50 Best Kids Shows Of The 2000s Ranked

Even when we're kids, TV is usually a big part of all of our lives. After school, on Saturday mornings, and in the evenings, we put aside our schoolwork to enjoy our favorite shows, be it a live-action adventure, a family sitcom, or an exciting cartoon. For those of us who grew up at the turn of the millennium, there was more choice than ever when it came to TV, as cable began offering more channels just for kids: By the 2000s, Nickelodeon was joined by Cartoon Network and Disney Channel, and later came Disney XD, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, and more.

Whether they were aimed at little ones, pre-teens, or tweens, shows in the 2000s comprised some of the best-made programming ever — at least that's what millennials will tell you. Some of the most famous, long-running children's series' were produced in that decade, including a few that are still going strong today. Below we'll take a look at the turn-of-the-millennium kids shows and see if we can rank the best ones, based on critical reviews, audience scores, and their cultural impact. We consulted IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic to judge critical and fan consensus and read and analyzed both reviews from professional critics and fans. But one last criterion we felt was important in our ranking was a show's lasting legacy. Try and see how many you can remember watching, and see if you can guess our top picks.

"LazyTown" debuted in 2004, two years after an unaired pilot episode was produced, and would go on to run for a total of four seasons. The show blends real-life puppetry, CGI, and real-life actors into a visually unique experience. Although it may not offer as much for adult audiences looking back on the series nowadays, it was praised by The Guardian for encouraging its viewers to be physically active and is remembered fondly by many who grew up watching it while it was releasing episodes.

It's also had a lasting impact thanks to songs like "We Are Number One" and "Cooking by the Book" garnering an unexpectedly solid following in 2010s meme culture. Performances by the vibrant cast of characters help cap off the lighthearted feel of the show and ensure that its wholesome whimsy ages well, with the late actor Stefán Karl Stefánsson's portrayal of the series antagonist Robbie Rotten being particularly beloved by fans.

Just barely making the cut for our Top 50, "Lazytown" might not be great entertainment for adults, but it has been fondly remembered over the years as one of the better shows of the decade for littler ones.

The first of many live-action sitcoms on our list, "Zoey 101" was a hit for the four years it was on the air. Series lead Jamie Lynn Spears got her start on the sketch comedy series "All That" before being given her own series in 2005. The Nickelodeon-produced project is one of many kids' shows set in high school, focusing on the day-to-day of Zoey Brooks (Spears) and her experiences attending the fictional prestigious Pacific Coast Academy boarding school. Fans loved Zoey's tumultuous love life and the antics of some of her best friends, Quinn (Erin Sanders) and Michael (Christopher Massey). "Victorious" fans will enjoy revisiting the show for Victoria Justice's role as Lola in Seasons 2 through 4, and "Dune" fans can catch Feyd-Rautha himself, Austin Butler, in Season 4.

In the years since "Zoey 101" went off the air, though, we've learned that behind the scenes, production on "Zoey 101" was much less lighthearted. The Max docuseries "Quiet on Set" ruined our childhoods in more ways than one, and Alexa Nikolas has alleged that the production was toxic. She told Access Hollywood that producer and show creator Dan Schneider fostered an uncomfortable environment on set, citing her character's wardrobe, which mostly comprised short skirts and off-the-shoulder tops. She was 12 years old at the time.

So "Zoey 101" comes with a heavy disclaimer, but the result is still a solid teen comedy aimed at young girls, and one that made Spears a brief teen star. And while it wasn't among the most influential shows of the 2000s, it did receive a revival in 2023, the original streaming movie "Zoey 102."

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"The Proud Family" is a coming-of-age story centered around Penny Proud (Kyla Pratt), the oldest child in the awkward but lovable Proud family. Joining her are the members of her family as well as several people in her daily life who tend to challenge the positive morals and life lessons her family has taught her to live by. The series was a one-of-a-kind look at an animated African-American family, produced by the same team that brought the short-lived "Da Boom Crew" to life in 2004. The show was game-changing, doing for animation what shows like "Sanford & Son" did for live-action back in the 1970s. It wasn't the first racially diverse animated show on TV, but what sets it apart is its finger on the pulse of contemporary Black American culture, solid sense of humor, and iconic characters like Penny, parents Oscar (Tommy Davidson) and Trudy (Paula Jai Parker), and of course, Suga Mama (Jo Marie Payton).

Now over two decades old, "The Proud Family" has been remembered fondly by audiences since it was on the air, enough even to earn itself a revival. Revisiting the Prouds and their various misadventures and bringing back much of the original cast, "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder" premiered in February 2022.

A live-action show about time-traveling teens might seem like the kind of goody concept you'd expect from the 1960s or '70s. But that's the premise of "Phil of the Future," a Disney Channel classic from 2004. Ricky Ullman stars as Phil Diffy, a high schooler hailing from the 22nd century who, along with his family, is inadvertently stranded more than a hundred years in the past.

Perhaps more than any other live-action Disney Channel show of its era, "Phil of the Future" is like a cartoon come to life, with occasional cheap sci-fi sets and a colorful, eccentric cast of characters. That includes his conspiracy theory-obsessed father, Lloyd (Craig Anton); his narcissistic sister, Pim (Amy Bruckner); and the caveman Curtis (J.P. Manoux), who snuck aboard the family's ship during their time-hopping travels. With most of the action taking place at H.G. Wells High School, we also meet aspiring journalist Keely (Alyson Michalka), a 21st-century native and Phil's eventual girlfriend.

The fish-out-of-water series might not be the best family sitcom, nor the best sci-fi series, but its unique blend of cartoonish live-action storytelling and unapologetic cheesiness earns it a place toward the bottom of our list.

Hong Kong action movies made their way to America in the 1990s, sending the likes of John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat to huge Hollywood success. But the biggest name from Hong Kong to become a star in the States was Jackie Chan, and following a string of blockbusters in the early 2000s, he got his own children's animated adventure show.

