11 Cartoon Reboots That Nobody Asked For
Some cartoons were perfect the first time, but that didn’t stop studios from trying to reinvent them with mixed results.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Reboots can breathe new life into old favorites, but sometimes, fans just shake their heads. Whether it was changing the art style or completely missing the spirit of the original, these cartoon reboots didn’t land the way creators hoped. Here are 11 examples of animated revivals that nobody really wanted in the first place.
1. Teen Titans Go!
Scratch on Wikimedia Commons
The original Teen Titans balanced humor with dark storytelling, emotional arcs, and action sequences that felt like a genuine superhero series. When Teen Titans Go! came along, it flipped the script entirely, leaning into slapstick jokes, exaggerated designs, and parody-like writing.
2. The Powerpuff Girls (2016)
MultiplivisiononDA on DeviantArt
When Cartoon Network revived The Powerpuff Girls, fans were eager for nostalgia, but what they got was a watered-down version missing its charm. The most glaring misstep was recasting the original voice actresses, instantly alienating longtime viewers who grew up with those iconic performances.
3. Ben 10 (2016)
Napoleon Biggs on Flickr
The original Ben 10 franchise had a strong identity. It gave kids action, adventure, and a hero with depth who grew alongside the audience. The 2016 reboot flattened all of that, turning Ben back into a younger, less mature version of himself.
4. Thundercats Roar
The Pop Culture Geek Network on DeviantArt
When Thundercats Roar debuted, fans were shocked. It looked less like a continuation of the original and more like a parody. The sharp-edged, anime-inspired designs of the ’80s had been replaced with bright colors and goofy, exaggerated expressions.
5. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (and later versions)
orionpozo on Flickr
Scooby-Doo has been rebooted more times than almost any cartoon, and while some reimaginings worked, others fell flat. Certain versions tried to push overly stylized designs, soap-opera-style drama, or edgy storylines that felt out of place.
6. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
katherine of chicago on Flickr
This reboot sparked debate from the moment it was announced. While it gained a passionate fanbase, plenty of nostalgic viewers didn’t connect with the drastic changes in art style, character dynamics, and tone. The original She-Ra was campy, colorful, and rooted in the ’80s action-toy era.
7. Alvin and the Chipmunks (CGI series)
melancho-lea on DeviantArt
The hand-drawn originals had charm, warmth, and humor that carried across decades. The CGI reboot, however, looked stiff, plasticky, and stripped away much of that personality. Kids may not have noticed, but older fans found the animation style awkward and the comedy uninspired.
8. Rugrats (2021 CGI reboot)
Wikimedia Commons
Few shows captured childhood the way Rugrats did. The messy, quirky, hand-drawn look made it feel real and authentic. The CGI reboot, however, unsettled many fans with its glossy, doll-like designs. While the characters were still recognizable, their charm was lost in translation.
9. DuckTales (2017)
Rosnicka132 on Wikimedia Commons
This one is tricky — critics loved it, and many kids enjoyed it, but longtime fans of the original felt it was unnecessary. The 1987 version had a simple, adventurous spirit that didn’t need reinventing. The reboot leaned into more serialized storytelling and a different style of animation.
10. Looney Tunes Show (2011)
David Dixon on Wikimedia Commons
Rather than embrace the zany, slapstick energy that defined Bugs, Daffy, and the gang, this reboot put them in a suburban sitcom setting. It stripped away the chaos that made Looney Tunes iconic. Instead of wild antics, fans got plotlines about roommates, dating, and everyday life.
11. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (CGI Netflix reboot)
redondoself on Flickr
The 1980s He-Man was campy, colorful, and larger-than-life. That was exactly why fans loved it. The CGI Netflix reboot, however, stripped away much of that retro charm in favor of sleek, modern designs. Characters were so heavily redesigned that some fans barely recognized them.