11 Classic Cartoon Network Shows

Classic Cartoon Network Shows

Cartoon Network

In 1992, the year President Bill Clinton first took office, America's first 24-hour cartoon channel was launched. Although Nickelodeon was coming in the near future, Cartoon Network established itself as the go-to channel for animated series. Cartoon Network relied on a small stable of cartoon creators and voice-over talent to air some of the most celebrated cartoons, most of which won Emmy Awards during their run.

01
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The Powerpuff Girls

Powerpuff Girls
Cartoon Network

The Powerpuff Girls remains one of the most popular classic Cartoon Network shows. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are the superhero little girls made of sugar, spice, and everything nice, with a dash of Chemical X thrown in. The Powerpuff Girls was created by Craig McCracken for Cartoon Network, based on a 1992 cartoon short he produced called The Whopass Girls!. The short premiered in "Sticky Situation," a mock episode of The Powerpuff Girls played at Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation in 1994 (that's also how Mike Judge got started). The Powerpuff Girls finally premiered during Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons in 1995. It went on to earn five Emmy nominations and win two awards.

The Powerpuff Girls movie in 2002 was, sadly, a flop, earning only $11 million back on its $25 million budget. Later, 'Twas the Fright Before Christmas went straight to video. In 2014, Cartoon Network aired a special titled Dance Pantsed that showcased the girls in a different style.

Blossom was played by Cathy Cavadini (Lilo & Stitch); Buttercup was voiced by Elizabeth Daily (Pee-wee's Big Adventure); Bubbles was played by Tara Strong; Professor Utonium was played by Tom Kane (Star Wars: The Clone Wars); Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) voiced the Mayor and the Narrator.

02
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Dexter's Laboratory

Dexter's Laboratory
Cartoon Network

Dexter's Laboratory, which premiered on April 28, 1996, was about a boy who creates inventions in the lab in his bedroom. His ditsy big sister, Dee Dee, was always around to ruin them. Dexter's Laboratory is another Cartoon Network cartoon that was developed after appearing in Hanna Barbera's World Premiere Toons. Created by newcomer (at that time) Genndy Tartakovsky, the short was nominated for an Emmy award. As a series, Dexter's Laboratory went on to earn four Emmy nominations.  It also spawned an hour-long special titled "Ego Trip."

Dexter was played by Christine Cavanaugh (Rugrats); Dee-Dee was played by two different women, Kat Cressida (Scratch in Skylanders) and Allison Moore; Dad was played by Jeff Bennett (Johnny Bravo); Mom was played by Kath Soucie (Star Wars Rebels).

03
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Cow and Chicken

Cow and Chicken
Cartoon Network

Cow and Chicken was about a big brother, Chicken, and a little sister, Cow, whose American dream lifestyle turns to shambles in every episode, thanks to Chicken's attitude. Cow and Chicken was based on Emmy-nominated cartoon short created by David Feiss for Hanna-Barbera and Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons series. It premiered on July 22, 1997, and lasted until July 24, 1999. Each episode was comprised of two shorts, along with a short about I.M. Weasel.

Before doing the voices of Cow AND Chicken, Charles Adler played Ickis in Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. Mom was played by Candi Milon (Parrot in Hey Arnold!); Dad was played by Dee Bradley Baker (Star Wars: The Clone Wars); Earl was played by Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons); and I.M. Weasel was voiced by Michael Dorn, who played Commander Worf on Star Trek: Next Generation.

04
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Johnny Bravo

Johnny Bravo
Cartoon Network

Johnny Bravo starred a blonde egomaniac, who behaves and sounds a lot like Elvis Presley and lives with his mother. He finds himself in sticky situations, thanks to his arrogance. Johnny Bravo debuted on Cartoon Network on July 7, 1997. It was nominated for three Annie Awards and continues to be popular in re-runs.

Johnny was played by Jeff Bennett (Penguins of Madagascar); Bunny Bravo was played by legendary Brenda Vaccaro (Midnight Cowboy); Little Suzy was played by Mae Whitman (Avatar: The Last Airbender).

05
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Courage the Cowardly Dog

Courage the Cowardly Dog
Cartoon Network

Courage the Cowardly Dog aired on Cartoon Network from 1999 to 2002. It starred a lovable, but doomed, dog named Courage. Courage frequently fell into horrible situations involving monsters or paranormal danger. He would have to save his owners, Muriel and Eustace, without them ever realizing how much danger they were in or what Courage's role was in rescuing them. Courage the Cowardly Dog was originally part of the Cartoon Cartoons line-up and won an Annie Award.

Marty Grabstein played Courage; Thea White played Muriel Bagge; Lionel G. Wilson, who died in 2003, played Eustace Bagge; and Simon Prebble played the Computer.

