Top 20 Best Cartoon Network Shows From the 2000s
#20: “Class of 3000” (2006-08)
At this school, funk and style are both on the curriculum. Thankfully, “Class of 3000” passes with straight A’s. Or, rather, Sunny Bridges does. He’s the new music teacher on the payroll, but despite that, he definitely knows how to get the best out of his students. The show proves as much by delivering head-banging original songs in every single episode. All of them come with their own music video, too. Although, even if you come for the songs, you’ll end up sticking around to see more of Lil' D, Tamika, and the others. They’re the reason “Class of 3000” has so much soul, and we don’t just mean the music.
#19: “Camp Lazlo” (2005-08)
This show asks a simple question: how much trouble could a trio of anthropomorphic animal campers possibly get into in one summer? Apparently, the answer is a lot. But, thankfully, “Camp Lazlo” thrives upon that chaos. The zany edge to its humor makes it easy to revists even years after its original ending. And yet, the slapstick comedy doesn’t overshadow the show’s inherent hominess, either. Everything from the warm color palette to the toe-tapping opening theme makes this feel like a living, breathing campground. Albeit, one with more than its fair share of bizarre excursions. In “Camp Lazlo’s” defense, with these campers, a bit of mischief is to be expected.
#18: “Evil Con Carne” (2001-04)
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You could say that Hector’s villainy went straight to his head. Or, rather, his brain, since that and his stomach are the only organs he has left. Hector hasn’t let that stop his nefarious ways, though. Even though he’s now operating out of a sentient circus bear. Really, that setup tells you everything you need to know about this show: it’s funny, it’s creepy, and it’s unabashedly absurd. Yet, somehow, each episode tops itself with an even more delightfully weird scheme. The fun isn’t in how Hector and the others fail; it’s watching them devise yet another hilariously inept plan to take over Earth. Suffice it to say, villainy has never felt so right.
#17: “Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi” (2004-06)
Top 10 Best Cartoon Network Shows From the 2000s
This show rocks in more ways than one. On the surface, it portrays its two leading pop stars with wit, humor, and a metric ton of style. But, it’s all pulled together by a story that justifies a ton of jaw-dropping musical numbers. That’s not too surprising considering “Puffy AmiYumi” is based on a real-life Japanese pop-rock group of the same name. They even cameo at the start of every episode! The clear love and passion behind this project is on display in every single scene. It’s to the point that, by the time the credits roll, it’s hard to resist jamming out right alongside Ami and Yumi.
#16: “The Life & Times of Juniper Lee” (2005-07)
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Most of the time, leaving the fate of the world on the shoulders of a preteen girl isn’t a great idea. But, no worries here. Juniper Lee totally has this covered, even when it comes at the cost of her social life. In a way, that just speaks to the show’s best quality. Not the flashy action or breezy humor - though, that stuff doesn’t hurt. No, “Juniper Lee’s” real strength it’s that its title character is just a normal girl - albeit one who inherits magical powers. One that just so happens to fight monsters in between study sessions and movie dates. The stakes are high, but the conflicts are personal, and you can’t ask for a better combination than that.
#15: “Duck Dodgers” (2003-05)
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It’s hard to go wrong with the good, old-fashioned “Looney Tunes” cast. But, put them in space, and the results are actually out of this world. Daffy, or rather his alter ego, Duck Dodgers, stars as the hero of the twenty fourth century. Lucky for him, his adventures usually end in laughter instead of tragedy. Rest assured, though, this is so much more than just “Looney Tunes” in space. Based upon the acclaimed short of the same name, “Duck Dodgers” is a tongue-in-cheek deconstruction of the entire sci-fi genre. And, like the best of “Looney Tunes” cartoons, it lives on the thin line between hilarious and heartfelt.
#14: “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack” (2008-10)
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On pure aesthetics alone, it’s clear that “Flapjack” is unlike anything Cartoon Network has ever seen before. To say nothing of its actual story. The namesake character was raised by a whale, works with a washed up sea captain, and journeys in the name of finding candy. The mish-mash of styles and tones works better than it has any right to, and a lot of that is because of the sharp writing. The silly humor somehow balances out Flapjack’s earnest personality and the series’ ludicrous storytelling. The result is a delightful voyage that’s far more than the sum of its parts. In fact, you could even say these misadventures live up to their “marvelous” reputation.
