Many people enjoy rewatching 90s cartoons for nostalgia's sake and seeing if they can appreciate them more as adults.
These cartoons have subtle humor, poignant scenes, or satire that goes beyond comprehension. Many people still recommend them to people today, even if they don't have children to watch with. These children's cartoons leave the impression that they were written partly for adults.
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Animaniacs (1993)
Animaniacs has one of the best opening songs on Spotify to date.
However, the show is clearly aimed at adults as well, with plenty of pop culture references from films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casablanca, and Jurassic Park. Not to mention the satire and metaphorical humor. The 2020 remake has taken adult themes to the extreme.
Hey Arnold! (1994)
Hey Arnold! caught the attention of many as a child thanks to its football-shaped protagonist. It was considered an animated sitcom, but watching it as an adult, some people think that's not entirely accurate - it's more like a slice-of-life sitcom. Almost every character has their own story, and it's told in a way that both kids and adults can relate to.
Gargoyles (1994)
As kids, many people watched Gargoyles for the monsters and action. As adults, some still watch it for its complex, emotional plot and its compelling characters, backstories, and mythology. Knowing how Disney once portrayed itself as kid-friendly, you might wonder how they could create such a dark and mature show.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994)
One thing people loved about Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy was that it captured the essence of why they loved Spider-Man: The Animated Series. Spider-Man struggled not only with fighting bad guys, but also with balancing his superhero activities with his personal life.
The show also ended on a heartbreaking cliffhanger, introducing the complex concept of the multiverse years before it became commonplace in the adult entertainment industry. Hopefully the revival rumors are true, as people are dying to know how the story ends.
Rocko's Modern Life (1993)
Rocko's Modern Life is a Nickelodeon comedy show about a wallaby from Australia, trying to live a normal life in America.
From an adult perspective, Rocko's Modern Life is a show meant for adults. It features satire, innuendo, and suggestive themes that push the boundaries of children's entertainment. It has often been criticized by adults, especially parents, for being too explicit, and some scenes have even been censored.
Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
Batman: The Animated Series is widely considered one of the best animated series of all time. Since it was a kids show, things were kept lighthearted (even a little melodramatic) with Batman facing off against a different, wacky villain each week. But the producers went to great lengths to create mature storylines and complex villains (complete with tragic backstories).