Blog Talkback: Toons of the 2000s: Top 25 Animated Television Series Countdown #5-1

The best thing about this list is Alex D's collage fan art at the end. It's chock full o'gags.

I'll say.

While Jack and Foster's were consistent both on the CN Top 5 Shows and the Top 25, The Eds (#3 on the CN Top 5) isn't even mentioned in the top 25. And the two shows many fans felt were omitted from the CN Top 5 actually ranked at #25 (Chowder) and #9 (Flapjack).

Otherwise, I largely agree with the list and the ranking order, and I don't say that just because I'm a staff member. The omission of Batman Beyond is surprising, except that it didn't really "hit its stride" during this last decade. It started off fantastically and then ended so abruptly it was anti-climactic, and the last ep (not counting the continuity crossovers later) was a dud.

Some that I'd have included in my own top 25 for the last decade:

- Transformers Animated (2007-09)
As a longtime Transformers fan, this was the kind of show I wish they'd made back in the 80s. And I never thought I'd hear myself say it was actually *better* than the original, but it was on several levels: less "commercial", better writing, more consistent animation (once you get used to the US/Japanish hybrid design), better consistency in characterization, better toys (which actually looked like their animated counterparts), and better action -- the kind of epic battles fans have wished for for 25 years.

Granted, it was at best a kids show, but I think they did a great job adding elements to appeal to the fandom. And while the ending was rushed due to the show's cancellation, overall it was a satisfying conclusion and it I thought was the most entertaining Transformers series produced to date.

But as an animation fan and critic, I still would've ranked it between 20-25.

- Dave The Barbarian (2004-05)
If there had been "honorable mentions" for the list "Reviewed Cartoons You Probably Haven't Seen, But Really Should" I think Dave the Barbarian would have been nominated, except that no one at rabroad ever reviewed it. That's unfortunate, and I take the blame since I wanted to write one. But I was on the road touring when Dave aired and just didn't have the time.

Dave was like Animaniacs meets Rocky & Bullwinkle. It also included many of the cast and crew from the WBA comedies A!, P&TB, Freakazoid, Tiny Toons and etc. It was a fun show and funny too. Those who enjoy the animated comedies I mentioned should give this show a chance.

- Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-05)
Genndy Tartakovsky's vision for Star Wars was better than George Lucas'. There, I said it. I feel better. This show made me wish that Genndy had produced the prequels and the recent computer-animated series. I loved everything about it.

- The Boondocks (2005-?)
Quality production overall and an entertaining show as well. The excessive use of the dreaded n-word and some stereotype-ish elements and the occasional proselytizing are the only things I don't care for about it.

- Time Squad (2001-03)
What can I say... I love satirical pokes at history. Also great performances by the show's lead cast: Rob Paulsen (Buck Tuddrussel), Mark Hamill (Larry 3000) and Pam Adlon (Otto Osworth). It would be a low ranker on my top 25, but nevertheless very entertaining to me.

- Teacher's Pet (2000-02)
Just a great cartoon. Loved the unique design style, and familiar setting yet surreal premise of a talking dog disguising himself as a boy. Great characters and performances too.

And "Batman The Brave and The Bold" has been solid so far that I hope it hasn't hit its stride yet and still keeps getting better into the next decade.

That's it for now. I might add a few others later. Or not, if I forget.
 
I completely disagree 100%. If it's simply a matter of you preferring comedy over action, that's one thing, but you cannot objectively say that comedies are better. Many people prefer action over comedies, pointing out that many comedies fall into the trend of utter ridiculousness and stupidity (*cough*Family Guy*cough*). Personally, I have no preference. There are great actions and great comedies, and great mixes. It can't be said that one is innately better than the other.
 
I said a few pages ago that i wanted The Simpsons to show up on the list, because i certianly think that even the post-golden age seasons ranks among the top 25 animated series of the decade, but... well, it certianly does not deserve to be in the top 5 animated series of the decade! I think that even the most devoted Simpsons fans (whom i count myself to, btw) would have a hard time arguing that the comedy and storylines of this decades Simpsons episodes have overall been more clever than that in, say, Futurama or South Park...
 
Cool to see SP and JL but I thought they'd be much higher.

Danny Phantom I really don't think should be this high up, I'm on the fence really if it would make a top 25. I thought it had some very poorly staged fights, mostly awful characters( especially Danny ), and I didn't think it handled the cliche plots very well.

I did like the parents, some of the ghost stuff, and a few episodes but it was always a show that seemed like it never reached it's potential or even wanted to. It kept trying to be either too much of a comedy or too much of an action show and it never geled with me.
 
I think people (probably unknowingly) give Avatar just a little too much cred due to it being one of the few Western cartoons that can successfully compete with anime in animes own game. I mean, sure, Avatar has great, epic stories, well rounded characters, a good mixture of comedy and seriousness, beautiful animation and well directed action sequences. But does it really have greater and more epic stories than all animes of this decade? Or more well rounded characters than all animes of this decade? Or a better mixture of comedy and drama than... well, i think you get the drift...

Or let me put it this way: Avatar mainly stands out due to being an American series that manages to pull of all the things that makes (good) anime so sweet, but i dont think it would have gotten nearly as much attention and prasie as it does if it had actually been made in Japan. If that had been the case, most people would probably just think of it as a good but fairly typical shonen anime.
 
Overall sounds like the writers don't watch enough animated series, with far too many comedy series in this list. I especially don't understand why Kim Possible was placed fourth, when it is an average series.

I think separate lists for eastern and western animation would have been better. Since anime continues to provide better character development and storylines (especially on-going) compared to western series overall. Only a few anime series are mentioned, while far too many anime series were completely overlooked.

Does rabroad have something against cartoon series from Jetix? this list and the Disney list completely ignored cartoon series from Jetix. In particular Oban Star-Racers was an excellent cartoon series with good on-going story, and a female lead character.
 
First, I loved all three seasons. 2>3>1. And secondly, I was just saying that you shouldn't say it doesn't deserve first if you haven't finished it. Don't rely on other's opinions to make one about it.

I like action and comedy, but it's even better when they're combined. :)
 
Robot Chicken is way too high, dear lord, is it high. I would put it at #25 at the most.

The rest of the list looks pretty fair though.
 
Nice choices for the Top 10.

Robot Chicken is amusing, but I haven't really watched it since season 2. It does seem a bit too high, but nonetheless its great for a laugh.

Flapjack is awesome, and extremely disturbing as well. I didn't think it would outrank most of these shows, but its definitely a rising star in today's landscape.

Futurama's okay from what I've seen, but I've never really invested in the show. Not a fan of the DTV's though.

SpongeBob has a well earned spot on this list, but I think it's still too low here. It seems to me like the poster show of the decade in any case.

I knew Family Guy would show up here, and I honestly think it deserves that spot. FG rose like a phoenix during the decade and put [as] on the map, as well as inspiring many networks to take a chanc eon animation again.
 
Now in color:

Toons_of_the_2000s__Top_25_by_Doodley.png
 
My opinions:
South Park: Too crude for me
Wordgirl: Never seen
Danny Phantom: I wasn't really into it, but it was okay I guess
Justice League: Not my kind of show
Paranoia Agent: Never even heard of
 
- South Park: Never watched much of it, though I appreciate what the show does and to how far it will go... even if it's beyond my personal boundaries. It's continued success and popularity alone are worthy of making the list.
- WordGirl: Have not seen it at all, but maybe I should. The only PBS show I watched this decade with any regularity was 'Cyberchase,' though.
- Danny Phantom: Nice show, but couldn't really get into it.
- Justice League (and Unlimited): It's hard to debate if JL's multi-parters or JLU's singulars were better, but the show rocked either way. Probably not a huge standout overall, but was one of the most consistent series in terms of quality the whole way through.
- Paranoia Agent: Underrated thriller that should be appreciated more. If only people were willing to give it more of a chance...
 
Well, yes, but especially today cartoons shouldn't look like that. I mean, look at Spongebob, for example. It's a simple (but effective) gag-cartoon, but the animation is fluid and the characters not just open and close their mouths when they talk! Nobody would complain when a show like Spongebob would use limited animation, but for any reason it is much better animated than the supposedly mature and epic Avatar, where the characters always skip two or three frames when they move and don't seem to care about artikulating vowels with their lips!
(I also wanna add that this post of mine makes it sound worse than it is. The animation is not mid-60's-Hanna-Barbera bad, but apart from the fight scenes, I wouldn't call Avatar's animation "pretty" or "state of the art".)



Yeah, but I think the "#1 Top Cartoon of the decade" should be very good from the beginning to the end. I'm not talking about every single episode, but one should look back at it and say: "Yes, it really worked as a whole." But since it already has one whole season that did absolutely NOTHING for me (doesn't matter if I probably would like the rest of the show better or not), it is in my opinion not worthy of that spot.
 
I'm distressed at the disrespect that W.I.T.C.H. got in not getting a top 25 spot. Beautifully animated, very well-written (at least season two was), and fantastically voice acted... you really mean to tell me that there were 25 cartoons airing in the 00s that were better?

Really?

Liberty's Kids getting snubbed is depressing as well.
 
Wait, what? None of the episodes I've seen were liberal centric at all. I'd call them politically neutral....
And by the way, I am very far left and I despise Family Guy.
(However, I did once hear an argument that Family Guy is actually making fun of its viewers, and is in that way very good. I haven't seen enough of the show on that, but.... all the more reason for me not to join in. :p)


South Park seems more independent - a lot of the ideas seem a lot more liberal than conservative, like, for example, the movie focuses on censorship.


I don't care about it being offensive - I care about it being outwardly ridiculous with literally no story.


Now onto the Top Five:


Agreed on all accounts, except.... if you haven't seen Avatar, you can't judge. And it definitely deserves the Top Five at least.

I'd support such a thread, but I suggest making it a Top Fifty Countdown, and you should make a thread for the nominations.


Wait, isn't Clone High live-action? 'Cause that would explain it.... Unless I'm wrong....


....
Oooookaaaaaaaaaaay....


Venture Bros.: It really is great. It spoofs just about everything on the face of the earth - comic books, Scooby-Doo, Johnny Quest (apparently, though I've never seen Johnny Quest myself), Frankenstein....
And The Monarch is great! "Search under M for Monarch!" "Nope, not here." "What? Oh, I know - search T for The Monarch!" "Nope, sorry." "What?? But I'm his archenemy!!"
My favorite moment is when he crashes into a building, starts killing everyone, making his greatest entrance ever, and then - they hit the wrong place. "This is your accountant's office."
And then there's Dr. Orpheus, AKA overly dramatic Dr. Strange parody with a perfect voice actor.
To be honest, I thought I remembered this getting ranked earlier.... But 5th? .... Maybe a bit too high, there....
COMEDY.

Kim Possible: Wth? I've seen a few episodes - it was good, but not great. At best, 20-15. At best.
ACTION. COMEDY.

Samurai Jack: Haven't seen it. But I'm guessing:
ACTION. COMEDY.

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends: Can't believe I forgot about this. When I first saw it, I was amazed at how clever and imaginative it was. There's an episode where a new "imaginary friend," a teenager with a clown nose arrives, and everyone thinks he's real except for Frankie. Throughout the episode, she's trying to reveal how his crazy stories about getting lost from his Canadian creator who they can't get in contact with are fake. In the end, she pulls off his nose - and an elephant's nose sprouts out beneath it. Then the creator comes and takes him home.
And of course.... Cheese. 'Nuff said.
But #2? Seriously, that's a bit too much....
COMEDY.

Avatar: What all the supporters said. I wouldn't call it the best show of the decade (that's clearly TSSM), but it should be second, and I'm just fine with it winning.
ACTION.
 
- Robot Chicken: Wow, really? I won't deny the show has its good moments, but it probably has a whole lot more ugly ones. Fringe Top 25 show at best.
- The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack: Has really come into its own in 2009... its constant does of weirdness always gets my attention. Top 10 of the decade, though, a little generous.
- Futurama: Never fails to be funny and has a ton of replay value. I'm so glad the show is coming back next year with new episodes... it didn't deserve to be canceled when it originally was.
- Spongebob Squarepants: I'm saddened it took me until this year to really cave in and find out why just about everybody loves this show. Chipper attitude. Child-like innocence. And that laugh of his. If only I had discovered this show much earlier, I'd be joining in the outrage that this isn't in at least the Top 3.
- Family Guy: I won't deny the fact that Adult Swim and DVD sales brought this show back from the dead, and rightfully so. I won't deny the fact that the show is extremely popular. But sometimes the show does go too far for a laugh... and sometimes it doesn't work. There is no doubt the show belongs in the Top 25. At best, maybe Top 15... #6 seems like a bit of reach for me.
 
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