The 40 most popular 1990s kids TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


Arthur
1996 · US
The show revolves around the lives of 8-year-old Arthur Read, an anthropomorphic aardvark, his friends and family, and their daily interactions with each other.


Ninja Boy Rantaro
1993 · JP
Rantarō, Shinbei and Kirimaru are ninja apprentices in the Ninja Gakuen, where first grade ones are called "Nintamas". They must learn everything a ninja must know, but as for our heroes, money, food or playing are more interesting. The series show the everyday adventures of our heroes.


Rugrats
1991 · US
Focuses on a group of toddlers, most prominently Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil, and Angelica, and their day-to-day lives, usually involving common life experiences that become adventures in the babies' imaginations. Adults in the series are almost always unaware of what the children are up to; however, this only provides more room for the babies to explore and discover their surroundings.


Cow and Chicken
1997 · US
Follows the surreal adventures of a cow, named Cow, and her chicken brother, named Chicken. They are often antagonized by "The Red Guy", who poses as various characters to scam them.


Sailor Moon
1992 · JP
One day, Usagi Tsukino, clumsy 2nd-year middle school student, stumbles upon a talking cat named Luna. Luna tells her that she is destined to be Sailor Moon, "champion of love and justice", and she must search for the fabled Moon Princess. Usagi finds friends that turn out to be destined senshi as well, and together they fight to save the world from the certain doom brought upon by the Dark Kingdom.


The Powerpuff Girls
1998 · US
A series about Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, three kindergarten-aged girls with superpowers, as well as their "father", the brainy scientist Professor Utonium, who all live in the fictional city of Townsville, USA. The girls are frequently called upon by the town's childlike and naive mayor to help fight nearby criminals using their powers.


Animaniacs
1993 · US
The two Warner Brothers Yakko and Wakko and their Warner sister Dot had been (supposedly) created in the 1930's, but their cartoons were too screwy for the general public to handle. The three Warners were locked up in the studio water tower until they escaped in the 90's. There, they run wild, causing chaos everywhere!


Tom & Jerry Kids Show
1990 · US
Tom and Jerry in their childhood days, playing cat-and-mouse games even then.


Magical DoReMi
1999 · JP
Ojamajo Doremi, known as Magical DoReMi internationally, is a magical girl anime television series created by Toei Animation in 1999. It focuses on elementary school students who become witch apprentices. Led by Doremi Harukaze, the girls must maintain their double lives in secret. Ojamajo Doremi has been followed up by three direct sequels, lasting until its end in 2003. During the television series' runtime, two companion films were released in theaters. The English dub, produced by 4Kids Entertainment, released a preview episode in the US airing on August 13, 2005, and the first episode on September 10, 2005.


Caillou
1997 · CA
Follow Caillou, the lovable 4-year-old with a big imagination, as he and his friends go on adventures and experience all the wonders of being a child.


Chiquititas
1995 · AR
The series focuses about orphans living in a manor, known as Rincón de Luz, where they're guided by a young woman that represents a maternal figure for them.


Timon and Pumbaa
1995 · US
Set after the events of the "The Lion King," follow Timon and Pumbaa as they go on misadventures in the jungle, as well as across the globe in various.


Power Rangers
1993 · US
A team of teenagers with attitude are recruited to save Angel Grove from the evil witch, Rita Repulsa, and later, Lord Zedd, Emperor of all he sees, and their horde of monsters.


Barney & Friends
1992 · US
Barney & Friends is an American children's television series aimed at children from ages 2 to 5. The series, which first aired on April 6, 1992, features the title character Barney, a purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly, optimistic attitude.


Recess
1997 · US
Join a group of six fourth-grade best friends at Third Street Elementary School on their fun-filled adventures in their school playground. Through the ups-and-downs of adolescence, they must wrestle with authority, avoid the school snitch, and try their best to win at kick-ball.


Blue's Clues
1996 · US
Blue's Clues is a colorful and learning series that is targeted at the younger crowd, but can be enjoyed by all. The host, Steve Burns, invites viewers daily into the Blue's Clues house to help him out, learn and have fun. The show is based around the host looking for three clues that Blue provides by labelling them with a pawprint to figure something out and in the process, having an adventure.


Cococinel
1992 · BE
"Cococinel" follows the adventures of Cococinel, a ladybug who becomes a superheroine thanks to a magical clover. In the second season, her sister Babicinel joins her with her own amulet. Together, they face villains like Hylobie, who controls minds with black butterflies. Babicinel falls in love with Cocometeo, while Cococinel is cold and distant. The rivalry with the bee Levallois adds tension. Both sisters balance their superhero lives with school life.


