05.04.11 | Gary Cahall | Re: AnimationPrint this Post
Tags: Cartoon TV Series, Cartoons, Top 10 Movie Lists
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In our last episode article, yours truly offered his rather subjective selections for the 25 best animated TV programs of those bygone pre-cable days of the 1950s through the early '80s. Now it's time to check out the top toons of the past quarter-century, when the proliferation of kid-oriented channels and the networks' attempts to follow up on the prime-time success of a certain dysfunctional, yellow-hued family from Springfield (see below) helped give cartoon buffs many memorable moments. As with the list's first half, there are no live-action, stop-motion or puppet series (sorry, Pee-wee's Playhouse), nor do I have any anime entries (still not my cup of tea). And if you're looking for the shows from the Seth MacFarlane universe (Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show), keep looking. The baby and the dog might occasionally be amusing, but if I wanted to see a bunch of non-sequitur, pop culture reference jokes I'd watch The Critic...and that show didn't make the final cut, either. So, starting again at the bottom and working our way up, we have:
25. Sponegebob Squarepants - Does it sometimes seem as though the cartoon is on 24 hours a day? Sure. Is it a unstoppable merchandising juggernaut of toys, dolls, video games, and other tchotchkes? You bet. But there's also no denying that, since his debut way back in 1999, Nickelodeon's "absorbent and yellow and porous" protagonist and his Bikini Bottom comrades are often funny in a subversively just-over-the-kids'-heads kind of way. And how can you not like a show that offers Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway as the voices of senior citizen superheroes Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy?
24. 6Teen - Dropping down from Canada, this 2004-10 seriocomic soap followed a sextet of high schoolers whose lives centered around the ginormous shopping mall where they worked, hung out and became friends. While the computer-generated animation wasn't to everyone's liking, series creators Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis managed to imbue the multicultural leading cast with more personality and heart than those in many live-action teen shows.
23. Animaniacs - The slapstick misadventures of Warner Brothers Yakko and Wakko, along with their sister Dot, on this 1993-98 Fox/WB show were a second attempt at re-creating the frenetic, anything-goes spirit of the old Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons...and it succeeded much better than the earlier Tiny Toon Adventures. Reveling in running gags, song parodies and in-jokes, Animaniacs also featured other characters, such as a trio of pigeons called the Goodfeathers, veteran toon comedienne Slappy Squirrel, and those would-be world conquerors...
22. Pinky and the Brain - The mismatched pair of genetically enhanced lab mice were spun off from Animaniacs for their own series (both in daytime and a brief 1995 prime-time stint), in which the super-intelligent Brain's nightly schemes for taking over the planet would invariably fail, either do to his own miscalculations or the blundering of his slow-witted cagemate, Pinky ("Narf!"). An added treat were the polysyllabic vocabulary words and definitions ("Schadenfreude - joy at the misfortune of others") tossed in during the closing credits. Who says TV can't be educational?
21. X-Men - The history of Marvel Comics' animation efforts has been a fairly uneven one, from the "photocopied comic book panels" limitations of the 1966 Marvel Super Heroes shorts to this year's well-done The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes series by Disney (which almost made this list, but one season may be too little on which to judge). In the meantime, Marvel's merry band of misunderstood mutants have had no less than three different cartoon series in the last 20 years. My vote goes to their first, which aired on Fox stations beginning in 1992. Nearly all of the comics' immense cast made an appearance at one point or another, and several favorite storylines--including the Days of Future Past showdown with the Sentinels and the Dark Phoenix Saga (minus a certain telepath's death)--made it onto the screen. It was an effective translation that also managed to follow the books' themes of alienation and racial/religious intolerance.
20. The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley - Oh, give me a break! Why isn't this wonderful 1988 Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning series--in which Martin Short reprised his SCTV role as spiky-haired, triangle-playing and trouble-prone misfit Ed--out on DVD? Along with a voice cast that also included fellow SCTV alums Andrea Martin and Catherine O'Hara, plus the one and only Jonathan Winters, the show featured live-action segments with Joe Flaherty as Grimley's favorite horror show host, Count Floyd. That's quite an array of comedic talent, I must say.