Admittedly, Saturday morning cartoons based on real-life celebrities rarely turn out to be very good — see also: "Camp Candy" and "Mister T." But "Jackie Chan Adventures" broke the mold. Taking place in a world where magic is real, the show finds Chan playing a fictionalized version of himself as a secret agent and treasure hunter. He's a mix of James Bond, Bruce Lee, and Indiana Jones. Never aiming too high, the show is pure excitement, has a unique sense of humor, and never fails to be a rollicking good time. Chan is the biggest reason why, as his character, like Chan himself, is a fun-loving, slapstick martial artist unafraid to poke fun at the ridiculousness of the proceedings as he faces everything from dragons and wizards to gangsters and ninjas.

Sure, "Jackie Chan Adventures" could have simply phoned it in as a by-the-numbers animated adventure. But it's so much more, and it just might be one of the most underrated animated action shows of the decade.

In what probably became the ultimate fantasy for many young viewers, "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" stars the titular twins, played by Dylan and Cole Sprouse, as they go about their lives living in the upscale Tipton hotel. The series first aired on Disney Channel in 2005 and would continue until its conclusion in 2008. Despite being identical twins, the duo are both pretty different when it comes to their personalities, with the immature Zack frequently butting heads with his slightly younger brother, Cody. Along the way, they regularly encounter the hotel employees, including their lounge singer mother, Carey (Kim Rhodes); the comically materialistic London (Brenda Song); and the straight-laced manager Marion Moseby (Phill Lewis).

An absolute classic for kids of the 2000s, it's a good show made better by its charming cast, which includes Ashley Tisdale and Adrian R'Mante. The show received a pair of follow-ups, including the seafaring sequel series "The Suite Life on Deck" in 2008. It was a lot of "Suite Life" to go around, but we'll always love watching the Sprouse brothers wreak havoc on those poor hotel employees.

Disney has a long history of turning musical artists into stars, going all the way back to the 1950s with the original Mouseketeers, the performers who dazzled on "The Mickey Mouse Club." Later incarnations of the Mouseketeers brought the likes of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake to stardom. But in the mid-2000s, the company was no longer using a variety show to showcase teen singing talents, instead giving emerging performers their own series. And one of the most famous of this bunch is "Hannah Montana."

Starring Miley Cyrus, "Hannah Montana" is a musical comedy centered on Miley Stewart, who attempts to balance her life as an ordinary teen with her career as pop star Hannah Montana. Her real-life father, one-hit country music wonder Billy Ray Cyrus, plays her on-screen dad, while Emily Osment, Jason Earles, and Mitchel Musso round out the main cast. Fun and lightweight, the series was a staple of the decade for an entire generation of young girls and helped make Cyrus herself a world-famous, Grammy-winning musician.

It's no secret that the Disney Channel was home to some of the best live-action TV shows for kids in the 2000s. But while many others will show up higher on this list, "Hannah Montana" earns its spot mostly thanks to its long-lived legacy and enormous cultural significance.

After beginning her career as a part of the cast of '90s sketch comedy series "All That," actress Amanda Bynes starred in her spin-off series titled "The Amanda Show." Airing for three seasons between 1999 and 2002, it used much of the same style of sketch comedy that was popularized by its predecessor. Bynes was a megastar at only 13 years old, headlining a show that was like "Saturday Night Live" for preteens where she appeared in nearly every sketch. At her side are Drake Bell and Josh Peck — who would later star in their own beloved sitcom — and some comedy icons like Taran Killam and Gary Anthony Williams. The Nickelodeon-produced series portrays a world in which the show itself is being broadcast to audiences, with many gags playing off that premise. Additionally, several spoofs of pop culture giants at the time, like Judge Judy, are frequently featured.

With a meta story that was well ahead of its time, "The Amanda Show" was both trendsetting and inventive, and while it may not have had the same impact as Bynes' previous series, it's nearly as good. The series doesn't have a sterling reputation anymore, and since the release of the "Quiet on Set" docuseries, stories have come out accusing producer Dan Schneider of underpaying and sexually harassing female writers and fostering an unsafe working environment festering with sexual misconduct.

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Following the day-to-day life of the titular Jimmy Neutron (Debi Derryberry) as he develops one fantastic invention after another, Jimmy's life proves to be anything but mundane. Along the way, he's accompanied by his friends Sheen (Jeffrey Garcia) and Carl (Rob Paulsen) while he faces off against a strange cast of villains. Each episode satirized Jimmy's average life at school, mixed with his dramatic misadventures and oddball experiments.

The now-dated three-dimensional animation style and truly bizarre characters have helped "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius" burn itself into the memories of every kid who grew up watching this series. While most television series that opt to produce a full-length film do so sometime after the series has been well-established with its audiences, the creators of Jimmy Neutron opted to do the inverse. The series we know and love for its eccentricities spawned from the 2001 film "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" and ran for three seasons — including a cross-over with "The Fairly OddParents" and a maligned spin-off series, "Planet Sheen."

Some of the best animated shows of the 2000s have regrettably been forgotten by many, but we can't let them be lost to time. One such example is "Xiaolin Showdown," created by Chinese producer and director Christy Hui. The show capitalized on the growing presence of anime in the U.S., and some South Korean animation studios pitched in to bring the series to life.

It follows four young Xiaolin warriors named Omi (Tara Strong), Raimundo (Tom Kenny), Kimiko (Grey DeLisle), and Clay (Jeff Bennett), accompanied by a dragon named Dojo (Wayne Knight), and together they are tasked with tracking down and finding a set of ancient relics that can grant their wielders tremendous power. But the kids aren't seeking them for personal gain, but to stop them from falling into the wrong hands, as these magical artifacts are also sought by various evildoers who could use them to achieve total domination. Action, adventure, and a healthy dose of Eastern spirituality, the series ran for three seasons and was nominated for five Emmys.

Thanks in no small part to Hui, "Xioalin Showdown" has an Eastern authenticity that many shows of its type lacked. Meanwhile, its compelling stories, complex plotlines, and all-star voice cast made its high-quality adventures riveting week to week. It certainly wasn't the first show of its kind, but its mainstream success helped usher in a wave of shows including "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and even movies like "How to Train Your Dragon."

While at first glance, this one looks like another entry that may find limited appeal for those of us who are above the target audience, "The Backyardigans" surprisingly had enough substance to not bore parents and older kids to death. While the animation might be questionable by today's standards, it was solid enough for audiences at the time. The show follows five animal friends — a pink animal Uniqua (LaShawn Jefferies), penguin Pablo (Zach Tyler Eisen and Jake Goldberg), moose Tyrone (Reginald Davis Jr., Jordan Coleman, and Chris Grant Jr.), hippo Tasha (Naelee Rae and Gianna Bruzzese), and kangaroo Austin (Jonah Bobo) — who hang out in a backyard and have adventures before snack time. There are several musical numbers every episode — the Backyardigans each have multiple voice actors to perform their singing parts across the show's four seasons.

Combine its wholesome presentation and nostalgic musical numbers that will appeal to older viewers and you get a result that, when discussing the tone of the series, The New York Times said, "It's hard to say whether 'The Backyardigans' is a fantasy for children or for their parents." An Emmy Award-winner, "The Backyardigans" was clever and innovative for its day, which helped it stand head and shoulders above other fare of its kind. As with many kids' shows, "The Backyardigans" got a second wind on TikTok and frequently show up in memes online due to its wholesome, cute characters and colorful world.

By and large, when Batman appears in a TV show or movie, it's typically something dark and brooding, even when aimed at kids. But "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" flipped the script, with a bright and colorful look and feel aimed squarely at young children who may never have seen the character before. On top of its goofy animation and fun-loving tone, the series is a team show of sorts, with the Caped Crusader (Diedrich Bader) being joined each episode by a different DC hero.

Throughout the show's run, kids got the chance to meet not just Superman (Roger Rose), Wonder Woman (Vicki Lewis), and Aquaman (John DiMaggio), but also more obscure characters like Metamorpho (Scott Menville), Plastic Man (Tom Kenny), and Huntress (Tara Strong), among countless others. Just because the show is pitched to the younger set doesn't mean it's not appealing to older audiences, who likely appreciate the deep-cut DC Comics characters. The show's whip-smart sense of humor and evergreen stories helped it transcend its intended demographic, proving itself as a timeless all-ages comic book adventure.

Another series in which our lead has to balance saving the world with the daily doldrums of high school life, "Kim Possible" incorporates the most fun elements of a typical spy thriller with a typical slice-of-life comedy. The series made its debut on Disney Channel in 2002 and would stay on the air for just over half a decade.

Starring Christy Carlson Romano as the titular Kim Possible and Will Friedle as her best friend, Ron Stoppable, the series follows them through the motions of the standard high school drama whilst they live a second life thwarting supervillains. The series was very popular with audiences during its four-season run and earned enough long-lasting goodwill among viewers to merit a live-action "Kim Possible" TV movie in 2019. A slickly-written action comedy, the series was a trailblazer, too, with a young female hero in what is generally thought of as a boy's genre.

It may have only lasted one season, but 2005's "The Time Warp Trio" might be the best kid's cartoon to help teach history. Oftentimes, educational animation is fairly plain, but "The Time Warp Trio" is anything but boring. It's based on a series of books by John Scieszka with illustrations from Lane Smith and Adam McCauley, and every episode, it sends its cast of kid characters hurtling through time. In the process, they explore some of history's biggest events while meeting famous historical figures.

The series begins with Joe Arthur (Mark Rendall) discovering a magic book. With it, Joe and his friends Sam (Darren Frost) and Fred (Scott McCord) are pulled backward and forward in time, usually against their will, ending up in such far-flung settings as ancient Egypt, 19th-century New York, the Wild West, and even the Stone Age. During their adventures, the kids also team up with the likes of Plato and face off against historical giants like Napoleon — who gets his grubby little paws on their magic book. Later stories see the kids in the future meeting their own descendants while being chased by Joe's uncle, Mad Jack (Tony Daniels). "The Time Warp Trio" is educational TV at its very best.

The 2001 comedy series "Lizzie McGuire" stars actress Hillary Duff, helping kickstart her two-decade-long career. Centered around the teenage Lizzie McGuire while featuring her friends and family, the series depicts her daily struggles between growing up and the day-to-day events in her life. Boys, rumors, gymnastics, school plays, friend group drama, and math class ... it's almost too much for a teenager to handle. Along the way, she's accompanied by an animated fourth-wall-breaking version of herself, who humorously conveys Lizzie's inner thoughts and feelings.

While the show was popular with fans at the time, it only managed to get two seasons produced before being canceled. Since then, there's been talk over the years of a "Lizzie McGuire" reboot, which was sadly cancelled despite very nearly coming to fruition. For longtime fans of the series, it sadly seems we won't be seeing Lizzie's high school adventures revisited anytime soon.

In 2001, Cartoon Network came to the rescue and resurrected the short-lived 1999 UPN animated series "Home Movies," a crudely drawn family sitcom designed to appeal to more mature tweens and teens. The humor is edgy, and the show explores mature subject matter, but it managed to skirt the line between kids and adult fare at the time. Its stylistic animation, meanwhile, probably turned away some younger ones at the time, but most agree, then and now, that it's among the best shows of its kind.

Semi-biographical, "Home Movies" is about just that, the at-home movies filmed by 8-year-old Brendon Small, who is also the series' co-creator. While working on his films, Brendon also grapples with all manner of problems, mostly the kinds of things kids deal with during puberty: emerging hormones, dealing with obnoxious parents, and trying to get by in school.

A more left-field pick for our list of best kids shows of the 2000s, "Home Movies" is perhaps the most under-appreciated cartoon of the decade. And that's exactly why it's here: Its cult following of fans is still raving about the show decades later, and for those fans, it left as big an impression as "SpongeBob SquarePants" did on everyone else.

It may have kicked off its run in 1997, but "Johnny Bravo" aired almost half its episodes on Cartoon Network in the 2000s. One of the first shows to air as part of the network's "Cartoon Cartoons" block, it rode a wave of great kids' TV at the time, including "Dexter's Laboratory," "Space Ghost Coast to Coast," and "The Powerpuff Girls" (which shows up higher on this list).

