Toonzone Community Top 25 Animated Shows of the 2000s nominations thread

While you all are free to make a Top 25 Animated Shows list of your own, keep in mind that numbered lists WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION OF AND REASONS WHY YOU FEEL THEY SHOULD BE LISTED are AGAINST THE RULES around these parts.

1. It's easy
2. to do
3. a list
4. like this...

5. But I'd rather - See an entry like this. It shows thought, intelligence, and rational thinking rather than an autonomous regurgitation of show titles. You like Show X and put it at, say, number three on the list. Why? What is it about that show that you feel it needs a place on this list? It shows that you actually thought about a show's placement as well as a reason for it's placement on your list.

So, no list threads without reason. Oh, and no one-word responses. That's just tacky.
 
This is just the nominations thread, I am using the lists to compile one top 25 list with a countdown to #1 starting on New Year's day. Each show on their will have an explanation for why it is good and what makes it special. Most will probably be written by me, but if I have never watched a show that makes the countdown I will PM someone who has it high on their list to write the explanation. Is that acceptable or do the people sending in their lists need to explain each pick too?
 
I think those offering suggestions should expand and explain their picks as well. Otherwise, this becomes a list thread, which, I may repeat, is a no-no around these parts.
 
I'm pretty sure that you don't need to explain you picks if you're sending them via PM. However, i chose to post mine in the thread. And I think I did a pretty good job of explaining them, and not just posting a list.
 
I agree, i do like the explanations. Just for consistency sake, here are my top 10 plus HM's, and the reasons why.

HM: American Dad, South Park, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Spongebob Squarepants


10. The Batman
A very cool version of Batman, it's on this list because of the great stories from the third, fourth, and fifth seasons. Although it started off rather slow, it's a great show for several reasons. First, I loved what they did with the Joker. They took a character who was firmly established in the DCAU for being neat and making sure he always looked nice, and replaced that image with a clown who didn't wear shoes and had wild hair. AND. . . IT. . . WORKED! at least for me, I love that Joker, and I always found him very funny. Also, Clayface was brilliant, I loved all his episodes. Their other really amazing villain had to be Clock King. Although he was a little different than his comic book counterpart, the episode Seconds is one of the best episodes of any cartoon I have ever seen. Finally, a great take on Batgirl and Robin, both were very funny. If the first and second season hadn't sucked so bad, it would have been much higher


9. Robot Chicken
Now this is a show that I love because of it's random funnyness. The first episode I saw was their Star Wars parody, and I was HOOKED. Really a very good comedy, mainly cause it doesn't try to be anything resembling a show plotwise, it's basically clips of this and that here and there parodying random things that are all really funny. I hardly ever laugh so hard as when I am watching Robot Chicken.


8. Recess
Although most of the slew of kids shows that have popped up in recent years are poorly made or completely stupid, I always enjoyed watching Recess. The teacher was hilarious, the kids were very funny, and the random plots could make me laugh. I haven't watched any episodes since I was in Junior High, but I put it here for being easily the best kids show of the decade in my opinion.



7. Wolverine and the X-Men
This is one of the best shows currently airing, as it attempts to use time-travel in order to make several entangling plots, and it does it quite well. The episodes in the future are very good, with the best of the future characters being Bishop. The biggest problem is that too many episodes were Wolverine focused, but overall the new take on the characters is very interesting and produces several great episodes.



6. Kim Possible
Ok, I must admit for as stupid as it looked and sounded at first, I very quickly became a fan. This is stupid action comedy at its best and i can't help but love it. My favorite villains are Senor Senior Senior and Senor Senior Junior. They are hilarious. Of course, the main villain, Dr. Drakken is also very funny, and his sidekick Shego is great(and usually the brains of the operation). Another plus is that one of my favorite actors, Will Friedle, is the voice of Ron Stoppable, the funniest character. Finally, how can you not love a show that features a Naked Mole Rat as a main character?



5. Batman Beyond
And here is another show with Friedle, this time voicing the new Batman, Terry McGuinnes. There were several great things about this show, including the fact that it was willing to explore deep and dark themes and wasn't afraid to show death(and it frequently did). The portrayal of Bruce as an old man is really very revealing into his character, and his effect on the people around him. The first season was quite epic, finishing off with a battle with Blight, who was easily the best Batman Beyond villain created. Probably my favorite episode though, was the episode Meltdown, which was both tragic and epic as it revisits Mr. Freeze in his best appearance ever.



