You know how we tend to forget stuff from our childhood just to remember it entirely out of the blue, like twenty years later? Well, here’s one of those things that will surely bring tons of nostalgia — forgotten 2000s cartoons.
Yup, the adorable old cartoon network shows you loved as a kid but had forgotten completely until you saw them included in our most iconic cartoons list! So, are you ready to take a walk down the most pleasurable memory lane? Sure you are when the likes of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast or Sagwa the Siamese Cat accompany you!
These early 2000s kids’ shows will bring back tons of memories of when you spent weekend mornings in PJs lying in front of the TV at ungodly early hours. It will also make you nostalgic about the 2000s. Those were the days when life was simple and the world was a more colorful place.
And let’s face it – the stories and creativity of these childhood cartoons were next level! Remember the wacky, slapstick show I Am Weasel or The Mighty Ducks that had the catchiest theme song? They don’t make shows like that anymore!
These cartoons were our Saturday morning companions that brought joy into our lives and gave us relatable quotes that are still relevant today. But as time passes, some of these beloved cartoons have been forgotten, overshadowed by newer releases, or buried beneath the sands of time.
So, let’s rediscover cartoons from the 2000s – the shows that made us laugh, cry, and believe in the magic of animated storytelling.
Scroll down below to read our picks of early 2000s cartoons that are still pretty iconic. Don’t forget to give your favorite cartoons a vote! And lastly, show this article to your friends and share the bittersweet nostalgia with them.
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"Dexter's Laboratory"
A boy genius with rivals (including his sister!) in every corner makes for an undeniably legendary series. Omelette du Fromage, anyone?
"Gargoyles"
Dark, clever, complex and with multi-layered characters, Gargoyles was a really influential series in the 90s. Who's up for a refresher?
"Courage The Cowardly Dog"
Courage the Cowardly Dog is an absolute icon in the world of animated series. Although we wouldn't necessarily call it a 'series for kids,' it was (and still is) a heck of an entertaining (and scary!) show.
I loved Courage, I always felt sorry for him as he was an unsung hero <3
"Adventures Of The Gummi Bears"
Cute, adorable, and entertaining! Also, remember the catchy theme tune?
P.S.: It was definitely the most popular animated series based around a confectionary.
What Was the Animated Spy Show in The Early 2000s?
Totally Spies!
This series first aired in 2001 and continued until 2014. Totally Spies! follows the adventures of three teenage girls, Sam, Clover, and Alex, who are recruited by a secret organization to become international spies. Each episode had a new mission in each episode, often taking them to exotic locations and pitting them against supervillains, evil geniuses, and even fellow spies.
These boy-crazy fashionistas had it all – gadgets, glam, and globe-trotting missions! And when they weren’t saving the world, they were juggling school, dating, and friendship drama like real teenagers.
"Beetlejuice"
Morbid and wacky Netherworld, awesome characters, and kooky adventures was a gift sent from heaven to those who hadn't got enough of the Beetlejuice movie.
"The Wild Thornberrys"
Fun wildlife adventures - check, a moody teen - check, a crazy professor-type father - double check! Add tons of adventures and crazy events to the mix and you have a show that's unlike any other.
"I Am Weasel"
Wacky and full of slapstick comedy played out by the wackiest characters is what turned I Am Weasel into an undying classic.
"David The Gnome"
Based on the book series, David the Gnome animation was a surprise hit worldwide. And no wonder - it's a beautiful story with just the right amount of morals.
What Did 2010 Kids Watch?
These were some of the most popular shows in the 2010s.
- Adventure Time: This animated series followed the adventures of a boy named Finn and his magical dog, Jake, in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo.
- My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Yes, My Little Pony is old! It first launched in 2010 and has gained a substantial following since then.
- SpongeBob Square Pants: SpongeBob first came out in 1999 but is still an iconic show for kids and adults alike.
- Phineas and Ferb: This animated show followed the summer adventures of stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb as they came up with wild and imaginative projects.
- Teen Titans Go!: A lighthearted and humorous take on the Teen Titans superheroes.