#13: “Megas XLR” (2004-05)
No show channels the thrill of smashing action figures together quite like “Megas XLR.” Sure, there’s time-travel, an alien invasion, and a slacker teen who’s tasked with saving humanity. But, at times, the plot just feels like an excuse for giant robots to punch one another. And that’s a very good thing. While “Megas XLR” does take its ambitious narrative seriously, it never forgets to have fun with the mecha carnage, too. Thankfully, the slick animation lives up to that vision. “Megas XLR” might just have some of the coolest action sequences in Cartoon Network history. So, it’s a true injustice that it was tragically canceled.
#12: “Time Squad” (2001-03)
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This show does the impossible. No, not time travel, we mean turning history into a gut-busting television program. Described as a “C-student’s guide to history,” it follows a threesome of misfits traveling through time to make sure the past still lines up with the future. One episode you’re in the Trojan War, the next you’re with the Aztecs, and then you’re helping Shakespeare through writer's block. The brilliant premise means there’s quite literally no end to the wacky hijinks Otto, Larry and Buck can get into. Even better, every joke is sold by some career-best performances from leads Pamela Adlon, Mark Hamill, and Rob Paulsen. Clearly, this show’s success was just a matter of time.
#11: “Chowder” (2007-10)
When you order from this catering company, you get an appetizer of intrigue, a main course filled with laughter, and a dessert bound to warm your heart. Chowder’s just a chef in training, but trust us, this dish is not one to miss. The show brims with a rare creative wit that makes every installment a delectable meal from start to finish. Though, that’s to be expected when it has characters named Panini, Truffles, Mung Daal and more. The sweetest of them all is, of course, Chowder himself. His sincere optimism seasons each episode with just enough heart to make it work. For “Chowder,” five stars doesn’t feel like enough.
#10: “Transformers: Animated” (2007-09)
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We all know the Transformers’ story: the Autobots are fighting a seemingly endless war against the Decepticons. With the war over, the good guys must hide out on earth to keep the ‘Cons from getting their hands on the powerful AllSpark; so it’s a good thing they’ve got an excitable little girl and her father to show them around Earth. Transformers fans are split about this series, with its cartoony designs and emphasis on comedy, but others praise it for doing something different. Rather than a whole army of Autobots, it focuses on five repair crewmembers and their human villains. Topped off with better character development for the ‘bots and ‘cons, this series also has entertaining human enemies, and past series references that any Transformers fan can appreciate.
#9: “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” (2004-09)
Sooner or later, we all have to let go of our imaginary friends. But never fear, for they’re going to a good home: Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends, that is. From the creators of the Powerpuff Girls, this CN favorite follows 8-year-old Mac and his best imaginary friend Blooregard Q. Kazoo - or just Bloo - as they make the best out of life and get into crazy shenanigans with the other imaginary friends. Bloo can have a huge ego problem, but he usually gets what’s coming to him. That helped fans fall in love with Foster’s, and so did its mix of creativity, comedic genius, and well-crafted chaos.
#8: “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” (2008-11)
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Looking for a love letter to the Silver Age of DC comics? You won’t find a better series than this one. More light-hearted than Batman’s last few incarnations, this series has the Dark Knight teaming up with a different hero –and occasional baddie– every week to take on some of the biggest threats in the DC Universe. With big musical numbers and mischief from Bat-Mite, this series is more campy and comedy-focused than Batman fans are used to; but let’s not forget where our Caped Crusader got his start on TV. Plus, the minds behind this series clearly did their homework; fitting in plenty of heroes, villains, and comic book references that true Batman fans love.
#7: “Justice League”/ “Justice League Unlimited” (2001-04)
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With the conclusion of Batman and Superman’s animated series, there’s only one possible way to continue their heroic adventures: with the Justice League. That’s right; not just Batman and Superman, but also Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and many others come together to form the most powerful superhero team in the universe. United, they will take on any threat to their world, whether it’s from old familiar foes or new unstoppable enemies. And these seven heroes aren’t alone in this fight; the league is only getting bigger with the aid of dozens of other DC heroes, even those from the future. With plenty of action and heartfelt moments, THIS is how you send off the DC Animated Universe.
