Top 20 Animated Shows That Deserve Another Season
#20: “Invader Zim” (2001-06)
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After an ambitious alien named Zim sneaks his way onto earth, he schemes on how to conquer the planet without his true nature being exposed. This delightfully bizarre show loved using dark humor and odd animation to push the overall narrative forward. And each character had a distinctive personality you were guaranteed to remember. Sadly, the unique nature of the show couldn’t save it from being canceled in its second season. Despite its early ending, “Invader Zim” got a 2019 film that has a flawless rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its critical success serves as a major hint that Nickelodeon should give this alien another chance to invade the airwaves.
#19: “Beware the Batman” (2013-14)
While there have been a handful of dark knight shows over the years, nothing looked or felt quite like “Beware the Batman”. The show brought Gotham and its protector to life with CG instead of more traditional animation. To further distinguish itself, the show put the spotlight on more obscure villains instead of just relying on Batman’s mainstays. Fans of this dark knight didn’t get much time to explore this take because the series didn’t even make it past its first season. It’s almost criminal that this dark knight had to shelve his cape without getting a fair shot to shine. While “Beware The Batman” may not have been the series we deserved, we sorely need more of this crusader now.
#18: “Final Space” (2018-21)
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The cast list alone for this cancelled space comedy series alone is enough reason to immediately greenlight more episodes. David Tennant, Steven Yuen, Fred Armisen, Tom Kenny and more lent their voices to the colorful cast. They all delivered well-rounded performances that made us fall in love with the Team Squad as they crossed the universe. Before they could reach their final destination, the crew’s journey abruptly came to an end due to network decisions. However, the series still could’ve rocketed to at least one more season. Although creator and lead actor Olan Rogers will wrap up the series with a graphic novel, we’d still welcome an animated adaptation. The Team Squad has earned the chance to soar just once more.
#17: “The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes” (2010-12)
Top 10 Animated Shows That Deserve Another Season
When this group of Avengers assembled, fans took notice. The deep characterization of each hero and even deeper roster of characters pulled viewers into this unique world. Unfortunately, it fell apart after two seasons so that it could be replaced with a completely new program. While “Avengers Assemble” wasn’t bad, “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” had a lot going for it. The voice acting, action scenes, and threats the team faced were all fantastic. And according to the creators, they planned to expand the roster with a certain pair of superpowered siblings. They were also going to make Asgard a key part of a major storyline. These exciting concepts and more would make for a thrilling installment fans would reassemble for.
#16: “Duckman” (1994-97)
This critically acclaimed show saw Jason Alexander’s Duckman solve cases while avoiding his enemies and his quirky family. Not only was the mature cartoon uproariously funny, but it was full of clever twists that poked fun at the mystery genre. After four great seasons, the entire story left us with a cliffhanger that revealed that Duckman’s long lost wife was still alive. We’d definitely love to get a full explanation of how this miracle was even possible. However, the real treat would be to get more of Alexander’s excellent vocal work as the duck. He’d be guaranteed to intrigue and incite laughter if he got behind the bill for another season.
#15: “Sonic the Hedgehog” (1993-94)
As the blue blur himself would say, it is “No good” that this show only got two seasons. This tale followed Sonic and his friends as they attempted to free innocents and stop Robotnik. While it was fun to watch, it also carried serious dramatic weight. The show explored deep themes about everything from loss to the cost of war. “Sonic the Hedgehog” resonated with so many that its premature cancellation didn’t stop viewers from pushing for more. Fans even took matters into their own hands and started working on making a season that aligned with the show’s vision. Their sheer dedication serves as further proof that this Sonic show was gone too fast.
#14: “Green Lantern: The Animated Series” (2011-13)
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Despite being a powerful hero who can create constructs out of willpower, Hal Jordan and his fellow lanterns haven’t had much time to shine in front of wide audiences. This slick animated series made up for lost time with fantastic animation and deep storylines. While we learned a lot about the human Hal Jordan, the story also left plenty of room to explore other lantern lives. But the show’s strong first season still became its last. According to rumors, the failure of the live-action Green Lantern movie played a part in the cancellation of the animated series. It is incredibly unfair that external circumstances took down such a promising show. Fans were more than willing to continue supporting these lanterns.
