Summary

  • Cartoon Network shows in the 2000s were the best, with great cartoons that carried over and introduced memorable new shows.
  • Total Drama is one of the best shows from this era, satirizing reality TV with mature themes and intense competition.
  • Mucha Lucha stands out with its unique focus on Lucha Libre and over-the-top Mexican art, making it a must-see cartoon.

Although Cartoon Network started becoming popular in the '90s, it was in the 2000s when Cartoon Network shows really took off. The network had some great cartoons that started in the 2000s, and many of these shows carried over into the 2000s, proving that this was the best network on TV at the time for cartoons. Not only did the network have some great shows carrying into the 2000s, but it introduced some seriously memorable cartoons in the 2000s as well, giving Cartoon Network an entire decade of animated dominance.

Alongside the launch of Adult Swim in 2001 - the network's spinoff block of programs aimed at adults - Cartoon Network's regular programming simultaneously pushed the boundaries of animation for children. Today's more limited lineup presents a totally different landscape for the network, and so many continue to look back to the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s for next-level content and a hit of nostalgia from what was considered the Golden Age of Cartoon Network.

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25 Total Drama (2007 – 2014)

The cast of Total Drama posing for a photo.
  • Stream on Netflix

With several spin-offs and a revival in progress, it's not too far-fetched to say that Total Drama continues to be one of the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s. The Survivor-like show is essentially a satirical depiction of reality TV, with each season revolving around a group of teenagers who join a competition and try to avoid elimination. It's certainly a show with more mature themes, as the competitors (much like on regular reality TV shows) develop relationships, fight, and backstab each other to stay in the game.

24 Mucha Lucha (2002 – 2005)

best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s

  • Buy on Amazon

Set in the town of Luchaville, where almost every resident wears a Lucha Libre costume and has a signature move, not only is Mucha Lucha among the best wrestling TV shows, but it's also the first Western animated series focused on pro wrestling. Mucha Lucha stars Rikochet, Buena Girl, The Flea, and El Rey - students at the Foremost World-Renowned International School of Lucha. Though not as well-remembered as many of the other best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s, Mucha Lucha's over-the-top depiction of the Mexican art of Lucha Libre makes it a must-see.

23 Chowder (2007 – 2010)

Panini Tries To Trap Chowder With A Baby Cropped.
  • Stream on Hulu

Chowder isn't about the popular soup, but it does involve an aspiring young cook named Chowder. Chowder is an interesting character that's a mix between a cat, bear, and rabbit. Despite wanting to be a chef, he gets involved in comical scenarios due to his impulse control issues. He often eats customers' meals due to being always hungry - but that's not all. Chowder can also regurgitate items, and his stomach is basically its own storage unit. Considering Chowder's sexist jokes and oftentimes inappropriate material, there are some parts that haven't aged well, and it's more of an adult cartoon than one that's aimed at children.

22 The Cramp Twins (2001 – 2004)

The Cramp Twins on Cartoon Network.

  • Not available to stream

The Cramp Twins used a unique animation style to tell the story of fraternal twins Lucien and Wayne Cramp and give life to its subtly surreal suburban setting of Soap City. While the twins' mother, Dorothy, is a germophobic mad scientist obsessed with cleaning, their father, Horace, has an even more obsessive attitude toward classic Western movies. Dorothy, Horace, and the other colorful residents of Soap City serve as supporting characters to the conflicts between the nerdy and nature-loving Lucien and the aggressive and blue-skinned scrap rat Wayne. While The Cramp Twins is one of many forgotten Cartoon Network shows from the era, it also ranks among the best 00s Cartoon Network shows.

21 Time Squad (2001 – 2003)

Characters from Time Squad wearing medieval clothing.
  • Not available to stream

From the lovable Otto Osworth to the excitable Larry 3000, the Time Squad is tasked with maintaining the flow of time and ensuring that the future remains a flawless utopia. Undoubtedly one of the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s, Time Squad served almost like an after-school history class in the best ways possible, as the team of travelers meet figures like Abraham Lincoln and Sigmund Freud on their adventures. The squad had to correct history's course by guiding these significant people down the right paths. Notably, while the comic book debut of Marvel's Kang the Conqueror far predates Time Squad, the cartoon aired over two decades before the Time Variant Authority debuted in Loki.

20 Xiaolin Showdown (2003 – 2006)

Xiaolin Showdown on Cartoon Network
  • Buy now on Amazon

In a world where martial arts and magic have become the norm, it's up to a group of Xiaolin warriors to make sure that evil forces don't steal the mystical artifacts known as the Shen Gon Wu, which can change everything in a good or terrible way, depending on who wields them. One of the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s, Xiaolin Showdown shows the struggles of brave characters like Omi and Kimiko Tohomiko as they travel the world to look for powerful artifacts and take on formidable enemies along the way. The series also raises some surprisingly mature questions about morality, with some of its heroes being tempted to use the artifacts for their own benefit.

19 Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends (2004 – 2009)

Mac and Blu surrounded by imaginary friends in Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends.
  • Stream on Spectrum

With original series creator Craig McCracken already working on the Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends reboot, there's no better time to rewatch what many consider to be the best 00s Cartoon Network show. Foster's Home represents the onset of truly surreal storytelling in Cartoon Network's regular programming. In this world where imaginary friends are physically real and coexist with humans, a young boy named Mac is pressured by his mother to abandon his imaginary friend, Bloo. They soon discover a foster home for abandoned imaginary friends. As long as Mac visits Bloo there, he is safe from adoption, a heartwarming premise that gives way to hilarious narratives.

18 The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy (2001 – 2007)

Death in the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
  • Stream on Max

Echoing Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal, Grim, the personification of death, loses a limbo match against the dim-witted and cheerful Billy and his ego-driven and cynical best friend Mandy, forcing the grim reaper to be under the servitude of these children. Unsurprisingly, many consider The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy to be foremost among the classic Cartoon Network shows that deserve movie adaptations. Curiously, viewers may not have realized Grim's constant desire to kill the two children at the beginning of the show.

17 Duck Dodgers (2003 – 2005)

Daffy Duck and Porky Pig lean into Dave Mustaine in Duck Dodgers
  • Stream on Boomerang

Starring Looney Tunes characters in an even stranger setting, Duck Dodgers is a sci-fi adaptation of a short 1953 theatrical cartoon of the same name. Featuring Daffy Duck as the eponymous protagonist, the show starts off with a humorous origin story, as Duck Dodgers finds himself in the far future after being accidentally frozen for over three centuries. He meets iconic characters in space like K'chutha Sa'am (Yosemite Sam), Witch Hazel (Leezah the Wicked), and Wile E. Coyote (a parody of the alien from Predator). The countless references to franchises like Star Trek and even Bond films make the short-lived series even better to watch as an adult today.

16 Codename: Kids Next Door (2002 – 2008)

Codename Kids Next Door

  • Stream on Max

No list of the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s would be complete without Codename: Kids Next Door. Five kids - Numbuh 1 to Numbuh 5 - are trained by the organization known as Kids Next Door, undergoing oaths to protect children and battle adulthood. These kids are in charge of Sector V, where their main base of operations is a high-tech tree house that's ridiculously much bigger from the inside. While the oathbound agents of Kids Next Door are typically decommissioned at the age of 13, it was later revealed that the most competent agents get recruited into Teens Next Door to spy on evil teens.

15 Ben 10: Alien Force (2008 – 2010)

Big Chill freezing a wall in Ben 10: Alien Force
  • Stream on Max

Set five years after the original Ben 10 series, Ben 10: Alien Force follows Ben Tennyson's experiences as a teenager, who once again decides to use the Omnitrix. With his grandpa's mysterious disappearance and villains reappearing around the world, he boldly takes on the responsibility to protect his family and community once again. The show definitely has darker storylines and more mature characterizations compared to its predecessor, which was apt for the teens who were its target audience. With a whole new set of accessible alien forms through the Omnitrix, it improves upon the original in wildly entertaining ways.

14 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack (2008 – 2010)

Flapjack and Captain K'nuckles in Bubbie's mouth in The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack
  • Stream on Hulu

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is not only among the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s, but also one of Cartoon Network's genuinely terrifying series. Flapjack follows the adventures of the naive boy, Flapjack, and his group of friends, Bubbie and Captain K'nuckles. They spend most of their time on Stormalong Harbor and dream of the fabled Candied Island. Bubbie is an especially lovable character, as the whale is usually the only one who calls out the two leads for their wild antics and a maternal figure who deeply cares about Flapjack. Flapjack isn't for everyone, but its diverse animation styles and surreality secure its place among Cartoon Network's classics.

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13 Megas XLR (2004 – 2005)

Promotional artwork for Megas XLR
  • Stream on Max

Viewers may have not realized it at the time, but Megas XLR was a smart parody of some of the best mecha anime from the 2000s, a big part of why it's among the best 00s Cartoon Network shows. In fact, many consider Megas XLR to be one of many Cartoon Network shows that deserve a reboot. The series is about Coop the mechanic and his best friend, Jamie, as they find and revamp a mecha robot called Megas. Coop and Jamie end up defending the earth against the Glorft, an evil alien race set on destroying the world. There's time travel, a pilot from the future, and vehicle modifications that more mature audiences can appreciate.

12 Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999-2009)

ed edd n eddy cartoon series
  • Stream on Max

Created by Danny Antonucci, Ed, Edd n Eddy was a show that some consider one of the best Cartoon Network cartoons of the 90s, but it only aired for one year in that decade. However, it was around for the entire decade of the 2000s, lasting until 2009. In this adult cartoon, Ed, Edd, and Eddy are the outcasts of the neighborhood and this show was a huge hit because of the bizarre and surrealistic humor. It is especially the zany characters - especially the three Eds - that made this such a popular Cartoon Network show. It was also an award-winning cartoon and has been rumored for a reboot in recent years.

11 Johnny Bravo (1997-2004)

Johnny Bravo blowing a harmonica
  • Buy on Apple TV & Prime Video

Johnny Bravo got its start in 1997, but it was on for more years as one of the Cartoon Network shows in the 2000s, lasting until 2004. The series had Johnny Bravo as a muscular guy who went on strange adventures with his five-year-old neighbor Suzy. He also often went on adventures with special guests, including the original Batman, Adam West. Like several Cartoon Network shows in the 2000s, this was one that was geared more toward adults, not so much for adult-oriented jokes but for the pop culture humor only adults would get. Not only was this one of the best Cartoon Network shows of the 2000s, but it helped launch the career of Seth MacFarlane.

10 Teen Titans (2003 – 2006)

Teen Titans prepare to battle in animated series.
  • Stream on Max

Before fans were old enough to really grasp adult-themed superhero movies, they watched Teen Titans. Apart from being among the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s, Teen Titans is also one of the most beloved and highly acclaimed cartoons of all time. Notably, HBO Max's Titans is largely based on this show. In the original animated Teen Titans, Robin got the spotlight as an intelligent and cunning leader. Fans also meet Starfire, a bubbly alien princess, and Cyborg, a half-human/half-robot with super strength and tech knowledge. Completing the group was Beast Boy, a joker with animal shapeshifting abilities, and Raven, who uses dark energy and has psionic abilities.

9 Ben 10 (2005 – 2008)

A promo image from Ben 10
  • Stream on Max

Though the sheer popularity of Ben 10 counts it among the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s, the animated series is so much more. Ben 10 revolves around a young boy named Ben, voiced by veteran voice actor, Tara Strong. Ben comes to be the owner of an alien watch called the "Omnitrix." The watch allowed him to transform into Ben 10's alien forms, each giving him a unique ability. Ben resonated with a lot of viewers who were watching Cartoon Network in the 2000s, as he was still a kid himself - but understood the responsibility of protecting people from evil foes from beyond Earth.

8 Batman: The Brave And The Bold (2008 – 2011)

Batman and Catwoman beat up crooks in Batman the Brave and the Bold
  • Stream on Max

The first cartoon to truly leverage both the gritty and surreal aspects of the Batman mythos, Batman: The Brave and the Bold is one of the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s. Even before the modern live-action movies, there was Batman: The Brave and the Bold, which is also considered one of the best animated series about Batman. Not to be confused with the DCU's new Batman movie, the 2000s cartoon is based on the DC comics series and often featured lesser-known heroes and villains in DC's roster. As adults, viewers may be surprised at how Batman: The Brave and the Bold tackled deeply compelling comic book themes while still teaching valuable lessons to children.

7 Courage The Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)

Courage the Cowardly Dog.
  • Stream on Max

One of the Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s with the biggest cult following is Courage the Cowardly Dog. While it got started in 1999, it was one of the most popular cartoons from 2000 through 2002. The show featured a dog named Courage who lived with his elderly owners Muriel and Eustace. They then had to face off with paranormal characters and Courage was always there to see the danger, although his owners dismissed his warnings. The cartoon remains a cult favorite thanks to its creepy design, which included mixes of realistic images and CGI to create one of the most surreal cartoons. It won several awards, despite lasting only three seasons.

6 Dexter's Laboratory (1996-2003)

Dexter working on an invention in Dexter's Laboratory.
  • Stream on Prime Video

Before he created the cult classic series Samurai Jack, Genndy Tartakovsky got his start on Cartoon Network with the show Dexter's Laboratory. The show got its start in 1996 and went on to remain one of the best Cartoon Network shows of the 2000s. Lasting until 2003, Dexter's Laboratory featured a child prodigy named Dexter who created inventions in his lab but was always antagonized by his sister Dee Dee. The show was great, as it was funny for the kids but added in some great humor for adults thanks to pop culture references. It picked up 19 award nominations and won three Annie Awards during its run.