90s Catoons - Where to Watch Cartoons From the 90s & Save It Forever

This was the golden age of animation on television during the 90s, when cartoons came in waves, shaping millions of childhood memories. These quirky characters with unforgettable storylines were meant to give entertainment. Still, they became a cultural phenomenon, whether the rebellious antics of Beavis and Butt-Head or the adventurous journeys in Hey Arnold! Or the rememberable theme songs, the 90s delivered a wide variety of cartoons that kids and adults all loved alike. In the article, we look at some of the best and most iconic 90s cartoons, in-depth into what makes them great even today.

Part 1: 15 Iconic 90s Cartoons You Should Watch in 2025

1. The Simpsons

The Simpsons is a cartoon from the 90s featuring the dysfunctional but recognizable Simpson family, and it is a satirical take on the American family. It blends the sidesplitting comedies with scathing social commentary as it runs the gamut of politics, consumerism, and cultural icons through the lovable underachiever Homer, ever-sensible Marge, and their zany children. Hilarious one-liners, ridiculous situations, and occasional moments of emotional depth made The Simpsons a cultural institution within decades.

2. Rugrats

Exploring the world from the view of a group of babies that see everyday life as grand adventures, this humorous imaginative scenario led by its brave leader, Tommy Pickles, is accompanied by his friends and touches all issues through those themes in childhood, such as sibling rivalry and fear of the dark. Rugrats' 90s cartoon brought an innovative kind of storytelling for exploring pretty light-hearted yet pointful familial dynamics through the wonders and worries of growing up.

3. Hey Arnold!

Hey Arnold! was a special 90s cartoon show in many ways, allowing them to depict city life through the children's eyes of a mixed bunch, led by the gentle heart of Arnold, who lives with his grandparents in a boarding house. Most episodes have had real issues with bullying, unrequited love, and so much more, all conducted with compassion and enough humor to make it understandable and easy to take. Being set in the city, with lovely characters and the sensitive handling of personal and social issues, Hey Arnold! was full of charm that is still cherished in today's context.

4. PowerPuff Girls

The Powerpuff Girls is a Cartoon Network TV show from the 90s that combined the best of superhero action with sibling dynamics, where a trio of kindergarten-aged sisters-Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup-balance saving the world with everyday kid problems. The fun and exciting battles against quirky villains like Mojo Jojo and the Rowdyruff Boys were exciting, but what made the show empowering was its core message of girl power and teamwork. It's a colorful, action-packed series with a unique blend of humor and heart that appeals to audiences of all ages.

5. Batman: The Animated Series

Batman: The Animated Series redefined the territory of this genre, creating dark, atmospheric images and mature storytelling. The series exposes the duality of Bruce Wayne as Batman, whereas it explores the backstories of some of his unique villains, such as the Joker and Mr. Freeze. With its noir-inspired art style and emotionally complex storytelling, Batman's 90s cartoon gave animated television a higher respectability, thereby exploring themes such as morality, justice, and redemption that superheroes should represent.

6. Animaniacs

Animaniacs is a show in the 90s cartoon that is a frantic, witty program about the Warner siblings - Yakko, Wakko, and Dot - that cause havoc in Hollywood's fictional Warner Bros. Studios. Known for its jokes at the speed of sound, pop culture references, and satire, Animaniacs took children's television out of the frontiers of sophistication with humor tailored to all ages. Its blend of slapstick comedy, musical numbers, and self-referential wit made it an endearing classic that successfully stood the test of time.

7. Freakazoid!

Freakazoid! is a goofy 90s show on Cartoon Network superhero with surreal humor and absurdity in that it's about teenager Dexter Douglas, who becomes the manic, fourth-wall-breaking superhero Freakazoid. He's a superhero who never really plays by the book and will leave a fight to do something random; thus, this series breaks from your traditional action cartoons. This series is cult because the uniqueness of its humor has always drawn those who enjoyed the oddness of superhero storytelling.

8. X-Men: The Animated Series

This 90s cartoon introduces audiences to the mutant world, which faces significant social issues like prejudice alongside identity in characters fighting for acceptance. In X-Men: The Animated Series, every individual in X-Men is so specific, from their powers to their struggles; the show sets up beautifully balanced visuals with action against emotion. X-Men became an appealing series to connect to fans beyond superhero appeal by exploring complex themes of power, friendship or belonging costs.

9. SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob SquarePants is an old 90s cartoon story of absurd, comedic adventures in which SpongeBob, the positive sea sponge, resides in the underwater town called Bikini Bottom. In the show, an eclectic mix of characters appears, with the best friend, Patrick Star and grumpy boss, Mr. Krabs, for SpongeBob, which is so funny and unexpected that it was popular among all audiences of every age group for the lighthearted and surreal charm of its slapstick comedy, unforgettable catchphrases, and adorable characters.

