5 More Great Cartoon Network Shows That Nobody Talks About

Cartoon Network arrived in 1992 and fundamentally altered the landscape of television animation. For the first time, there was a 24-hour channel dedicated entirely to cartoons, creating a haven for fans and a launchpad for a new generation of creators. The network’s golden age in the late 1990s and early 2000s was a creative explosion, giving rise to the iconic “Cartoon Cartoons” brand and producing classics like Dexter’s Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, and Johnny Bravo. These series were cultural phenomena that pushed the boundaries of what kids’ programming could be, blending quirky humor with genuine emotional depth. In addition, the network’s influence extended beyond its original programming, as it also played a crucial role in introducing anime to a mainstream American audience through its Toonami block. 

Cartoon Network’s bold programming strategy, combined with a willingness to take creative risks, solidified its status as an animation powerhouse that shaped the tastes of a generation. However, for every Adventure Time or Steven Universe that became a worldwide sensation, there were dozens of other innovative shows that, for one reason or another, faded into relative obscurity. These series, while not achieving the same level of mainstream success, were often just as creative and ambitious, deserving way more attention than they get.

5) Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi

Based on the real-life Japanese pop-rock duo Puffy AmiYumi, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi was a vibrant and energetic celebration of music, friendship, and Japanese pop culture. The show followed the animated adventures of Ami Onuki (voiced by Janice Kawaye), the cheerful and optimistic bubblegum-pop enthusiast, and Yumi Yoshimura (voiced by Grey DeLisle), the cynical and sarcastic hard-rocker, as they toured the world in their customized bus with their greedy but well-meaning manager, Kaz Harada (voiced by Keone Young).

Premiering in 2004, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi stood out with its anime-influenced art style and its clever integration of live-action segments featuring the actual band. The show’s humor was a mix of slapstick comedy and witty banter, driven by the clashing personalities of its two leads. Despite a successful run that garnered a significant audience and even spawned a line of merchandise, the show was prematurely canceled after its third season and has since become a nostalgic gem for those who remember its infectious energy and catchy theme song.

4) Hero: 108

With a premise loosely based on the classic Chinese novel Water Margin, Hero: 108 was an action-packed and visually distinct series. The story is set in the Hidden Kingdom, where an evil trickster named HighRoller (voiced by Brian Drummond) has turned the animal kingdom against humanity. To combat this, the well-meaning Commander ApeTrully (voiced by Ian James Corlett) assembles a task force called Big Green to restore peace. The show focuses on the elite First Squad, a team of heroes including the skilled warrior Lin Chung (voiced by Andrew Francis), the rabbit king Jumpy Ghostface (voiced by Brian Drummond), the powerful Mighty Ray (voiced by Ian James Corlett), and the resourceful Mystique Sonia (voiced by Kelly Sheridan). 

Each episode of Hero: 108 saw the team traveling to different animal territories to convince them to rejoin the humans, usually resulting in chaotic battles and bizarre contests of skill. The show’s hyper-stylized, slick animation and rapid-fire comedic pacing made it stand out, offering a unique blend of martial arts action and off-the-wall humor that has earned it a cult following.

3) Evil Con Carne

A brilliantly absurd premise brought to life by The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy creator Maxwell Atoms, Evil Con Carne was a show that reveled in the ridiculous. The series centered on Hector Con Carne (voiced by Phil LaMarr), a diabolical billionaire playboy whose body is destroyed in a massive explosion. His only surviving organs, his brain and stomach, are cryogenically preserved and subsequently attached to the body of a dimwitted circus bear named Boskov (voiced by Frank Welker). 

From his secret lair on Bunny Island, Hector, along with his love-struck lead scientist, Major Dr. Ghastly (voiced by Grey DeLisle), and the power-hungry General Skarr (voiced by Armin Shimerman), continues his relentless pursuit of world domination. Originally airing as part of the Grim & Evil show, Evil Con Carne was an excellent example of high-concept silliness, blending spy-fi tropes with slapstick humor. The constant bickering between the megalomaniacal Hector, the overly ambitious Skarr, and the hopelessly inept Boskov created a comedic dynamic that made their constant failures all the more entertaining.

2) Time Squad

Time Squad was a criminally underrated series that cleverly blended historical education with character-driven humor. Set in the year 100,000,000, the show followed the adventures of the Time Squad, a trio of ill-equipped temporal police officers tasked with traveling back in time to correct history. The team consisted of Buck Tuddrussel (voiced by Rob Paulsen), a hyper-masculine and hopelessly incompetent officer; Larry 3000 (voiced by Mark Hamill), a sophisticated and perpetually sarcastic robot; and Otto Osworth (voiced by Pamela Adlon), a brilliant 8-year-old orphan and history buff who gets recruited in the first episode. 

The central joke of Time Squad was that history’s greatest figures were constantly going off-script in hilarious ways, forcing the trio to intervene. The premise led to absurd scenarios like Beethoven becoming a professional wrestler or Leonardo da Vinci acting like a beatnik. The show’s strength was the dynamic between its three leads, whose bickering-family chemistry provided the heart of the series.

1) Megas XLR

A glorious homage to mecha anime, giant monster movies, and video game culture, Megas XLR was a show that ran on high-octane fun. The story begins when a giant robot from the future is accidentally sent back in time to a 1930s New Jersey junkyard. Decades later, it is discovered by Coop (voiced by David DeLuise), a slacker mechanic and video game enthusiast from Jersey City. Coop soups up the robot, replaces its head with a classic muscle car, and renames it Megas. 

Along with his cynical best friend Jamie (voiced by Steve Blum) and Kiva (voiced by Wendee Lee), the robot’s original pilot from the future, Coop must defend the Earth from the evil alien race known as the Glorft. The show’s catchphrase, “You dig giant robots. I dig giant robots. We dig giant robots. Chicks dig giant robots,” perfectly encapsulated its ethos. Megas XLR was a loud, action-packed, and hilarious series that never took itself too seriously, and its cancellation after just two seasons is still lamented by fans who remember its unique brand of destructive comedy.

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