Which animated show do you think best represents the 90s? Not neccesarily the most popular one, but which one works as a snapshot of the decade. I'd say it would have to be a 3 way tie between animaniacs and beavis and butthead and of course, the simpsons. Two polar opposites, yet both seem to represent the 90s pretty well. Animaniacs represents the optimism that the kids of the decade had, while B&B represents the sarcasm that the teens had, while simpsons takes both of those aspects and makes it their own.
Which animated show best represents the 90s?
- Thread starter Aussiemum
- Start date
For me, it's a 4 way tie between The Simpsons, Beavis and Butthead, Tiny Toons, and Animaniacs. Now if the discussion was about the 80's, I'd go with Ducktales or The Real Ghostbusters. But what makes it difficult for me to pick a show from the 90's is the fact that there were many, MANY, MANY great toons from that decade.
Hmmn well obviously The Simpsons would take the cake here, but I see some other candidates as well:
I'd say that Tiny Toon Adventures would be a good defining show of the 90s simply because it relied so heavily on pop culture references and what not.
But I would also say something like Hey Arnold. Idk to me that show just had such an intense 90s vibe (I think it was mainly the animation designs and style) that I could never see it being too big of a success had it been released in 2006 as opposed to 1996. But that's just me of course...
No, but the show that I think defined the 90s perfectly would be:
Daria.
It captured everything about the 90s so perfectly and beautifully. It painted a realistic/satirical picture of the average middle class. It also expressed the infamous grunge+post-grunge that had seeped into all of 90s pop culture exquisitely. I know there's more, but I haven't seen that show in a while unfortunately :/ I have yet to get my hands on that series box set that came out earlier this year...
But anyway, that's the type of shows that I think define the 90s pretty loyally.
I'd say that Tiny Toon Adventures would be a good defining show of the 90s simply because it relied so heavily on pop culture references and what not.
But I would also say something like Hey Arnold. Idk to me that show just had such an intense 90s vibe (I think it was mainly the animation designs and style) that I could never see it being too big of a success had it been released in 2006 as opposed to 1996. But that's just me of course...
No, but the show that I think defined the 90s perfectly would be:
Daria.
It captured everything about the 90s so perfectly and beautifully. It painted a realistic/satirical picture of the average middle class. It also expressed the infamous grunge+post-grunge that had seeped into all of 90s pop culture exquisitely. I know there's more, but I haven't seen that show in a while unfortunately :/ I have yet to get my hands on that series box set that came out earlier this year...
But anyway, that's the type of shows that I think define the 90s pretty loyally.
bi-polar-itical
New member
Hmm.. Well the first to come to mind for me would be Batman. The art style was perhaps the most influential that a 90's series had.
A second would be Powerpuff Girls. That one blended an anime style influence with a plot and dialogue that appealed to more than just children.
A second would be Powerpuff Girls. That one blended an anime style influence with a plot and dialogue that appealed to more than just children.
The 90's was home to so many great animated series that it's hard to pinpoint which one deserves to lead the pack as the best representitive, if I had to pick then it would come down to Batman: TAS, X-Men TAS, Beavis & Butthead and as much as I hate to say it, The Simpsons. Any of those shows could take the crown and all of them have acheived success that other cartoons can only dream of achieiving, The Simpsons has been a staple in American broadcasting for 20+ years, Batman: TAS won awards and is considered a masterpiece, X-Men was heavily praised and was even given some primetime airings thanks to it's high ratings and B&B sparked a revolution and was heavily watched by fans as well as haters for it's "before it's time" content. Any of them could easily be the best representitive.
You know, i have often been thinking about how hard "90's cartoons" are to define compared to all other decades (when talking about American cartoons, anyway). It's like, the majority of what was made in, say, the 40's looked and felt quite similar, and it's the same deal with the 60's, the 80's ect. And it's also true to a very big extent today; even though there is still more variation in genres and styles when it comes to cartoons today compared the pre-90's era, there is still a certain genre/style (at least when it comes to television cartoons) that i feel is present in a high enough percentage to be considered the defining style of the 00's and beyond. Namely, the (usually first and foremost comedic) cartoons drawn in a very flat, stylistic and usually edgy style.
As for 90's cartoons though, the variation in looks and content was extreme compared to all other eras in American animation. On a given week in say 1993, we could have shows as diverse as Batman TAS, Ren and Stimpy, Beavis and Butthead, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons and Animaniacs.
However, if i would nevertheless have to choose one genre to represent the decade, i would probably go with what i call the neo-golden age comedies. That is, the very "cartoony" comedies that to varying degrees attempted to emulate the "squash and stretch" animation and "anything goes" approach of the golden age (and often made just as heavy use of "Mickey Mousing" as the golden age shorts), but nevertheless also updated their style of comedy with more verbal humor, pop-culture references and gross-out humor. Some of the most triumphant examples of this are of course Ren and Stimpy, Tiny Toons and Animaniacs, with further examples being Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Taz-Mania and Timon and Pumba. If a kid today asked "what was cartoons like back in the 90's?", showing an episode of any one these cartoons would probably be a valid reply.
As for 90's cartoons though, the variation in looks and content was extreme compared to all other eras in American animation. On a given week in say 1993, we could have shows as diverse as Batman TAS, Ren and Stimpy, Beavis and Butthead, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons and Animaniacs.
However, if i would nevertheless have to choose one genre to represent the decade, i would probably go with what i call the neo-golden age comedies. That is, the very "cartoony" comedies that to varying degrees attempted to emulate the "squash and stretch" animation and "anything goes" approach of the golden age (and often made just as heavy use of "Mickey Mousing" as the golden age shorts), but nevertheless also updated their style of comedy with more verbal humor, pop-culture references and gross-out humor. Some of the most triumphant examples of this are of course Ren and Stimpy, Tiny Toons and Animaniacs, with further examples being Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Taz-Mania and Timon and Pumba. If a kid today asked "what was cartoons like back in the 90's?", showing an episode of any one these cartoons would probably be a valid reply.
Pokemon. Think about it; Anime achieved considerable notice from the tween-teen set in the late '80s through out the 90's and (IMO) culiminated with Spirited Away. When I was a kid, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z and an assortment of other Japenese shows were big. Toonami, anyone? Early mornings? Not so much Saturdays mornings. Pokemon was the pinnacle of kiddie/tweenage cartoons. Oh, yes, Nick and Cartoon Network were considerabe contenders. But the Pokemons is what I was anxious to see every day (the two times it came on WB) and I would've died if it wasn't taped.
Can you blame me (or other brainwashed fans? ^^); hand-held eletronics and Poke cards are to blame my friends. Pokemon solidified itself in my heart and I still love all the old characters from the franchise. You aren't a '90's kid if you weren't at least briefly obsessed with the show and movies. Admit it!
Can you blame me (or other brainwashed fans? ^^); hand-held eletronics and Poke cards are to blame my friends. Pokemon solidified itself in my heart and I still love all the old characters from the franchise. You aren't a '90's kid if you weren't at least briefly obsessed with the show and movies. Admit it!
vishka vishkoski
New member
I'm a 90's kid and I never watched the anime or played the games. I was really into Dragon Ball Z when the Pokemon anime first aired in the US and I saw Pokemon as a lame kiddie show, so I never watched it. Oddly enough I did watch Monster Rancher and Digimon though. But I was always under the impression that DBZ was the most popular anime at the time.
Anyway I think Beavis and Butthead, Ren and Stimpy and The Simpsons ARE the 90's. When I think of 90's animation those three shows pop in my head. Sure there are cartoons I like more but those three are so etched into 90's pop culture its ridiculous.
Anyway I think Beavis and Butthead, Ren and Stimpy and The Simpsons ARE the 90's. When I think of 90's animation those three shows pop in my head. Sure there are cartoons I like more but those three are so etched into 90's pop culture its ridiculous.
Nikki Nonsense
New member
I'll mention one who isn't mentionned yet in the thread; South Park, who when they broadcasted it for the 1st time in 1997 seem to have raised the bar higher during that era. I remember hearing complaints about how bad the humor style was. I decided to check an eye by curiosity and I enjoyed it since. However, I wonder if South Park represents more the 2000s then the 1990s?
Derealisation
New member
Dragon Ball Z did have a trading card game, in the early 2000's, and I heard that Funimation showed some of the Dragon Ball Z movies in a very small amount of theaters.
BeBE Banks
New member
Hardly any other cartoon during the 90s made more of an impact than The Simpsons.
Maybe Pokemon, too.
Maybe Pokemon, too.
It's hard to call Pokemon the most influential program of the 90's, because the TV series didn't really take off until 1999 (once the old Kids' WB got ahold of it). Heck, the actual video games weren't even available on this side of the pond until 1998. Pretty late for all of that to really influence an entire decade.
I was inclined to make a Disney Afternoon series like Darkwing Duck, or a WB series like Animaniacs as my choice, but that'd be a biased decision. In reality, The Simpsons is probably what best represents that decade of programming. It represents the dysfunctional family sitcom at its peak, and was the benchmark for all future imitators.
I was inclined to make a Disney Afternoon series like Darkwing Duck, or a WB series like Animaniacs as my choice, but that'd be a biased decision. In reality, The Simpsons is probably what best represents that decade of programming. It represents the dysfunctional family sitcom at its peak, and was the benchmark for all future imitators.
iverson3.0
New member
The Simpsons, for sure. Sponge Bob defined the 2000's.
Certainly The Simpsons since this show already a cult in the first year. Every kids include me knowing by heart every lines and characters. But the end-1990's episodes started to be dreadful and forgotten.
Other highlight is the underatted but amazing Space Goofs from Gaumont/Xilam who launch a line of France animated hits locally and internationally.
Other highlight is the underatted but amazing Space Goofs from Gaumont/Xilam who launch a line of France animated hits locally and internationally.
Ever wonder WHY?
New member
Oooooh, tough question. I am going to have to lean toward Beavis and Butt-Head and The Simpsons. When I think of the 1990s, these shows immediately come to mind.