10. Doug

Doug is the 90s kids cartoon story of Doug Funnie, an everyman teenager who faces all those things that make adolescence such a hurdle: first crushes, friendship drama, and more. Doug's imagination, specifically his superhero alter-ego Quailman, adds a whimsical touch to an otherwise ordinary life in the town of Bluffington. Its slice-of-life approach was well related, but focusing on such issues as self-confidence and acceptance helped make for a comforting watch in a show relatable to many youngsters' lives, at least as reflected in Doug's many relatable and often hilarious experiences.

11. Captain Planet and the Planeteers

Captain Planet and the Planeteers is an environmentally-themed early 90s cartoon series. It features an animated superhero series for five teenagers whose powers are linked with nature's elements across the globe. As a group, they can call upon the hero, Captain Planet, to fight against pollution and environmental abuse. Strongly focused on an eco-message, the show was made to make young viewers care for the planet, hence both entertaining and educational, as it advocated environmental activism.

12. Recess

Recess is a forgotten 90s cartoon show that captures the social dynamics of elementary school in a group of diverse friends who see recess as their chance to explore, play, and sometimes rebel. T.J., Spinelli, and their friends are battling school authority and playground politics, realizing the value of friendship and individuality. It was catchy, focusing on loyalty, justice, and the excitement of a childhood free of adventure. It allowed anyone who remembers the carefree thrills of adventures around the schoolyard to feel drawn to it in one way or another.

13. Pokémon

Pokémon is considered the best 90s cartoon due to its popularity, storyline, and monsters known as Pokémon. It starts with the story of a child named Ash Ketchum, who desires to become a Pokémon Master with the help of his companion Pikachu, an electric type Pokémon. They travel the world to catch different types of Pokémon, challenge trainers of every region to become the best, and build friendships along the way.

14. Beavis and Butt-Head

Beavis and Butt-Head is a satirical-style tale of two dim-witted teenage slackers who spend their days viewing music videos and behaving in a stinking way, making hilariously uninformed commentary on pop culture. With crass humor and an apathetic attitude, they satirize teenage disinterest and rebellion, leading to its wonderfully scandalous and iconic statuses as youth culture attacks that interest viewers in seeing the ends of this duo's antics and the outer attitude of society. Due to that, it also received a budget to become a 90s cartoon movie.

15. Darkwing Duck

Darkwing Duck is a mix of action and comedy. He fights crime in a city and tries to be a good dad to his adopted daughter, Gosalyn. Darkwing's life is full of comedy as he simultaneously takes on duties such as being a vigilante and an amazing dad. The most notable phrase associated with it is Let's get dangerous! and its light humor; the series reunited intense action with light-hearted family relationships, making it perfect for the roster of superhero shows that the cool 90s cartoon had.

Part 2: Where You Can Watch Old 90s Cartoons?

These are some of the greatest cartoons of the 90s, and you can watch them on your television more so if you subscribe to cable with Cartoon Network. If you want to watch them anywhere without subscribing, watching cartoons on Pluto TV is free, although you can only access some classic shows in the presence of ads. There's also the YouTube channel where official accounts broadcast full episodes or fragments of Simpsons, Pokémon and others. Hulu and Amazon Prime Video have most of these shows but watch them on-demand for a more comprehensive list of 90's cartoons.

If you want to see the entire X-Men or Batman: The Animated Series, Binge offers a great way to do it, except Disney+ has the new series while HBO Max has Powerpuff Girls and other Cartoon Network series. Hey Arnold! You can also use Paramount+, and for Rugrats and others, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Animaniacs, Netflix has them but only changes them out for more popular shows sometimes. So, with the streaming options, you can watch the best 90s cartoons whenever you want and wherever you need them.

Bonus: Record 90s Cartoons to Save Them as Eternal Backups & Watch Them Anytime

The 80s and 90s cartoons are part of a generational legacy we can cherish for years. With the AVAide Screen Recorder, you can readily memorialize these endless shows as formal electronic mementos. With this efficient tool, you can record your choice of episodes from the Internet, DVD or even live episodes directly off your PC for streaming. AVAide is especially user-friendly; you can set your preferences for the size of the video, input source, and format of the output video to have perfect copies.

For any fan who wants to revisit or introduce childhood classic cartoons to others, this is the perfect screen recorder on Windows and Mac to share the golden age of cartoons continuously. It shows at any given time and any place.

By Jane Pineda on Mar 18, 2025