- Doc McStuffins: A popular show for younger children, it featured a girl who could bring her toys to life and heal them.
"Franklin"
It's like TMNT, but cute, adorable, and for little kids. You know what, it's nothing like TMNT except for a turtle protagonist who "{could count by twos and tie his shows." We rate Franklin very high!
"Little Bear"
If you're looking for the most wholesome cartoon ever, stop your search - this is it.
"The Mighty Ducks"
Try looking at the image, without singing the Might Ducks theme song! Impossible, right!
"Biker Mice From Mars"
If the concept of biker mice was a bit too weak for that, the creator of the series just up and put them on steroids - now, they are biker mice from mars and that's all you need to know about the series.
YES! When i was shorter i always played with the brown ones action figure.. now that im taller-the cyborg is obviously WAY cooler
What Was the Kids’ Show in the Early 2000s With Monsters?
Seven Little Monsters! Kids’ shows in the 2000s were full of fantasies and cute monsters, and Seven Little Monsters was right up there! This wildly popular series followed the adventures of the seven children in the Monster family, named one through seven.
Each of the monsters had a unique personality and characteristics. One, the eldest, was responsible and serious, while Seven, the youngest, was a naughty baby monster. They lived in a colorful and quirky house and often got into comical adventures.
"Max And Ruby"
White bunny rabbits are the ticket to cuteness and a sure way for an animated series to become iconic.
"Street Sharks"
Absolutely bizarre action/comedy series that gained an iconic status for its cheesiness and a top-notch representation of 90s pop culture.
"Braceface"
Everyone who has ever worn braces know them to be the worst devil contraptions ever. That's why we all needed to see someone like Sharon Spitz on screen with her power-giving braces to inspire us, brace-wearers.
Not to mention the headgear....geez the headgear and the rubber bands.
"Earthworm Jim"
Earthworm Jim was probably one of the most successful video game adaptations into animated series. At least in our book!
How to Find An Old Cartoon?
There are plenty of platforms that still show old cartoons from the 2000s. You can tune into channels such as Boomerang or Cartoon Network on TV. Subscription-based apps like Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney Kids also have a vast collection of old Cartoon Network shows. And if you want to watch them for free, there’s always YouTube.
"My Life As A Teenage Robot"
If you thought that being a teenager is hard as it is, then think again - it's even more disastrous when you're a teenage robot!
"The Pirates Of Dark Water"
After watching this series, we're pretty certain that the alien oceanic world is very under-represented and there absolutely be much more obscure series just like this.
I bought a pirated set of the DVD entire series once for my husband when we were dating since there was no official DVD release
"Liberty's Kids"
If you've missed a history lesson at school, catching an episode of Liberty's Kids was your second-best bet to catch up.
Omg my class just finished watching it for Social Studies and I’m sad 😞
"The Real Adventures Of Jonny Quest"
Anyone who watched this series as a kid had an unexplained love for the X-Files later in life. Fact.
"Dragon Tales"
Dragons and friendship, friendship and kids, kids and tons of fun adventures... Sure brings a heck of a lot of nostalgia.
"Catscratch"
Okay, inheriting a fortune is always a fun scenario to think about, but what if it's three cats that inherited it?
"Chalkzone"
Its original animation style and probably one of the best theme songs ever is a recipe for a great animated series!
P.S.: If you forgot how it sounds, definitely google Chalkzone's theme song.
"Life With Louie"
Life with Louie was a cartoon series about events from Louie Anderson's own childhood combined with material from his own stand-up. So, if you're up for real stories, give this animation a try.
"Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes"
We're always in for a series featuring a tomato turned human, just for the sake of the silliness of it.
"Dave The Barbarian"
What an amazing show Dave The Barbarian was! A barbarian hunk who enjoyed knitting and cooking was a perfect way to crush gender roles.
"Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron"
Anthropomorphic feline vigilante pilots. That's all you need to know about this show, basically.
