were revolutionary for the time, and had many kids wondering what the future of television would look like. While that alone had some kids' heads swimming in possibilities, elements like the frightening and unpredictable villain Hexadecimal were many kids' first introduction to a “Chaotic Neutral” character.
Video Games and Death
The idea that humans live inside computers was also a novel yet upsetting concept, let alone that we could accidentally kill them. The series' transition between seasons, which saw many of its characters perish in a game, still haunts many kids to this day. Thankfully, for those who want to avoid ruinous childhood memories, this is another example of Canucks being crazy, with the show having somewhat limited reach outside of Canada.
Cultural iconsBeavis and Butt-Headdefined the ’90s, characterized by their dark humor and slacker attitudes, as well as their influence on music. Making a mockery of everything, while being entertainingly stupid, inspired generations of kids to embrace their inner idiot; whether that is for the good or bad is up for debate. Still,the show would also have its adverse effects, especially on a younger audience who would not fully conceptualize the brilliant societal satire it was at its release.
To say parents hatedBeavis and Buttheadduring this era is an understatement. While their concerns were largely invalid, it’s undeniable that some kids spent their early lives painfully trying to imitate the two, to their detriment. The violence and disregard for authority certainly shaped some to be rebellious and make some embarrassing life choices that still replay in memory into adulthood.
1’Dinosaurs' (1991 – 1994)
Set in the year 60,000,003 BC,Dinosaursturned a family of prehistoric beasts into a sitcom family complete with a baby (remember, you have to love him). The show was aimed at both kids and adults, with visuals constructed by the Jim Henson Company, and tackled deeper societal issues aimed at adults.
The Most Shocking Ending in Children’s Television
Some may have loved dinosaur visuals, but to others, there was an uncomfortable uncanniness to their designs that led more to discomfort than enjoyment. However, it is the show’s series finale that will be remembered for ruining the childhoods of many. Leaving the family alone in an apocalyptic wasteland, knowing that they will inevitably die, is not precisely the kid-friendly conclusion that one would expect from the show. This was seen as a contentious choice to finish the series, but at the same time, people still talk about it today.
