entertainment

20 TV Shows And Cartoons That Will Make You Feel Damn Old

Some of them premiered over 20 years ago!

Cover image via Marathon/Theboar.org & AV Club

1. That's So Raven

Image via Spoilertv
Image via Tenor

How many of you wished you had Raven's psychic abilities while growing up? That along with her friendship with Chelsea and Eddie and their hilarious antics were just some of our favourite moments in this sitcom.

That's So Raven
 aired on Disney Channel from 2003 to 2007.

2. Legends of the Hidden Temple

Image via AV Club
Image via Reality Blurred

Although it was broadcasted between 1993 and 1995, there was something really '80s about Legends of the Hidden Temple.

From climbing ropes to completing different obstacles, this American TV game show made us all sit on the edge of our seats and root for our favourite teams.

Remember Red Jaguars, Blue Barracudas, Green Monkeys, Orange Iguanas, Purple Parrots, and Silver Snakes?

3. Totally Spies!

Image via The Geekiary
Image via BuzzFeed

We loved them and we wanted to be them. Totally Spies! was a classic for many.

All three characters - Sam, Clover, and Alex - were completely different from each other yet lovable just the same. If you had to choose, who was your favourite spy?

4. Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

Image via Tumblr
Image via Meme-arsenal

Is there anything cuter than chipmunks fighting crime around the world? Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers is hands down one of the best '80s to '90s cartoons.

It first aired in 1989 and was shown on TV3.

5. Dexter's Laboratory

Image via DeviantArt

If there was an award for the most annoying older sister, Dee Dee definitely takes the prize.

Dexter's Laboratory aired between 1996 and 2003. How many of you wished you had a secret lab in your home just like Dexter? :p

6. Lizzie McGuire

Image via Amazon
Image via Grit Daily News

Are you really a '90s kid if you didn't watch Lizzie McGuire? Back before Hannah Montana became a hit, Lizzie McGuire was the show to watch after school. It first aired on Disney Channel in 2001 and wasn't long before it came popular.

You might remember relating to many of Lizzie's struggles about school, crushes, and friendships. And constantly wishing Gordon and Lizzie would just end up together already.

The finale of the TV series was The Lizzie McGuire Movie in 2003, telling of Lizzie's graduation trip to Rome. We can still remember the lyrics to What Dreams Are Made Of. :p

7. Rugrats

Image via ScreenCrush

Aired between 1991 and 2004, Rugrats was a classic cartoon any Nickelodeon kid would have probably watched at some point. It was all about how babies and toddlers see the world and it became so popular that it was even made into three different movies.

There was also a sequel in 2001 called All Grown Up!, which was a continuation of the childhood friends who grew to become adolescents. 

8. Kim Possible

Image via Syfy

Kim Possible is one of those rare animated series that makes you love every character, including the villains. It first premiered on Disney Channel in 2002.

We loved Kim and her 'Kimmunicator' gadget, her clumsy best friend Ron Stoppable, and couldn't get enough of Rufus, his naked mole rat. Oh Kim, you will always be our hero.

9. Pinky and the Brain

Image via Amazon
Image via Comic Mint

If you grew up in the early '90s, you might recall watching Pinky and the Brain, which aired on national TV. 

The two characters first appeared on Animaniacs in 1993 and eventually became their own series due to its popularity. It even won several Emmy awards.

Fun fact: Pinky was actually the voice of one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rob Paulsen.

10. Figure It Out

Image via BuzzFeed

Figure It Out had four seasons, that ran from 1997 to 1999, and was the panel game show you couldn't help but love.

In each episode, Nickelodeon celebrities had to try to guess phrases or end up getting slimed - definitely the best part of the show. :p

11. Tiny Planets

Image via Smule
Image via CAKE

Do you remember when this short animated series used to appear in between our favourite shows?

If you don't, let me remind you. It featured two furry extraterrestrial beings, Bing and Bong, travelling the universe and solving a problem in every episode - completely dialogue-free. Too cute!

12. Marsupilami

Image via IMDb

Before Astro was in almost every Malaysian home, Marsupilami was one of the few cartoons we could watch on TV3 and TV9.

Based on a comic book character, the French animated series first aired in 1993, which means that it has been around for almost 27 years!

13. Hey Arnold!

Image via Elite Daily

We all wished we had Arnold's bedroom.

Aired between 1996 and 2004, Hey Arnold! premiered more than 20 years ago!

The Nickelodeon cartoon was all about the life of kids living in what seems like Brooklyn, New York. It was definitely one of the few cartoons even adults could enjoy.

14. Sagwa The Chinese Siamese Cat

Image via Pinterest
Image via Reddit

Based on a 1994 picture book, Sagwa The Chinese Siamese Cat revolved around Sagwa, a Chinese-Siamese cat, having fun with a lesson at the end of each episode.

If you watched this growing up, you probably remember its catchy theme song!

15. The Wild Thornberrys

Image via DeviantArt

An envy for Eliza's secret ability to talk to wild animals was true for many (at least for me). :p

Originally aired between 1998 and 2004 on Nickelodeon, The Wild Thornberrys was all about adventure, wildlife, and saving animals. I'd watch this series all over again - even now.

16. Rocket Power

Image via HuffPost

From the same creators as Rugrats, Rocket Power was an animated series that aired on Nickelodeon from 1999 to 2004. 

The show revolved around four friends playing extreme sports and going about their daily adventures. If there was one thing this show made us wanna do, it was probably to pick up skateboarding or rollerblading.

17. Danny Phantom

Image via Nerd Reactor
Image via CBS

From the creator of The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom was one of the best heroes of the time. The cartoon series aired on Nickelodeon between 2004 and 2007. That makes it almost 16 years since its premiere.

Wasn't Danny Phantom every girl's childhood crush? No? Yeah me neither. :p

18. American Dragon

Image via Smule

Alongside Kim Possible, The Proud Family, and Danny Phantom, there was also American Dragon, one of the best series on Disney Channel and one of the earlier cartoons with Asian characters.

Its catchy theme song and Jake's ability to transform into a dragon are just some of the many things to love about the show.

It aired between 2005 and 2007.

19. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters

Image via Retrotvmemories
Image via Popsugar

Aaahh!!! Real Monsters aired on Nickelodeon between 1994 and 1997. The cartoon was about three young monsters who attended a school for monsters to learn how to frighten humans.

What I loved is that the show had a certain wit and humour that could appeal to both adults as well as children.

20. Kenan & Kel

Kenan & Kel aired from 1996 to 2007 with four seasons on Nickelodeon.

The American sitcom starred actors Kenan Thomson and Kel Mitchell as they went through several misadventures to avoid getting into trouble with their parents.

Kel and his love for orange soda made us all want orange soda.

Speaking of old TV shows, do you remember these?

Malaysia has changed quite a bit over the years. Here's what happened to old department stores and malls we visited when we were younger:

You may be interested in: