Hollywood is currently on the verge of mining every pocket of our ’80s and ’90s childhoods to find that which was once popular and make it so again. [Editor’s note:Need proof? Just pay a visit to Netflix and look upShe-Ra and the Princesses of Power,Voltron Legendary Defender,Stretch Armstrong and the FlexFighters,Carmen Sandiego,My Little Pony, etc., etc…]
There’s lots of revenue to be made from our collective Nostalgia porn, both on the big and small screens. With reboots of ‘90s classics likeTiny Toon AdventuresandAnimaniacsin the works, and Disney’sDuckTalesalready on the air, it’s safe to assume that nearly every animated show our Saturday-morning and/or after-school selves loved will get the reboot treatment sooner or later. Here are 11 90s cartoons, both classics and deep cuts, that are worthy of a revisit.
In the meantime, be sure to bookmark these other nostalgia-fueled cartoon write-ups:
Without further adieu, here’s our list of series we’d pay folding money to see dusted off for Netflix:
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures (1990 – 1991)
What better way to celebrate this classic on its 30thanniversary than with a reboot of his scary-underrated animated series? (Other than releasing that long-in-the-works third live-action movie, we mean.)
In the early ‘90s, the cool kids played with BattleToads. But the cooler kids? They played with and watchedBucky O’Hare.
Based on the Continuity Comic of the same name. this short-lived animated series was sort of aGuardians of the Galaxyby way ofBuck Rogers. Just swap out Star-Lord for a green, space-bound rabbit. Bucky and his intrepid crew belong the S.P.A.C.E. organization, which stands for Sentient Protoplasm Against Colonial Encroachment. Their job? Battle it out with KOMPLEX, the ultra Big Bad and leader of the Toad Empire. Lots of fun animated space battles ensued. This property is just on the fringe of “remember when” and total obscurity. Why wouldn’t Netflix, or any other streaming giant, want the chance to potentially launch aGuardians-sized success on an animated series budget?
Pirates of Dark Water (1991 – 1993)
If any series could do for Netflix whatGame of Thronesdid for HBO, it isPirates of Dark Water.
This darker-than-usual Saturday morning cartoon fair ran on ABC from ’91 to 93, after first premiering as a five-part mini entitledDark Wateron FOX Kids. The action-packed tale centered on Ren, a young Prince, struggling to stop a substance known as Dark Water from destroying his world, called Mer. (Remember that oil slick fromCreepshow 2? Dark Water was kinda like that.) To stop the gooey stuff, he and his ragtag crew had to sail Mer in search of the Thirteen Treasures of Rule. Notable for its impressive (at the time) cell animation and deep mythology,Dark Water’s serialized-ish storytelling was ahead of its time for the genre – and would make for perfect binge-watching in either animated or live-action form. While rumors of some form of reboot have percolated over the years, fans remain unsatisfied due to none of them coming to fruition. The show ended abruptly, with only eight of the treasures found. We deserve some closure, and the show deserves a second wind.
Captain Planet (1990 - 1996)
23 years and 113 episodes ago, we just now realized that, yup, that wasTom Cruiseoriginally considered to voice Captain Planet.
This landmark (and, now, nostalgia-rich) animated series was able to pull in that level of marquee talent – which also included stars likeWhoopi GoldbergandMeg Ryan– thanks to co-creator Ted Turner, who helped spearhead the environmentally-conscious series for TBS. Every episode, the five Planeteers would combine their rings and summon the blue-mulleted titular hero for a variety of “save the environment” adventures. Given that the world has been suffering a very bad global fever for the last few years, and fewer ears listening to the climate change crisis around us, a newCaptain Planetseries would be very effective in helping more people listen.
James Bond Jr. (1991 – 1992)
Even though it only lasted a year on CBS, you’d think this short-lived series was a bigger deal, considering that it spawned a Nintendo game (!), a comic series by Marvel, and a Hasbro toy line.
