When it comes tocartoons, it’s impossible not to think of the 1990s as one of the most solid decades for animated television, with shows likeDexter’s Laboratory,Courage the Cowardly Dog,andHey Arnold!winning over audiences in no time and retaining relevance to this day. The lineup at the time was diverse, and TV networks were brimming with immensely creative productions that featured wacky stories,memorable cartoon characters, and clever humor that still holds up well now.
As time went by, animated TV evolved, as the rest of the television industry did, introducing shows with different styles that explored other kinds of themes and starred more complex characters. Indeed, cartoons gradually changed until the 2010s, which marked a watershed in the world of children’s animation through a new crop of productions as creative as the ones from the 1990s, with narratives that managed to entertain both children and adults alike.
Although cartoons have changed over the years, one thing remains the same:Cartoon Networkwas, and still remains, one of the networks featuringthe best shows. Here is a review of its best animated series of the 2010s.
10Sym-Bionic Titan (2010)
Sym-Bionic Titan
Sym-Bionic Titanpremiered in 2010 to chronicle the adventures of Ilana, Lance, and Octus, three creatures who reach Earth escaping from a general who has taken control of their planet, Galaluna. The trio takes human form and attends high school like the rest of the world’s kids, though they spend most of their time protecting the planet from alien threats by teaming up to create an invincible cyber-giant.
What Makes It Great
One of the creators of this show was Genndy Tartakovsky, a wildly popular personality on Cartoon Network for titles such asDexter’s LaboratoryandSamurai Jack. Like these hit shows,Sym-Bionic Titanshowcases signature animation and a story that explores complex themes while still providing a good dose of action. This ensured that, even despite its cancelation, the show grew into a cult classic cherished by fans all over the world.
Rent on Apple TV+
9Clarence (2014-2018)
Over the course of three seasons,Clarencefollows its titular optimistic 10-year-old boy who, along with his best friends, Sumo and Jeff, goes on adventures and deals with typical childhood challenges on a daily basis.Clarencewas created by Skyler Page, one of the artists who worked onAdventure Time, and its pilot episode was nominated for a Creative Arts Emmy Award.
The most wonderful thing aboutClarenceis that it’s ashow for kidsabout kids: it captures the essence of childhood and the everyday lives of children like no other, which makes the audience relate strongly with the main character’s perspective. That, added to its diverse cast and colorful aesthetics, madeClarencea hit show on the network.
Stream on Hulu
8Craig of the Creek (2018-Present)
Craig of the Creekis a 2018 show created by Matt Burnett and Ben Levin that features the adventures of a boy named Craig and his best friends on a creek near their home, a utopian place where anything can happen. This production, which has been airing for five seasons, became a ratings hit, and spurred the creation of a spin-off show and movie, both of which are currently in the making.
LikeClarencebut in its own unique way,Craig of the Creekoffers a depiction of many kids' childhoods, focusing primarily on youth’s imagination and the adventures that come out of it. But this is not just another funny show: the evolution of its characters over the seasons and the topics that are addressed made it a production that charmed both children and adults alike.
7The Amazing World of Gumball (2011-Present)
The Amazing World of Gumball
2011 broughtThe Amazing World of Gumballto Cartoon Network, a show that quickly detached itself from the rest of the network’s series, introducing a young cat named Gumball with a knack for getting into trouble who goes on the craziest adventures with Darwin, his adopted brother and best friend. The show is currently awaiting its seventh season.
The Amazing World of Gumballmixes differentanimation techniques with livebackgrounds, creating a distinctive aesthetic that not only made it a one-of-a-kind show, but also earned it critical and audience acclaim. In addition, it has been praised for the way it tackles deep themes in an entertaining way for all kinds of audiences, and for its depiction of sibling bonds through the connection between Gumball and Darwin.
6We Bare Bears (2015-2019)
We Bare Bearsfeatured three of the most adorable characters in the history of the network: Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear, three bear brothers who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, a place that witnesses their bizarre yet hilarious attempts to blend in with the human community around them. The show premiered in 2015 and ran for four seasons, enjoying ratings that spurred the development of a prequel series and a movie.
Compared to many other shows on this list and the network in general,We Bare Bearsis much more cozy and heartwarming, and relies on its calm pace and muted color palette to deliver a relaxing experience to the audience. It also promotes diversity through its characters, advocating for unity and the acceptance of differences.
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5Steven Universe (2013-2019)
Steven Universe
2013 marked the premiere ofSteven Universe, one of the most acclaimed animated shows of recent times. This production by Rebecca Sugar features Steven, a half-human, half-Gem boy who lives with the Crystal Gems, a group of magical beings who spend their days protecting the world from all kinds of threats. The outstanding response to this production prompted the development of a movie and the showSteven Universe Future.
Speaking of inclusive shows on Cartoon Network,Steven Universeis probably one of the most prominent in that regard, and was highly acclaimed for featuring characters that are very diverse in terms of gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. But beyond that, it also established itself as one of themost mature showsaimed at a younger audience, addressing issues such as identity, PTSD and abusive relationships.
Stream on Prime Video
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4Infinity Train (2019-2021)
Infinity Train
A few years after working onRegular Show, Owen Dennis took the helm ofInfinity Train, a 2019 shows that started as a miniseries, but became a four-season series given its success. Each season focuses on a new group of characters with one thing in common: they are all summoned to board a mysterious and seemingly endless train on which they are confronted with different challenges in order to get them to resolve their ongoing emotional unresolved traumas, which is the only way to get back home.
Infinity Trainis one of those Cartoon Network shows that both children and adults can enjoy, as it introduces complex themes and multidimensional characters that make it a feast for adult audiences while still offering humor and action scenes that entertain the little ones. Moreover, its narrative, packed with mysteries and unexpected twists and turns, keeps you hooked on the screen from season to season.
3Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Over the Garden Wall
2014 marked the premiere ofOver the Garden Wall, the first animated miniseries in the history of Cartoon Network and one of the best of all time. Over the course of 10 episodes, this Patrick McHale show follows Wirt and Greg, two half-brothers whose wanderings get them lost in a mysterious forest, leaving them with no other choice but to venture deeper into the wilderness to look for a way home. The show was widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program.
Over the Garden Wallis another show on this list that audiences of all ages can enjoy, and right from the start it pulls you into a wonderful yet very odd atmosphere that evokes fairy tales and invites you to keep watching. Among the most praised aspects of this production are its intriguing storytelling and the work of the voice cast,led by Elijah Woodand Collin Dean.
2Regular Show (2010-2017)
Regular Show
Regular Showhit Cartoon Network in 2010 to introduce audiences to Mordecai and Rigby, a blue jay and a raccoon who work as groundskeepers in a park and are constantly looking for new ways to avoid their responsibilities, something that usually lands them in trouble. This J. G. Quintel show aired for eight seasons, and its popularity among audiences spurred the development of a movie released in 2015.
The thing that setsRegular Showapart from other productions is most likely its wacky, surreal humor, which relies on clever lines, adult references, and bizarre characters to charmaudiences of all ages. Needless to say, there’s nothing regular about the show, as the main characters embark on increasingly offbeat adventures as the episodes go by.
1Adventure Time (2010-2018)
Adventure Time
Rounding out this list isAdventure Time, the show that once again brought Cartoon Network to its peak. This 2010 show follows the adventures of Finn and his adopted brother and best friend, Jake the Dog, in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, where they interact with the most curious characters.Adventure Timeaired for ten seasons, winning several awards.
Adventure Timebecame one of the audience’s favorite shows in no time, appealing to both children and adults with its wacky episodes and brilliant storytelling. There are many things that turned this animated show into a hit, but probably the ones that stand out the most are its originality, the way it delves into deep themes with versatility, and the growth displayed in its characters and issues over the years.
