For many of us, cartoons and TV shows have been an integral part of our childhood. From Gravity Falls and Phineas and Ferb on Disney XD to Spongebob and The Fairly OddParents on Nickelodeon, it is safe to say that everyone has a show, or multiple, that they loved watching when they were younger. In honor of these fond memories, I will be ranking the Top 10 shows from the best cartoon channel, Cartoon Network. When examining the list, please keep in mind that this is my personal top ten. However, feel free to argue with me in the comments for what you think I missed.

10. Teen Titans Go

Having Teen Titans Go at number ten may be somewhat controversial. While I recognize the downgrade from the original Teen Titans series, this show was constantly on when I was a kid. From Beast Boy and Cyborg’s playful shenanigans, to Raven and Starfire’s opposing personalities, to Robin’s “leadership” bringing them all together, this show had more than enough stories and jokes to keep younger kids entertained. 

9. Clarence

Clarence takes “mind-numbing” to an entirely new level. The hilariously stupid antics of the three main characters, all ten-year old kids, is perfectly entertaining for children around that same age. The major differences between the characters allow for a massive range of adventures and plot points. Jeff’s cubic head and nervous, overly analytical personality is the complete opposite of Sumo’s bald head and impulsive, absentminded personality, and Clarence’s masterful leadership (sarcastic) ties the group together perfectly. Whoever would have that a show about children just playing around would be so entertaining. 

8. Legends of Chima

Possibly the hottest take on this top ten list, Lego Legends of Chima takes my number eight spot. Following the absolutely ingenious line of Lego sets where opposing factions of anthropomorphic animals fight for control of precious natural resources. The show perfectly built upon the foundational fanbase of children created by the Lego sets, with an intriguing story that allowed kids like me to see their Lego sets in action on the TV. My ranking for this show is likely made higher based on the fact that I had several Legends of Chima Lego sets, each of which I enjoyed greatly. From Wolf Cars and Giant Spiders to Gorilla Mechs released early at FAO Schwarz, Legends of Chima has given me a multitude of memories that I will cherish forever. 

7. Tom and Jerry

Tom and Jerry is an undeniable classic. The cartoony violence between our two largely speechless main characters creates an environment with endless possibilities. The occasional appearance from the bulldogs Spike and Tyke, along with other minor characters, prevented the seemingly one-line plot from becoming monotonous, catching the attention of children across the world for over 80 years. Tom the cat and Jerry the muse have been fighting hard and stealing hearts since their first appearance in 1940. The show presents a beautiful, unlikely friendship, as Tom is only acting like he is trying to kill Jerry to keep his owner from getting a cat that actually will. 

6. Scooby Doo

Following suit with number 7, Scooby-Doo is another absolute classic. Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of Mystery Incorporated have likely made an appearance on the television screen of every American home, creating memories for millions of children. The classic plotline of unmasking a ‘monster,’ only for it to be a character introduced earlier in the episode, never got stale to its 8-12 year old audience. With several series branching off of the original 1969 version, Scooby-Doo also made an impact on the big screen, with over 40 minor animated films, alongside the Oscar-deserving Scooby-Doo the Movie and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. 

5. Amazing World of Gumball

A much newer show compared to the previous two entries, the Amazing World of Gumball is one of my all-time favorites. The uncanny creativity of the show and its characters, from a balloon, to a cactus, to a full-blown Tyrannosaurus Rex, created the foundation for an endless barrage of entertaining stories. I have fond memories of several episodes of Gumball, especially the Watterson family paintball battle. Although its airing ended in 2019, 240 episodes of wild excitement have made The Amazing World of Gumball a favorite for thousands of viewers. 

4. Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitsu

Somewhat following suit with The Legends of Chima, this show’s ranking is tied to my experiences with Ninjago lego sets, of which I had many. Independent from its toy counterparts, this show is a masterpiece in and of itself. In the series’ early seasons, the elemental powers created an intriguing premise. The progression of villains from skeletons, to snakes, to robots, gave the audience an unbelievably wide range of variation, especially when paired with the constant improvements to the ninjas’ powers and the addition of new characters. I still remember the reveal that Zane was actually a robot, and my uncontainable rage when Lloyd was named the Green Ninja over Kai. It is likely that I will never forget the memories I have of this show. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Codename: Kids Next Door – I was a big fan of the treehouse.

Star Wars: Clone Wars – Definitely would have made the Top 10 … if I had watched it

Steven Universe – Very popular, but not quite on the list. 

Johnny Test – Bling Bling Boy is my favorite character

3. Adventure Time

“With Jake the Dog and Finn the Human, the fun will never end, it’s Adventure Time”

The classic intro jingle of Adventure Time still rings loudly in my brain, a remnant of my constant viewership. The unbelievably wide range of characters, with designs to rival even The Amazing World of Gumball, created a similarly wide range of adventures for our main characters. From BMO, to Marceline, to Lumpy Space Princess, Adventure Time never ran out of stories to tell about Finn and Jake, an unexpectedly loveable duo of man and man’s best friend. For plot points as dissimilar as bacon pancakes and the Lich to be typical in the same show is a testament to the diversity of entertainment on display. 

2. Regular Show

With 261 episodes of often surprisingly impactful stories, Regular Show is anything but regular. The loveable park staff left none to be desired. Mordecai and Rigby’s procrastinatory shenanigans, Pops’ naivety, Muscle Man’s ‘my mom’ jokes, and Skips’ down-to-earthness created a contrasting cast of memorable characters. From the bass-boosted intro to the out-of-this-world adventures, Regular show never failed to catch and hold its audience’s attention. 

1. Ben 10

A potentially unpopular placement, I am entirely uncompromising in my argument for Ben 10 at number 1. A plot that gave every ~10 year old boy who watched it the dream of having an Omnitrix, myself included, Ben 10 and its many reboots have had a lasting impact on the world of cartoons. The unfathomably wide range of aliens, from Alien X to Ditto, made every transformation and every fight memorable, not to mention the marketability of toys, of which, again, I have many. The constant addition of aliens and other new abilities kept the show fresh and entertaining. Loveable side characters like Gwen and Kevin made the offerings of this show nearly endless.

Thank you, Cartoon Network, for all the memories you have given me.