Nineties-era TV, specifically children's media, was a haven for horror and paranormal series. Shows such as Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark made an incredible, haunting impression among viewers and remain in their psyches to this very day.
And while some shows fall prey to becoming outdated and ineffective, the contrary can be said for these shows and the others on this list.
Freaky Stories (7.2)
Freaky Stories was an anthology series that ran for three seasons on YTV. The show was hosted by two animatronic puppets, Larry de Bug (James Rankin) and Maurice the maggot (Dan Redican). The tales consisted of legends, capers, and mythological creatures. A prominent aspect of the series was its brief stories and various, unique styles of animation and music. This was employed to keep the viewers' attention-spans afloat. The series has primarily been under the radar but has its own dedicated fanbase.
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (7.2)
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters aired on Nickelodeon for four seasons and was created by Gábor Csupó and Peter Gaffney. The series revolved around three aspiring "scarers" and monsters, Ickis (Charlie Adler), Oblina (Christine Cavanaugh), and Krumm (David Eccles) who lived in New York City's city dump. Fans of the cartoon adored its dark humor, eccentric characters, and semi-scares. During this recent surge of 90s reboots and revivals some fans have been advocating for another season or movie, but only time will tell.
Beetlejuice (7.3)
Beetlejuice was a spin-off series of the movie of the same name. Beetlejuice (Stephen Ouimette) and Lydia (Alyson Court) were best friends who casually ventured between the Neitherworld and reality, stirring mischief wherever they went. The series diverged with the Maitlands' absence, Beetlejuice was a jokester instead of a villain, and Lydia's friends were introduced. Viewers of the series recalled its memorable opening (composed by Danny Elfman), endearing characters, and spooky surroundings.
Tales from the Cryptkeeper (7.6)
Tales from the Cryptkeeper was a spin-off series of HBO's Tales from the Crypt. Similar in premise, the Cryptkeeper (John Kassir) served as the host and introduced and closed out tales.
Meanwhile, the Vault-Keeper (David Hemblen) and the Old Witch (Elizabeth Hanna) were introduced and they attempted to steal his gig. The characters originated from EC's horror comics and this marked their animated debut. Considered more tone-downed to the live-action series, the show still delivered on scares and cutting twists.
Goosebumps (7.7)
Goosebumps was based on the R.L. Stine's book series of the same name. The anthology series utilized and implemented Stine's stories. Bringing to life a plethora of creepy, entertaining, and haunting tales and characters. While the serious could legitimately be terrifying to kids, it balanced this out with corny humor and dialogue. Some of its most memorable episodes included "The Haunted Mask", "Night of the Living Dummy", and "One Day At Horrorland". The success of Goosebumps spawned a litany of merchandise and two live-action movies.
Gargoyles (8.1)
Gargoyles aired for three seasons. The series focused on a group of Viking-era gargoyles, led by Goliath (Keith David), who were revived a millennium later in 1994 New York by the brilliant but corrupt David Xanatos (Jonathan Frakes). The gargoyles adjusted to their new surroundings while guided by detective Elisa Maza (Salli Richardson). The show was a mixture of action, comedy, horror, and adventure. Often featuring intense and frightening sequences including agonizing transformations and death scenes.
Eerie, Indiana (8.2)
Eerie, Indiana ran only for one season but is still remembered by fans. Its premise began with teenager Marshall (Omri Katz) having recently moved to Eerie, Indiana with his family. He quickly realized the town was populated by weirdos — with a few exceptions including his eventual best friend Simon Holmes — and was a hot spot for paranormal activity and peculiar occurrences. While having its own mythos, the show touched upon classic Urban legends such as Bigfoot and a still-living Elvis Presley. A sequel series called Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension aired in 1998.
Courage the Cowardly Dog (8.2)
Courage the Cowardly Dog starred Courage (Marty Gabstein), a neurotic dog who commonly interacted with the supernatural and tried to convince his oblivious owners, Muriel (Thea White) and Eustace (Lionel Wilson/Arthur Anderson) but to little or no avail.
The series' hallmark was its creepy imagery and stories. The show's setting was in the middle of nowhere. This offered a surplus of haunting possibilities for Courage and his owners to endure from the Stitch Sisters to the Magic Tree of Nowhere.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? (8.2)
Are You Afraid of the Dark? was a Nickelodeon anthology series that ran from 1990 to 1996 before resuming in 1999. However, a third revival occurred in 2019. The show featured a variety of spooky tales that were introduced and adjourned by the "Midnight Society." A group of kids who met at a disclosed location in the woods and told scary stories around a campfire. Viewers of the original series distinctly recall its memorably unsettling intro, genuinely horrifying tales, and sporadic twist endings.
So Weird (8.5)
So Weird was a sci-fi, mystery, horror series that ran on Disney Channel for three seasons. Fiona Phillips (Cara Delizia) toured with her musician mother Molly (Mackenzie Phillips), her mom's crew, and brother Jack (Patrick Levis). While on the road they encountered a menagerie of paranormal phenomena that ranged from werewolves to aliens. The series was seen as a child-friendly version of The X-Files. At the time, it was arguably Disney's most mature and darkest series.