Top 10 Good Cartoons That Went Downhill

The Top Ten
1 The Fairly OddParents The Fairly OddParents is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon.

I can't think of another GOOD cartoon that got BAD more than The Fairly OddParents. Growing up in the 2000s, The Fairly OddParents was one of the most important shows of my childhood, and certainly one of the best shows on Nickelodeon. I know I have an unpopular opinion, but I actually didn't mind when the show added Poof in season 6 (though Cosmo being pregnant in Fairly OddBaby was downright disturbing). Poof was a one dimensional character and didn't annoy me as much as Sparky and Chloe, which I will get to eventually. The live action movies were cheesy and forgettable, but it wasn't until season 9 that I truly felt The Fairly OddParents had gotten BAD. Sparky was very annoying unlike Poof and made the show rather unwatchable than entertaining. Then came season 10 and the show got REALLY BAD. Just when you thought The Fairly OddParents couldn't get worse, they did it, they finally did it. Nickelodeon has officially killed The Fairly OddParents. Not only did they add yet another obnoxious new character named Chloe, they changed the plot of Timmy having fairies to Timmy having to share fairies, switched the animation to flash animation, made Vicky, Tootie, Chester, AJ, and many other main characters side characters, and even added a new theme song (and it sounds terrible unlike the old one! ). Unlike SpongeBob, which has surprisingly improved since the return of Stephen Hillenburg, Fairly OddParents has definitely gotten worse over time. At this point, I'm glad the show has been moved to nicktoons and finally been put out of it's misery. It's so sad to see such a wonderful cartoon that started off as a masterpiece, but got so terrible in it's later seasons. Fairly OddParents has no reason to stay on the air anymore! No one cares about Fairly OddParents anymore Nickelodeon! If only Butch Hartman focused more on his other shows like Danny Phantom and T.U.F.F. Puppy and let this one rest like it should have after season 8.

2 Family Guy Family Guy is an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a family consisting of parents Peter (Fat, Idiotic Dad) and Lois (Nagging Bitchy Wife), their children Meg (Socially Awkward Daughter) Chris (Fat, Idiotic... read more

This show started out more like the Simpsons and the late Critic show, but as the years went by it became more like The Simpsons meet South Park. It just wanted to outdo everything else and be the new most controversial show out there. That's why suddenly there was cursing and other such things in every episode. The characters all became totally unlikable and you just hated them. Brian above all. Stewie's turned from a baby version of the Brain to the show's new anti hero and Every episode seems more pointless than the last. This one should've said goodbye to us when it did to Cleveland.

3 SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series created by marine biologist and animator the late Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. SpongeBob is currently the most popular show on Nickelodeon, as well as the longest running show, running for 23 years, and is beginning its 13th season... read more

Yes, this show DID used to be good when it first premiered back in 1999. But it went downhill starting with season 4. True, post-movie SpongeBob did deliver some great episodes, but also had a variety of really BAD episodes. Episodes after the SECOND theatrical film are even WORSE! Why? TOO MANY goofy facial expressions! Why do people find this funny? Because "the original crew returned to SpongeBob". That is not gonna make SpongeBob any better. SpongeBob was supposed to rely on mostly dialogue humor. I too was expecting seasons 10 and onwards to be EXACTLY like the first three seasons. I was wrong, it just went from bad to worse.

4 The Simpsons The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening that originally started on April 19, 1987 as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. It got its own series on December 17, 1989 and is still running as of 2023, making it the longest running animated sitcom. It is about a man named Homer... read more

Every time I think of The Simpsons I yawn and say "When is this show going to end"? Don't get me wrong, I love the first 10 seasons, and I understand Matt Groening and the writers are trying really hard to keep the show fresh and original. I give the show credit because the characters are still likable and the animation has gotten better, but the humor is so dull and the morals have become too politically accurate, to the point where it's now boring to sit through. I still think The Simpsons is without a doubt one of the most iconic cartoons of all time. I just feel that the best way for the show to remain strong is for it to finally be put to rest before it suffers more.

