15 Cartoons from the ’90s You Totally Forgot Existed
The ’90s gave us some unforgettable cartoons, but plenty of hidden gems have faded from memory.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
While classics like Rugrats and Batman: The Animated Series still get love, many ’90s cartoons have been lost to time. Some were weird, some were wonderful, and some were just ahead of their time. If you ever watched these, congrats—you unlocked a core memory.
1. Goof Troop (1992-1993)
Disney Television Animation on Wikimedia Commons
Goofy as a single dad? It’s pure comedy gold. Goof Troop followed Goofy and his son Max, dealing with everyday life and their loud, scheming neighbor, Pete. It had slapstick humor, heartwarming moments, and one of the catchiest theme songs of the ’90s. While A Goofy Movie kept Max and Goofy in the spotlight, the original series often gets overlooked.
2. Bump in the Night (1994-1995)
Geof Sheppard on Wikimedia Commons
This claymation fever dream followed Mr. Bumpy, a green monster who lived under the bed and fed on socks. His best friends were a living wad of bathroom tissue and a ragdoll with major anxiety. It was weird, gross, and chaotic—exactly what kids in the ’90s loved. Looking back, it’s surprising this one even existed.
3. Samurai Pizza Cats (1990-1991)
Tatsunoko Production on Wikimedia Commons
Three robot samurai cats delivered pizza by day and fought crime by night. The American version ignored the Japanese script and just made up the most ridiculous dialogue ever. The result was a show packed with fourth-wall breaks, fast humor, and total chaos. If you missed this, you missed one of the funniest cartoons of the ’90s.
4. The Angry Beavers (1997-2001)
nickelodeon on Wikimedia Commons
Two beaver brothers, Norbert and Daggett, left home to live the bachelor beaver lifestyle. The humor was pure chaos—fast, loud, and full of absurd jokes. It pushed Nickelodeon’s limits, even getting in trouble for planned adult jokes in the final episode. It’s a true classic that deserves more love.
5. I Am Weasel (1997-2000)
Pirelo on Wikimedia Commons
A genius, sophisticated weasel and his rival, the clueless baboon, I.R. Baboon. A Cow and Chicken spin-off, I Am Weasel had surreal humor and over-the-top slapstick. It was weird, it was loud, and it was peak Cartoon Network weirdness. Also, yes, it had THE Red Guy in all his disturbing glory.
6. The Tasmanian Devil (Taz-Mania) (1991-1995)
MSGT Jose Lopez, Jr. on Wikimedia Commons
Taz finally got his own show, and it was nothing like you’d expect. Instead of just wrecking stuff, Taz had a family, a home life, and weirdly deep stories. His dad was super chill, his mom was a homemaker, and his siblings were surprisingly normal. It was a different side of Taz, and that’s why so many forgot it.
7. Gargoyles (1994-1997)
Xeworlebi on Wikimedia Commons
Possibly the most underrated ’90s cartoon. Gargoyles was dark, dramatic, and full of Shakespearean-level storytelling. The animation was top-tier, and the characters were way more complex than most cartoons at the time. If you remember anything, it’s that epic intro theme.
8. Freakazoid! (1995-1997)
Amblin Partners on Wikimedia Commons
It’s a superhero cartoon that barely took itself seriously. Freakazoid was a total goofball, constantly breaking the fourth wall, going off on wild tangents, and roasting pop culture. It was like Deadpool before Deadpool. It was hilarious, and honestly, we didn’t deserve it.
9. Darkwing Duck (1991-1992)
Disney Television Animation on Wikimedia Commons
“Let’s get dangerous!” This Batman-meets-Looney-Tunes parody was one of Disney’s best. It had great action, ridiculous villains, and tons of self-aware humor. It deserves way more recognition, especially since it’s basically a proto-The Incredibles.
10. Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1992)
Logotta2 on Wikimedia Commons
Imagine Looney Tunes had kids, and they went to school to learn how to be cartoons. That was Tiny Toon Adventures. It introduced Buster, Babs, Plucky, and a whole new generation of wacky characters, along with plenty of adult jokes snuck in. It’s one of those classics you totally forgot, but once you see a clip, it all comes rushing back.
11. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (1994-1997)
Peter Schmelzle on Wikimedia Commons
Gross-out humor? Check. Creepy yet lovable characters? Check. A school for monsters who scare humans for a living? That’s Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. It had that perfect mix of weird, funny, and slightly disturbing, so it stuck with so many ’90s kids.
12. Doug (1991-1994, 1996-1999)
Saginaw-hitchhiker on Wikimedia Commons
It’s the original awkward kid cartoon. Doug Funnie narrated his own life like he was writing in his journal, overthinking everything along the way. It gave us Skeeter, Patti Mayonnaise, and the most iconic fictional band ever—The Beets. If you didn’t love Killer Tofu, did you even watch Doug?
13. Tenchi Universe (1995-1996)
AIC on Wikimedia Commons
One normal guy, a spaceship princess, a space cop, a mad scientist, and a demon girl—all living in the same house. Tenchi Universe was a weird but beloved anime that mixed sci-fi, romance, and comedy. It was part of the Toonami golden age, and if you remember it, you know it was wild.
14. Magic Knight Rayearth (1994-1995)
Chongbit Castillo on Wikimedia Commons
This anime, a mix of Sailor Moon and The Legend of Zelda, transports three girls to a fantasy world where they must become magical warriors. It features mechs, epic battles, and surprisingly deep emotional moments. It’s one of those anime that Western audiences never fully appreciated, but it was fantastic.
15. Daria (1997-2002)
MTV on Wikimedia Commons
It was the ultimate sarcastic, too-smart-for-this-world teenager. Daria was a spinoff of Beavis and Butt-Head, but it became way more iconic in its own right. With her deadpan wit and endless eye-rolls, Daria was the voice of every ’90s kid who didn’t fit in. It was smart, funny, and probably the most relatable cartoon ever.