Top 10 Cartoon Network Theme Songs
#10: “Dexter’s Laboratory” (1996-2003)
A theme song as grandiose and over-the-top as its pint-sized protagonist, the “Dexter’s Lab” theme evokes the same sort of mysterious and mischievous sound as the music of classic mad scientist films, utilizing an orchestral score heavy on strings and even featuring some choral work. While it may not be as catchy as some of the entries to come, even lacking lyrics, the theme’s atmosphere and attachment to one of the defining show’s in Cartoon Network’s history definitely earns it a place on our list.
#9: “Total Drama” (2007-)
This long-running reality show parody has a fantastic opening song. The song, titled “I Wanna be Famous!” perfectly captures the desires of its young cast, as well as its intended demographic, to make a name for themselves, with lyrics written as if the singers are describing their ambitions to their parents. The music itself takes the form of a relentlessly catchy rock song, with great guitar, drums, some whistling, and a chorus that you won’t be able to get out of your head for days.
#8: “Ben 10” (2005-08)
The “Ben 10” franchise has featured many theme songs among its sequel shows and reboots, but the original is still the best. The lyrics are mostly focused on exposition and describe Ben Tennyson’s discovery of an alien watch, granting him the ability to turn into 10 different aliens, which he uses to save the world from various threats. The music itself has a lot of variety in its instrumentation, though overall it has a very creepy/cool vibe reminiscent of classic sci-fi. Like the show’s premise itself, its theme has plenty of diverse elements that manage to work in concert to a surprisingly fun result.
#7: “Johnny Bravo” (1997-2004)
As fast-moving as its chauvinistic protagonist, the “Johnny Bravo” theme is a speedy rocking way to start a cartoon. Although it lacks any true lyrics, besides its eponymous character’s various exclamations, this song is still a lot of fun. Given that the titular Johnny Bravo is based on the king of rock ‘n roll himself, the theme has a definite flare that’s reminiscent of Elvis Presley, or at least his era. If this song doesn’t get you doing “the Monkey,” we just have one thing to say to you: “Yeah, whatever.”
#6: “Samurai Jack” (2001-04, 2017)
Long ago, a man from a distant land unleashed an unspeakably good cartoon onto the world. The “Samurai Jack” intro begins with some incredibly iconic opening narration by the series’ villain, Aku, which provides much of the set up for the show. Though Aku’s set-up is underscored by traditional flute music, the second half features a hip-hop beat accented with the sounds of swords. With its repetitive, but very memorable lyrics, this theme will have you thinking you “gotta’ get back” to watching it all over again as soon as you’ve finished.
#5: “Steven Universe” (2013-)
The theme for this musically inclined cartoon features its titular hero and his friends, the rest of the Crystal Gems, describing their efforts to save the world, while also introducing themselves. Musically, the theme uses primarily synth keyboards and drums, which makes for a thoroughly enchanting sound that fits well with the show’s aesthetic. There are also several versions of the song, with the later versions featuring greater harmonies between the singers/cast, helping illustrate that they’ve become closer as a team. Short, but sweet, “Steven Universe”’s theme is the perfect anthem for its heroes.
#4: “The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)
Like its young heroines, “The Powerpuff Girls” theme contains sugar, spice, everything nice, and something a little extra besides. Another theme that begins with narration, the opening exposition establishes the super-powered girls’ origins as a lab experiment before the intro kicks into high gear. The music that follows features some rather impressive drum work, as well as other instruments that feature variations on the same melody yet themed to each of the three girls. “The Powerpuff Girls” theme may lack traditional lyrics, but it’s still a fantastic and iconic opening to a classic Cartoon Network series.
#3: “Teen Titans” (2003-06)
Arguably the most elaborate song on our list, the “Teen Titans” theme song is sung by the famed Japanese pop rock band, Puffy AmiYumi. The theme actually has two variants, one in English and one in Japanese, with the former used for more serious episodes and the latter for comedic ones. Both are set to the same music, and while the lyrics may differ, the song itself is an energetic and captivating rock song that will have you bopping along with the beat every time.
#2: “Adventure Time” (2010-)
One of Cartoon Network’s biggest recent hits, “Adventure Time” also has one of its best theme songs. The song appears to start big, with sweeping grandiose string instruments. However, it then subverts expectations by abruptly shifting gears to a simple ukulele accompanied by vocals, both done by series creator Pendleton Ward. The short and memorable lyrics describe the series’ propensity for adventure and its heroes, staying short and sweet. “Adventure Time” has also featured a few variations on the song, with different instruments, singers, and occasional tweaks to the lyrics, though the song’s original form is definitely its most identifiable.
Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“Codename: Kids Next Door” (2002-08)
“The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy” (2003-08)
“I Am Weasel” (1997-2000)
#1: “Ed, Edd n Eddy” (1999-2009)
Who needs lyrics anyway? The theme to this long-running Cartoon Network show features no words besides its eponymous three main characters with similar names, which are spoken at the beginning and end of the song. Despite its lack of lyrics, the theme does contain vocals in the form of whistling, which is accompanied by jazzy piano, horns, and drums, which all build to a chaotic climax. All in all, this is a tremendously catchy song that will have you tapping your toes and whistling along with it.
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