15. Sonic Boom
Say what you want about this particular Sonic series, it was a 100x better than Sonic X. And while it resulted in one of the most hilariously disgraceful videogames SEGA has ever produced (although EVERY Sonic game is pretty bad), the cartoon made you forget how much your day sucked.
The series was an entire meme. And oh so meta. While most of the jokes had to be drilled into our brains, it’s always funny when the characters unwittingly make fun of themselves and compare to the original.
And let’s be honest, Knuckles’ feminist comment was golden. Practically the best thing said by Travis Willingham.
14. Unikitty
Cute. Colorful. Crazy.
Can I also mention that the brother-sister bond between Unikitty and Puppycorn is SO WHOLESOME? The best Tara Strong and Grey Delisle duo we’ve ever received since the good ol’ Fairly Odd Parents days (you know, when FOP used to be good).
Not as wholesome as Master Frown and Brock. Proof that bad guys can cherish friendship, and would definitely trade a life of desirable evil for it! Ed Bauza is an AMAZING voice actor, BTW. We all had chills during the opening number in the “Snow Day” episode.
And finally, there’s Hawkodile and Dr. Fox. Okay, let’s be honest, most of us simp for Hawkodile so hard. And half the time we question: What is he so desperate for somebody so dense and delusional as Dr. Fox? (This is why fanfiction and OCs exists)
While yes, the Unikingdom is a cesspool for chaos, it must beat whatever workplace you’re in!
13. Archibald’s Next Big Thing
Archibald is that sweet, lovable chicken who is a friend to everyone. While he’s not exactly the sharpest, his way always does a world of good.
There’s always a large variety of main and secondary characters who really add a lot of charm to every episode. My favorite is definitely “Crackridge Live!” from season 2. Pretty much every character that you’ve gotten to know in season 1 has a moment to shine in that episode. Best of all, it only happened because of Archibald’s attempt to help a friend out.
Shows with loving communities are always the best serotonin-giving cartoons!
12. Jellystone!
It was 30 years since Yogi Bear and the gang were last featured in a cartoon. And who better than the God of Chowder to bring them back?
Some people were hesitant because this was the cast reimagined, new voice-acting, and also the *ahem* gender-swapping…
...but boy were you guys wrong! This show is awesome if not better than the original Hanna-Barbera!
Greenblatt gave us a whole new spin on the HB universe! Sure, the love and charm of the original still sits deep within the roots of Yogi and the gang. Mixed with the modern humor that we laugh at today.
Take it from someone who would watch this before and after going to work. I worked at this one facility where the staff was just unlikable and no one seemed willing to train and help a newbie like me. I would go into work praying my shift would go by fast. Take my breaks wishing they could be longer. And go home drained and dreading my next shift. It was a very toxic environment before I finally found the courage to quit.
While this might sound narmy, what kept me going was watching episodes of Jellystone. Characters like Yogi Bear, El Kabong, and especially Augie Doggie kept me from breaking down during the work hours (I did cry one time on the way home).
FYI, Yogi is a doctor in this version. And there’s no way in hell he would have treated me the way those assholes at my former facility had.
I did find a new job soon after. With people who were just as kind and chaotic as the characters in Jellystone. So it pretty much feels like I just self-inserted myself into the cartoon!
It’s a great show, and if you’re going to be a dick and refuse to watch solely for the change of gender thing, then f*ck off. (That’s what I basically said to my former facility when I quit!)
11. Bonkers
Whether or not you think this is a poor attempt at a recreation of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, this was still a great cartoon. And if you grew up during the Disney Afternoon years, you know your childhood was the best.
Even as an adult, that childhood still continues. Especially since Bonkers is on DisneyPlus.
It’s a world where real people and cartoons co-exist. How much better does that sound? That’s the kind of world we want to live in (for some of us, we strongly believe we do live in such a world).
Big question: Lucky or Miranda?
Even after all these years, we still wonder if it’s all in the same universe, or two sides of a coin. For me, I’d like to think there are two different Bonkers, and both of them tend to drive their police partners (especially Lucky).
My favorite episode is definitely “Do Toons Dream of Animated Sheep?” solely for the fact that Professor Von Drake is in it. And that Baa-bra sounds like Fran Drescher. Oh, and that Darkwing Duck (who shares the same VA as Bonkers) made an appearance.
10. Go! Go! Cory Carson
So Pixar’s Cars may have lost its thunder since the second and third movie barely held up. And we’re really just done with all the rip-offs or horrible attempts at baby shows with talking machines.
Cory Carson is a cartoon that may have been made for a younger audience, but there’s a joke or two that only adults will get. And holy crap, do adults adore this show!
Beautifully animated with simplistic yet adorable design, this is one of those shows that is not just great for kids, but especially for people with no kids!
You think Lightning McQueen and Mater could hone the kind of humor this series produces? Not to mention this series shows GREAT respect for garbage trucks. The episode where Cory hangs out with one really homes in on just how kind and wholesome this cartoon is.
Bumperton Hills definitely looks as promising as Radiator Springs.
9. Spongebob Squarepants (the first 3 seasons)
Is anyone even watching the new Spongebob episodes? I lost track after season...7?
Hillenburg wanted to end the series after season 3, which was when The Spongebob Squarepants Movie would occur. So basically seasons 4-right now take place BEFORE the film.
Which means all the sh*t Squidward and the others go through in the current episodes take place before Spongebob finally gets his manager position of the Krusty Krab 2. Which means crap movies like Atlantis Squarepants and Sponge Out of Water take place before what is canonically the series finale.
We all grew up with Spongebob. We know the best episodes were the ones Hillenburg made with love. No matter how much Nickelodeon keeps milking the sponge, the first three seasons will always be the best. And the only ones that are truly canon.
And we smile and forget about issues in our adult lives every time we pull up an episode like Band Geeks or even Help Wanted.
And pretend that The Patrick Show and Kamp Koral don’t exist...
8. Milo Murphy’s Law
When it’s made by the same people of Phineas and Ferb, you know it’s a feel-good show.
What more is to be said about a cartoon that is brilliant, funny, clever, and has amazing songs?
That Disney is an asshole for barely giving this show the recognition it deserves.
7. I Heart Arlo
Anyone who watched “Arlo the Alligator Boy” probably still feels the chills of something so vibrant and breathtaking. And the songs are Disney-tier!
For some of us who enjoy stuff involving interspecies stuff (Beastars and Zootopia people would know what that’s like), Arlo is an adorable example.
The movie helped us process all these characters before giving us the TV series that made us love them even more. This is what High Guardian Spice failed to accomplish when they claimed their so-called anime was “diverse”.
6. A Pup Named Scooby Doo
Out of most of the adaptations and spin-offs, this one is among the best. When the 90s rocked the world and our childhood. And Scooby and the gang were just as meddling as they are as adults.
I’m pretty sure the movie SCOOB! tried to do a similar approach while making way for what was supposed to be the cinematic Hanna-Barbera universe (Jellystone! was the one that made it happen though).
How Shaggy and Scooby met was still the best part of that rather questionable film. And you can tell they took a lot of inspiration from A Pup Named Scooby Doo.
5. Ed, Edd, n’ Eddy
When Cartoon Network used to be all that and a box of chicken nuggets, the Eds always made our Friday nights and Saturday mornings truly memorable.
This was one of those cartoons that weren’t story-driven, until the series finale movie. But I admit, even a random episode has produced a few tears.
But let’s take into account how hard we’ve laughed because these guys have defied the laws of physics.
4. Wander Over Yonder
This cartoon makes it clear that people like Wander do and can exist in the world. And that we can be just as good a person as Wander. Or maybe even as good a person as Lord Hater (deep, deep down where a good person does lie).
Made by the creator of The Powerpuff Girls, of course this show is brilliant.
You always find yourself laughing hard at the voice work of Keith Ferguson, Jack McBrayer, April Winchell, and especially Tom Kenny. Seriously, some of the lines had to have been ad-libbed because there’s no way the VAs didn’t laugh in the booths during production.
3. Hey Duggee
There’s a badge for everything as this cartoon shows Duggee and the Squirrel Scouts go on any adventure. Even the littlest things result in big, Mission Impossible-like tasks.
The humor of this show was definitely intended for both kids and adults. Because there’s literally a scene where Duggee is all painted up for a rave (it’s the stick episode, BTW). And when the Squirrels go into at least a whole minute of parenthood for a bunch of frogs who are “going through the phases” (think emo hair, texting, and business suits).
It’s so random and charming, you’re not sure where the episode will head into. And that’s okay, because it’s always a pleasure to see Duggee and the kids frolic into innocent chaos.
And you just go aww when every episode ends with a Duggee Hug.
2. Animaniacs
When you try to have the balls to speak up, either toward something wrong or someone stupid, the Animaniacs are like your guides.
This is one of those cartoons that stood the test of time, despite having been made in the 90s. But don’t worry, the 2020 reboot makes fun of the things we have today! Hollywood, internet influencers, and especially the government.
Laughter is good medicine. And these characters are practically doctors.
The Warner siblings will make you forget your troubles. And possibly inspire you to stir some up for revenge.
1. Bluey
This cartoon is practically embedded into the dictionary for the word “wholesome”.
For adults and kids, this show makes you feel good, gives you confidence, and reminds you that you are just as lucky as Bluey and her family.
This cartoon is the ultimate depression-destroyer.
