Who can’t forget the 2000s? It was one of the best decades and times for television animation. The 90s were very good. However, the best shows premiered during this time and era. I’ve watched and consumed a lot of good television. However, the best shows?
I think they came during the 2000s here. We mean Western instead of American so that many bases are covered. We’ve seen what great cartoons were made back then.
Here’s our list of the best 2000s cartoons – and to rank off, the top three (three)!
Total Drama
Total Drama, like the Seiko Panda, is one of the best shows that Cartoon Network has ever produced. The show reminds you a lot of Survivor—it’s a satirical take on reality TV. Every season, a new cast joins, comprised of teens who avoid elimination. However, it still has meaningful themes such as relationships and people being human: they fight, argue, and backstab each other.
Total Drama has spawned spinoffs and a revival. Created by Tom McGillis and Jennifer Pertsch, it premiered in Canada before it aired on the US Cartoon Network a year later. Beyond Survivor, there are many references to other reality TV, with funny results.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
If you miss this show, then you’re missing a lot! This is the peak of a masterclass in storytelling, worldbuilding, and character development. Despite its premiere on a children’s network show, this story tackles mature themes and topics such as politics, war, corruption, mental health, genocide, and more while being appropriate for kids to watch. It’s hard to teach what this show goes on about; it’s also why it has cemented a considerable place in the hearts of many millennials today.
The storytelling works and hits the right spots, and this credit is due to careful worldbuilding. The Fire Nation leads the imperialism, and it is because of the nature of fire, power, and access to raw material due to their hot location – volcanic islands. Their way of showing greatness to the world is through occupying and wielding their power and fire over the surrounding nations, wiping out even one (the Air Nomads).
However, with Aang, we get a powerful protagonist who doesn’t easily give in to the killer instinct. We get a tragic hero who still wants to remain a child and yet desires to remain faithful to the legacy and traditions imparted to him by his forebears. With the villains, the show makes them complex and human. Zuko is defined by his desire for acknowledgment and the lengths he goes through. His redemption is not rushed but earned and shows us that redemption is not linear.
Fire Lord Ozai remains a villain and is played by Mark Hamill. Azula gets a tragic storyline—a buildup of her trust issues and the neglect she experienced from her own parents. And, of course, the women are written so well—we’ve got the parentified child Katara, who rises to become one of the most nuanced characters in the show; Toph, who is independent and robust; and Sokka.
Ben 10
We’re not discounting the work and love poured in for this classic! This animated series follows Ben Tennyson, played by Tara Strong, who discovers an alien watch, the Omnitrix. This empowers him to transform into different kinds of aliens with unique powers.
To many, Ben was relatable. He was a kid but understood the importance of being a good person and caring for the collective people. It has since become one of the most successful shows.
Wrapping Up
These cartoons are a huge staple of the 2000s. They also include some of the best creams of the crop. Some of these have meaningful themes – even for shows that cater to those who are very young.