"Mighty Max"
Admit it, you also wanted to own a magical baseball cap, didn't you? However silly the premise was, the series did an awesome job incorporating actual educational material into each episode.
I was obsessed as a little girl with this show. I had the “Polly pocket” like things from it too
"Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat"
If you didn't want a Siamese cat after watching Sagwa on screen, there might've been something wrong with you.
I need to be able to watch this. Now!!! I miss it, on of my favorites.❤️
"Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi"
We're pretty certain that Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi was created as a carrier for Japanese pop music to an American audience. Even if it wasn't the case, we still loved it!
"6teen"
6teen centered around six teens who were all around the age of sixteen. Clever name, huh? Although most of the events took pace in a mall, it was still a very entertaining show to watch.
"Cyberchase"
As far as educational, science fiction animated children's series go, Cyberchase has to be the best! Earthling kids in cyberspace - check, evil Hacker - check, tons of fun - also check. By the way, the series are still going strong on PBS Kids.
"Mortal Kombat: Defenders Of The Realm"
The 90s were all about Mortal Kombat, and the Mortal Kombat series was all about the 90s pop culture. Rewatch it for a solid dose of nostalgia!
"Dumb And Dumber"
Although the Dumb and Dumber series failed miserably to mimick the genius of Jim Carrey and got canceled after the first season, we still think it was a pretty iconic show!
"Maisy"
Maisy is one of those awesome examples showing that you don't need a speaking protagonist to captive the viewers!
"Dog City"
We're thinking that our inexplicable love for dog started with this series, no matter how weird it was.
"Seven Little Monsters"
Although the title described them as 'little' they were, in fact, pretty large, with larger-than-life personalities, and tons of fun adventures to go on to.
"Oswald"
Living in big cities should always come with manuals. Preferably, as cute as this one, with Oswald and his wiener dog, Weenie. Adult version, please!
"Maya And Miguel"
Here's a question - was Maya's glow-up hairband magic or were here ideas so good that the hairband literally started glowing because of their sheer power and generated thought-heat?
"ReBoot"
CGI-animated and action-filled, this series sure saw tons of adventures. Oh, and colorful protagonists, too!
"Road Rovers"
If you're a fan of the animal action team concept, you will love Road Rovers. And if you watched this series when you were a kid, it will sure bring you loads of nostalgia now!
"KaBlam!"
We loved the positive weirdness and off-beat qualities of this series! Sadly, we only got four seasons of it, but you can feel its influence in many shows after.
"Stanley"
Stanley, the octagonal-head, six-haired prankster, always found us on the edge of our seats once he brought out The Great Big Book of Everything.
"PB&J Otter"
We double dare you to name a more iconic sibling trio than Peanut, Butter, and Jelly! We'll wait.
"George Shrinks"
It's always fun to imagine the world if you were three inches tall, and this series fuelled our curiosity of the miniature world.
"Mutant League"
Welcome to the world of wild, gory, and cheesy exploits of mutant athletes! We can guarantee that you won't find anything as messy or as entertaining these days.
"Ronin Warriors"
Mythical samurai and magical weapons were all we needed in the 80s. However, looking back, we think this series was actually a bit dull! That's not to say it isn;t legendary.
"Maggie And The Ferocious Beast"
Maggie will take you on tons of fun adventures in an imaginary land. And if that's not fun enough for you, just know that she's usually accompanied by Ferocious Beast and Hamilton Hocks (an adorable swine) on her quests.
"Rolie Polie Olie"
Besides the eye-hurting early 2000s CGI animation, Rolie Polie Olie sure was a ton of fun. After all, how could a round robot not be entertaining?
My kids loved this when little ... that theme song though such a earworm arghhh !!
"Bucky O'Hare And The Toad Wars"
Bucky O'Hare, a mutant rabbit, was known to fight toads in space. Sounds fun, right? However, too many viewers deemed this show to be a TMNT rip-off and chose to watch the real deal instead.
"Savage Dragon"
Yup, it was based on the Savage Dragon comic books and was quite faithful to the original story which is always a refreshing thing with animated series!
