25 Best Cartoon Network Shows From The 2000s, Ranked

Summary Cartoon Network shows in the 2000s pushed boundaries, dominating TV with great cartoons for a decade.

Total Drama offers a satirical take on reality TV shows, full of mature themes and hilarious antics.

Mucha Lucha and Chowder introduced unique animation styles and storytelling with plenty of humor.

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.

Related Every Original Cartoon Network Show Of The 90s, Ranked Cartoon Network was a juggernaut on cable during the '90s and these fantastic original series were a major reason for its success.

25 Total Drama (2007 – 2014)

A Hilarious Animated Satire Of Reality TV Shows

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With several spin-offs and a revival, 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.

Total Drama was created by Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis, premiering initially in Canada before moving over the US Cartoon Network channel a year later in 2008. While it takes most of its inspiration from the show Survivor when it comes to its satire, it parodie many conventions ound across the wider genre of Reality TV — and the results are hilarious.

Total Drama is available to stream on Netflix.

24 Mucha Lucha (2002 – 2005)

Animated Luchador Adventures

Mexican wrestling is one of the country's most famous cultural exports, present in everything from WWE due to wrestlers like Rey Mysterio, through to Hollywood with movies like Nacho Libre. In 2002 Cartoon Network did its own spin on the sport with the animated show Mucha Lucha, which was also the first ever series created with Macromedia Flash. 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.

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)

The Cartoon Network Show That Took Risks With Its Humor

Chowder Cast Nicky Jones , John DiMaggio , Tara Strong , Dwight Schultz , Dana Snyder , Liliana Mumy , C. H. Greenblatt , Mindy Sterling Release Date November 2, 2007 Seasons 3 Creator(s) C. H. Greenblatt

The 2000s were an interesting time for animated kids shows, as the genre was moving away from some of the risqué humor of 90s offerings like Ren & Stimpy and into safer territory. This is what makes Chowder, released in 2007, feel like such an oddity. 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.

Chowder is available to stream on Hulu and Max.

22 The Cramp Twins (2001 – 2004)

Sibling Rivalry Taken To The Extreme

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.

It has all the hallmarks that made the network's original content so popular during the decade, and almost every episode hits the mark when it comes to including laugh-out-loud humor.

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, though that doesn't stop it ranking among the best 00s Cartoon Network shows. It has all the hallmarks that made the network's original content so popular during the decade, and almost every episode hits the mark when it comes to including laugh-out-loud humor.

21 Time Squad (2001 – 2003)

Historical Hijinks And Outrageous Sci-Fi Abound

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. Time Squad portrayed a far more lighthearted take on the idea of guardians of history, however, and while it's not as popular as some other Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s, it is certainly among the most imaginative.

20 Xiaolin Showdown (2003 – 2006)

Anime Tropes Repackaged With A Cartoon Network Aesthetic

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Xiaolin Showdown was a 2000s Cartoon Network show that capitalized on the popularity of anime on the network thanks to shows like DragonBall Z, as well as elsewhere with offerings like Sailor Moon and Pokemon. 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.

The series also raises some surprisingly mature questions about morality

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.

Related The 15 Best Cartoon Network Characters Of All Time, Ranked From Adventure Time to The Powerpuff Girls, Cartoon Network has an impressive record of creating shows with hilarious and compelling characters.

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

A Genuinely Emotional And Heartwarming Show

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends Cast Sean Marquette , Keith Ferguson , Phil LaMarr , Tom Kenny , Candi Milo , grey delisle , Tom Kane , Tara Strong , Jeff Bennett , Kevin Michael Richardson Release Date August 13, 2004 Seasons 6 Creator(s) Craig McCracken

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 one of the best 2000s 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. Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends was also notable not just for its hilarity and incredibly unique animation style (even by Cartoon Network's standards), but also because it had more tearjerking and genuinely emotional moments than any other show on the network.

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

The Grim Reaper Gets Thwarted By A Little Girl

Few Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s, or any other decade for that matter, feature a trio of characters as memorable as Billy, Mandy, and Grim. 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.

The scenarios and characters in The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy are incredibly horror-flavored, though the show isn't scary, instead portraying some dark concepts in an incredibly upbeat light.

As would be expected from the premise, the scenarios and characters in The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy are incredibly horror-flavored, though the show isn't scary, instead portraying some dark concepts in an incredibly upbeat light. 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)

Looney Tunes Goes Full Sci-Fi

While the majority of Cartoon Network shows in the 2000s featured original characters, the network was also host to many licensed properties with recognizable names and faces. 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)

The Coolest Group Of Secret Agents On Cartoon Network

No list of the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s would be complete without Codename: Kids Next Door. Like many original Cartoon Network programming, Codename: Kids Next Door took an established concept and put a spin on it that was beyond unique. In this case, it was spy movies and secret agents. 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.

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.