By its title, you might think "Johnny Bravo" is about a superhero or secret agent, but the character (Jeff Bennett) is actually a mix of Elvis and James Dean. He's a slick, smarmy, self-aggrandizing sort who really isn't as impressive as he'd like everyone to believe. He still lives at home with his mother and is unsuccessful at wooing women, though if you'd ask him he'd tell you he was the hottest thing on planet Earth.

Though it wasn't aimed specifically at kids, plenty of them were watching, and for many it was one of the best things on television. Making a mockery of chauvinistic culture, "Johnny Bravo" wasn't just hilarious — it was also a stinging takedown of toxic masculinity, even if the younger ones probably didn't get the joke at the time.

Remembered fondly for its fusion of 2D animation and real-life game show antics, "Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman" has become a nostalgic classic for those who grew up on it. First airing on PBS in 2006 and with a respectable 100-episode run at the time of its conclusion, the series featured a number of child contestants each season. Each episode consisted of challenges for its guests to complete, interspersed with animated segments of the comically sarcastic canine host, voiced by Jim Conroy. The six kids competing each season performed various science-based challenges.

Despite PBS' limited budget, the animated segments were lively and meshed well with the live-action portions of the program, and the challenges were as inventive as those of any other reality shows aimed at kids. Scavenger hunts, races against dolphins, and crime scene investigation puzzles helped the show to stand out, and its wholesome but chaotic energy made it one of the highlights of the after-school PBS Kids Go! programming block.

Today, Selena Gomez is a TV superstar, leading the quirky black comedy "Only Murders in the Building" on Hulu. But she got her start back in 2007 when she headlined the tween cast of "Wizards of Waverly Place," a series that blended comedy, fantasy, and teen angst. Arguably the second-biggest franchise about a teen wizard behind "Sabrina," the series centered on Alex Russo (Gomez), a denizen of New York's Greenwich Village (living on the eponymous Waverly Place) who takes it upon herself to train her two brothers Justin and Max (David Henrie and Jake T. Austin) in the ways of magic.

With many of the same hallmarks that made previous Disney Channel favorites a hit, "Wizards of Waverly Place" is funny and charming and sets itself apart with its fantasy premise. It established Gomez as a force to be reckoned with. Not all the era's Disney stars still shine bright 20 years later, but Gomez continues to be a huge star today. While the show didn't push many boundaries and at times could be downright saccharine, it's the perfect blend of teen drama, family sitcom, and supernatural comedy.

Launched in 2007, "Wizards of Waverly Place" came at just the right time as Gen Z was growing up, which helped it survive into the 2010s. It received a TV movie and an hourlong special, too, and proved enduring enough that a reboot was announced in early 2024, with Gomez returning to the role that made her famous.

In what is likely one of the strangest picks on our list, everything about this 2007 cartoon "Chowder" defies the norm. The distinct animation style is only outdone by the series' surreal cast of culinary characters, each named after a particular dish. At the heart of everything is the lead, Chowder, whose determination to become a legendary chef is at odds with his erratic and zany personality.

Airing for three seasons, the series reveled in its insanity. While there are occasional lessons to some of Chowder's hilarious exploits, episodes typically conclude as they began, with a rising crescendo of absurdity and over-the-top gags. Taking the weirdness of the more popular "SpongeBob SquarePants" to new levels, "Chowder" became an instant cult classic while winning an Emmy Award in 2009.

If you grew up in the 2000s, there was no more essential parent-approved viewing than "Arthur." Based on a series of popular children's books, the show is both a comedy and a drama. The eponymous Arthur is a third-grade Aardvark, his best friend Buster (Daniel Brochu) is a rabbit, and the rest of the characters are animals too. The show's fanciful stories see Arthur, his sister D.W., Buster, and others all getting into and out of trouble and dealing with the ups and downs of growing up. (Many of the young characters had multiple voice actors, often changing after only several seasons as they underwent puberty.)

Though "Arthur" started in the mid-90s and continued through 2022, the show was a seminal entry in the world of kids TV in the 2000s. It was wholesome without being cloying, silly without being too zany, and had enough child-friendly drama (and plenty of solid gags) to keep kids watching. But it wasn't just good; it was also positively recognized by adults, praised for showcasing the kinds of real-world problems kids deal with every day. While entertaining kids, it offered life lessons as well, from conflict resolution to problem-solving. The series won a total of seven Daytime Emmys and took home a Peabody Award in 2001.

Another series that played with the premise of its main characters producing their own programming for eager audiences, "iCarly" would go down as one of the most popular live-action series to air on Nickelodeon in the 2000s. Spanning six seasons and nearly 100 episodes, it was the culmination of child actress Miranda Cosgrove's accomplished career by 2007, after making her television debut guest starring on episodes of "Drake & Josh" and later appearing on "Zoey 101." The quirky series stars Cosgrove as Carly Shay, who creates a popular web series known as "iCarly." Joining her are Sam (Jennette McCurdy), Freddie (Nathan Kress), Spencer (Jerry Trainor), and Gibby (Noah Munck), all participating in the day-to-day hijinks surrounding the titular web series.

Variety noted that the show has remained a hit on streaming platforms almost a decade after its last episode aired. As a result, the series was brought back in 2021 as a Paramount+ streaming series with the original cast, which itself received three seasons. Modern rewatches might be poisoned a bit by knowledge of the toxic, abusive environment on Nickelodeon sets that was revealed in the "Quiet on Set" documentary — despite the "iCarly" gang's good spirits on the show, there are more than a few episodes that don't look good in hindsight. "iCarly" fans wary of Dan Schneider's behind-the-scenes behavior might feel better watching the 2021 revival — though that new show still bears Schneider's name, the producer wasn't involved at all in its creation.

Late in the 2000s, Disney found another hit in "Phineas and Ferb," a mighty mash-up of music and mockery. It's a show that defies conventional description — but we're going to give it a shot anyway. The two title characters are a pair of brothers, but the series has a broad range of wacky characters, the standout being Perry (Dee Bradley Baker), a platypus who is also a secret agent. Most of the show takes place over summer vacations, and sees the kids, along with their sister, Candace (Ashley Tisdale), getting up to all kinds of adventures.