06
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Samurai Jack

Samurai Jack
Cartoon Network

Samurai Jack, which premiered on August 7, 2001, was hailed as an innovative masterpiece from creator Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's LaboratoryThe Powerpuff Girls). Samurai Jack was a warrior who was trapped in the future, thanks to a curse put on him by an evil wizard, Aku. Samurai Jack spent every episode battling Aku and his robot army in an attempt to find a time portal that would take him back to his own time. There was very little dialogue, but the comic book-like action moved the story effectively.

Phil LaMarr starred as Samurai Jack; Makoto "Mako" Iwamatsu (Avatar: The Last Airbender) starred as Aku.

07
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The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
Cartoon Network

The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy starred a dim-witted boy and a scheming girl who beat the Grim Reaper in a limbo game. He was forced to be their best friend, which led the trio on adventures in the spirit world and their hometown of Endsville. They commonly encountered supernatural creatures from the Underworld, mythological figures, and magical artifacts, with hilarious results. The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy didn't become a full-fledged series until 2003, but a ten-minute short aired during Cartoon Network's The Big Pick weekend in 2000. Cartoon Network also aired two holiday specials: Billy & Mandy's Jacked Up Halloween and Billy & Mandy Save Christmas. In 2007, Billy and Mandy starred in their own full-length TV movie, Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure. In 2006, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy won an Emmy Award.

Grim was played by Greg Eagles (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns video games); Billy was played by Richard Steven Horvitz (The Angry Beavers), and Mandy was played by Grey Griffin.

08
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Camp Lazlo

Camp Lazlo
Cartoon Network

Camp Lazlo came from the animator behind Rocko's Modern Life, Joe Murray. Camp Lazlo was about Lazlo, a spider monkey, who goes to a scout summer camp called Camp Kidney. The camp is rundown and Scoutmaster Lumpus, a moose, runs it like a prison camp. Camp Lazlo premiered on July 8, 2005, ​and went on to win two Emmy Awards. Although Camp Lazlo was successful, it only lasted for thirty-one episodes.

Carlos Alazraqui played Lazlo; Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) played Scoutmaster Lumpus and Slinkman, a banana slug; Jeff Bennett (Penguins of Madagascar) played Raj, an Indian elephant; and Steve Little (Adventure Time) played Skip and Chip, dung beetles.

09
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Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Cartoon Network

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was about exactly what the title implies. Madame Foster ran a home for imaginary friends who were invented by children and then neglected as the children grew up. Mac, a shy eight-year-old boy, convinced Madame Foster to let his friend, Bloo, live with her. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was created by Craig McCracken, who also created The Powerpuff Girls. It premiered on August 13, 2005, and went on to win four Emmy Awards. It also spawned an hour-long special, Good Wilt Hunting.

Mac was played by Sean Marquette (Pence in Kingdom Hearts II); Blooregard "Bloo" Q. Kazoo, a blue creature, was played by Keith Ferguson​; Wilt, tall with long legs, was played by Phil LaMarr; Eduardo, a horned monster, was played by Tom Kenny (Spongebob SquarePants); Frances "Frankie" Foster, Madame's granddaughter, was played by Grey Griffin; Coco, a sort of bird, was played by Candi Milo (The Adventures of Puss and Boots); and Mr. Herriman, Madame's bunny friend, was played by Tom Kane (Star Wars: The Clone Wars).

10
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Ben 10

Ben 10

Superhero Etc.

Ben 10 was such a popular series on Cartoon Network that it spawned three other series and four TV movies. Ben Tennyson was a boy who finds an Omnitrix, a device that allowed him to morph into ten alien forms. Along with his cousin, Gwen, and his grandfather, Max, he used his new powers to save people in trouble. Ben 10 premiered on December 27, 2005, ​and won an Emmy award in 2008.

Ben 10 starred Tara Strong (Teen Titans Go!) as Ben; Paul Eiding as Max (Superman vs. the Elite); and Megan Smith as Gwen.

11
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The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack
Cartoon Network

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack was a dark, gorgeous cartoon from Thurop Van Orman, who had worked on The Powerpuff Girls and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. It premiered on Cartoon Network on June 5, 2008, and won an Emmy Award in 2009. Flapjack was a young boy who was raised by Bubbie, a talking whale. The two of them joined pirate Captain K'nuckles on his search for Candied Island, which is an island made of—you guessed it—candy. They lived in Stormalong Harbor, home to many other strange characters.

Flapjack was played by creator Thurop Van Orman; Captain K'nuckles was played by Brian Doyle-Murray (SpongeBob SquarePants); Bubbie was played by Roz Ryan (Adventure Time); Peppermint Larry was played by Jeff Bennett.