#13: “Sym-Bionic Titan” (2010-11)
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Two teenage aliens and a robot initially fled to earth to escape the enemies that invaded their home planet. But after they arrive on a new world, dangerous villains show up to pursue them. Fortunately, each member of the trio can assume giant robot forms that can all combine into one massive fighter. This premise felt like it took the best elements of the Power Rangers and the Transformers and smashed them into one. Although it was a critical success, it reportedly wasn’t financially successful enough to break out of its first season. And as added insult to injury, it ended on a cliffhanger. Seeing the trio unite into a “Sym-Bionic Titan” for new adventures would make up for its incredibly short lifespan.
#12: “Thundercats” (2011-12)
Over two decades after the original series ended, this animated franchise returned with an absolutely gorgeous art style and darker story. During the series, the royal Lion-O has to learn how to be a good leader in the wake of a horrible calamity. His emotions and struggles were beautifully conveyed thanks to the always excellent Will Friedle in the voiceover booth. Unfortunately, this darker take on the Thundercats didn’t attract enough attention back in 2011. Since a ton of mature animated shows have come out since then, we’re willing to bet people would embrace this iteration of the show today. It could even become a roaring success that rivals the original series.
#11: “Young Justice” (2012-12; 2019; 2021-22)
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Focused on superhero sidekicks that form their own team, this series received acclaim for its mature themes, hard-hitting storylines and huge twists. Although the show was officially cancelled twice, it came back from the brink both times for more adventures. But fans are still desperate for one last push. After building up the intimidating Darkseid as a villain for multiple seasons, “Young Justice” teased he would send corrupted heroines to devastate Earth. Based on how brutal previous villains have been, this big bad would definitely decimate the heroes. Whether this exciting plotline will play out was still up in the air as of June 2023. It would be incredibly rewarding for “Young Justice” fans who’ve seen the show rebound twice to pull a hat trick.
#10: “Recess” (1997-2001)
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Ah recess... that magical time of the school day during which anything seemed possible! With this animated series, Disney took that notion to wacky yet relatable extremes. The series followed six friends in their elementary school adventures as they tackled the social hierarchy of the playground, delving surprisingly deep into concepts of freedom, oppression and social conformity. These hard-hitting themes are just one of the many reasons for the show’s lasting popularity. Despite the fact that Recess ran for six seasons, received a theatrical movie, and several TV specials, we have no doubt that fans would be delighted to spend another season with T.J. and the gang.
#9: “ReBoot” (1994-2001)
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They don’t make ‘em like ReBoot anymore. This Canadian animated series took place inside the world of a computer and followed the adventures of Bob, a guardian in Mainframe who, along with his friends, kept the system safe from the virus attacks of MegaByte. Not only was ReBoot the world’s first fully computer-animated half-hour TV series, but it was also wildly popular, with a fanbase that has been campaigning for a revival for over a decade. Considering the fact that series ended on a cliffhanger, you can understand why fans were furious when a reboot of ReBoot (bearing little resemblance to the original) was announced instead of the revival everyone actually wants.
#8: “Gargoyles” (1994-97)
Although these supernatural creatures are pretty stiff during the day, they had tremendous and lively adventures at night. After a group of gargoyles were forced to sleep for centuries, they awakened in 1990s Manhattan and fought evil. Their tales captured imaginations and earned heaps of praise from fans and critics during the first two seasons. However, an uneven third installment led to the gargoyles being sent back into hibernation indefinitely. Despite ending on a sour note, fans are still calling for more tales in modern times. A comic that continued the series was a huge success as recently as of 2022. If a studio decided to adapt the storyline on the page, “Gargoyles” might just become a smash hit tv show in the 21st century.
#7: “Gravity Falls” (2012-16)
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Animated TV shows often get cancelled before their story can be completed, which is exactly why Alex Hirsch decided to end Gravity Falls on his own terms. Often referred to as a cartoon Twin Peaks, Gravity Falls followed twins Dipper and Mabel Pines as they uncovered dark secrets, frightening creatures and general weirdness that plagued the titular town. With all the mysteries and conspiracies surrounding the plot, Hirsch decided to give the series a definitive end before an unexpected cancellation could leave things unresolved. However, with a premise this odd, there’s always room for more, and there’s no doubt fans would love to see more of Dipper, Mabel, and the wacky townsfolk of Gravity Falls.
#6: “Static Shock” (2000-04)
It’s hard to think of a superhero cartoon that was as groundbreaking as Static Shock. The series presented a diverse cast of multi-layered characters who faced complex social issues in ways that were somewhat uncommon in kids’ cartoons at the time. An adaptation of Dwayne McDuffie’s Milestone Media comics, Static Shock followed the titular superhero in his crime-fighting adventures and ran for a total of four seasons. Though it might not be quite the same without McDuffie himself onboard, as the creator passed away in 2011, fans would be, pardon the pun, ec-static to see another season of Static Shock.
#5: “Freakazoid!” (1995-97)
What happens when you combine the zaniness of Looney Tunes with classic superhero tropes? You get Freakazoid!, one of the greatest superhero parodies of all time, and a series that was well before its time. Taking inspiration from Mike Allred’s Madman, the series followed the titular Freakazoid, a superhero who usually defeated villains through the sheer annoyance of his insane cartoon antics. Though it only ran for 24 episodes, Freakazoid! gained a cult following of fans that would be delighted to see another season, or perhaps a reboot, of the absurdly creative (and creatively absurd) series.
#4: “Wolverine and the X-Men” (2009)
Cliffhangers suck, especially when the series is cancelled before they can be resolved. This is exactly what happened with the Nicktoons series, Wolverine and the X-Men, which ended after only one season. This Marvel series followed Wolverine as he struggled to reunite the X-Men after the disappearance of Jean Grey and Professor X. With overwhelmingly high ratings and incredibly positive reviews, one would think Wolverine and the X-Men would have gone on for more than one season, but Disney’s buyout of Marvel caused some financial issues that ultimately lead to the series’ cancellation. However, now that Disney has acquired Fox properties, could another season be in the cards? We can only hope.
#3: “Teen Titans” (2003-06)
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At this point, it goes without saying that the original Teen Titans animated series should be brought back. Regardless of whether or not you like its comedy revival, Teen Titans Go!, it simply can’t compete with the original series. It was a masterpiece of superhero animation, one that was ambitious in both its visual style and mature themes. Despite a massive fan following, Teen Titans was cancelled with major plot points left unresolved. Were there to be another season, the show’s incredible run could be given a proper ending, something that fans have wanted for over a decade.
#2: “Danny Phantom” (2004-07)
Who can walk through walls, disappear, fly, and had a killer theme song? The answer is Danny Phantom. This Nickelodeon series revolved around the titular character as he navigated the hurdles of high school while defending his city from ghostly attacks. An original creation of Butch Hartman, the show incorporated elements of classic superhero stories and spun them into something fresh and unique that played out well against its ghost-themed backdrop. Danny Phantom might have gotten a proper send-off in the form of a TV movie, but there is definitely a demand for more, especially after Butch Hartman himself proposed a “10 years later” storyline, complete with awesome updated character designs.
#1: “The Spectacular Spider-Man” (2008-09)
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On top of having arguably the best theme song of any Spider-Man cartoon (sorry 1967 series), The Spectacular Spider-Man is often referred to as the greatest Spidey TV series of them all. With a unique art style, the character designs by Sean “Cheeks” Galloway standing out in particular, and smart, mature writing, The Spectacular Spider-Man had an overwhelmingly positive reception from both fans and critics. However, despite this popularity, the series was cancelled due to the TV rights of Spider-Man reverting back to Marvel. Since Spectacular’s cancellation, there have been multiple Spider-Man cartoons, so a revival seems unlikely, but there’s definitely a demand for a third season of the hit series.