While most kids go bike-riding or hang out down by the creek in the summer months, maybe playing sports outdoors or video games inside, Phineas (Vincent Martella) and Ferb (Thomas Brodie-Sangster and David Errigo Jr.) have grander ambitions. They commandeer their mother's car and enter it in a race, use their backyard pool to make a massive amount of gelatin, and invent a pair of shoes that give them super speed. Oh, and they also take part in various musical numbers. We can talk about how great "Phineas and Ferb" is all day long, but like "The Matrix," you have to see it for yourself. You'll get another chance in 2024, as it's been announced the series is returning after more than a decade off the air.

A few years after co-creating "The Fairly OddParents," creator Butch Hartman drew inspiration from the paranormal to produce a children's action-adventure series. The result was "Danny Phantom," a series that lasted for three solid seasons. The Nickelodeon series also was distinct from its counterparts at the time for placing importance on its story, with many characters having varied plotlines across multiple episodes alongside a typical ghost-of-the-week format. The show revolves around the 14-year-old Danny Fenton (David Kaufman), who receives otherworldly powers after meddling with his parents' supernatural technology, he's forced to fight several enemies while shifting between the world of the living and the dead and, naturally, dealing with high school at the same time.

"Danny Phantom" might not have been as funny as "The Fairly OddParents" or "Spongebob SquarePants," but it triumphs over those shows when it comes to character and story. It was one of Nick's best superhero shows in the decade before those kinds of series became ubiquitous, and Danny Phantom's powers, friends, and rogues' gallery are undeniably impressive for a show that constructed those elements from the ground up. It's not just more satisfying and dramatic than most of its contemporaries, but more than other animated Nick series, "Danny Phantom" has managed to remain rewatchable nearly two decades later.

While there have been plenty of iterations of the famous Mystery Inc. gang since the property's initial 1969 release, "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?," the 2000s series "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" helped reintroduce the series to younger audiences.

First airing in 2002, "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" knew that it was best to retain many of the things that made the original series so beloved, with all the quirks and humor from the older series still on full display. While the art style got a major facelift for the three seasons it was on the air, it still stuck to its roots, giving fans a fun run of Scooby-Doo adventures that have been able to stand on their own and become a worthy successor to the classic series.

In the early 1990s, "X-Men: The Animated Series" set the bar high for Marvel's mighty mutants on television, proving so popular that it was revived in 2024. But just a few years after it came to a close, Marvel struck again with "X-Men: Evolution," a spiritual successor that aged down the cast of superheroes, set its stories at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, and shook up its primary roster.

This time, the team of X-Men are all adolescents, with Cyclops (Kirby Morrow), Jean Grey (Venus Terzo), Nightcrawler (Brad Swaile), Shadowcat (Maggie Blue O'Hara), and Rogue (Meghan Black) all of school age, with the new addition of Spyke (Neil Denis), created especially for the series, joining the team too. Professor X (David Kaye), Wolverine (Scott McNeil), Beast (Michael Kopsa), and Storm (Kirsten Williamson) are the group's mentors and teachers. The animation and tone are more playful than before, and the stories are somewhat less complex than its predecessor, but in many ways, it's just as good, with a simplicity that makes it easy to dive into even for the uninitiated.

"Evolution" isn't just a good superhero cartoon — it's a great one. It surprised even comic book audiences who may have been thrown off by its more kid-friendly vibe. Ultimately the show ran four seasons and has remained a favorite among Marvel fans for its unique take on the characters.

Held close to every young viewer's heart, "Blue's Clues" would arguably become one of the most culturally influential children's series of the late '90s, going on to air the majority of its episodes well into the 2000s. The series was framed as educational first, incorporating a number of the objects and characters around the household to solve mysteries with series lead Steve and his canine companion Blue. Along the way, they're joined by another dog, Magenta, a living mailbox, clock, soap bar, and even a set of salt and pepper shakers.

While the first host of the long-running series, Steve Burns, never intended to play the starring role for his entire career, it can't be disputed that he did a fantastic job in the part. In the years since the show's conclusion, Steve has shed some light on his sudden departure from "Blue's Clues" and even reprised his role in a revival series titled "Blue's Clues and You." Nothing will probably ever match the original, however, whose colorful blend of education and life lessons were crucial to Gen Z in their formative years.

First airing in 2003, "That's So Raven" would be just one of several different sitcoms aimed at young adults to air in the 2000s. It set itself apart, however, through its incorporation of supernatural power in its main character Raven, played by actress Raven-Symoné.

Set in a present-day high school, the character of Raven Baxter discovers that she possesses limited psychic abilities, which express themselves as premonitions of the future. While the premise is serious enough, the series plays it for laughs, with Raven and her friends frequently finding themselves in trouble as a result of misunderstanding her visions. Twice nominated for an Emmy, "That's So Raven" was one of those early 2000s shows that helped put Disney Channel on the map as the go-to place for the best live-action kids television.

Although it may not be as well known among some American audiences due to its Canadian origin, "Redwall" was undoubtedly one of the best children's shows to grace television screens in the early 2000s. Based on the long-running series of novels of the same name, the animated series is a medieval fantasy epic centered around a young mouse who tries to become a powerful warrior during a time of great conflict.

It's especially surprising that "Redwall" didn't pull punches when it came to its setting and pushed the line with its at times surprisingly brutal depictions of fantasy warfare. "Redwall" may be one of the lesser-known entries on this list, but it might also be one of the best-written and most exciting, with a gripping story, epic high adventure, and quality animation.

While it was far from Shia LaBeouf's first acting gig, the 2000 sitcom "Even Stevens" became the first major role in his career, paving the way for his appearances in many big-budget films. The series stars LaBeouf as one of the three Stevens siblings and the youngest member of the family.

The series is a fairly typical but utterly hilarious look at adolescence and suburban life as told through the eyes of its titular family. Although children were the target audience for "Even Stevens," it still managed to maintain a mature tone across its 65-episode run, leaving many adult fans with something to appreciate while rewatching one of the best Disney Channel live-action shows of all time.

