Animation has come a long way since its inception in the early 20th century. Decreasing production costs andnew technologyhave allowed animation studios to imagine more vivid worlds than could be dreamed of in the realm of live-action. In particular, the 2000s television landscape included some of the best animated content ever created, and Gen Z is an incredibly lucky generation for having grown up with these series.
Even though huge parts of the audience for these television shows are children, all of them defy the unfortunately popular cultural assumption that animation is “for kids." It is thanks to the work of these creators and animators abroad that studios like Netflix andMarvel are now investing in animated contentfor all age ranges. Here are the top ten animated TV shows of the 2000s.
Updated on September 21st, 2023, byGargi Chatterjee:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
15Futurama
A cryogenically frozen man wakes up in the 31st century and tries to find a new life. The premise of this science-fiction comedy TV show and simple animation style lends itself to some gut-busting laughs. Created by Matt Groening,Futuramashares a sense of humor with the creator’s other notable television work,The Simpsons.
The series often includes jokes sometimes considered esoteric, like humor for nerds, mathematicians, scientists, and pop culture enthusiasts. Many episodes are also satirical takes on movies, like the notable episode titled “Godfellas”. The series has been syndicated, canceled, and rebooted across different networks in the last decade, and now exists as reruns on its old home, Adult Swim.
14Ed, Edd, n Eddy
The famous 2000s showEd, Edd n Eddyrevolves around three friends named Ed, Edd, and Eddy, known as The Eds, who live in a fictional town named Peach Creek. They have a few friends in their neighborhood who also make regular appearances on the show.
They also have a rivalry with three girls known as the Kanker sisters, Mary, Lee, and May. Their various plans to con other people out of money often fail and leave them in really painful, but hilarious situations. The show started back in 1999 and concluded with a movie namedEd, Edd, n Eddy’s Big Picture Show, which came out in 2009.
13Codename: Kids Next Door
Every story that has brought the idea of child spies to life has been on to something, andCodename: Kids Next Dooris perhaps the best at capturing that thrilling reality. The show follows five kids named Number 1, Number 2, Number 3, and so on.
They make up part of a global network of kids engaged in espionage, fighting adults and children alike who push for evil concepts like homework and flossing. To a child, the show is every bit as imaginative as young minds can be in the effort of bringing drama and romance to your own life. To older viewers, it’s a stylish and bold adventure with heart and wit at its back.
12Teen Titans
Like most other entries on this list,Teen Titansbecame iconic upon its release. The show follows a group of young superheroes of the same name, which are all characters taken from DC material. Though it was intended for a younger audience, the show resonated with a wide variety of viewers and later seasons focused on darker and more complex storylines.
The vibrant setting and exciting stories ripe with intrigue and character development madeTeen Titansstand out among its peers. The team of superheroes has been re-imagined in other DC material, most notably in several DC animated movies.Titans, a live-action adaptation of the team’s comic book origins,has been renewed for a fourth season.
11Kim Possible
One of the most famous animated shows of the 2000s wasKim Possiblewhich premiered in 2002. This show centered around a teenage girl named Kim Possible and her adventures as a crime fighter, while also focusing on her struggles as an adolescent girl in everyday situations.
The main villains that Kim had to fight in the show were Dr. Drakken and his far more powerful and intelligent sidekick Shego. The series also had a crossover withLilo and Stitch the Seriesand finally ended in 2007. The show is still extremely popular as one of the few shows with a badass female protagonist who can juggle two parts of her life spectacularly.
Related:Best Disney Channel Animated Series From the 2000s, Ranke
10Samurai Jack
From the mind of Genndy Tartakovsky (creator ofDexter’s Laboratory),Samurai Jackfollows the mythical adventures of the titular samurai in his quest against the demon Aku, with a storyline that takes place across multiple settings and eras in history.
The animation was visually distinct for its time, and many consider it some of the best visual arrangements of any animated show. The series has been critically acclaimed and won numerous awards including an Emmy. During its run in the 2000s, the story spanned four seasons which did not conclude the story, and a fifth season was released in 2017.
An alien watch strapped to one’s wrist that transforms the wearer into different alien creatures with different powers?Ben 10’s premise struck gold, and the show stuck in the minds of its viewers through many sequel series’ and reboots.
The franchise now spans six animated series and five films,with more content planned for the future. The original series, grounded in the struggle of Ben’s family and enigmatic uncle as they race to stop different alien threats, resonated with kids and older audiences alike.
8The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandycenters around an unintelligent and happy-go-lucky boy named Billy and a girl named Mandy who is pessimistic, cynical, and remorseless. One day, Mandy wins a game of limbo against a Grim Reaper named Grim to save Billy’s pet hamster and gains Grim as their friend.
Even though the reaper is not too happy to be serving two children, they slowly become true friends through various otherworldly adventures. The show is really fun to watch as there are a lot of supernatural events, locations, and creatures that appear in it. The show ran from 2001 to 2006 and was one of the most popular shows on Cartoon Network during that time.
7What’s New Scooby Doo
This iteration of the Scooby Doo franchise was the modern update to the original series made in the 1970’s. It follows the adventures of Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby, members of the mystery-investigating gang known as Mystery Inc.
The series does not have an overarching narrative, instead focusing on mystery-of-the-week style episodes. The camaraderie of the gang, all of whom ooze wit and comedic zeal, bring these already intriguing mysteries to life for viewers of all ages.
6The Boondocks
The Boondocksremains one of the most controversial cartoon television shows for its boldness in approaching divisive subject matter. It follows the Freemans, a black family who move to a largely white suburb and navigate life in America with good humor and drama.
The show frequently discusses and offers opinions on controversial topics that, as a result, divide viewers with different opinions. It’s unflinchingly honest about the severity and place of those issues and manages to weave many entertaining narratives about them.
Related:These Are the 10 Best Villains of the DC Animated Movie Universe, Ranked