4. Family Guy
Although this had taken a turn for the worse the last two seasons, this season has been awesome and reestablished it's place here as one of the best cartoons of this decade. This really is a very funny show that sometimes pretends to have a plot but is really just running gags. Favorite character is Stewie, who although better as a baby with plans of world domination(which was revisited in the Stewie kills Lois/Lois kills Stewie 2-parter) is still very funny. Great show overall and very rarely ceases to make me laugh.



3. Justice League
Another epic show from Bruce Timm and the DCAU, it featured 7 of DC's best heroes collaborating together to fight injustice and protect the people of earth from danger. The first two seasons were epic, with The Savage Time, Secret Origins, and Injustice for All some of my favorite episodes. Best character is a three-way tie between Batman(who is just as awesome in this as in B:TAS and Batman Beyond), Martian Manhunter, and the ever hilarious Flash. Really such a wonderful show, it lost a little bit of it's charm as it went to JL: Unlimited, but it's still an absolutely amazing show.



2. X-Men: Evolution
My personal favorite take on the superheroes known as the X-Men. Did it suffer from a slow start in the first season? Yes, a little, but I look on that as a necessary evil because it took the time to get us invested into each and every character so that when the epic plot of the Apocalypse storyline took place, it would have a more total impact on the viewer for what happened to each and every character. Both the third and fourth seasons were epic, and after the glimpse into the future, I was always very sad that it never continued on into a fifth season.



1. The Spectacular Spider-Man
For probably the biggest DUH on this list, TSSM is my favorite show of the decade. Why? well, of course it IS a cartoon about the best superhero ever, Spider-Man. But, more importantly, because it is a cartoon that works on every angle in almost every way. There is humor, in fact, there's a LOT of humor, and it's actually funny. There's drama, most noticeable in episodes like Shear Strength and Intervention. There's complicated yet very precise plotting that always has you guessing, the best being the Who's the Green Goblin? plot. overall, this show is nothing short of amazing, and I hope and pray that it will be back for a third season.
 
Ok, let's make the following change to my list:

8. The Batman
9. Teen Titans
10. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

And stick Robot Chicken in the honorable mention section.
 
10. Recess - I watched Recess all the time when I was younger and I still love it. The cast of characters was great.
9. Batman: The Brave & The Bold - This is a fantastic new show. The writing is excellent and I love the designs of all the characters, particularly the villains. DC has outdone themselves again and I have a feeling it will be ranked higher once it has lasted longer.
8. Fillmore! - I loved the seriousness even though a lot of people didn't and mystery has always been my favorite genre. The show also had very like-able characters and is really underrated.
7. Fairly OddParents - Would have been ranked higher if it weren't for the late plunge, the first few seasons were amazing and they have always been willing to push the age appropriate humor.
6. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends - What a fantastic concept for the show, and despite what some people think, I think that it remained consistent the whole way through.
5. Penguins of Madagascar - Still a very new show. I loved the Penguins in "Madagascar" and the series made me like them even more. Kind of the same scenario that happened with Jimmy Neutron.
4. Chowder - Such a crazy show and it really is a shame that it is ending so prematurely. The writing is some of the best that I've seen in animation for a while.
3. House of Mouse - This show was really representative of Classic Disney, it even showed classic shorts every now and then. But it was great even when they didn't because all of the Mickey Mouse Works shorts were very well done and exactly how current Disney shorts should be made. And the side plot was always great as well.
2. Spongebob - It is extremely close between this my #1 choice but I give the edge to the latter since Spongebob technically began before the year 2000 and seasons 4-6 were below average.
1. Total Drama Island/Action - This may be just a short phase but the Total Drama series is amazing. It's hilarious and always entertaining.
 
Heres what i got, really in no particular order:

25 Code Monkeys
24 Paradise Dolls
23 Armored Trooper Votoms: Palisen Files
22 Stroker and Hoop
21 Tom Goes to the Mayor
20 Gundam 00
19 Big O
18 Megas XLR
17 Gundam Igloo
16 Kablam
15 Wangan Midnight
14 South Park
13 Dexter Lab
12 3 South
11 The Brak Show
10 Harvey Birdman
9 Robot CHicken
8 Sealab 2021
7 Aqua Teen Hunger Force
6 Futurama
5 Johnny Bravo
4 The Venture Bros
3 Initial D
2 Daria
1 Home Movies

And there you have it, could be retooled but oh well...
 