While the quirky animation style and humor would be enough for any show to stand on its own, "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" is rounded out with a cast of imaginative characters, each with oddball traits. Set in a sprawling mansion that's a home for imaginary friends who have been abandoned, the series is centered around 8-year-old Mac (Sean Marquette) and his mischievous imaginary friend, Bloo (Keith Ferguson), as the duo embarks on various misadventures with the other residents of the home.

Being relatively high on our list and with six seasons, it likely comes as no surprise that series creator Craig McCracken was responsible for some other equally fantastic series over the years. His other hits include "The Powerpuff Girls" and the 2013 cult favorite "Wander Over Yonder." And like those other shows, "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" is wildly ridiculous in all the best ways, making it an easy pick to kick off our top 20.

With some great action scenes and tons of inventive alien designs on full display, "Ben 10" always kept viewers guessing after its 2005 release. The series begins with the story of the aptly named 10-year-old Ben Tennyson (Tara Strong) who, after finding a piece of alien technology deep in the woods, is given the ability to shapeshift into 10 different alien forms.

While the science-fiction plot mixed in with some moments of comedy kept the original run of the show going for four seasons, it didn't stop there. Between continuations of the main story and entire franchise reboots, there's a total of 22 seasons and nearly 400 episodes and specials of "Ben 10" to sift through for the most dedicated fans. A comic book-like tale of a super-powered teen, "Ben 10" was every bit the equal of concurrent "Batman" and "Spider-Man" cartoons and brought a new superhero teen to the scene.

Everything about "Ed, Edd n Eddy" is offbeat. The show featured a simple instrumental intro song and a distinctively sketchy style of animation, all while offering up some of the most unusual characters Cartoon Network had to offer.

The three similarly named boys that give the series its title repeatedly try to scam the rest of the children in their neighborhood, often to the tune of a zany jazz soundtrack. The diabolical nature of the "Ed, Edd n Eddy" lead characters, and its bizarre, surrealist style of humor helps this series hold up to scrutiny after repeated viewings. The perfect example of risks paying off, there's very little about "Ed, Edd n Eddy" that doesn't defy convention, and it's all the better for it.

The classic fish out of water premise would define most episodes of "My Life as a Teenage Robot" for the three seasons it was on the air. Set in the fictional town of Tremorton, the series is focused on a robotic girl named XJ-9, or Jenny (Janice Kawaye). In most episodes, Jenny finds herself forced to balance her primary task of defending mankind with a typical high school experience along with her two friends, Brad (Chad Doreck) and Tuck (Audrey Wasilewski).

The series made use of a unique animation style reminiscent of classic '40s cartoons, with its retro-futuristic scenery and distinct color palettes. It doesn't just reference the past in its art direction, however, with many layered jokes and references to classic media that might slip past most younger viewers. Developed by the world-famous Frederator Studios, the show's blend of sci-fi tropes and zany 2000s humor make it one of the best of the decade.

The 2002 series "Fillmore!" can be credited with introducing many younger viewers into the crime mystery genre. The first television series that "Walking Dead" showrunner Scott Gimple would executive produce, it captured viewers' attention for its compelling plotlines and a host of callbacks to much of the media it was inspired by.

Set in and around a school in Minneapolis, the series stars Orlando Brown as the titular character, Cornelius Fillmore, and ubiquitous 2000s voice actress Tara Strong as his investigative partner, Ingrid Third. Together, they solve the frequent mysteries that beset their school grounds. While the stories are understandably lighthearted to be age-appropriate, the show still never goes over the top with its comedic tones, opting to treat its material with a distinct level of sincerity. With carefully constructed mysteries that parodied classic cop dramas (and got surprisingly serious at times), "Fillmore!" was the perfect antidote for kids who'd graduated past '90s cartoons like "Recess" and "Doug."

Before he would go on to create the much-adored and off-the-wall series "Regular Show," J.G. Quintel worked as a writer on the 2008 show "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack." It's hard not to see the parallels between "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack" and Quintel's later work, with both projects maintaining the oddball and bizarre vibes that have made them enduring favorites over the years. Set on the island of Stormalong Harbor and the waters surrounding it, the series follows a trio of characters and the zany misadventures they embark on.

The show is memorable today for its unique aesthetic, mixed animation mediums, adult themes, and some unexpectedly creepy visuals. The cantankerous pirate Captain K'nuckles (Brian Doyle-Murray) and his oblivious young friend Flapjack (Thurop Van Orman) are a strange enough pair, but throw in anthropomorphic candy people, dead-eyed cats, and plenty of way-too-detailed gross-ups, and you'll be amazed that "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack" not only got three seasons but also somehow managed to blossom into a show with universal appeal. As many modern fans will tell you, the show was a fever dream that was both ahead of its time and also had no business making it to air.

First airing on Cartoon Network in 2003 and with five seasons to its credit, it's easy to understand why "Teen Titans" is so popular with viewers. Praised for its well-written storylines and moody tone, the original "Teen Titans” quickly became a crowd favorite among both DC fans and general audiences.

With a killer intro to boot and some truly threatening villains, the show was responsible for bringing the DC universe to many younger viewers in a light they'd never seen before. While it's safe to say most older fans can agree that the successor "Teen Titans Go!" never managed to live up to the greatness of its predecessor, the original has stood the test of time and gone on to earn its title as a timeless classic.

The Dark Knight and his many appearances over the years are another property with almost too many different movies, comics, games, and television series to count. It can leave even the most dedicated fans with the daunting challenge of trying to sort the good from the bad, with an entire lifetime of media to go through. While it may not be the very best animated depiction of Batman, here voiced by Rino Romano, this series still provided a unique spin on his exploits. With a distinctive art style and totally new imaginings of some of Batman's most iconic villains, "The Batman" is worth taking a look back at if you haven't already.

