The 31 Best Cartoons of the Early 2000s

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Film & TV expert Finding Miko shares his favorite cartoon picks from the 2000s

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 SpongeBob SquarePants

2 The Proud Family

3 The Fairly OddParents

4 The Powerpuff Girls

5 Kim Possible

6 Avatar: The Last Airbender

7 Danny Phantom

8 Edd, Ed n Eddy

9 Recess

10 Invader Zim

11 What’s New Scooby-Doo?

12 Phineas and Ferb

13 Dexter’s Laboratory

14 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

15 Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends

16 Winx Club

17 The Wild Thornberrys

18 CatDog

19 As Told By Ginger

20 My Life as a Teenage Robot

21 Courage the Cowardly Dog

22 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

23 Johnny Bravo

24 Codename: Kids Next Door

25 Teen Titans

26 Justice League

27 Ben 10

28 Samurai Jack

29 Angelina Ballerina

30 Clifford the Big Red Dog

31 Family Guy

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Co-authored by Finding Miko and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: June 24, 2026 Fact Checked

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Children of the 2000s were shaped by some pretty iconic and beloved animated TV shows. From SpongeBob SquarePants to The Proud Family to Avatar: The Last Airbender to Recess, the decade was filled with some serious heavy hitters! If you’re looking to take a little trip down memory lane, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading for a comprehensive list of the best 2000s cartoons that’s sure to satisfy your nostalgia!

Iconic Early 2000s Cartoons

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Film & TV expert Finding Miko says some of the most iconic 2000s cartoons are Ben 10, Teen Titans, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Invader Zim, 6teen, Total Drama Island, Samurai Jack, American Dragon: Jake Long, Kim Possible, and El Tigre. Other beloved shows include SpongeBob, The Proud Family, and Ed, Edd n Eddy.

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1

SpongeBob SquarePants

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1. 
   Featuring a hilarious cast of characters, including the endlessly cheerful fry cook SpongeBob, his lovable yet dimwitted bestie Patrick, and his grumpy yet relatable coworker Squidward, we’re willing to bet this Nickelodeon cartoon can still get you laughing today. It’s also the source of a treasure trove of memorable quotes and memes—seriously, there are so many we couldn’t even begin to list them all. One thing’s for certain, this one’s a classic! Film and TV expert Drew Wentworth says that the underwater theme, music, and the lore make SpongeBob one of his favorite cartoon universes!

   • Aired from: 1999-present
   • Where to watch: Paramount+
   • Big SpongeBob fan? Check out our SpongeBob character quiz and trivia quiz!
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2

The Proud Family

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1. 
   The Proud Family follows Penny Proud as she navigates her early teenage years. Penny herself is a totally lovable and relatable main character, but the real magic of the series is her dynamic with the hilarious members of her family, including her overprotective, snack-innovating father Oscar Proud, her blunt and larger-than-life grandmother, Sugar Mama, and her eccentric Uncle Bobby, who’s perpetually in a state of performance and sings all his lines into a microphone. We love this one as kids, but it’s one of those rare shows that might be even more entertaining when you revisit it as an adult!

   • Aired from: 2001-2005
   • Where to watch: Disney+

3

The Fairly OddParents

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1. 
   The Fairly OddParents centers around the life of Timmy Turner, a 10-year-old who lives a pretty normal life, except for one thing…he has two fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda who can grant him any wish his heart desires.! This Nickelodeon classic had us all wishing that we had our own set of fairy godparents—even if Timmy often ended up getting more than he bargained for with his wishes!

   • Aired from: 2001-2017
   • Where to watch: Paramount+ and Netflix
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4

The Powerpuff Girls

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1. 
   When Professor Utonium attempts to create the “perfect little girl,” he adds in “sugar, spice, and everything nice,” but one extra ingredient accidentally makes its way into the mix—Chemical X! From there, the Powerpuff Girls are born, a trio of kindergarten-aged girls with impressive superpowers named Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup. We all loved to watch the Powerpuff Girls fight crime and defeat the forces of evil…but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t also love to see the shenanigans of memorable villains like Mojo Jojo and HIM, too!

   • Aired from: 1998-2005
   • Where to watch: HBO Max & Tubi
   • Wondering which Powerpuff Girl fits your personality best? Take our quiz to find out!

5

Kim Possible

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1. 
   From the unbelievably catchy theme song to Kim’s totally fashionable cargo pants/black crop top look, this show had us all in a chokehold in the early 2000s. Kim Possible follows the life of a totally average teenage girl—except for the fact that she’s also a freelance vigilante fighting villains like the evil mastermind Dr. Drakken and his (totally iconic) henchwoman Shego. Danger or trouble, she’s there on the double!

   • Aired from: 2002-2007
   • Where to watch: Disney+
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6

Avatar: The Last Airbender

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1. 
   Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them… So begins one of the most enduring and beloved animated shows of the early 2000s, Avatar: The Last Airbender! The show follows Aang, a 12-year-old airbender who’s been frozen in an iceberg for 100 years, and who just might be the key to saving the world. It’s an action-packed adventure filled with complex characters, and it totally stands up to the test of time!

   • Finding Miko notes that Avatar is definitely one of the most iconic cartoons from the 2000s!
   • Aired from: 2005-2008
   • Where to watch: Paramount+ & Netflix
   • Check out our Avatar Character Quiz & Bending Element Quiz!

7

Danny Phantom

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1. 
   Set in the fictional town of Amity Park, this Nickelodeon show follows a teenage boy named Danny Fenton who accidentally becomes a human-ghost hybrid after stepping into his parents’ Ghost Portal in their laboratory. Operating under his codename Danny Phantom, Danny becomes a superhero who protects his hometown from dangerous ghosts. It’s a fun and exciting show that had us all entertained on afternoons after school! Wentworth considers Danny Phantom one of the coolest characters of them all!

   • Aired from: 2004-2007
   • Where to watch: Paramount+
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8

Edd, Ed n Eddy

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1. 
   Edd, Ed n Eddy follows the titular trio of friends, whose unique personalities contrast and complement each other. Edd is smart and mature, Ed is kindhearted yet dimwitted, and Eddy is the scheming leader of the group. Viewers loved watching this iconic group of buddies and all their shenanigans, making this show one of Cartoon Network’s most popular titles of the early 2000s.

   • Aired from: 1999-2009
   • Where to watch: HBO Max & Tubi

9

Recess

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1. 
   As kids, we all lived for recess at school, when class took a pause, and it was all about hanging out on the playground. It’s no wonder that we also loved a show that centered around this sacred time! Recess follows six elementary school students with a wide range of personalities—popular T.J. Detweiler, jock Vince LaSalle, tomboy Ashley Spinelli, intelligent Gretchen Grundler, gentle giant Mikey Blumberg, and timid new kid, Gus Griswald—so there was someone for everyone to relate to.

   • Aired from: 1997-2001
   • Where to watch: Disney+
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10

Invader Zim

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1. 
   Invader Zim follows the titular Zim, an alien supervillain who’s got big evil aspirations…that always end up leading to disaster. Because he can’t seem to get it right, his superiors send him to Earth on a “secret mission,” but this is actually just to keep him distracted and away from their real mission, Operation Impending Doom II. On Earth, Zim enrolls in a human elementary school, and a totally entertaining and chaotic ride ensues!

   • Aired from: 2001-2006
   • Where to watch: Paramount+

11

What’s New Scooby-Doo?

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1. 
   Who could forget everyone’s favorite mystery-solving gang? An updated reboot of the Saturday morning classic Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! of the 1960s, What’s New Scooby-Doo? follows the same mystery-of-the-week format. It features the whole OG gang: laidback and fearful Shaggy, fearless leader Fred, fashionable and resourceful Daphne, highly intelligent Velma, and of course, Scooby-Doo himself, a Great Dane with a fear of ghosts and a big appetite.

   • Aired from: 2002-2006
   • Where to watch:
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12

Phineas and Ferb

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1. 
   The shenanigans of step brothers Phineas and Ferb may be the central focus of this Disney Channel show, but let’s be real—the rivalry between the comically ineffective evil scientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his arch nemesis Perry the Platypus is what we really cared about. Would the bumbling Dr. Doofenshmirtz achieve his ultimate goal of taking control of the Tri-State Area? Or would Perry thwart him yet again? We tuned in every week to find out!

   • Aired from: 2007-2015
   • Where to watch: Disney+

13

Dexter’s Laboratory

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   Dexter’s Laboratory revolves around a young genius named Dexter, who has a highly advanced secret laboratory hidden behind a bookshelf in his bedroom. One of the best parts of this Cartoon Network show is actually its villain, a boy named Susan “Mandark” Astronomonov, who strives to prove himself as the superior genius. From his iconic helmet-like bowl cut to the fact that his hippie parents named him “Susan” to defy societal norms, Mandark is pretty darn hilarious!

   • Aired from: 1996-2003
   • Where to watch: Tubi
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14

The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

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1. 
   The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius follows a scientifically gifted young boy from a town called Retroville, Texas. Jimmy is undeniably intelligent and innovative, but his inventions often go wrong, leading him down some wild roads with his best buds Carl and Sheen. With its entertaining adventures and super unique computer-generated animation style, this one was definitely a fan favorite!

   • Aired from: 2002-2006
   • Where to watch: Paramount+

15

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends

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1. 
   Set in a magical orphanage for imaginary friends whose children have outgrown them, this Cartoon Network show follows protagonist Mac, an 8-year-old boy with an imaginary friend named Bloo, as he interacts with the lovable and quirky residents of the orphanage who are waiting to be adopted by new children in need of imaginary friends. It’s a celebration of childhood creativity and imagination, and it was also a truly entertaining watch!

   • Aired from: 2004-2009
   • Where to watch: Tubi
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16

Winx Club

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1. 
   Winx Club aired on Nickelodeon, and it follows a group of seven characters as they attend a school for fairies called Alfea. The titular club is made up of Bloom (Fairy of the Dragon Flame), Stella (Fairy of the Sun and Moon), Musa (Fairy of Music), Tecna (Fairy of Technology), Flora (Fairy of Nature), Aisha (Fairy of Waves), and Roxy (Fairy of Animals). For the whimsical ones among us who dreamed of being fairies, this one was definitely a favorite!

   • Aired from: 2004-2009
   • Where to watch: The official Winx Club YouTube channel
   • Curious to find out which member of the Winx Club you’d be? Take our character quiz!

17

The Wild Thornberrys

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1. 
   This Nickelodeon classic followed the adventures of the eccentric yet lovable Thornberry family, who live a nomadic life traveling all around the world to make wildlife documentaries. The Thornberrys’ youngest daughter, Eliza, has the ability to speak with animals, and the family’s patriarch, Sir Nigel Archibald Thornberry, is voiced by the iconic actor Tim Curry. Need we say more?

   • Aired from: 1998-2004
   • Where to watch: Paramount+
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18

CatDog

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1. 
   Why have just a cat or a dog when you could have both? CatDog follows the adventures of a conjoined-twin-hybrid-creature that’s a dog on one end and a cat on the other, appropriately named CatDog. Though the two share a body and consider themselves to be best friends, they have pretty different likes and dislikes, which makes for some truly wacky and hilarious situations!

   • Aired from: 1998-2005
   • Where to watch: Paramount+

19

As Told By Ginger

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1. 
   This Nickelodeon cartoon follows middle schooler Ginger Foutley and her besties Darren Patterson, Dodie Bishop, and Macie Lightfoot as they try to rise through the social ranks and shed their geeky personas at school. In an era filled with some seriously high-energy-high-stakes shows, As Told By Ginger is refreshingly earnest, low-key, and relatable, making it a beloved favorite of many!

   • Aired from: 2000-2006
   • Where to watch: Unfortunately, As Told By Ginger was removed from Paramount+ in 2005, but you may be able to find a physical copy from sellers on eBay or Amazon!
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20

My Life as a Teenage Robot

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1. 
   This series centers around Jenny Wakeman—also known as XJ-9—a robot girl who just wants to live the life of a normal teenage girl…even though she was designed by her mother to protect Earth. The blend of Jenny’s relatable adolescent problems and totally unique robot superhero problems makes for a truly entertaining ride! The show’s main antagonist, Vexus, is also played by the legendary Eartha Kitt, which is pretty amazing.

   • Aired from: 2003-2005
   • Where to watch: Paramount+

21

Courage the Cowardly Dog

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   Aired on Cartoon Network, Courage the Cowardly Dog featured a unique blend of black comedy, horror, and supernatural elements (all while managing to stay pretty kid-friendly!). The show follows a dog named Courage and his owners, Muriel and Eustace Bagge, who live in the fictional town of Nowhere, Kansas. Their circumstances are anything but normal, though—Courage and his owners often find themselves in truly bizarre situations involving sci-fi elements and paranormal villains!

   • Aired from: 1999-2002
   • Where to watch: Tubi
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22

The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

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1. 
   For the goth kids, there was The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, a show that followed two young children who manage to force the Grim Reaper to be their BFF when they beat him in a game of Limbo. The juxtaposition of Billy and Mandy’s regular elementary school kid problems and the shenanigans that come with being besties with Death himself makes for a truly wild ride!

   • Aired from: 2003-2007
   • Where to watch: The series isn’t available to stream for free, but you can purchase episodes on AppleTV or Amazon Prime Video.

23

Johnny Bravo

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1. 
   Johnny Bravo follows an ultra-muscular, self-proclaimed womanizer as he struts around town, trying to get women to go on dates with him. With his sunglasses, pompadour, and comically tight blue jeans, he’s pretty much a caricature of the worst guy you know cosplaying Elvis Presley, which doesn’t sound very fun to watch, but actually ends up being pretty entertaining!

   • Aired from: 1997-2004
   • Where to watch: Johnny Bravo isn’t available to stream for free, but you can purchase episodes on AppleTV or Amazon Prime Video.
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24

Codename: Kids Next Door

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   This Cartoon Network classic follows a group of 10-year-olds using code names “Numbuhs 1-5,” who are operatives of Sector V, a branch of the worldwide spy organization called the Kids Next Door. From workaholic leader Numbuh 1 to happy-go-lucky Numbuh 3 to intelligent and laid-back Numbuh 5, there was someone for everyone to relate to in this fun show!

   • Aired from: 2002-2008
   • Where to watch: Tubi

25

Teen Titans

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1. 
   This Cartoon Network show follows the DC Comics superhero team called Teen Titans, which is made up of Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven. The gang fights every criminal and villainous threat to protect the people of Jump City, making for a truly exciting and thrill-filled ride for all superhero lovers.

   • Aired from: 2003-2006
   • Where to watch: Tubi
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26

Justice League

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   Another DC animated show, Justice League centers around the titular group of iconic superheroes, including Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and more. Filled with high-stakes adventure and intense interpersonal drama among the heroes, this one was a super thrilling and entertaining watch!

   • Aired from: 2001-2004
   • Where to watch: Tubi & HBO Max
   • Take our quiz to find out which DC superhero you’d be based on your personality!

27

Ben 10

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   Ben 10 centers around protagonist Ben Tennyson, a regular kid whose life gets turned upside down after he discovers a mysterious alien device called the Omnitrix, which gives him the power to transform into ten different alien species. The show aired on Cartoon Network, and it was a favorite among Sci-Fi and alien fans!

   • Aired from: 2005-2008
   • Where to watch: Tubi
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28

Samurai Jack

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   The story of Samurai Jack starts in feudal Japan, where a young prince trains to be an elite samurai warrior in order to defeat the evil shapeshifting demon Aku. To give himself more time to prepare for the epic showdown, Aku manages to transport the prince to the distant future, which happens to be a retrofuturistic dystopia where Aku reigns supreme. Would Samurai Jack be able to vanquish this evil villain and get back to his own time? Tons of fans tuned in to find out.

   • Aired from: 2001-2004
   • Where to watch: HBO Max

29

Angelina Ballerina

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1. 
   For those of us who dreamed of growing up to be ballerinas, this cartoon was absolutely everything. It’s definitely aimed at a younger audience than many of the other entries on this list, but it’s a super comforting and nostalgic show that’s sure to bring you back to your early childhood days!

   • Aired from: 2001-2006
   • Where to watch: Tubi
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30

Clifford the Big Red Dog

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1. 
   Another classic aimed at younger audiences, this PBS Kids cartoon followed Clifford, a humongous red Labrador Retriever Vizsla mix and his adventures with his canine and human friends. It’s a heartwarming, educational show that taught us all the power of play and imagination!

   • Aired from: 2000-2003
   • Where to watch: PBS Kids Video App

31

Family Guy

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1. 
   Family Guy follows the dysfunctional Griffin family as they navigate some seriously silly and entertaining situations in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island. The show is still pumping out new episodes to this day, so it definitely transcends the label of “2000s cartoon.” However, it did premiere in 1999, and it enjoyed major popularity throughout the early 2000s, so it’s only fitting that it closes out our list!

   • Aired from: 1999-present
   • Where to watch: Disney+ & Hulu
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