Gen Z and elder Millennials grew up watching the best cartoons of the 2000s on TV. At the turn of the century, cartoons got more experimental and bizarre, and evolved greatly both in of long-form dramatic storytelling and humor. These well-loved shows are perfect for those looking to show their own kids the best of the golden era of animated TV shows, or even just viewers who want to relive their childhoods with friends and family. Many of these shows are still getting new episodes or reboots in the 2020s, highlighting how the 2000s were arguably a golden era for animated kid's TV.
Indeed, early 2000s cartoons — even those rated TV-Y7 and TV-PG — remain entertaining to both kids and adults today. The latter half of the decade saw some incredibly high-quality cartoons hit the airwaves too, with some now considered among the best animated TV shows ever. Despite their sometimes dated visuals, 2000s cartoons are still just as humorous and insightful as they were back in the noughties. Here are the best cartoons of the 2000s, ranked in of overall quality, rewatchability, and sheer cultural impact.
15 Phineas And Ferb (2007–2015)
- Available to stream on Disney+.
Phineas and Ferb was a show that mastered the art of formula, running gags, and self-aware comedy. This formula would always be Phineas and Ferb creating grand inventions and adventures while their sister Candance tries to bust them and get them in trouble (and prove she wasn't wacky). Each episode also featured great music. Meanwhile, their pet platypus, Perry, would always steal the show by facing off against the somewhat sinister and utterly charming Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Moreover, Phineas and Ferb never underestimates the intelligence of its audience of primarily children, and for its sheer rewatchability, it's one of the best cartoons of the 2000s.
14 House Of Mouse (2001–2003)
- Available to stream on YouTube.
Before Captain America: Civil War became known as the biggest crossover event in Disney's history, there was House of Mouse. Hosted by Mickey Mouse and staffed by Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy, the House of Mouse itself is a nightclub where all the famous faces of Disney come out to play. Everyone from Snow White to Simba makes an appearance in the show, making it a regular who's who of Disney royalty. Like a real talk show host, Mickey would even do crowd work with the audience of villains, heroes, and side characters. House of Mouse is among the best cartoons of the 2000s for exemplifying just how fun the era was for Disney cartoons.
13 The Grim Adventures Of Billy and Mandy (2001–2007)
- Available to stream on HBO Max.
The Grim Adventures of Billy And Mandy has arguably the strangest premise for a children's cartoon. After winning a game of limbo, two kids get the Grim Reaper bound to them as their best friend forever, and well, hijinks ensue. The downright nasty nature of the show, and the contrast between the brilliant and savage Mandy, the dim-witted and heartfelt Billy, and the laidback and pragmatic Grim solidified Billy and Mandy as one of the best cartoons of the 2000s. It's one of the earliest shows that sealed Cartoon Network's reputation for being willing to walk the dark side — without ever losing sight of its primary audience.
12 Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends (2004–2009)
- Available to stream on Hulu.
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends revolves around the lovable duo, Mac and his imaginary friend Bloo. The 8-year-old Mac is being pressured by his mother to leave behind his childish ways, which includes playing with Bloo. The two find themselves in a safe space when they stumble upon a house full of imaginary friends. Here, Mac can visit Bloo, who can stay without being worried about adoption. They get into some wild antics, which the series explores with each new entertaining episode. The show can also occasionally be surprisingly emotional, especially when Mac experiences the hardships of growing up, the treatment of which makes Foster's Home one of the best cartoons of the 2000s.
11 Spongebob Squarepants (1999–Present)
- Available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Spongebob Squarepants has sealed itself into pop culture in every way possible, with seemingly monthly memes, and even a successful Broadway musical. Created by the late Stephen Hillenburg, the show is a modern Pee Wee's Playhouse style extravaganza that loved to blend absurdity and surrealism in its episodes and carried excitable energy. Unfortunately, following a few seasons after the Odyssey that was The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, the series never returned to its golden era. It also was announced that several spinoffs were in development following the ing of Hillenburg, who specifically did not want any spinoffs. Still, the good years of Hillenburg's creation were a blessing, and classic Spongebob remains among the best cartoons of the 2000s.
10 X-Men: Evolution (2000–2003)
• Available to stream on Disney+.
X-Men: Evolution is a must-see adaptation for fans of the franchise, as it's one of the most successful animated versions of the Marvel Comics franchise and highlights fan-favorite characters' experiences as teenagers. It introduces X-Men like Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Storm, who struggle with controlling their powers and getting along with new mutants. Professor X is there, too, of course, and the entire series actually ends on a high note with a memorable speech from him. Viewers watching it for the first time shouldn't expect too much violence, making X-Men: Evolution one of the best cartoons of the 2000s particularly for children into superheroes.
9 Duck Dodgers (2003–2005)
- Available to stream on Prime Video.
Duck Dodgers features a ton of Looney Tunes characters that fans know and love — but in the far future. In Duck Dodgers, the eponymous protagonist (played by Daffy Duck) is in a strange situation after having been accidentally frozen for over three centuries. The entire premise is actually based on a 1953 theatrical cartoon of the same name. Iconic characters appear regularly on the series, and fans may recall seeing Wile E. Coyote as a Predator-like alien and Yosemite Sam who is called K'chutha Sa'am. A show that's chock-full of references to pop culture, Duck Dodgers is one of the best cartoons of the 2000s even for adults rewatching today.
8 Invader Zim (2001–2006)
- Available to stream on Paramount+.
Fans of the sci-fi dark comedy series, Invader Zim, will likely never forget the irritable yet adorable extraterrestrial protagonist, Zim, and his malfunctioning robot companion, GIR. Sent from the planet Irk, it's Zim's job to enslave and conquer humanity. While he often thinks he's doing a good job, he's actually almost always failing in comedic ways, especially when his classmate Dib stands in his way. Their comical battles and the obliviousness of Zim's neighbors and school s result in some gut-busting scenes. Although the series never got a chance to wrap up properly, the episodes that it did have secured the Invader Zim a high place among the best cartoons of the 2000s.
7 Teen Titans (2003–2006)
- Available to stream on HBO Max.
Cartoon Network was always a bit more daring with its programming than many of its rivals, and Teen Titans is a great example of how the network began creating more mature and structured tales for a younger audience. Like most of the best cartoons of the 2000s, the long-form storytelling was a great boon to the show, which tended to focus on a different member of the DC superhero team each season. It blended American-style humor with Japanese-style animation, and was quite unique in that it focused on mature teenage characters and wasn't a complete drag at all times, even with Raven involved.
6 The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–2009)
- Available to stream on Disney+.
While Teen Titans didn't get a complete sendoff, it at least wrapped up some of its storylines with a film. Tragically, the even better superhero show The Spectacular Spider-Man never made it past two seasons after Disney bought Marvel. Spectacular Spider-Man might well be the best animated adaptation of Spider-Man put to screen, and that's in a world that now includes the near-perfect Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The series knew exactly how to tackle the character (who has been adapted an exhausting amount of times) and balanced classic and new ideas masterfully. It's no surprise that The Spectacular Spider-Man is largely considered to rank highly among the best cartoons of the 2000s.