Its unique angled Saturday morning cartoon art style is unmistakably mid-2000s, with villains like Mister Freeze (Clancy Brown), Man-Bat (Peter MacNicol), and the Joker (Kevin Michael Richardson) looking like they walked right out of "Dragon Ball Z." Lead character designer Jeff Matsuda worked on "Jackie Chan Adventures," so the style will be familiar to fans of cartoons of this era. While voice acting icon Mark Hamill doesn't voice the Joker in this show, Richardson really makes his mark on the character — plus, Hamill instead voices mobster Tony Zucco, responsible for killing Robin's parents. "The Batman" introduced several original characters into the world of the Caper Crusader, like Everywhere Man (Brandon Routh), the mute Kabuki Twins, and the Toymaker (Patton Oswalt), and featured some villains rarely seen in other Batman movies, TV series, and video games, including Wrath (Chris Gorham), Cluemaster (Glenn Shadix), and Maxie Zeus (Phil LaMarr). The show's fast-paced stories, defined characters, and striking superhero drama made it far better than fans may have expected from the successor to "Batman: The Animated Series."

The lighthearted 2002 series "Codename: Kids Next Door" was unique for being told entirely from the imaginative although naive perspective of its five child leads. Playing off the spy genre theme, the characters in "Codename: Kids Next Door" are only referred to throughout the series by their numerical code names as they participate in counter-espionage against the adults in their lives.

With six seasons, several specials, and two TV movies, "Codename: Kids Next Door" is one of the longer-running series on our list. Thanks to its memorable plotlines and animation style, not to mention a truly unexpected ending, it has earned its spot as a favorite for the audiences who grew up watching it.

Full of black comedy and starring the Grim Reaper himself as one of the main characters, "The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy" is fondly remembered today for its unusual premise and blend of "Courage the Cowardly Dog" scariness, gross-out kids' jokes, and nihilistic black comedy. First airing in 2001 and continuing for an impressive six seasons, the show became a perfect example of some of the more macabre children's media that trended in the 2000s.

The series is centered around the dim-witted Billy (Richard Steven Horvitz); his sardonic sister, Mandy (Grey DeLisle); and the Grim Reaper (Greg Eagles), who inadvertently finds himself forced to become their lifelong friend. While they never truly become the best of pals, with Grim repeatedly scheming ways to kill off his two companions, he nonetheless winds up caught up in their weekly misadventures. Filled with lighthearted gallows humor and iconic performances from Horvitz, DeLisle, and Eagles, "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy" was somehow still endlessly delightful, making it perhaps the best and funniest kids' cartoon about death.

Spanning an incredible ten seasons and with several live-action films to its name, "The Fairly Odd Parents" became an iconic part of the cartoon landscape in the 2000s, even airing new episodes infrequently all the way till 2017. While the quality of the series could vary wildly, it's still remembered fondly for its imaginative setting, unique animation, and witty humor.

Ten-year-old Timmy Turner (Tara Strong) finds himself at his wits' end among his psychotic babysitter, ridiculous teachers, school bullies, and dismissive parents. Everything changes, however, with the arrival of Cosmo (Daran Norris) and Wanda (Susanne Blakeslee), his new fairy godparents, who are able to give him any wish he desires. The only catch is that Timmy finds himself increasingly caught up in battles with other fairies, whether he wants to be or not. So good was "Fairly OddParents" that fans — and Nickelodeon — just couldn't let it go. It received a surprising series of live-action follow-up films starring Drake Bell, and a 2022 revival on Paramount+.

Set in the comically named city of Townsville, three young girls, all the product of genetic experimentation, fight weekly villains with an assortment of powers. The vibrant and over-the-top color palette present in the original series helped "The Powerpuff Girls" earn its place in a generation of audience's hearts. That colorful aesthetic and charm juxtaposed the over-the-top violence of the show — the Powerpuff Girls are pretty brutal superheroes — and that high-wire act helped the show attain worldwide acclaim. "Their kryptonite is that they have to go to bed, they have to go to school, they have to brush their teeth, they have to listen to their dad, but then they can also save the world," creator Craig McCracken told the Los Angeles Times on the show's 25th anniversary. "Kids really related to that."

After its solid six-season run, "The Powerpuff Girls" seemed to have reached a natural conclusion in 2005. A reviled 2016 reboot was torn apart by fans, proving that sometimes it's best not to mess with perfection. And perfect is what the original series was: "The Powerpuff Girls" remains the gold standard when it comes to whimsical superhero adventure aimed at tweens.

The past two decades of "Spider-Man" media have been complex, to say the least. With several "Spider-Man" series crisscrossing the MCU, video games, and a slew of appearances across multiple television series, "The Spectacular Spider-Man" stands out.

First premiering in 2008, we only got two seasons from "The Spectacular Spider-Man," likely due to the legal challenges surrounding Disney's acquisition of Marvel shortly after the second season's conclusion. While it was certainly taken from us too soon, the series has had a lasting impact on fans thanks to its accurate depiction of the iconic web-slinger, here voiced by Josh Keaton, and his supporting cast. Thanks in large part to creator Greg Weisman — the man behind "Gargoyles" who'd go on to spearhead the equally beloved "Young Justice" — the series soars as a bold new take on the wallcrawler and his rogues gallery of villains.

Sitting as the top-rated live-action series on our list and held dearly in many viewers' hearts, "Drake & Josh" transcended the sitcom's intended audience, finding widespread appeal among kids and adults alike. The series is also known for (sort of) being a spin-off of a spin-off, with "Drake & Josh" being released just over a year after the conclusion of "The Amanda Show," a series that was built off the success of "All That." The show follows step-brothers Drake (Drake Bell) and Josh (Josh Peck), who couldn't be less similar. Between their polar-opposite personalities and the struggles of adjusting to the minefield that is high school life, the comical events that repeatedly befall the duo have made this one stand out against Nickelodeon's other sitcoms of the time. Together, they contend with their mischievous sister, Megan (Miranda Cosgrove), get trapped in treehouses, and run over Oprah Winfrey.