5 Ren and Stimpy The Ren & Stimpy Show, often simply referred to as Ren & Stimpy, is an American animated television series created by John Kricfalusi for Nickelodeon.

The Adult Party Cartoon revival is specifically what people mean by the show going downhill. Just Google "Ren Seeks Help". I haven't seen that episode, but judging by how Ren looks so Satanic in the images and that there's one image of him seeming to undergo surgery, I don't think I have the guts to watch the episode myself.

Even without APC, Ren and Stimpy still went downhill. Season 3 was a huge mixed bag with classics like "An Abe Divided," "Stimpy's Cartoon Show," and "A Yard Too Far." It quickly got bad with "Bass Masters" and then the AWFUL "Ren's Retirement." The season was meh, but it really wasn't all that bad. But then there's Season 4, which is the only season of the show I consider bad. So many episodes had Ren or Stimpy getting tortured for no reason, or had one of them being out of character, or having really dumb endings. Season 5 wasn't too bad but very underwhelming with some great episodes but much more meh or bad episodes. Plus the animation started to get more choppy and low quality as the show went on to season 4 (excluding "A Scooter For Yaksmas"). Ren and Stimpy just didn't have the same charm it did in Seasons 1-2 and half of Season 3. Don't get me wrong, I don't like Seasons 4 and 5 of this show, but I would take them over APC any day.

6 Adventure Time Adventure Time is an American animated television series created by Pendleton Ward for Cartoon Network. The series follows the adventures of a boy named Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada) and his best friend and adoptive brother Jake (voiced by John DiMaggio)—a dog with the magical power to change shape... read more

I don't like Adventure Time that much to begin with, but I will admit that I did like its older episodes in the first few seasons. They were actually quite fun to watch, to be honest. However, based on what everyone is saying about the show having now lost its charm and humor that it had, now it seems to me Adventure Time has become as boring as a Naruto filler episode.

UPDATE: Okay, it seems the show has gotten A LOT better, so I respect Adventure Time much more better now. Here's to the continued success of Adventure Time as it nears its series conclusion and the upcoming movie it will be getting.

7 South Park South Park is an American adult animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. The show is about four boys, who are Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick, and their adventures in South Park, Colorado.

Cut a long story short, it's not really about the boys anymore. It's dramatised the very controversies they've mocked. In doing so they've alienated the boys for a greater glory. I feel Cartmans' usual ticks have long expired- I couldn't bring myself see him be stripped of his demeanour of doom. The Jew bagging, Kyle hating, Butter blaming, Tourette faking Eric Cartman is now a relic of our own past. Kyle seems as lost in it all as I am, Stan is no longer felt to have a real true presence and Kenny doesn't even die anymore. Toast to the classics and being old enough to say so!

8 Phineas and Ferb Phineas and Ferb is an American animated comedy-musical television series. Originally broadcast as a one-episode preview on August 17, 2007 and again previewed on September 28, 2007, the series officially premiered on February 1, 2008 and ended on June 12, 2015 on Disney Channel, and follows Phineas... read more

It's not that the quality of the show became bad, we just got tired of the same formula every time. Each episode is just the same thing except for professor Doof might build a different "inator". And when the 7 planets align, they might make some small changes to the formula. I don't mind if Disney keeps airing this show, but I won't be catching up with it anytime soon.

They keep using the same thing over and over again, they have lost their creativity, the rocket idea has been done 90 times, and they've traveled through time way too much.

9 Total Drama Total Drama is a Canadian animated comedy television series which is a homage and parody to the conventions commonly found in reality television.

I always thought Total Drama was a stupid cartoon from the start. All the characters are bland and the flash animation is choppy and lazy.

I honestly like the first three seasons (Island, Action and World Tour) but after that it's all downhill. I say it should've just been cancelled after World Tour

After Tom McGillis left in season 4, the show lost its charm. That, and the new contestants aren't as realistic or as funny.