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)

The Follow-Up To One Of Cartoon Network's Most Successful Franchises

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Ben 10 was one of the most successful original Cartoon Network shows, especially when it came to merchandising, so it's unsurprising that the network wanted to keep the franchise going after the original series concluded. 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, Ben 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 the original Ben 10 show, 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)

One Of The Most Terrifying Shows Ever Released By Cartoon Network

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. It was created by Thurop Van Orman, who also voiced Flapjack, but also worked with the network as a co-writer on shows like The Powerpuff Girls and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. Flapjack follows the adventures of the naive boy, Flapjack, and his group of friends, Bubbie and Captain K'nuckles.

Flapjack isn't for everyone, but its diverse animation styles and surreality secure its place among Cartoon Network's classics.

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.

The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack is available to stream on Hulu.

Related 10 Best Cartoon Network Shows From The 2010s Cartoon Network has been providing incredible programming for kids since 1992, and it continues to deliver great new shows to this day.

13 Megas XLR (2004 – 2005)

A Radical Take On Mecha

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. Like several other 2000s Cartoon Network shows, Megas XLR took a heavy inspiration from anime despite the animation style being distinct - in this case, the rising popularity of Japanese franchises like Gundam Wing.

12 Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999-2009)

An Animated Sitcom That Was Ahead Of Its Time

Ed, Edd n Eddy Cast Matt Hill , Samuel Vincent , Tony Sampson , David Paul Grove , Kathleen Barr , Peter Kelamis , Erin Fitzgerald , Janyse Jaud , Keenan Christensen , Jenn Forgie , Tabitha St. Germain Release Date November 8, 2009 Seasons 6 Creator(s) Danny Antonucci

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. Of all the Cartoon Network shows of the era, few were as culturally influential as Ed, Edd n Eddy, and the antics of the titular characters are still discussed online and made into memes to this day.

It was also an award-winning cartoon and has been rumored for a reboot in recent years.

In this surprisingly adult cartoon (considering its target audience was still younger viewers), 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.

Ed, Edd n Eddy is available to stream on Max.

11 Johnny Bravo (1997-2004)

The Most Hopeless Romantic To Ever Grace The Airwaves

Johnny Bravo Cast Jeff Bennett , Brenda Vaccaro , Mae Whitman , Tom Kenny , Larry Drake Release Date July 14, 1997

Long before concepts like "toxic masculinity" entered the cultural lexicon, Cartoon Network's Johnny Bravo explored the extremes of unrestrained male ego and — somehow — managed to make it appropriate for kids. 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 from the era, Johnny Bravo felt more geared more toward adults at points, 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)

The DC Comics Adaptation That Surpassed Its Source Material

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Teen Titans Cast Greg Cipes , Tara Strong , Khary Payton , Scott Menville , Hynden Walch

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. It spawned something of a reboot too, Teen Titans! Go!, which is one of the most popular shows of the current Cartoon Network era (though the two couldn't be more different in tone).

In the original animated Teen Titans, Robin got the spotlight as an intelligent and cunning leader.

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.

Teen Titans is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Max.

9 Ben 10 (2005 – 2008)

One Of The Most Commerically Successful Franchises Created By Cartoon Network

Ben 10 Cast Tara Strong Release Date January 1, 2005 Seasons 4

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. The premise was intriguing enough to catch the attention of the Cartoon Network viewership and keep it, making Ben 10 one of the most commercially successful shows the network introduced in the 2000s. It went on to spawn multiple spinoffs, as well as plenty of tie-in merchandise such as action figures and various Ominitrix's.

Ben 10 is available to stream on Netflix and Max.

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

The Definitive Kid-Friendly Take On Batman

Batman: The Brave and the Bold Cast Diedrich Bader , Tom Kenny , Jeff Bennett , Corey Burton , John DiMaggio , Will Friedle Release Date November 18, 2011 Seasons 3

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. So popular and good at appealing to young audiences was The Brave and the Bold that it even had a direct-to-DVD crossover movie with Scooby-Doo.

So popular and good at appealing to young audiences was The Brave and the Bold that it even had a direct-to-DVD crossover movie with Scooby-Doo.

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.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold is available to stream on Max.

Related 25 Most Iconic Cartoon Character Voices From maniacal laughs to monotones, from goofy to smarmy, they're the voices in viewers' heads when hearing words like "donkey," "doc" and "picnic."

7 Courage The Cowardly Dog (1999 - 2002)

One Of The Best Kid-Friendly Shows To Incorporate Horror Elements

Courage the Cowardly Dog Release Date November 12, 1999 Seasons 4

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. Courage the Cowardly Dog worked in many tropes of horror movies into various stories, and while it never veered into adult or unsuitable territory, there were several episodes that were genuinely disturbing thanks to experimental visuals and animation style.

Courage the Cowardly Dog is available to stream on Max.

6 Dexter's Laboratory (1996-2003)

One Of The Most Memorable Maniacal Genius's Ever Seen On Screen

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 popularity of Dexter's Laboratory among Cartoon Network shows is difficult to overstate

Much like Ed, Edd n Eddy, Dexter's Laboratory was hugely influential to kids who grew up watching Cartoon Network in the late 1990s and 2000s, with the show still referenced in memes online in the 2020s. The popularity of Dexter's Laboratory among Cartoon Network shows is difficult to overstate, 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.