19. Codename: Kids Next Door - When you're a child, it sure seems like every grown-up is out to spoil your good times. That was the premise behind Cartoon Network's 2002-08 James Bond-flavored satire that found a quintet of grade-schoolers using handmade "2x4"-tech weaponry and vehicles as part of a clandestine organization battling the global tyranny of adults and teenagers. The KND's "operations" were fast and funny, pitting the pint-size protagonists against such comedic menaces as Count Spankulot, Stickybeard and his candy-stealing pirates, the Common Cold, and their arch-enemies the Delightful Children from Down the Lane, whose flame-silhouetted Father spoke like vintage Kirk Douglas.
18. Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law - Was it a superhero spoof with legal trappings, or was it a courtroom drama spoof with tights and capes? It didn't matter to fans of the 2001-07 series from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim division. The solar-powered star of 1967's Birdman and the Galaxy Trio was plucked from his straight-laced Saturday morning escapades and turned into a less-than-super criminal defense lawyer with a three-piece suit to go with his mask and wings. His clients included such HB veterans as Scooby-Doo and Shaggy (busted for possession of certain "illicit substances"), Fred Flintstone (accused by the Feds with being crime boss "The Dabba Don"), and Secret Squirrel (charged with opening his trenchcoat and flashing passers-by). Hey, Colbert Nation: Stephen Colbert supplied the voice of Harvey's lecherous boss, Phil Ken Sebben, and rival attorney Reducto, a '60s Birdman adversary.
17. The Tick - Spoon! What the big blue defender of justice known only as the Tick lacked in foresight, he made up for in strength, durability and enthusiasm. In this 1994-96 Fox send-up, he and his timid, moth-winged sidekick Arthur teamed with such second-string heroes as Die Feldermaus (a cowardly Batman) and American Maid (Wonder Woman crossed with Captain America and Hazel) to defend their city (dubbed The City) from a host of oddball villains. Their opponents included criminal mastermind Chairface Chippendale, who tried to carve his name on the lunar surface with a laser; the flowering fiend El Seed; and the self-explanatory Human Ton and his hand puppet ally Handy, who encouraged kids watching the show to "read a book!" instead.  And while we're at it, let's give a shout-out to the short-lived 2001 live-action series with Patrick Warburton as the Tick.
16. Beavis & Butt-head - Yes, the animation was crude...almost as crude as the title characters themselves. Regardless of whether you consider Highland High's most troublesome and troubled students symbols of the brain-rotting powers of too much TV or inadvertently canny commentators on mass media, Mike Judge's dim-witted duo seemed to rule the MTV airwaves in the mid-'90s and even made it to the big screen in 1996's Beavis & Butt-head Do America. The only problem with the show's home video releases is that they often can't include what many thought was its best part: Beavis and Butt-head offering their own special insights into music videos as they sat on their couch watching...probably MTV, which used to run music videos back in the day. Let's hope this summer's planned B & B revival from Judge lives up--or down--to the original.
15. Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures - I know he got some support in the first half of this discussion, but let's face it; during his 1940s-'50s theatrical heyday, Terrytoons' Mighty Mouse was a bland, one-note character in uninteresting, repetitive cartoons where he'd fly in at the last moment "to save the day." It was up to maverick animators Ralph Bakshi and John Kricfalusi to revive MM with this fondly-remembered 1987-89 CBS Saturday morning series. Along with an often surreal visual style and satiric tone, they gave the hero a long overdue secret identity as cheese factory worker Mike Mouse, beefed up his supporting cast (including membership in the League of Super-Rodents!), and added a colorful and comedic rogue's gallery that included Petey Pate, the Cow, and old '40s foe Oil Can Harry. Even such Terrytoons alumni as Gandy Goose and the Mighty Heroes were featured in episodes.
14. Space Ghost Coast to Coast - Being a TV talk show host can be a risky proposition for a celebrity from another field; just ask Chevy Chase, Magic Johnson or Pat Sajak. One such star who had no problem zooming behind the desk was intergalactic good guy Space Ghost. Live-action guests (Pat Boone, David Byrne, Janeane Garofalo, Charlton Heston and Conan O'Brien, among others) appeared on a TV screen in Space Ghost's studio on the mysterious Ghost Planet and were "interviewed" --and often mocked--by the former crimefighter and his ex-foes Moltar and Zorak, who now served as cameraman and bandleader, respectively.
13. Total Drama Island/Action/World Tour - The talented Canucks behind 6Teen turned their attention to reality TV with this 2007 Cartoon Network show, in which 22 contestants travelled to a run-down Ontario summer camp to compete in challenges for the chance to be the last camper standing and claim a $100,000 prize. Comedic digs at the reality genre's conventions and interesting characters made TDI and its two follow-up incarnations (the last of which, 2010's Total Drama World Tour, managed to combine The Amazing Race and Glee) a delight to follow. You can, if you're so inclined, read my fuller review of Season One here.
