While the 2000s came to be known as the Naughties in terms of pop culture, the animated series that came to be during this decade are nothing of the sort. In fact, kids' shows of the 2000s offer a nice counter-balance to all the naughty stuff that went on during these ten years! The animated series of the decade are all exceptionally intelligent, witty and offer that feel-good mood which is, in fact, what we are all looking for in the doomed 2020s. So, want to recap the goodness of way back when? Then you are in the exact right place, for we are offering you our list of the best kids' shows of the 2000s - a list full of joy and laughter!
Wondering which animated series made it to the top of our list? Well, it wouldn't come as a surprise or a spoiler to tell you that our top choice for the animation of the decade became Avatar: The Last Airbender - truly the most wonderful and entertaining series probably ever. Then, of course, there's SpongeBob SquarePants and his quirky ways, Redwall with its undeniable courage and high moral values, and Courage The Cowardly Dog bringing the absolutely weird style of ‘90s animation well into the 2000s. So, as you can see, 2000s kids' series offer a broad spectrum of fun, out of which you will definitely find something that's the closest to your heart.
Now, are you ready to scroll on down below and check out our picks of the best kids' shows of the 2000s? Once you are there, give the best series your vote and share this entertaining list with your friends!
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#1 Avatar: The Last Airbender
2005 - 2005 | 3 seasons | 61 episodes
Avatar: The Last Airbender is an animated action-adventure fantasy series that ran on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. Avatar's world is inspired by Asian cultures, and in this world, certain people have telekinetic powers allowing them to control one of four classical elements - water, fire, earth, and air. Then there's the Avatar - the chosen one who can control all of the four and whose mission is to keep a peaceful balance among the nations. This Avatar is Aang, and together with his friends, they set out on extraordinary adventures to restore said balance. The series is ingenious with the excitement it creates, the nice moral messages it gives, and, of course, the most loveable characters in the most unexpected situations. Some critics even named Avatar one of the best animated series ever, and we couldn't agree more!
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40points
#2 Courage The Cowardly Dog
1999 - 2002 | 2 seasons | 52 episodes
Courage The Cowardly Dog, an animated horror/comedy series, follows Courage - a kindhearted yet easily scared orphaned dog whose parents were sent into outer space by a crazed veterinarian. Now Courage lives with an elderly couple, Muriel and Eustace, in the middle of Nowhere. Somehow it seems that the trio always gets into some bizarre, nightmarish misadventures with various entities, monsters, and occurrences haunting everything they do. Courage The Cowardly Dog is truly one-of-a-kind series filled with surreal humor, an eerie atmosphere, and always original happenings.
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35points
#3 Invader Zim
2001 - 2006 | 2 seasons | 28 episodes
Invader Zim follows one too-smart-for-his-own-good alien Earth invader Zim who came from the planet IRK. Pretending to be a child and with the help of his robot GIR, Zim's mission to take over the Earth seems very plausible up until the point a wrench named Dib interferes with his evil plans. Invader Zim has to be one of the wittiest shows ever created, and if you'd like a series that'll deliver one smart joke after another, this series might be your best choice.
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34points
#4 Samurai Jack
2001 - 2017 | 5 seasons | 62 episodes
Samurai Jack follows the adventures of the titular Jack - a Japanese samurai prince who wields a mystic katana capable of cutting through anything. Jack sets out on a quest to hunt Aku, a shapeshifting demon who's terrorizing his kingdom. But, of course, it isn't all that simple, and once Jack is about to deal a final blow to the demon, he sends the samurai into a dystopian future where the land is ruled by another demon. At this point, Jack's mission gets even more complicated, but it's all the more fun for the viewers!
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34points
#5 Justice League
2001 - 2004 | 2 seasons | 52 episodes
Justice League is the legendary formation of the seven most famous superheroes of probably all time - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter. And with these legends standing against the forces of evil, destruction, and chaos, you can definitely sleep in peace tonight. Even though the seven are totally fictional and act as animated characters. Nevertheless, Justice League is a whole lotta fun without dumbing down the original comics, something we all love!
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31points
#6 SpongeBob SquarePants
1999 | 13 seasons | 271 episodes
So, it's a sponge living under the sea in a pineapple, hanging out with a starfish, a crab, a pet snail, and a squirrel. And that's just to name a few odd characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, an animated series that became a real phenomenon throughout the years of its run. Created by the legendary animator and marine science educator Stephen Hillenburg, this series is full of imagination and the most unbelievable adventures experienced by the weirdest characters. It was, and still is, something completely different compared to all the rest of the animated series, mostly because of its originality that stems from an unexpected setting, ingenious characters, and the beautiful message underneath it all.
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30points
#7 Teen Titans
2003 - 2006 | 5 seasons | 66 episodes
Teen Titans, an animated superhero series, follows the lives and adventures of the five main members of the eponymous team. Each one of them has a set of very specific abilities, from being able to communicate with animals to having psionic abilities. The team all live together in the Titans Tower and protect their neighboring city from various threats and criminals, all the while trying to live their adolescent lives as normal teens. Teen Titans soon became one of the most acclaimed Cartoon Network series, praised for its character development, humor, and serious themes. In fact, it pretty soon became so famous that multiple spin-offs, video games, music albums, and collectibles were released.
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28points
#8 The Spectacular Spider-Man
2008 - 2009 | 2 seasons | 26 episodes
The Spectacular Spider-Man focuses, you guessed it, on the story of Peter Parker. However, in this animated series, Peter is a sixteen-year-old kid whose spider powers just came to play, and together with him, we get to learn the origins of this spectacular story. So expect no less than fancy adventures and breath-taking encounters with Spider-Man's various nemeses.
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24points
#10 Redwall
1999 - 2002 | 3 seasons | 29 episodes
Redwall follows the story of a young mouse who, after losing his family to a rat warlord, is adopted by an abbey. And although the novice mouse respects and understands the peaceful philosophies of the order, he still dreams of becoming a great warrior and avenging his family. Fate leads him to this path as the rat warlord attacks the peaceful abbey and launches a full-scale war. Redwall is truly an inspiring series glorifying the underdog, stressing the value of love, loyalty, and courage every step of the way.
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23points
#13 The Weekenders
2000 - 2004 | 4 seasons | 77 episodes
The Weekenders follows four best friends - Tino, Tish, Carver, and Lor - as they try to make the most of the very short time they have off school each weekend. Usually, their plans of making the most of their time go hilariously awry, and each adventure turns into a happy little misadventure. And although the foursome of friends is from entirely different worlds, considering their hobbies and dislikes, they manage to form an unbreakable bond. The Weekenders is truly one of those feel-good series that'll entertain you and lift up your mood.
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21points