#6: “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy” (2003-07)
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What happens when an idiotic little boy and a terrifying little girl beat the Grim Reaper in a limbo game and make him their best friend forever? Complete and utter chaos. Billy and Mandy’s “friendship” with Grim mostly involves them abusing Grim’s supernatural abilities for their own personal pleasure – whether he’s satisfying Billy’s goofy antics or Mandy’s frightening and demanding nature. Along the way, this surreal trio comes face-to-face with all kinds of bizarre people and creatures – such as the goddess of chaos herself, a deranged spectral exterminator, unexpected Hanna-Barbera cameos, and a surprise cartoon meet up. Trapped with two brats and surrounded by obscure humor, all we can say is, “poor, poor Grim.”
#5: “Ben 10” (2005-08)
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When you’re a 10-year-old kid spending the summer on a cross-country trip with your grandpa and cousin, you’re bound to see all kinds of weird things along the way. For Ben Tennyson, this includes a watch that attaches itself to his wrist and allows him to turn into different freaky aliens. But such power comes with a price, and in this case that price is battling Vilgax, an intergalactic warlord who wants Omnitrix for himself. But Ben isn’t giving up on protecting the watch and the Earth from Vilgax: he’s got Grandpa Max’s alien knowledge and Gwen’s magical abilities by his side on this exciting sci-fi adventure. If Ben’s tough to beat when he’s 10, imagine how tough he’ll be at 15.
#4: “Codename: Kids Next Door” (2002-08)
In a world ruled by adults, only one organization has the tools and the means to fight back for the freedom of kids worldwide: The Kids Next Door! With their amazing two-by-four technology, nobody gets the job done better than Numbuhs 1 through 5 of Sector V. But not everyone can be a Kids Next Door operative. Only those under the age of 13 can join up; but once they do, they have to be prepared to face bizarre adult villains, obnoxious teenagers, greedy candy pirates, or worse – The Delightful Children From Down The Lane. With a unique view of the world from a kid’s point-of-view - either you’re in, or you’re old.
#3: “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14)
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Though the Star Wars prequels have had mixed results according to fans, The Clone Wars TV show is a welcome addition to the expanded universe. Taking place between Episodes 2 and 3, the series chronicles the Grand Army of the Republic –including Anakin Skywalker and his new apprentice, Ahsoka - as they take on the droid armies of the Separatists. Fans may debate whether this show is canon or not; but with what it has to offer, it might as well be. Filled with plenty of action, interesting faces both old and new, and some of the best storylines in the Star Wars expanded universe; the force is strong with this Cartoon Network series, whose later seasons found homes on Netflix and Disney+.
#2: “Teen Titans” (2003-06)
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Being a teenager isn’t easy; so try being a kick-butt teenage superhero while you’re at it. It’s one thing to be dealing with insecurities, putting up with each other, and finding that special someone, but now you have to pile on battling evil criminal masterminds, and teenage villains-in-training. But through it all, the Teen Titans – Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven – rise up to the challenge and fight for truth, justice, and pizza. While they go head to head with the show’s main villain, Slade, among many others, we get to enjoy watching our favorite adolescent heroes grow with every battle life throws at them – for better or for worse. It’s just a shame “Teen Titans” had to go so soon.
#1: “Samurai Jack” (2001-17)
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From the creator of Dexter’s Laboratory and the first incarnation of Star Wars: The Clone Wars comes the tale of the warrior out of time. After fighting the evil shapeshifter, Aku, the nameless Samurai is sent to a future where the demon is at his most powerful. Armed only with his magic sword, the Samurai –now called Jack- must find a way to travel back to the past and strike Aku down once and for all. This Cartoon Network show is animation gold - with some of the most creative and gorgeous visuals you’ll see, and an atmosphere that serves as an homage to classic samurai films. Throw in an easy-to-follow story, action to spare, and plenty of humor, and you’ve got such a classic series that it received a fifth season revival a dozen years later on Adult Swim.
