1990s - Renaissance and Experimentation in Animated TV

The Simpsons (1989-present)
A satire of American family life.

Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
This Emmy-winning superhero series set a new standard for superhero animation through mature themes.

Rugrats (1991-2004)
Told from the perspective of babies, Rugrats offered a fresh and colorful look at childhood.

Beavis and Butt-Head (1993-1997, 2011, 2022-present)
Known for its crude humor and focus on social satire.

Animaniacs (1993-1998, 2020-2023)
Produced by Steven Spielberg, this zany show combined slapstick and satire with edutainment.

Sailor Moon (1992-1997)
One of the first widely popular ‘animes’ in the U.S.

X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997)
An influential superhero series that addressed prejudice.

The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996)
A bizarre cartoon introducing absurd humor and a unique animation style.

Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994-2008)
A parody talk show starring a retired superhero, Space Ghost was the first animated special on Adult Swim.

ReBoot (1994-2001)
The first fully CGI-animated TV series.

Dexter’s Laboratory (1996-2003)
Genndy Tartakovsky’s series about a boy genius in his hidden lab.

Home Movies (1999-2004)
Home Movies is an autobiographical show about Brendan Small’s life making home movies with his friends.