The show's fine-tuned writing, electric leads, and vibrant supporting cast — including an early Jerry Trainor performance as Crazy Steve and "Community" star Yvette Nicole Brown as their manager at the movie theater — made it a show for the ages, one that straddles the line between teen dramas like "Beverly Hills, 90210" and huge sitcoms like "Friends." Today, its reputation is soured by the actions of its creator and showrunner, Dan Schneider — though no specific allegations were leveled against him about "Drake & Josh," star Drake Bell alleged that he had been sexually assaulted by dialogue coach Brian Peck on previous Schneider productions "All That" and "The Amanda Show."

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Likely one of the darkest picks on our list, "Invader Zim" was full of moments that probably made parents question whether this series was meant for its advertised audience. Viewers couldn't get enough, though, with its macabre themes and sardonic sense of humor making this one a cult classic that still dominates the shelves of many a Hot Topic.

Centered around the titular alien Zim and his lovable yet idiotic robotic sidekick Gir as they attempt to prepare the planet Earth for invasion, the series was sadly the subject of cancellation after just two seasons. Thankfully, however, a 2019 film release, "Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus," with the original series creator Jhonen Vasquez at the helm put an end to the long hiatus.

"X-Men: Evolution" wasn't the end of the journey for Marvel's mutants on Saturday mornings, and at the tail end of the decade, the team returned in "Wolverine and the X-Men." Going back to its source material, the series wasn't a continuation but a reboot of sorts that stuck even closer to the classic comics. But this time, they embraced Wolverine (Steve Blum) as the team's most popular character and gave him top billing.

Less aimed at children than its predecessors, the show opens with the X-Men disbanding after Professor X (Jim Ward) and Jean Grey (Jennifer Hale) are apparently killed. A year later, the likes of Cyclops (Nolan North), Storm (Susan Dalian), and Rogue (Kieren van den Blink) have all gone their separate ways when Wolverine returns. He has hopes of reuniting the team after public sentiment toward their kind begins to shift and a government program to register mutants is enacted.

Highly polished stories, often pulled directly from the page combined with stylish animation and top-notch voice work, help put "Wolverine and the X-Men" among the best Marvel cartoons ever made. Despite positive reviews from critics and audiences and impressive ratings to boot, the show only managed a year. While some speculated that the cancelation was due to disputes with Fox after Disney's acquisition of Marvel, the company itself blamed it on financial issues.

We can thank "Courage the Cowardly Dog" for providing us with some of the most nightmare-inducing scenes in the history of children's media. Episodes like "King Ramses' Curse," "The House of Discontent," and series finale "Perfect" undoubtedly kept most of the younger viewers up at night, and probably a few adults too.

Taking place on a rural farmhouse in the aptly named the Middle of Nowhere, this animated series stars the bright pink dog Courage and his elderly owners. Every week, another twisted creature or disastrous event finds its way to the run-down home, with Courage desperately trying to babble his way out of certain doom. Airing its first few episodes in the '90s, "Courage the Cowardly Dog" was unlike anything kids had ever seen, and it ushered in the new millennium with mind-altering surrealism.

Putting DC Comics' most iconic characters together on-screen in each episode, "Justice League" truly assembled an ensemble cast of characters. While it was only on the air for two seasons back in 2001, the series left its mark. Featuring an assortment of some of the greatest and most powerful superheroes in the DC universe, the series is respected for its depiction of the comic book heroes it portrays, staying true to the tone of its comic book source material. After its conclusion in 2004, another series titled "Justice League Unlimited" was released, serving as a successor and greatly expanding the number of onscreen heroes that the series explored. Both shows' enormous casts of characters, strong performances, enthusiasm toward their source material, and dedication to building a cohesive universe predated the DCEU's attempts to do the same thing — and are a big reason they're still so beloved today.

One of the best superhero cartoons of all time, "Justice League" was dramatic enough to attract an audience of adults and older teens who grew up in the '90s, while still being fun and accessible to kids of the 2000s.

Without a doubt one of the most beloved cartoon series of the 21st century, "SpongeBob SquarePants" has been iconic ever since its 1999 release. With over two decades of episodes and several feature films, the franchise has clearly stood the test of time. Creator Stephen Hillenburg got his start while helping produce "Rocko's Modern Life" in the early '90s, taking the lessons he learned from that project and applying them to "SpongeBob SquarePants."

Set in the underwater town of Bikini Bottom, the series stars fry cook and naively childlike character of SpongeBob SquarePants, brought to life by prolific voice actor Tom Kenny. Alongside him are the other town residents, all helping to create a comically surrealist setting that has appealed to fans for generations. The witty and sarcastic humor of the undersea characters helps this one stand above most of its peers in children's media, making "Spongebob SquarePants" appreciated by fans of all ages.

Like many long-lived animated classics, lackluster later seasons (nearly everything post-"The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie") hurt its overall scores. But for the bulk of its run in the 2000s, "SpongeBob" was arguably the best and most memorable show on television, filled with razor-sharp humor and cutting social satire.

At the top spot on our list, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is a masterclass in fantastic worldbuilding, anime-inspired animation, and incredibly well-written characters and storylines. Set in a fictional fantasy world in which certain people are gifted with the ability to manipulate the elements, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" follows Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen), a young boy tasked with bringing balance to the war-torn world and uniting the four elemental nations.

The show was a globe-spanning fantasy epic on par with the greatest franchises like "Harry Potter" and "The Lord of the Rings," and its blend of Western and Eastern animation, storytelling, and themes made it a universally beloved show — all while appealing to adults as well as children. One critic revisiting the series 20 years later for The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "The perspectives showcased in 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' remind me a lot of the animated series I grew up watching, like 'Batman: The Animated Series' and 'X-Men: The Animated Series,' and the films of Hayao Miyazaki and Pixar, which contain pointed reflections of trauma, addiction, bigotry, loss and the powers of dreams and nightmares."

Since the original series' conclusion in 2008, the franchise has expanded with a live-action film, "The Last Airbender," as well as a spin-off series, "The Legend of Korra," and a new live-action series on Netflix. If you've waited this long without ever giving "Avatar: The Last Airbender" a try, now's the time. The top spot can be debated all day long, but we're staking a claim on "Avatar" because it's not just one of the best kid's shows of the 2000s, but one of the best shows that decade, period.