Top 10 Most Important Cartoons in Animation History
These are the cartoons the are considered the most important in animation history. Anime is also included.
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 Simpson and his family (wife Marge and children Bart, Lisa and Maggie and pets, Snowball II and Santa's Little Helper) going through a long series of misadventures. There have been quite a few cartoons inspired by the Simpsons, including Family Guy. The Simpsons have been an important part of Cartoons around the planet.
While it's best years are behind them there's denying The Simpsons had a huge influence in Animation.
Created by Ralp Bakshi who pioneered adult cartoons and started the creator driven animation revolution of the 1990's, was the launching pad for animators and cartoonists including John Kricfalusi the creator of Ren & Stimpy.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is an American animated television series that aired for three seasons on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in an Asiatic-like world in which some people are able to manipulate the classical elements by use of psychokinetic variants of Chinese martial arts, known as "bending". This show is often seen as one of the greatest cartoons of all time and is commonly thought to be an anime. Avatar was a huge game changer for Nickelodeon heavily inspired by anime Avatar The Last Airbender follows a young air bender and his friends on a quest to become a fully realised Avatar and restore balance to the world.
Dragon Ball Z is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. Dragon Ball Z follows the adventures of Goku who, along with the Z Warriors, defends the Earth against evil. The action adventures are entertaining and reinforce the concept of good versus evil. Dragon Ball Z teaches valuable character virtues such as teamwork, loyalty, and trustworthiness. Wither you like it or not there's no denying that anime had a huge influence on American cartoons Dragon Ball Z was one of them, without anime we never would have cartoons like Samurai Jack, The Power Puff Girls, Teen Titans, Avatar The Last Airbender, Xiaolin Showdown the list goes on.
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.
The Flintstones is the first animated prime-time American television series. It was broadcast from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966 on ABC. The first cartoon made specifically for prime time which led the way for The Simpsons and Family Guy.
This has got to be one of the best cartoons in the world. Good job Hanna-Barbera.
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. Without Looney Tunes we wouldn't have Tom and Jerry. Looney Tunes is a classic.
Many cartoons incorporated references,quotes,phrases,soundtracks,ideas etc that originated from the looney tunes, such as spongebob, the simpsons, fairly oddparents and tom and jerry, just to name a few. It truly did define classic cartoon comedy with some of its greatness rubbed onto newer cartoons
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.
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 Legend of Korra is an American animated television series that aired on the Nickelodeon television network from 2012 to 2014. It was created by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino as a sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The Ren & Stimpy Show, often simply referred to as Ren & Stimpy, is an American animated television series created by John Kricfalusi for Nickelodeon. Oh for scary & gross out jokes..
The Loud House is an American animated television series created by Chris Savino for Nickelodeon. The series revolves around the chaotic suburban everyday life of a boy named Lincoln Loud and his ten sisters, to which he survives as the middle child and only son in a large family of eleven children. Originally set to premier on January 2016, the series instead premiered on May 2, 2016, with the episodes Left in the Dark and Get the Message. People may hate it but its one of the few cartoons that is saving Nickelodeon's butt.
Rocko's Modern Life is an American animated television series created by Joe Murray for Nickelodeon. The series centers on the surreal life of an anthropomorphic Australian-immigrant wallaby named Rocko as well as his friends: the gluttonous steer Heffer, the neurotic turtle Filburt, and Rocko's faithful dog Spunky. Basically perfected the Ren & Stimpy formula and (for better AND worse) created Spongebob
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American 3D rendered computer animated television series based on the fictional superhero team. It aired on Nickelodeon in the United States from September 29, 2012 to November 12, 2017.
Steven Universe is an American animated television series created by Rebecca Sugar for Cartoon Network. The show's based around a young boy by the name of Steven Universe, who is a hybrid of a gem and a human. He lives with his gem friends, Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl.
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.
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. The show revolves around a sea sponge called SpongeBob SquarePants and his adventures under the sea. The show is considered to be one of the best Nickelodeon and cartoon shows of all time.Looney Tunes is already in this list.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is the first incarnation of the long-running Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon series Scooby-Doo.
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.
The Fairly OddParents is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon.
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.
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.