As Futurama is set to be revived again and shows like The Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants continue to demonstrate their enduring entertainment value, it seems as though cartoon characters from the 1990s never really left the television screen. Although nostalgia plays a part in their popularity, the cartoon characters that arose in this era are unique, relatable, and, perhaps most importantly, hilarious.

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With so many shows launched during this era still incredibly popular today, some characters have only gained more fans whilst others have slipped into relative obscurity. Television fans on Ranker voted to determine which character they believe deserves to be considered the best of this era, and this is how they measure up.

Bender - Futurama

Bender and Nixon in Futurama

Futurama is set to return on Hulu next year and fans of the show are sure to enjoy the welcome sight of the Planet Express crew's resident foul-mouthed robot back on their screens. When the show began in 1999, Matt Groening had already made a name for himself for razor-sharp animated comedy with The Simpsons.

Not only did the new show match The Simpsons for great writing but there were also some equally memorable and likable Futurama characters. Bender's iconic grey design and the perfect voice actor for an obnoxious delinquent robot in the form of John DiMaggio are the perfect combination for one of the best animated characters on television.

SpongeBob SquarePants - SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob and Patrick in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

There aren't many characters that can claim to be as iconic as the pineapple-inhabiting star of 4 feature films and 13 television seasons. SpongeBob SquarePants' simple design that delivers completely on the description his name provides is memorable enough but his hyperactive, fun-loving personality is really what made him so beloved.

Though SpongeBob SquarePants, which first aired on Nickelodeon in the late '90s, is full of hilarious characters including fan favorites like Patrick Star and Squidward, the main character stands out with an energy that drives the show. Tom Kenny's over-the-top voice was also a big part of what made Stephen Hillenburg's character work so well.

Johnny Bravo - Johnny Bravo

Johnny Bravo flexing his muscles while playing the harmonica

Though it didn't last as long as many of the other animated shows of the '90s, lasting until 2003, Johnny Bravo gave cartoon fans one of the most hilariously dimwitted characters of all time. Designed to imitate famously cool men like Elvis Presley and James Dean with a tall quiff and sunglasses, Johnny Bravo is obsessed with looking stylish.

Bravo also likes to think of himself as a great womanizer, often flexing his muscles in front of women, but his attempts to look good just as often backfire for the self-absorbed hunk. Voiced by Jeff Bennett, the main character was the biggest reason why so many episodes of Johnny Bravo stand out as greats.

Stewie Griffin - Family Guy

Brian drinks beer with Stewie in Family Guy

The immense success of Family Guy since its premiere in the late '90s owes a lot to its creator Seth MacFarlane who gives his voice to a wide variety of characters in the show. MacFarlane's range as a voice actor is most striking when it comes to the character of Stewie Griffin, the intelligent and eccentric baby of the family.

The performance is even more impressive given the number of Stewie and Brian-centered Family Guy episodes, as the two play off each other perfectly despite both being voiced by Macfarlane. Though Stewie doesn't conform to any expectations an audience would have of a baby character, being not-at-all cute and downright evil at times, there's no denying he's a hilarious and well-executed character.

Dexter - Dexter's Laboratory

Dexter angry in Dexter's Lab

Smart, funny, and quintessentially '90s, Dexter's Laboratory is a Cartoon Network classic. The show's genius inventor main character stood out with his incongruent Russian accent and appearance of a small but very serious scientist. Despite being extremely intelligent when it comes to matters of science, Dexter's naivety in matters outside the lab made for a very relatable character.

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Dexter's ongoing conflict with his younger sister Dee Dee also helped ground the character and their dynamic drove the show. The late Christine Cavanaugh, who played Dexter in the show, also helped make the young inventor distinctive with the unique voice she provided.

Tommy Pickles - Rugrats

Tommy Pickles from Rugrats

Rugrats is currently receiving an ongoing reboot in an updated 3D CGI animation style but the original show, which began airing in 1991, is uniquely enjoyable and now incredibly nostalgic for cartoon fans. Imaginatively making stories out of the everyday lives of a group of toddlers, Rugrats was deservedly an award-winning show.

The leader of the gang of toddlers was Tommy Pickles, whose curiosity and desire to escape his crib, often leading to trouble, carries the spirit of the show. E. G. Daily managed to capture the inquisitive voice of a whole generation of children with the distinct, soft-spoken tone she gave the character.

Homer Simpson - The Simpsons

Homer speaks to the union in The Simpsons

Homer Simpson is a character with many flaws but his love for his family and friends shines through in the show and makes him the most likable Simpsons character. When The Simpsons became a cultural phenomenon in the '90s, growing more successful than anyone could have imagined, Homer was the bald-headed face of it all.

Dan Castellaneta voiced the character and his many iconic catchphrases, even managing to make a single syllable, "doh!" become instantly associated with the head of the world's most famous nuclear family. Homer Simpson is a recognizable figure around the world and it's easy to see why fans think he deserves to be considered among the very best cartoon characters of the era.

Taz - Looney Tunes

Tasmanian Devil from Loony Tunes

As strange as it may be to think of a character who first appeared in the 1950s as one of the best of the '90s, more marketing along with Taz receiving his very own show meant the '90s were a time of newfound success for the big-toothed marsupial. In fact, until the '90s, Taz had received very few TV appearances.

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In the early '90s, the impatient carnivore finally got the recognition he deserves, becoming a beloved character in his own right. Though the character doesn't have much in common with the real Tasmanian devil in terms of appearance, he certainly lives up to their reputation for aggression, communicating in rough growls and grunts.

Tom Cat - Tom & Jerry

Tom swimming and holing Jerry above water

An ever-present fixture of cartoons since the 40s when the warring mouse and cat first appeared, Tom & Jerry became a huge part of '90s television as well with reruns of the old cartoons as well as a new spinoff and a movie. At the heart of that success was the vindicative cat whose attempts to eat the crafty Jerry always end in disaster.

The pair has always done a lot with an incredibly simple concept, and there is an enduring entertainment value to their hi-jinks that filled so many amazing Tom & Jerry episodes. Though Tom rarely speaks in the shows, there is an enormous sense of character portrayed through his physicality that makes words unnecessary.

Bart Simpson - The Simpsons

Bart Simpson writing lines on a blackboard in The Simpsons intro

Dominating the decade even more so than his infamous father, Bart Simpson is undoubtedly a cultural cornerstone. When the 10-year-old son of the Simpson family first appears in the intro, lazily writing lines on a blackboard in detention before escaping on his skateboard, it is already clear exactly what his character is going to be.

Often toeing the line between delinquency and being a good son, Bart Simpson is more complicated than just the cool bad boy for kids to idolize. Bart has often had touching storylines that show the vulnerability of his age and circumstances, and these moments have also endeared him to an audience that still loves the character even today.

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