12. King of the Hill - While it did win two Emmys, King of the Hill always seemed to be the odd man out in Fox's Sunday night animation outings. Maybe it would have gotten more respect if it had been a live-action sitcom, which it easily could have been. A prime-time staple from 1997 to 2010, the Arlen, Texas-based exploits of conservative propane salesman Hank Hill, his substitute Spanish teacher spouse Peggy, their would-be prop comic son Bobby, and the Hills' neighbors and friends relied on (when Fox didn't shoot creator Mike Judge down) plots and story arcs that allowed the characters to grow and develop over time. The genuine love for their subjects from Judge and his staff shone through the program's gentle humor. Also, I'd like to see a spin-off for the telenovela-within-a-show "Los Dias y las Noches de Monsignor Martinez," about a gunman/priest who dispatches his foes with the phrase "Vaya con Dios."
11. The Powerpuff Girls - Made of sugar, spice and everything nice--plus an accidental splash of "Chemical X"--the cutest little crimefighters to ever battle the forces of evil first flew onto Cartoon Network in 1998. Super-powered pre-schoolers Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup would wind up saving the city of Townsville from Mojo Jojo, the Gangreen Gang, the diabolical Him and other evildoers for six seasons, along with a 2002 big-screen feature. The show's anime-inspired look and light-hearted action made for a delightful combination...with the Fab Four reference-laden "Meet the Beatalls" episode a particular gem.
10. Futurama - Simpsons creator Matt Groening set his satirical sights on the 31st century with this sci-fi send-up that aired on Fox from 1999-2003. Accidentally placed in suspended animation on New Year's Eve 1999, New York City pizza delivery boy Phillip J. Fry wakes up 1,000 years later in a strange new world where he befriends misanthropic, alcoholic robot Bender and Cyclopean mutant Leela while setting off on wild adventures as an interplanetary...delivery boy. Cable reruns following Futurama's prime-time axing kept the show in fandom's consciousness, leading to four made-for-video features and an eventual 2010 revival on Comedy Central.
9. The Ren & Stimpy Show - Hot-tempered "Asthma Hound Chihuahua" Ren Höek and his moronic feline pal Stimpson J. Cat made their debut on Nickelodeon in 1991. Ostensibly a kid's show, the duo's endless schemes to get rich, explore outer space, find work, or just score up a tasty meal of hog jowls featured surrealistic art design and the voices of Billy West (riffing on Larry Fine of the Three Stooges) as Stimpy and series creator John Krisfalusi (blending Cheech Marin and Peter Lorre) as Ren. While Krisfalusi's well-documented run-ins with the cable channel led to his eventual firing and the show's last few years suffered as a result, Ren and Stimpy's first season still stands as one of the most delightfully gonzo experiences in TV animation history.
8. Batman: The Animated Series - Debuting shortly after 1992's Batman Returns, this program followed the live-action films' grim and gritty depiction of the Darknight Detective, added a stylized art deco look reminiscent of the Fleischer Studio's 1940s Superman cartoons, and made liberal use of Batman's comic book rogues gallery. The episodes ran the gamut from serious ("Heart of Ice") to light-hearted ("Almost Got 'Im") and boasted an top-notch voice cast that included Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker. Oh, and the show also gave fandom the Joker's daffy right-hand gal, Harley Quinn, who would later be introduced into comics continuity.
7. Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Of course, "grim and gritty" is all well and good once in a while, but sometimes we costumed crimefighter fans just like to see our heroes beating the bad guys and having fun while doing it. That's where this Cartoon Network entry which debuted in 2008 and is now (sadly) winding down its final season comes in. With an art design similar to the Batman comics of the 1950s and '60s and with an "all-ages" tone generally lighter than its above-listed predecessor, Batman: The Brave and the Bold (like the DC book it took its name from) teamed up the Caped Crusader with a different guest hero or team each week. From Plastic Man and Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth to the Justice Society of America and the Metal Men, it's offered a treasure trove of vintage characters, with a highlight being the mockingly self-referential appearances by otherworldly troublemaker Bat-Mite (voiced by Paul Reubens).
6. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends - Ever wonder what happens to kids' make-believe playmates once their creators outgrow them?  In this 2004-09 Cartoon Network series from Powerpuff Girls creator Craig McCraken, they wind up at the title mansion, home to strange and fanciful creatures and entities of all shapes and sizes, where they can live until they're adopted by new youngsters. Focusing on a young boy named Mac who has to leave his imaginary pal--a talkative, egotistical blob known as Bloo-- at Foster's but makes daily visits to play with him and the other residents, the Emmy-winning show was a marvelous testimony to the creatitvity of childhood...and of the animators involved.
5. Daria - One of TV's best depictions ever of the travails of high school life came courtesy of MTV's 1997-2002 program which took a supporting player from Beavis & Butt-head--bookish, sarcastic teen Daria Morgendorfer--and put her in a spotlight that she would probably want to avoid at all costs. Moving with her workaholic mother, easily distracted dad, and vapid, fashionista younger sister to a new town, Daria found a fellow cynic to snark with in punkish, art-obsessed classmate Jane Lane, and the pair's wisecracking commentary on issues of conformity, self-image, peer status and other teen-related topics were as funny and thoughftul--often more thoughtful--than many live-action counterparts.
4. The Venture Bros. - It's sometimes hard to watch Jonny Quest and other classic adventure cartoons with a straight face now, thanks to this Adult Swim send-up which debuted in 2004. Danger-seeking, trouble-prone twin siblings Dean and Hank Venture may be the titular stars, but it's the supporting players that really make the show: Venture family bodyguard and short-tempered "murder machine" Brock Sampson; hapless butterfly-obsessed baddie the Monarch and his paramour Dr. Girlfriend (who dresses like Jackie Kennedy and sounds like Harvey Fierstein); sorcerer and single dad Dr. Orpheus, leader of the Order of the Triad; and supervillain-mentor-for-hire Dr. Henry Killinger and his Magic Murder Bag. Top honors, however, go to the Monarch's aides-de-camp Henchmen 21 and 24, whose fanboy mentalities let them serve as audience stand-ins.
3. South Park - As last week's 15th (!) season-opening episode and its grafting of iPad fanaticism and The Human Centipede demonstrated, Trey Parker and Matt Stone's potty-mouthed creation is still capable of pushing the envelope of basic cable standards as it continues to spread its satiric tentacles. From its constant presence on Comedy Central to the Oscar-nominated (!) 1999 feature South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, it's inconceivable that anyone out there hasn't heard of the show. It's also hard to believe that there's a political, religious or social subject that Stan, Kyle, Kenny, Cartman and their fellow Colorado denizens have yet to make fun of at this point, but the mocking rarely seems forced and rarely fails to amuse.
2. Justice League/Justice League Unlimited - Now that's an intro/theme! The ultimate cartoon feast for comic book fanboys, these 2001-06 animated incarnations of DC Comics' premier superteam combined elements, characters and voice talents from Batman: The Animated Series and the later Superman: The Animated Series to give viewers galaxy-spanning adventures with a veritable army of costumed heroes and villains. Along with the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel joining such relatively well-known do-gooders as Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern (African-American Lantern John Stewart, not the Hal Jordan character of this summer's live-action film) and Aquaman, DC's seven-decade history was plumbed by the writers to feature such "I never thought I'd see them in a cartoon!" figures as Metamorpho, the Question, the Vixen, B'wana Beast, and my personal fave, Mr. Terrific. And Firefly fans: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres and Morena Baccarin all supplied voices at one time or another.
And the top spot, not all that surprisingly, goes to...
1. The Simpsons - Twenty-plus seasons on the air and nearly 500 episodes....most of them funny, a 2007 feature film, and enough merchandise to fill an Android's Dungeon comic book store: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are now so thoroughly engrained into the American psyche that there's little needed to say about them. Maybe the show has trotted out some plots (Bart's first crush, Marge gets a job, Moe rebrands the bar) too many times, but even if only every other episode has been worth watching the last couple of years, that's still a better percentage that most live-action comedies on the air. And there are certainly enough classic Simpsons moments for fans to remember...which would be the cue for me to put a video clip here, if only Fox would let us. As Homer would say (with a catchphrase that made it into the Oxford English Dictionary) , "D'oh!"
Once again, I'd love to hear from anyone out there with evdience that Little Rosey, The Brothers Grunt, Street Sharks, or whatever their own particular cartoon favorite happens to be deserves inclusion on this roll call. Thanks, toon heads, for all the support.
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