Courage the Cowardly Dog
1999 · US
The bizarre misadventures of a cowardly dog named Courage and his elderly owners in a farmhouse in Nowhere, Kansas.


Goosebumps
1995 · CA
Anything can turn spooky in this horror anthology series based on the best-selling books by master of kid horror, R.L. Stine. In every episode, see what happens when regular kids find themselves in scary situations, and how they work to confront and overcome their fears.


Bob the Builder
1999 · UK
Bob the Builder and his machine team are ready to tackle any project. Bob and the Can-Do Crew demonstrate the power of positive thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and follow-through. The team always shows that “The Fun Is In Getting It Done!”


The Wild Thornberrys
1998 · US
Travel the world with the Thornberrys and come face-to-face with blue sheep in Nepal, emus in Australia, marmots in Pakistan, flash floods in Siberia, Egyptian burial chambers, a runaway hot air balloon, a rock slide on the Karakoram Highway and more!


Chiquititas
1997 · AR
Chiquititas is a Brazilian children's musical telenovela co-produced by SBT and Telefe and originally broadcast on SBT from July 28, 1997, to January 19, 2001. Based on the original Argentine telenovela created by Cris Morena, it was adapted for Brazilian television by Ecila Pedroso for the first season and Caio de Andrade for the subsequent seasons. Starring Flávia Monteiro, Fernanda Souza, and a large ensemble cast, the series ran for five seasons and became one of the most successful children's productions in Brazilian television history. The story follows a group of orphaned children living at the Raio de Luz orphanage, where they find love, friendship, and hope under the care of the kind-hearted Carolina "Carol" Correia. As the children face abandonment, family conflicts, first love, and personal challenges, they rely on music, imagination, and friendship to overcome adversity while dreaming of finding a family and a brighter future.


X-Men
1992 · US
The X-Men are an elite team of mutants, genetically gifted human beings with superpowers, sworn to fight for mutant rights against hostile Government agencies, whilst at the same time protecting mankind from mutant supremacist Magneto who seeks to destroy the human race in return for the atrocities committed against mutant kind.


Sister, Sister
1994 · US
Twins Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell were separated and adopted at birth. Fourteen years later, they encounter each other by chance at the mall. After the families meet, Tia's widowed father agrees to let Tamera and her single mother move in with them.


Superman: The Animated Series
1996 · US
Superman, an incredibly powerful alien from the planet Krypton, defends Metropolis from supercriminals. Superman hides his identity behind the glasses of Clark Kent; a mild-mannered reporter for the newspaper the Daily Planet. At the Daily Planet Superman works with fellow reporter Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen.


Are You Afraid of the Dark?
1992 · CA
This spooky anthology series for kids recounts ghost stories told by the young members of the Midnight Society as they gather around a campfire. Each episode opens with members of the Midnight Society at their secret spot in the woods, where they prepare their fire and the night's storyteller announces the title of the his or her offering. However, the cameras soon leave the storyteller and switch to the tale being told.


CatDog
1998 · US
The life and times of a cat and a dog with a unique twist: they're connected, literally. They share one body with a Dog's head at one end and Cat's head on the other. Adding to their dilemma is Cat's annoyance with Dog, mainly caused by Dog's stupidity and Cat's up-tight personality. Characters: Cat - Cat is the smarter one of the two brothers, and is always hatching some kind of plot to get his brother to calm down, so that Cat doesn't get beat around and hurt. Even though most of these plots involve messing with Dog's feeble mind, they often backfire on Cat, much to his dismay. It may not show all the time but, he deeply loves, and cares for his brother Dog. Dog - Dog is the more lovable of the two brothers, Dog loves to play and party and play some more, he loves baseball and playing fetch with frisbees, balls, sticks, etc, He is very friendly, and happy, but does have a breaking point. He's very sensitive, and if he fails at something he feels horrible, and worthless


3000 Whys of Blue Cat
1999 · CN
3000 Whys of Blue Cat is the first large-scale Chinese animated series in mainland China with an emphasis on science. The series is produced by "Beijing Sunchime Happy Culture Company". The show remains one of the longest running children's cartoon series in the world. It is most commonly referred to as "Blue Cat". An English version was made for the first episode titled "The Adventures of the Blue Cat" and was made as a pilot for a series titled "Lucky's Adventures" but due to lack of intrerests, the series was canceled. The show uses a combination of 2D animation and CGI.


Moomin
1990 · JP
In the remote and mysterious Moominvalley live the Moomins, gentle and peaceful creatures. Young Moomintroll and his family experience many strange adventures, both magical and mundane.