10 The Powerpuff Girls The Powerpuff Girls is an American animated television series created by animator Craig McCracken for Cartoon Network. The main characters of this show are Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. The show is about the Professor Utonium creating three little superhero girls that save the day from villains... read more

After Craig McCracken left the show after season 4, the show's quality went down the drain. The plots for seasons 5 and 6 were quite ridiculous overall, the characters went through very noticeable bad changes, the action was no longer exciting and was instead boring, and the comedy lost its luster.

Also, on a minor note, the show switched to digital ink midway through season 4, and to be honest, I prefer the less advanced animation of seasons 1-3.

You know, when this show's seasonal rot, along with Dexter's Laboratory's seasonal rot, were run by Chris Savino, at least this one's seasonal rot, as well as Dexter's Laboratory's seasonal rot, were run by the same guy who, not only worked on these two shows before he took over, but also had his name on countless of our favorite cartoons growing up, and created the Loud House.

The Contenders
11 Arthur Arthur is a Canadian/American animated educational television series for children, created by Cookie Jar Group and WGBH for PBS.

Arthur's new voice in 2000 was so bad they had enough sense to get the original actor back by the next season. But a few seasons ago it became girlish and high pitched. But that's not what made it go bad. One problem is how Muffy turned from a supporting character into a spotlight one. She was always spoiled, but now she's a brat who seems to think the world revolves around her. She's replaced D.W. as the show's lead brat. And all the new characters they've added add nothing and are totally boring.
Not to mention the P.C. They were so proud of it they constantly aired the one when Mr. Ratburn married another man until some places banned it. Funny point: In last November's Thanksgiving episode when the cast is gathered at the table Mr.Ratburn and his Hubby aren't seated holding hands the way the producers would have preferred.

12 Dexter's Laboratory Dexter's Laboratory is an American comic science fiction animated television series created by Genndy Tartakovsky for Cartoon Network, and the first of the network's Cartoon Cartoons. The show is about a kid scientist named Dexter that has a sister named Dee Dee that keeps breaking into his lab.

You know, when this show's seasonal rot was run by Chris Savino, at least this one's seasonal rot was run by the same guy who, not only worked on this show before he took over, but also had his name on countless of our favorite cartoons growing up, and created the Loud House.

Only the animation was effected. Keep your eyes closed and you'll be fine.

I'm more inclined to agree that the first two seasons were such AWESOME seasons. Unfortunately, Genndy Tartakovsky left Dexter's Laboratory to work on Samurai Jack, and later handed his prior to that one man I hate as a person now (because of his sexual harassment). Due to that, the show became very boring, and most of the new episodes suffered as a result.

However, I don't hate ALL of the new episodes. Just like the Powerpuff Girls, there is quite a number of episodes that I genuinely enjoy: Dexter the Barbarian, Dexter's Wacky Races (because it's nice for once to see the Justice League and Dial M for Monkey again), Used Ink, Momdark, and Glove at First Sight are all FANTASTIC episodes if you ask me.

But generally speaking, I do think the new seasons were very boring, and uncreative. I think this was due to the success of the T.V. movie Ego Trip, which was supposed to be the series finale.

Personally, I'm glad it ended when it did, because despite some great episodes, seasons 3 and 4 were very lackluster, with such boring episodes like Garage Sale, Jeepers Creepers Where is Peepers?, and... don't even get me started on Sore Eyes. But what interests me about these new seasons is, like the Powerpuff Girls, some of the people who actually WORKED on these new seasons. First of all, the character designers. You got Chris Battle, who's also designed characters for Aaahh! Real Monsters, and Walter Dohrn, who's also directed the second season of SpongeBob SquarePants. And even some of the writers. You got Chris Reccardi, who's also the co-creator of the Modifyers, and Aaron Springer, who would also later direct episodes of Gravity Falls. So, not EVERYTHING about these new seasons of Dexter's Laboratory. - RegularShowFTWandTTGFTL

13 Looney Tunes Looney Tunes is an American animated series of comedy short films produced by Warner Bros. from 1930 to 1969 during the golden age of American animation, alongside its sister series Merrie Melodies.

