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When it comes to cartoons, Nickelodeon does it best. That's just a fact. From a lovable sea sponge who owns a meowing pet snail to a kid with goldfish who are secretly fairies, Nicktoons have completely shaped pop culture. And, even better, several of them have returned, thanks to fans' outcries for reboots, spin-offs, and remakes — oh my!
If you're overwhelmed about which cartoons you should watch (or rewatch) during your next binge sesh, we've got you covered. The coolest part? All of these shows can be watched on Paramount Plus! Check out our faves, presented chronologically because we are nothing in this world without a little bit of order.
Doug (1991–1994)
Growing up can be tough, but when life gets to be too much, Doug Funny retreats into his journal and imagines himself as a superhero named Quailman.
Fun fact: While the original run (1991-1994) of Doug aired on Nickelodeon, Disney acquired the rights for the series in 1996 and continued the storyline on ABC. Disney even made a feature-length film called Doug's 1st Movie, which premiered in 1999.
Rugrats (1991–2004)
Life through a baby's eyes is way more fun when you're following the exploits of Tommy Pickles and his ragtag group of pint-sized friends. The babies go on all kinds of adventures, usually inadvertently leading them into trouble.
Fun fact: In 2021, Paramount Plus released an all-new series featuring the babies, with many of the same voice artists from the original series reprising their roles.
The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996)
This classic Nicktoon follows the exploits of a neurotic dog named Ren and a dense cat named Stimpy who go on some seriously wild adventures.
Fun fact: Nickelodeon actually banned one of the episodes from airing because it included a scene of Ren beating a character nearly to death with a canoe oar. The episode would later air as part of the show's reboot, Ren & Stimpy “Adult Party Cartoon,” which ran on Spike TV.
Rocko's Modern Life (1993–1996)
What happens when a wallaby named Rocko from Australia moves to the United States? Chaos. Life isn't quite as ~magical~ as Rocko hoped it would be, but luckily he has an eccentric group of friends to get him through it.
Fun fact: After more than 20 years off the air, Rocko and his friends returned to our TV screens with a new Netflix movie titled Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling. The film premiered in 2019 and included a transgender storyline.
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (1994–1997)
Before there was Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc., there was Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm. This monstrous (heh) trio are training to be full-fledged monsters at Monster Academy.
Fun fact: Christine Cavanaugh, who voiced female monster Oblina, also voiced Chuckie Finster on Rugrats.
Hey Arnold! (1994–2004)
Living in a big city proves life is never dull for fourth grader Arnold Shortman, who gets into and out of predicaments with his friends while being raised by his eccentric grandparents.
In 2017, Netflix released a movie called Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie, which finally answered what really happened to Arnold's parents.
Fun fact: There's an actual book called Hey Arnold! Guide to Relationships that gives love advice, using the characters from the show as guidance.
The Angry Beavers (1997–2001)
Brothers Daggett and Norbert leave home and set out on their own. While living a bachelor lifestyle is fun, they soon learn rooming with your brother can quickly drive you up the wall.
Fun fact: The series nearly ended with Daggett and Norbert realizing they were going to die, aka they were cartoons and their show was about to be canceled.
CatDog (1998–2005)
Cat and Dog are brothers who happen to be conjoined. Their polar opposite personalities repeatedly cause friction for them both, as they learn to live with each other in a bone-and-fish-shaped house.
Fun fact: In the 2001 TV movie CatDog and the Great Parent Mystery, Cat and Dog reunite with their adopted parents who raised them before they were separated by a cyclone. However, their adopted parents do not know where the conjoined siblings came from — and fans still need answers!
The Wild Thornberrys (1998–2004)
Spunky Eliza Thornberry gains the ability to talk to animals, which comes quite in handy while traveling around the world with her nature documentary filmmaking parents.
Fun fact: Lacey Chabert, aka Gretchen Wieners from Mean Girls, was the voice of Eliza, while Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea was the voice of Donnie Thornberry.
Rocket Power (1999–2004)
Friends Otto, Reggie, Twister, and Sam live life to the fullest by doing extreme sports on the coast of California.
Fun fact: John Kassir, aka Mr. Gullible from the popular Amanda Show sketches (amongst others), was the voice of Raymundo 'Ray' Rocket, Otto and Reggie's laid-back dad.
SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–)
A show that gives us the BEST memes, this long-running cartoon follows the exploits of an optimistic sea sponge fry cook, who lives in a pineapple under the sea.
Fun fact: There was an amazing, Tony-nominated Broadway musical about SpongeBob and his friends, but it closed in 2018. Luckily, you can still catch the show on tour in the U.S. The musical will start touring in the U.K. in 2023.
As Told By Ginger (2000–2006)
Middle school sucks, especially if you're someone who isn't considered "popular" by your peers. Ginger, along with friends Dodie and Macie, deal with the everyday struggles of being a teenage girl.
Fun fact: Series creator Emily Kapnek told Entertainment Weekly the show stemmed from her actual life: "A lot of Ginger’s stories were borrowed from my childhood, and the childhoods of the people working on the show. I identified with her a lot."
The Fairly OddParents (2001–2017)
When a bullied boy learns he has fairy godparents, he starts making all kinds of crazy wishes. However, things quickly get out of hand when his wishes run amuck.
In 2022, a new series in the franchise premiered on Paramount Plus called The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder. The show is a combination of live-action and animation. Both Daran Norris and Susanne Blakeslee, who voiced Cosmo and Wanda, respectively, in the original series, return to reprise their roles on this show.
Fun fact: Evil teacher and fairy hunter Denzel Crocker wasn't originally meant to be a part of The Fairly OddParents. Series creator Butch Hartman shared Mr. Crocker was going to be in another cartoon he was "trying to sell at the same time [he] sold Fairly OddParents." However, since he sold The Fairly OddParents first, he needed a villain and decided to use Mr. Crocker.
Invader Zim (2001–2004)
An inept alien named Zim is sent to Earth by his peers who don't want to deal with him anymore. He's given the assignment of infiltrating the planet, and only a boy named Dib realizes Zim is actually an alien.
Fun fact: Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus premiered on Netflix in 2019, with many members of the original cast reprising their roles.
ChalkZone (2002-2009)
What if you could draw anything you wanted and have it come to life? That’s what happens to Rudy Tabootie when he finds magic chalk that lets him draw a portal to ChalkZone. Joining on his adventures in a land of chalk are Rudy’s superhero drawing named Snap and his smart friend named Penny Sanchez.
Fun fact: E.G. Daily, who voices Tommy Pickles on Rugrats, voices Rudy Tabootie.
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002–2006)
A year after the feature-length movie, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, premiered, Nickelodeon released a TV version featuring the fifth-grade genius. Jimmy Neutron struggles to create amazing inventions while dealing with his wacky friends and family.
Fun fact: Jimmy Neutron was originally called Johnny Quasar. Creator John A. Davis told MTV News he ran into legal issues with the name 'Johnny Quasar,' and he only had 24 hours to come up with a new, catchy name for his protagonist.
All Grown Up! (2003–2008)
This spin-off imagines what the Rugrats babies would be like as tweens, dealing with the ~horrors~ of middle school.
Fun fact: The series came to be after a Rugrats 10th anniversary special showed what the tikes would look like if they were 10 years older. The special was appropriately called "All Growed Up."
My Life as a Teenage Robot (2003-2009)
Being a teenager is tough enough, but having to save the world while keeping your grades up is even harder. Meet XJ-9, aka Jenny Wakeman, a robot who looks like a teenage girl and must deal with normal teen issues while also protecting the world from danger.
Fun fact: Candi Milo, who voiced Jenny’s mom, was also the voice of Nick Dean on The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius and Snap on ChalkZone.
Danny Phantom (2004–2007)
Regular kid Danny Fenton accidentally messed with his ghost-hunting parents' laboratory and ended up becoming half-ghost himself. Now, with the help of his two friends, Danny fights ghosts while dealing with the daily stress of adolescence.
Fun fact: In December 2018, series creator Butch Hartman revealed on his podcast Speech Bubble he's written a live-action Danny Phantom script.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008)
In a world divided by four nations — the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads — only the Avatar can control all the elements. When the Fire Nation threatens to overtake the world, it's discovered Aang is the long-lost Avatar who can save humanity.
Netflix is developing a live-action version of the popular series. However, the original creators of the Nickelodeon show are reportedly not involved with this series.
Fun fact: All That member Jack De Sena was the voice of Sokka, a member of the Water Tribe.
Stacey Grant is a senior editor at Seventeen who runs the brand's Snapchat Discover channel. She also covers entertainment topics specializing in nostalgia, such as classic '90s and '00s Disney Channel and Nickelodeon content.
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