Hercules
1998 · US
Follow Herc's many labors during the years he spent training on how to be a hero under the tutelage of satyr Phil. Many of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses pay visit to the young hero-to-be and help or hinder him in his new adventures.


TaleSpin
1990 · US
Baloo the Bear stars in an adventurous comedy of love and conflict with his friend Kit Cloudkicker. Rebecca Cunningham and her daughter Molly purchase Baloo's failing company and Baloo must fly transport runs to clear his debt while dodging Don Karnage and his sky pirates.


Captain Planet and the Planeteers
1990 · US
Eco-villains beware: Captain Planet is here to save the day! With the guidance of Gaia, five Planeteers - representing Earth, Fire, Water, Wind and Heart - come together to defend our planet from environmental destruction. With their powers combined, the team becomes the solution to pollution!


101 Dalmatians: The Series
1997 · US
After foiling Cruella DeVil's plot to make a fur coat with the puppies' skins, the Dearly Family (Roger and Anita Dearly, Nanny, Pongo, Perdita, their 15 birth puppies and 84 adopted puppies) move to a new farm home in the country. Join Pongo and Perdy's pups, brave Lucky, tubby Rolly and Cadpig the runt, together with their chicken friend Spot, as they defend their new home from Cruella DeVil (Anita's boss and now new neighbor), continually get in and out of trouble, sneak into Grutely, and have all sorts of crazy adventures around the farm. Also along for the fun is Tripod, Patch, Two-Tone, Wizzer, Dipstick, Mooch, and the rest of their barnyard friends.


Ed, Edd n Eddy
1999 · CA
Three adolescent boys, Ed, Edd "Double D", and Eddy, collectively known as "the Eds", constantly invent schemes to make money from their peers to purchase their favorite confectionery, jawbreakers. Their plans usually fail though, leaving them in various predicaments.


Doug
1991 · US
Doug Funnie experiences common predicaments while attending school in his new hometown of Bluffington, Virginia.


Aladdin
1994 · US
Coming on the heels of the direct-to-video sequel The Return of Jafar, the series picked up where that installment left off, with Aladdin now living in the palace, engaged to beautiful and spunky Princess Jasmine. "Al" and Jasmine went together into peril among sorcerers, monsters, thieves, and more. Monkey sidekick Abu, the animated Magic Carpet, and the fast-talking, shape-shifting Genie came along to help, as did sassy, complaining parrot Iago, formerly Jafar’s pet but now an antihero.


Rocko's Modern Life
1993 · US
Rocko is a wallaby who has emigrated to America from Australia. He lives in O-Town and tries to get through life but, of course, comes across a multitude of dilemmas and misadventures he must get through. Other characters include Rocko's best friend, Heffer, a steer who has been raised by wolves, Filbert, a paranoid hypochondriac turtle, Rocko's faithful (but none-too-bright) dog Spunky, and Ed Bighead who detests Rocko and hates having him for a next door neighbor. On this show, Rocko has such adventures as trying to adapt to a new vacuum cleaner, having Heffer move in temporarily after his parents kick him out, and going to a movie theater.


The Wiggles
1998 · AU
A show geared for babies up to older toddlers. This show is full of music, teaching kids songs and easy dances.


The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper
1996 · US
Casper is a friendly ghost--the friendliest ghost you know! Unfortunately he lives with his three Hauntaholic uncles: Uncle Stretch, who's convinced he's smarter than anyone who ever died; Stinkie, who can put down any fleshie with one belch-blast; and Fatso, who's big, round and not too bright. Trying to cure these brothers is Dr. James Harvey and his spunky and worldly daughter Kat. Put them all under one roof and you have a house full of fun.


Mickey Mouse Works
1999 · US
Mickey Mouse Works is an American television show that features the cartoon character Mickey Mouse and his friends in a series of animated segments. It is somewhat of an update of Mickey's Mouse Tracks. It is the first Disney television animated series to be broadcast in HD. The series is rated TV-Y7. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, and Ludwig Von Drake all star in their own segments. Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Huey, Dewey and Louie, Chip 'n Dale, Scrooge McDuck, Pete, Humphrey the Bear, J. Audubon Woodlore, Dinah the Dachshund, Butch the Bulldog, Mortimer Mouse and Clara Cluck all appear as supporting characters.
1990s television was the last era of true mass audiences, when a network sitcom or a season finale could be a shared national event.
Children's television is a craft of its own — pacing, repetition, and emotional clarity tuned to a developing audience. The best of it has a visual and musical identity kids remember for life.