Top 10 Most Pretentious and Overrated Shows Between Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network
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. If this show wants non-severely-autistic people to actually take its self-proclaimed "artistic merit" seriously, then it should PROBABLY consider:
1) Not using the infamous CalArts animation style so (cough) liberally (wheeze)
2) Not pandering so blatantly to feminists (even Wonder Woman 2017 and Black Panther 2018 were less pandering than this blasted show is, for crying out loud)
3) Not relying so heavily on relaxing music to make people think that it is deep (yes, I know that Death Note did this as well, but this show is still a FAR more blatant example)
Rick and Morty is an American adult animated science fiction sitcom created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon for Adult Swim. If you thought Invader Zim fans were annoying as kids, just WAIT until you see them as adults (my GOD, the meme-obsessed pseudo-intellectual angst is so real)
The Ren & Stimpy Show, often simply referred to as Ren & Stimpy, is an American animated television series created by John Kricfalusi for Nickelodeon. To be honest, this one is mostly just incredibly (did I mention INCREDIBLY) overrated and doesn't actually act that smart overall, but its creator alone EASILY qualifies it for fitting the "pretentious" part of this list's title regardless (John Kricfalusi, what you made was a barely-even-above-average gross-out cartoon whose only real reason for its own existence was to prove how utterly terrible the general public's taste in media is by critically overshadowing the vastly superior Rocko's Modern Life, and you know it)
Also, yeah; visuals alone do NOT make a show good, enough said
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. Surprisingly enough, the actual CREATOR of this show is actually rather amazingly down-to-earth and modest in real life, but dear LORD, is the show itself conceited, naive and cynical with the way in which it portrays American society (which becomes even MORE blatantly visible in its new Static Cling T.V. special, mind you). How about you try making the show actually look like one that is set in the 1990s rather than the 1950s if you're going to act like you know so much about how the "modern" world works, Joe Murray? (Still an INCREDIBLY great show, however, all things considered)
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 and size at will. Finn and Jake live in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo. Throughout the show, they interact with the other main characters Princess Bubblegum (voiced by Hynden Walch), the Ice King (voiced by Tom Kenny), and Marceline the Vampire Queen (voiced by Olivia Olson). The series is based on a short produced for Nicktoons and Frederator Studios' animation incubator series Random! Cartoons. ...read more. Good show, just not a very convincing example of western animation finally overcoming its infamous "Animation Age Ghetto" stereotype (unlike most of the other shows listed here)
Doug is an American animated sitcom created by Jim Jinkins. The show focuses on the early adolescent life of its title character, Douglas "Doug" Funnie, who experiences common predicaments while attending school in his new hometown of Bluffington. Doug narrates each story in his journal, and the show incorporates many imagination sequences. The series addresses numerous topics, including trying to fit in, platonic and romantic relationships, self-esteem, bullying, and rumors. Numerous episodes center on Doug's attempts to impress his classmate and crush, Patti Mayonnaise. ...read more. We may have all struggled with bullying before, but good LORD, does this show think lowly of our toughness and intelligence (at least it's better than the Disney version, I suppose)
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. "Pompous edge-lord garbage" jokes aside, this show is just plain try-hard and egotistical in every way (probably as its way of reflecting the personality of its main protagonist, but STILL) and CONSTANTLY contradicts itself with stereotypical "LOL, so random" humor after extensively bragging about how "smart", "deep" and "philosophical" it is.
I will give it credit for at least being scarier than Courage TCD, however
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.
Hey Arnold! is an American animated television series created by Craig Bartlett that aired on Nickelodeon from October 7, 1996 to June 8, 2004. The show centers on a fourth grader named Arnold, who lives with his grandparents in an inner-city boarding house. Basically just a more realistic and (slightly) less preachy Doug
Regular Show is an American animated television series created by J. G. Quintel for Cartoon Network that premiered on September 6, 2010. The series revolves around the lives of two friends, a blue jay named Mordecai and a raccoon named Rigby—both employed as groundskeepers at a local park.
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. (cough) poor boy's FullMetal Alchemist (cough)
Courage the Cowardly Dog is an American animated horror comedy television series created by John R. Dilworth for Cartoon Network as part of the network's Cartoon Cartoons block. As excellent and fascinating as this show admittedly was, there is still NO denying it being one of THE most insufferably pompous "Le Show Artistiques" to ever grace all-ages western animation (with some of the more commonly cited reasons including its insanely preachy moral messages combined with a downright offensively stereotype-laden character cast, its ridiculously extravagant and excessive usage of art-style mixing, the show often thinking that it is funny and scary when it is actually neither, the infamous "angelic choir" scene from its Human Habitrail episode, almost every single individual episode of the show acting as if it is a full-blown movie, et cetera)
Ben 10 is a media franchise created by Man of Action Studios and produced by Cartoon Network Studios. The franchise revolves around a boy named Ben Tennyson who acquires a watch-like alien device, the Omnitrix, which allows him to transform into ten different alien creatures.
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.
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. The most overrated thing in the world.
Bubble Guppies is an American-Canadian animated television series targeted at preschoolers, which premiered in 2011. Created by Jonny Belt and Robert Scull, the show takes place in an underwater classroom and educates children about various subjects through songs and sketches. With its colorful characters and interactive format, Bubble Guppies has become popular among young viewers. The show has received several awards and nominations for its educational content and creative approach.
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 Son), and Stewie (Sociopathic and Genuine Infant); and lastly Brian (Anthromorphic Pet Dog). The show is set in the fictional city of Quahog, Rhode Island, and exhibits much of its humor in the form of cutaway gags that often American culture. ...read more. Thankfully, this is now going to be taken off of Adult Swim once and for all
Dora the Explorer (2000 - 2019) is an American preschool educational animated TV series created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner in which Dora goes on adventures with her friend, a monkey named Boots.
Samurai Jack is an American action-adventure chanbara animated series created by Genndy Tartakovsky for Cartoon Network. The series premiered on August 10, 2001, with a TV movie called The Premiere Movie, before ending in its fourth season on September 25, 2004, without concluding the story. A revival ...read more.
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius is an American computer animated television series created by John A. Davis. It is the first spin-off to the 2001 film Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Pretty stupid even for a kids' show, if I'm being honest
Camp Lazlo is an American animated television series created by Joe Murray and produced by his company Joe Murray Productions with Cartoon Network Studios.
Ed, Edd n Eddy is a Canadian-American animated comedy television series created by Danny Antonucci for Cartoon Network, and the sixth of the network's Cartoon Cartoons. The series revolves around three preteen boys: Ed, Edd "Double D," and Eddy—collectively known as "the Eds"—who live in a suburban ...read more.
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.
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 St. Germain), Fluttershy (Andrea Libman), Rainbow Dash (Ball), Pinkie Pie (Libman), and dragon assistant Spike (Cathy Weseluck). They travel on adventures and help others around Equestria while solving problems that arise in their own friendships. I don't know why adult men were obsessed with a show that was made for 5 year old girls.
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman.