As one of the most notable animated shows of the 90s, it would've been easy to think reviving Beavis and Butt-Head was a terrible idea, especially with the amount of poor animated reboots of classic shows there have been. However, Mike Judge's creativity and sense of humor are still as funny as ever, and it's become one of the best-animated revivals of this era.
It's part of a small but noticeable number of classic cartoons that did get a revival or reboot that, thanks to a great understanding of what made the original work so well, end up being just as good. From Carmen Sandiego to DuckTales, some animated revivals have ranked rather highly among numerous viewers.
The Tom And Jerry Show (2014-2022) - 7.0
Reviving a beloved icon of the Hanna-Barbera era for a modern audience is always going to be a big task but the 2014 reboot of The Tom and Jerry Show in a new Flash-animated style is actually one of the best attempts. Though its change to this animation style from hand-drawn was initially a source of some criticism, reviews mostly praised the humor and energy of the show.
Additionally, The Tom and Jerry Show's short segmented format and willingness to be creative and put the pair in new locations such as the house of a medieval witch and a Downton Abbey-style manor house mean it has stayed entertaining throughout its five seasons. Of course, it still delivers on the all-important cat-and-mouse antics.
Danger Mouse (2015-2022) - 7.1
The same sharp sense of humor that allowed the UK to produce some of the best sitcoms of all time also helps make Danger Mouse, a revival of the 1979 series of the same name which ran on the British ITV network, great in its own right. The original show was a hilarious parody of spy fiction that starred the titular Danger Mouse as a dashing secret agent.
The revival is no exception, updating the characters and references to allow it to still be relevant while managing to keep the absurd and wall-breaking humor that made the original so beloved. As a series that's less popular internationally, it doesn't have that many ratings on IMDb but the ones it does have remain consistently very positive.
He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe (2002-2004) - 7.5
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Originally appearing in the first He-Man and the Masters of the Universe in the '80s, the most powerful man in the universe saw himself pitted against the forces of Skeletor in two separate revivals in the 21st century. While the most recent one, a 3D CGI adaptation for Netflix that left some critics and fans cold, sits at a modest 5.7 on IMDb, the early 2000s attempt is a much more well-appreciated effort.
Developed by Michael Halperin, who was also the creator of the original series, it's no surprise it's an attempt to update He-Man that's loyal to the spirit of the original. In fact, the new version served as an opportunity for them to dive even deeper into the show's charismatic characters which worked well for the show's fans.
Animaniacs (2020-) - 7.7
Based on the original animated musical variety show centered on the Warner siblings causing trouble on the Warner Bros. lot, it's no surprise that many were excited about the return of the endless chaos of Animaniacs. Premiering on Hulu in 2020, the series quickly drew praise from fans for its animation, music, and voice acting.
However, what really sold it to fans of the original and helped make it such a highly-rated revival is that it carries so much of the charm that made the original great. While there was some concern that its efforts to lampoon current events so much might make it less timeless than the original Stephen Spielberg cartoon, it's not something that's held it back so far.
She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power (2018-2020) - 7.8
Proving that He-Man isn't the only Masters of the Universe character with an enduring appeal in the 21st Century, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power re-tells the story of Adora, the central character of the 1985 spin-off series She-Ra: Princess of Power. Though it concluded in 2020, it managed to make a huge impact on its fans during that time.
Not satisfied with merely updating the show, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power developed the characters and relationships to the point where it's one of the best parts of the show. Along with the widely-praised LGBTQ representation, it's certainly a reboot that wasn't afraid to take the series in its own direction and it did so with great effect.
Carmen Sandiego (2019-2021) - 7.9
Though originally from a video game series, Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? proved that the international thief's escapades and brushes with the law would make for perfect animated entertainment too. Likewise, Netflix's Carmen Sandiego brings her adventures and clashes with the immoral V.I.L.E organization and ACME detective agency to life in style.
While the outstanding visuals were the focus of most of the series' praise, it wouldn't be as highly-rated as it is without having the likable characters and fun action to back it up. What's great about the series is that despite being primarily aimed at a younger audience, many were pleasantly surprised that there's plenty to enjoy for an older fan.
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010-2013) - 8.1
One of the longest-running animated franchises that continues to release new content, it seems like there's constantly a new Scooby-Doo! series or movie to enjoy. One of the strongest and highest-rated attempts to revive the iconic Hanna-Barbera series came in 2010 in the form of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.
Rather than continue the self-contained episodic format that had worked so well ever since the original, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated went for a continuous narrative set in Crystal Cove, where the gang is determined to get to the bottom of all the hauntings there. Nevertheless, it's true to the humor and characters that have made the franchise insanely successful, so it's no surprise fans enjoyed it.
DuckTales (2017-2021) - 8.2
DuckTales is such a beloved series that Disney XD would have been forgiven for not trying too hard with the revival as fans would tune in for the misadventures of Huey, Dewey, and Louie regardless. Luckily, they chose to go all out giving the series the spectacular animation and fantastic voice cast it deserved.
The revival keeps up the frenetic energy of the original meaning kids will find it easy to get engrossed in the series, but there's more than enough actual humor and strong characterization for older viewers to enjoy the experience. Along with great music, both fans and critics found it to be an awesome revival.
The Adventures Of Paddington (2019-) - 8.4
Along with the critically-acclaimed Paddington movies, the franchise has undergone a wholesale revival in recent years which is likely the reason why The Adventures of Paddington was made in the first place. A reboot of the French/Canadian children's series The Adventures of Paddington Bear, the series was met with plenty of critical praise and even a Daytime Emmy.
Whereas most attempts to revive shows in a new CGI 3D-animated style tend to leave fans unimpressed, The Adventures of Paddington manages to emulate the charm of stop-motion with its visual style which turned out to be a smart move. Though its younger target audience means it has fewer adult fans, those who are fans rate the series very highly.
Beavis And Butt-Head (2022-) - 8.7
Though there have been countless cartoon revivals over the past few years, none have been better-timed than Beavis And Butt-Head which has returned this year in hilarious style. Some find success by trying to do things differently from the original but Mike Judge was smart to stick to what made the iconic dumb duo hilarious in the first place.
The modern world turns out to have a lot of potential for comedy for Beavis and Butt-Head, who haven't gotten any smarter since the 90s and still find ways to outdo each other in terms of lacking any common sense. While it remains to be seen if it will stay so highly rated as more fans add their scores, there's no doubting that many are delighted to have the pair back.