Top 10 Nickelodeon Characters That Defined Our Childhood
#10: Arnold Shortman “Hey Arnold!” (1996-2004)
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For those of us who just wanted to do the right thing, Arnold Shortman showed us how it’s done. One of the most selfless characters ever to grace our Saturday mornings, the only thing larger than Arnold’s oddly shaped head is his tremendous heart. Driven by his innate belief in the goodness of others, he’s the ultimate problem solver and the moral compass of his community. In fact, it’s likely that our own understanding of goodwill was, in part, shaped by Arnold’s effortless ability to offer guidance to his friends and family. Though not without his own share of adolescent insecurities, his passion for helping others emanated through our TV screens so much that we’re certain he believed in us, too!
#9: Sir Nigel Archibald Thornberry “The Wild Thornberrys” (1996-2004)
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This British patriarch was arguably the wildest Thornberry of them all, which is saying a lot when your daughter can talk to animals and your son may as well be one. A zoologist and documentarian, Nigel’s passion for adventure is as big as his mustache, and it’s one that he’s more than happy to share with his wife and kids. He’s a family man through and through, and is always willing to put himself in harm’s way to protect his loved ones. He knows that the secret to making any journey worth taking is having the right people to share it with. With his indistinguishable accent brought to life by the always reliable Tim Curry, Nigel’s is the kind of fatherly love we can still get behind.
#8: Jade West “Victorious” (2010-13)
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Even at a school full of quirky students, Jade’s passions go to some very interesting places. But as this list is sure to prove, her eccentricities made her one of the most talented and surprisingly well-rounded characters on “Victorious.” Starting off as the stereotypical mean girl, Jade’s love-hate relationship with Tori Vega becomes a driving force for her growth across the show’s four seasons. She owns her look and attitude until the very end, but it was an absolute joy to witness her open up more to her friends and grow to genuinely appreciate them. If she could break down her walls, so could we. Besides, we’d be kidding ourselves if we didn’t go weak at the knees for Elizabeth Gillies’s incredible singing voice!
#7: Jimmy Neutron “The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius” (2002-06)
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He may be small, but his brain is bigger than all of ours put together. A regular MacGyver for younger audiences, there’s little Jimmy Neutron can’t accomplish when he sets his mind to it. With a quick brain blast, anything around him can be put to use as he develops one brilliant invention after another. That being said, he may be a genius, but Jimmy is far from perfect. In fact, his creations often tend to cause chaos due to his lack of maturity and know-it-all attitude. Like all kids, he still has much to learn about being a people person. But whenever he saved Retroville from sure destruction, we all learned a valuable lesson in putting others before ourselves and overcoming our mistakes.
#6: Aang “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)
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Carrying the weight of the entire world on your back is a tough pill to swallow, especially when you’re only twelve. Aang’s youthful, energetic spirit makes for a delightful counterpoint during his quest to master all four elements and defeat the corrupt Fire Nation. However, his exuberant outlook is often just a mask for his reluctance and guilt. Even though he spent a hundred years frozen in ice, he’s a character who had to wise up a lot faster than any of us ever did. His heavy burden comes with pressure to conform to unjust values. But with his pacific fighting style and great friends to help him, he ultimately learns that, sometimes, balance can only be achieved by doing things your own way.
#5: Angelica Pickles “Rugrats” (1991-2004)
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Although she’s the closest thing this long-running series has to a villain, Angelica Pickles was, and still is, the epitome of self-confidence. Yes, she’s mean, she’s spoiled, and completely obsessed with herself. But even then, it’s hard not to show some respect to a girl who knows her worth by the age of three and doesn’t think twice to let everyone else know, too. When she isn’t terrorizing her cousin Tommy and his friends with “true stories,” she’s just as quickly selling them out to their parents. She says and does whatever she wants, and while she occasionally offers those dumb babies a helping hand, she still knows how to wear her entitlement like an absolute boss.
#4: Josh Nichols “Drake & Josh” (2004-07)
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One of the great things about growing up with this series is that, as much as we wanted to be cool and popular like Drake, a part of us always identified with Josh. The more rational and sensitive of the titular step brothers, Josh spends much of his time getting roped into Drake’s buffoonish escapades. But as the series’ theme song suggests, Josh is always there to help his brother find a way. Sure, he’s awkward and a little clumsy, but Josh Peck’s comedic timing was so on point that, like Drake, we grew to love him for who he was. Whether he was repeating things for emphasis or taking his bad luck in stride, he showed us there’s value in staying true to ourselves.
#3: Sam Puckett “iCarly” (2007-12)
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Sam is definitely not the kind of person we’d want on our bad side, especially if we had a Fat Cake in our hand. But she’s also the kind of friend we’d be glad to have in any situation. The co-host of “iCarly,” Sam is erratic and rebellious, making her the perfect foil to her straight-laced best friend Carly. Never far from something to eat or her trademark butter sock, her tough exterior allows her to remain protective of those she cares about. Her signature brand of loyalty lends itself to some hilarious moments of physical comedy, particularly when she targets Freddie. Deep down, however, she has a heart the size of Seattle, making her the most wholesome character in a show full of them.
#2: Timmy Turner “The Fairly OddParents” (2001-17)
We’ve all felt like “an average kid who no one understands,” but there was someone who knew exactly how we felt. The only difference between us and Timmy Turner is that we didn’t have fairy godparents to make life a little bit easier. The question of what we might do with three wishes was thrown out the window anytime Timmy made one of his own. His wishes are idealistic, yet poorly thought out at best. Thus, he learned as much about great power and great responsibility from Cosmo and Wanda as we did. At the end of the day, what made Timmy such a staple of our youth is that, while he didn’t age much, he taught us what it truly means to grow up. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Kenan Rockmore & Kel Kimble, “Kenan & Kel” (1996-2000) Possibly the Most Dynamic of Any Nickelodeon Duo Danny Fenton, “Danny Phantom” (2004-07) If There’s Something Strange in Our Neighborhood, We Know Who We’d REALLY Call Zim, “Invader Zim” (2001-02; 2006) Irk’s Mightiest Hero or Earth’s Lousiest Conqueror? You Decide! Penelope Taynt, “The Amanda Show” (1999-2002) We’re Her Number One Fans, Please! Quinn Pensky, “Zoey 101” (2005-08) A “Quinnvention” a Day Kept Our Sadness Away
#1: SpongeBob SquarePants “SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
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To be fair, Bikini Bottom is filled to the brim with memorable characters who could’ve easily made this list, such as the simple-minded Patrick and the cantankerous Squidward. But the town’s resident pineapple dweller is about as close to iconic as any Nickelodeon character has come. It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t at least know this sea sponge’s name, which is a testament to just how indelible he’s become over the years. Striving to make every day the best day ever, SpongeBob is optimistic, loyal to a fault, and finds pleasure in even the most mundane activities. He’s a guy who simply knows how to have fun, and his unwavering kindness towards everyone around him will inspire you even more the older you get. Who’s your favorite Nickelodeon character? Let us know in the comments down below!