10 ’90s Animated Shorts That Never Got a Full Series
These quirky ’90s cartoon shorts had promise, but they vanished before becoming full-blown shows.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The ’90s were a golden age of experimental animation. Studios testing bold new ideas through shorts. Some of these one-off cartoons gained cult followings and hinted at greatness, yet never got the green light for a series. Here are 10 animated gems that left fans wondering, “What could’ve been?”
1. “Kenny and the Chimp” (Cartoon Network, 1999)
Egor Myznik on Unsplash
Created by Tom Warburton, this short introduced a boy and his chaotic chimp sidekick. Despite strong animation and clever humor, the duo didn’t make it to primetime.
2. “What a Cartoon! – Yuckie Duck” (1995)
Fred Seibert on Flickr
This fast-talking, obnoxious duck was the antihero nobody expected. Audiences were split. Some found him hilarious, others found him grating. It was a bold experiment in edgy humor, but not enough to land a series.
3. “Larry and Steve” (Fox Kids, 1995)
S0N0FKYUSS on DeviantArt
An early creation by Seth MacFarlane, this short featured a clueless man and his smart-talking dog. The dynamic duo hinted at future success, especially with Steve resembling a proto-Brian from Family Guy.
4. “The F-Tales” (Cartoon Network, 1999)
Aneta Pawlik on Unsplash
A modern fairy tale parody filled with sass and sarcasm, this short reimagined classic stories with an irreverent twist. It had charm and sharp writing but was likely too niche for broader audiences.
5. “Tales of Worm Paranoia” (Nickelodeon, 1998)
Fred Seibert on Flickr
Gross-out humor met psychological horror in this strange, slime-filled short. A boy suspected worms were everywhere, and it only got weirder from there. Its unique tone confused some viewers but fascinated others.
6. “Buy One, Get One Free” (Cartoon Sushi, 1997)
Fred Seibert on Flickr
A surreal short with dark humor and oddball animation, it tackled commercialism through sentient products. Viewers found it bizarre but unforgettable. The concept was probably too out-there for mainstream appeal.
7. “Fungus Among Us” (Nicktoons, 1999)
Piotr Cichosz on Unsplash
Spore creatures trying to blend into suburban life? That was the pitch. With strong visuals and quirky personalities, it had potential.
8. “The Off-Beats” (Nickelodeon, 1996)
sq lim on Unsplash
A stylish, deadpan short that stood out with its retro aesthetic and monotone narration. While it ran as part of Kablam!, it never got its own standalone series. Its dry humor and unique art style developed a loyal following.
9. “Poochini” (U.S. pilot, 1999)
Alicia Christin Gerald on Unsplash
Though it later became a series internationally, the American pilot failed to catch on. A rich dog adjusting to average suburban life, the concept was solid but lacked spark.
10. “Zoot Rumpus” (MTV Oddities, 1998)
Joyce Busola on Unslash
This adult-aimed cartoon followed a washed-up lounge singer navigating a strange, jazzy world. It was stylish and different, but not for everyone. The surreal tone limited its mass appeal.