Just a reminder, there's still a week left to turn your top 10 in to me by PM, or to post it in the thread(with explanations for your picks) so that your vote counts toward this countdown. For the TMNT2003 fans who wanted it on the Mod's list, if you want it on this countdown, I recommend sending me your top 10 (plus up to 5 HM's) before the countdown starts on New Years Day.

to the above poster, if you want your list to count, you need to order at least your top 15, and then give a small explanation as to why each is there.
 
I somehow managed to forget Venture Bros. I give it my 10th place spot, thus bumping Foster's into the Honorable Mentions and knocking out FOP.
Why? 'Cause Venture Bros. is a truly perfect parody of all geek-isms, that's why!
 
Just wanted to let everyone know that you have until midnight central time (1 Eastern) to get your top 25 list to me.
 
While making my list, I took into account only series that actually ran on American TV during the decade. I really didn't consider cable networks that are not carried by a ton of cable outfits (IFC, Encore Action, Fuse, etc.). I had a few extra Honorable Mentions.


1. Avatar: The Last Airbender - The best animated series ever produced by Nickelodeon. Period. It had great action, broad humor, and strong characters with compelling motives for being in their situation, all rendered with some of the most gorgeous animation ever made for television.

2. Samurai Jack - I don't think anyone else mentioned this series. How quick we forget. Perhaps we'll all be reminded when the feature comes out.

3. Kim Possible - As I consider this to be Disney's best animated TV series ever, I had to put it this high. The colorful animation and comedy drew me in, but the assortment of characters got me hooked. Although cartoonishly unbelievable, the series' characterizations of Kim and Ron starting as life long friends who come to care deeply for each other was strangely compelling for me, not to mention Ron's growth to the point of being a partner rather than a sidekick.

4. Braceface - Only seen on the old Fox Family Channel during its initial truncated run, most probably dismissed this as "just a girly show'. It actually is one of the truest yet genuinely entertaining portrayals of adolenscense ever animated. It showed up a few years ago on Toon Disney edited and with some episodes not airing at all. Half of season 2 and all of Season 3 have yet to be seen here in the states. A DVD release would be welcome, but I won't hold my breath.

5. Family Guy - Though not consistantly as good as it was before its cancellation, Seth MacFarlane's creation would surely top any typical regular TV viewer's list since it's getting most of the press and ratings as we approach the end of the decade. It still entertains me, so it warrants this spot.

6. Phineas and Ferb - OK, I just typed that KP was Disney's best TV series. Well, this one is coming up fast and could surpass it, though it's formulaic approach and offbeat humor make some dismiss it. It'll probably end up as my favorite purely comedic Disney TV series.

7. The Weekenders - A Disney gem from early in the decade. The show was witty and very funny despite its regular setup. Maybe the best voice cast ever assembled (check it out).

8. The Spectacular Spiderman - An excellent show with two seasons under its belt. Would be higher if there were more episodes. Hopefully, a new season will eventually show up--just not anytime soon.

9. The Secret Saturdays - The best animated action series currently on the air in my book. I like the Johnny Quest/Herculoids vibe the show gives off and hope CN gives it more love than it's currently getting.

10. South Park - Though I don't watch the show regularly, I've seen enough over the years to know it belongs pretty high up on this list. Its success at social commentary coupled with its longevity puts it here.

11. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends - It took me a while to warm up to this show but I must say it was imaginative and had some fine wordplay at times. A few characters stand out, especially Goo.

12. Totally Spies! - Though its anime style art for a show set in southern California seems nothing special today, back when it first debuted, it was way fresh. The fact that the three femaile leads were cute and funny didn't hurt either as it attracted great ratings for CN when they picked it up. I wish they'd pick it up again so we could see the fifth and final season. And remember, a feature prequel was released in Europe this past summer.

13. Spongebob Squarepants - I'm not really a fan of the yellow absorbant one but I have to give him his due. Definately the biggest hit Nick has ever had. It'll proabably run for another five years at least. I especially like the live action segments myself.

14. Paranoia Agent - Satoshi Kon's series gets this spot for its intellgence, imagery, and range from being amusing to chilling from episode to episode. One of the best shows ever aired on Adult Swim.