The late 60s shorts, need we say more?

14 Garfield

This is a comic strip, but who the heck cares! I did not add this here, but I just HATE Garfield from 2010- present. The characters are total addicts to technology, Jon and Garfield are just stupid, and it's run out of ideas. A lot of jokes are just remakes of older strips, and it's really bland. Garfield has overstayed his welcome, and needs to end.

15 Gravity Falls Gravity Falls is an American animated television series produced by Disney Television Animation that first aired on Disney Channel, and then on Disney XD from June 15, 2012 to February 15, 2016. The series follows the adventures of Dipper Pines and his twin sister Mabel in the fictional town of Gravity... read more

Dipper became a giant jerk in season 2 and I prefered the old episodes that were just seperate stories that could stand on their own.

16 My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is an animated children's television series based on the fourth incarnation of Hasbro's My Little Pony franchise. The show follows a studious unicorn (later an alicorn) pony named Twilight Sparkle (Tara Strong) and her friends Applejack (Ashleigh Ball), Rarity (Tabitha... read more

The first season is pretty good and the second one is ok. The rest is barely watchable unless you're mentally ill. Also, I should avoid the fandom like a plague if I were you.

It was popular but after season 5 it's going downhill.

17 Teen Titans Go! 'Teen Titans Go!' is an American animated television series produced by Cartoon Network. The show follows a superhero group called the Teen Titans, and shows what happens when they go home and have silly adventures. This show is Cartoon Network's revival of the popular 2003-2006 American animated television... read more
18 Drawn Together Drawn Together is an American adult animated sitcom which ran on Comedy Central from October 27, 2004 to November 14, 2007. The series was created by Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein, and uses a sitcom format with a TV reality show setting.

It was good, Just skip the movie.

19 Invader Zim Invader Zim is an American animated television series created by Jhonen Vasquez for Nickelodeon. The series centers on an extraterrestrial named Zim from the planet Irk, and his mission to conquer Earth and enslave the human race along with his malfunctioning robot servant GIR.

This did not really go downhill that much. Granted, some later episodes were weak (such as "Mortos der Soulstealer", which was boring), but it stayed entertaining from beginning to end.

Sometimes I wonder what Invader Zim would have been like had it not been cancelled so early, given that Jhonen hated working for Nickelodeon at the time.

20 Pokemon Pokémon, abbreviated from the Japanese title of Pocket Monsters and currently advertised in English as Pokémon: The Series, is a Japanese anime television series, which has been adapted for the international television markets. It was first broadcast in Japan on April 1, 1997, in the United States... read more
21 Tom and Jerry Tom and Jerry is an American animated series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series centers on a rivalry between the title characters Tom, a cat, and Jerry, a mouse. Many shorts also... read more

The reason is because of criticism regarding it's rehashing of classic movies like the Wizard of Oz and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Bill and Joe's cartoons were better than the Gene Deitch ones. The Chuck Jones cartoons were better too, but they still can't top the Bill and Joe cartoons.

I like the old classic tom and jerry, but the new one not that good at all.

22 Space Goofs Space Goofs is a French animated series produced by Gaumont Multimedia, and Xilam for France 3 that first aired in 1997. It also debuted at the same year in Germany on ProSieben.
23 The Boondocks The Boondocks is an American animated sitcom created by Aaron McGruder for Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. It is based upon his comic strip of the same name. The series premiered on November 6, 2005.

Only the first three seasons were good. Season 4 wasn't.

24 Rugrats Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon.
25 Danny Phantom Danny Phantom is an American animated series created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon. It was produced by Billionfold Studios and distributed in Canada by Nelvana, a Canadian animation company. The series follows a teenage boy who, after an accident with an unpredictable portal between the human world... read more
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