The title is a bit misleading: 007 wasn’t the titular character’s father, he was his uncle. But that didn’t stop JBJ from pulling anAliasand battling SPECTRE’s goons in between classes at an elite prep school. Since the super spy is bigger now than he’s ever been, thanks toDaniel Craig’s run of Bond movies, it makes sense to have a companion series furthering the brand – but without diluting it. Give it a tone similar to Netflix’sTrollhunters, with a more grounded and reality-adjacent hero battling the mid-level threats his Uncle is too busy for, and maybe also add a cameo or two from Uncle “You Only Live Twice,” as well. Just omit the hip-hop OddJob (see above).
The New Adventures of Jonny Quest (1996 – 1997)
Selfishly, we just want to hear this show’s badass,Hans Zimmer-y take on the classic Jonny Quest theme again without having to go to YouTube to listen to it.
Cartoon Network rebooted the classic ‘60s Hanna-Barbara adventure series, updating it with the aforementioned cool AF theme along with better action and higher stakes. (The problematic naming of Hadji was still sadly in place, however). WithRobert Rodriguez’ movie adaptation seemingly on hold (this property’s leap the big screen has been stalled for years by Development Hell), it might be time to putJonny Questback where he came from – on the small screen. Keeping the show’s retro-future intact, but dropped into a 2019 aesthetic, could bring a distinct visual style to the proceedings. The original had such an earnest approach to its B-movie sci-fi adventures; that tone could be seen as refreshing given the dark and gritty approach most current shows take. And who can’t identify with a teen protagonist living a life our teen selves imagined whenever we watched James Bond or Indiana Jones?
Bobby’s World (1990 – 1998)
Before he hosted the hit NBC game show,Deal or No Deal,Howie Mandellent his considerable comedic voice talents to this staple FOX Kids series.
Few things spark the nostalgic warm and fuzzies as flash backs to Saturday mornings spent inside Bobby’s inventive and engaging imagination. Every week, we follow Bobby Generic (and occasionally drop in on his dad, Howard) as Bobby takes us to “Bobbyland.” Most episodes were bookended with short live-action segments which often featured Mendel either talking to an animated Bobby or another real kid/viewer. A reboot should bring those bookends back with it, along with the show’s effortless inability to make one smile long after the credits roll.
The Critic (1994 – 2001)
“It stinks!” This prime-time ABC animated series, created by writersAl JeanandMike Reiss(The Simpsons), came at that weird time in the ‘90s where every network wanted their adult-skewering animated series in the hopes of finding their ownSimpsons-level success (RIP,Capitol Crittersand, sigh,Fish Police.)
The most successful of which wasThe Critic, despite its limited run. Fans border on obsessive with this series and the off-and-on rumors of its return in some form. Given the current Twitter hellscape at the intersection of fandom and movie criticism, audiences could use a strong dose of Jay Sherman (Jon Lovitz) and his satirical and snarky critiques.
Duckman (1994 – 1997)
Even for the ‘90s, this show wasa lot.
Based on the one-shot Dark Horse comic, this USA animated series aired late on Saturday nights from 1994 to 1997.Jason Alexandervoiced the titular private duck detective, who balanced his case load with his eccentric family using a strong dose of sarcasm. Armed with two Care Bear-inspired office assistants, and a perpetually comatose (and fart-happy) mother-in-law (told you it was a lot),Duckmanwas sort of a trial run for the sardonic humor of such hit shows asBojack Horseman. A reboot would fit right at home amongst shows likeBojack, and it could finally resolve thatsuper awkward cliffhangerthat ended the series.
Gargoyles (1994 – 1997)
Yes, we know if this all-timer animated series were ever to get rebooted, it would be on Disney+. Until that streaming service launches, accept our pie-in-the-sky pitch for a gritty Netflix reboot of this underrated fan favorite.
Disney Animation’s answer to Warner Bros. and FOX’sBatman: The Animated Series,Gargoyleswas full of really dark tones and (shockingly) heavy Shakespearean themes. That’s more than anyone was expecting for a show whose heroes are nocturnal statues that come alive at night to protect New York City. The end result was a bold, sophisticated melodrama that no Disney cartoon has replicated before or since. In addition to an impressive, screen-accurate toy line, the series also spawned a fiercely loyal fanbase – one that deserves new adventures in this world. (And please bring back the voices ofJonathan FrakesandMarina SirtisofStar Trek: The Next Generationfame.)