15. Oban Star Racers - A rather unordinary anime series with an engaging mix of traditional 2D animation and CG. The real strong pont is the story which has an unexpected and very satifying conclusion. Well worth getting on DVD.

16. Justice League/Justice League Unlimited - Ah, those were the days. Saturdays on CN. The best TV series set in the DC Universe ever. Great animation, familiar characters and stories, and a nice bit of character interaction. Bruce Timm rules.

17. Teen Titans - A great series with anime influenced art and good story arcs. I especially liked the Titans' characterizations and interactions with each other.

18. 6teen - Groundbreaking in that it's pretty much an animated sitcom, the art takes a backseat to the writing for this one. It may not be for everyone but it's hard to deny the show's humorous and its main characters thoroughly likeable though some may say stereotypical.

19. Daria - She may have first appeared in Beavis and Butthead, but once on her own, Daria really broke the mold. Her portrayal as a high school student trying to assert her individuality in the midst of a bunch of trend conscious lemmings and relate with her family was spot on. The show used a lot of great music to great effect but that's now a main reason the series isn't on DVD. The last few episodes really are a treat as we see Daria lose her cool more than during the rest of the show combined.

20. Futurama - Matt Groening's other series, this show features a dysfunctional group of workers including a man who was frozen for 1000 years and an alcoholic robot. The show was a breath of fresh air after 10 years of The Simpsons and is set to return with new episodes in the near future.

21. Fairly Oddparents - While I have a soft spot for Danny Phantom, Butch Hartman's later series, I have to admit that this show is better, even with a drop off in quality in the past few years. It consistantly made me laugh when it first appeared and some of the new episodes featuring baby Poof are pretty good. More new episodes are coming.

22. King of the Hill - Created by Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge, this show featuring a conservative Texas family is second only to The Simpsons in longevity on FOX. It's not a particular favorite of mine, but I must admit it has its moments. It gets points for lasting so long, too.

23. Fillmore! - One of Disney's more unusual series, the show was set at a middle school and parodied crime dramas of the 1970s and had a distinctively serious tone even though the "crimes" were somewhat less serious. Disney gets kudos from me for the unique concept.

24. W.I.T.C.H. - An excellently animated, well-crafted series with a good story including some unexpected twists and turns. Winx Club got the ratings, but in my book, this is a much better series. The original mix of the American theme just kicked butt, too!

25. Total Drama Island - This send-up of reality TV from the creators of 6teen (and later Stoked) really was a breath of fresh air when it appeared. It's spawned a sequel (Total Drama Action) and a third series (Total Drama The Musical) is in the works.


Honorable Mentions:

Full Metal Alchemist - One of the more popular anime titles to air on Adult Swim, this show runs the gambit from crazy comedy to chilling drama and horror. The episode featuring the first appearance of Barry the Chopper might be the most frightening thing to ever air on Adult Swim.

The Simpsons - Even though this show isn't what it once was in quality, it still gets a nod from me given its place in history and the fact that it's still on after 20 years.

Ed, Edd, and Eddy - The crazy exploits of these three friends ran on CN for years. I must admit I never was into the show much, but I can't deny it has it's moments. I think I like the music score the most.

Pokemon (Pocket Monsters) - The popularity of this show paved the way for more anime titles to be run on American TV. Despite its repetitive nature, the show continues here with new features released every year or so.

As Told by Ginger - Of all the "tween life" shows, I found this one to be the most enjoyable, albeit after the fact. I didn't watch it much when it was originally run, being turned off by the Klasky-Csupo character designs. When I got a chance to watch the show later, I was astonished at the amount of character development it had. Unfortunately, the series was mishandled by Nickelodeon and a number of last season episodes, including the finale have never been broadcast in the U.S. One hopes that will someday change.

Code Lyoko - This imaginative French series was a big hit on CN a few years back. The mix of traditional animation and CG in separate sections of the show was definately unique and the character interactions really made the show during the first two seasons. The series lost focus from there on and never was quite the same. The last group of episodes were never broadcast but were made available on CN Video. Recent rumblings indicate some new episodes (movies) might be made.

Drawn Together - To me, this show was a bit like South Park but with the irreverance amped up to the Nth degree. Violence, sex, and cursing were included along with some pretty biting satire and social commentary. It was also kind of fun to hear some of my favorite VAs saying some outrageous things and cursing up a storm.
 
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