15 ’90s Animated Shorts That Vanished from Airwaves
Explore 15 obscure '90s animated shorts that once flashed across your screen and then mysteriously disappeared.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
The 1990s were filled with and brilliant animated shorts that aired between commercial breaks or as part of anthology shows. Some sparked cult followings, while others were quietly buried without a trace. Here’s a look at 15 lost animated gems from the ’90s that once lit up our TVs — only to fade into obscurity.
1. “Sniz & Fondue” (Nickelodeon)
Ksenia Chernaya on Pexels
A hyperactive, slapstick duo featured on KaBlam!, this short thrived on chaotic energy and surreal comedy. Despite its popularity among die-hard fans, it was pulled when KaBlam! ended.
2. “The Brothers Grunt” (MTV)
ruffytoon on DeviantArt
An oddball experiment from the creators of Ed, Edd n Eddy, this short had grotesque character designs and awkward humor. It was aired briefly but met with confusion more than laughs.
3. “Life with Loopy” (Nickelodeon)
RadicalZombie on DeviantArt
Another KaBlam! staple, this claymation short followed a quirky girl and her absurd adventures. Its artistic style stood out, but it faded with the show. It’s rarely mentioned despite its unique tone and visuals.
4. “Grim Tales” (Cartoon Network Europe)
August de Richelieu on Pexels
A moody gothic-style short series that predated The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, featuring darker storylines and stylized art. Aired late at night, it was considered too edgy for younger viewers.
5. “Stick Stickly” Interstitials (Nickelodeon)
Bermix Studio on Unsplash
Not a show, but unforgettable short hosting segments where a popsicle-stick puppet delivered kid-friendly commentary and mail. While iconic to Nick fans, these snippets were wiped clean from modern programming.
6. “Phred on Your Head Show” (Noggin)
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Before Noggin transitioned to a full preschool channel, this show featured an animated green character named Phred, who answered emails and introduced shorts. It was clever and interactive but ended when the channel rebranded.
7. “What a Cartoon!” One-Offs (Cartoon Network)
Fred Seibert on Flickr
This was a testing ground for future hits, but many pilots like Yuckie Duck or The Ignoramooses never made it past the first episode. The short format was edgy and experimental.
8. “Dudley and Nester Do Lunch” (Fox Kids)
Dziana Hasanbekava on Pexels
A strange animated pairing of a clueless jock and a snarky bird, this short aired between commercials and was loaded with sarcastic gags. It was briefly popular but poorly archived.
9. “Pinky and the Brain” (PBS)
JD Hancock on Flickr
A rare PBS Kids short that spun off from Arthur, focusing on the school bully and class genius. Despite its educational angle, it never gained traction.
10. “Angela Anaconda” Shorts (Fox Family)
Helena Lopes on Pexels
Before getting her own full series, Angela appeared in animated shorts on Kablam! and Fox Family. The cutout animation style turned heads but polarized viewers.
11. “The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin” Bumpers
Kaboompics.com on Pexels
After the show’s run, short clips featuring Teddy and friends ran during children’s programming blocks. They were wholesome but quickly outdated. Once the toy’s popularity waned, the clips stopped airing altogether.
12. “Shorty McShorts’ Shorts” (Disney Channel)
Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels
Technically late ’90s into early 2000s, this series ran a batch of experimental shorts that included odd titles like Dudley and Nester and Manny the Uncanny. It was an attempt to be quirky, but most shorts didn’t catch on. Disney wiped it clean during their brand overhaul.
13. “Fred & Barney Meet The Thing” Segments (Hanna-Barbera)
Thomas Hawk on Flickr
This bizarre crossover was rerun in the early ’90s on Boomerang, featuring shorts that mixed the Flintstones with Marvel’s Thing. Rights issues and awkward storytelling led to its quiet burial.
14. “KaBlam! Presents: Action League Now!” (Nickelodeon)
Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels
Though it later became its own series, the original KaBlam! shorts were lower-budget and grittier. They were fun, chaotic, and packed with stop-motion mayhem.
15. “Freaky Stories” (YTV/Nickelodeon)
Keira Burton on Pexels
Narrated urban legends wrapped in short animated segments, introduced by two bug hosts. It aired on both Canadian and U.S. networks, but the bizarre tone made it hard to categorize.