Imagine it’s the early 2000s. You just came home from school, kicked your shoes off, and parked yourself on the couch to tune into your favorite show on Cartoon Network. It was the place to be for cool kids and cartoon and animation fans. With rumors circulating about the network’s alleged shutdown, we know you’re all getting nostalgic about those days, so here are some classic Cartoon Network shows that will make you want to be a kid again:

The Powerpuff Girls

Made with sugar, spice, and everything nice, these three adorable yet super powerful little girls spent their spare time fighting crime in their little city of Townsville, especially their nemesis Mojo Jojo. Introduced in 1998 and rebooted in 2016, The Powerpuff Girls has seen many generations grow up and argue over whether they were Blossom the leader, Buttercup the tough girlie, or Bubbles the sweet little lady.

Courage the Cowardly Dog

Premiered in 1996 and considered one of Cartoon Network’s strangest shows, Courage the Cowardly Dog followed an ever-anxious, ever-fearful anthropomorphic pink dog, who is ironically named Courage. After being adopted by an elderly couple who lived in the middle of Nowhere, Courage had to live up to his name and battle supernatural forces and every fearful thing you can think of to protect his owner, especially the elderly woman Muriel, who always showers him with love.

Johnny Bravo

Introduced in 1996, this instant classic left its mark on its viewers with the titular character Johnny Bravo, an Elvis-inspired boy with blonde hair and huge muscles. He is always seen wearing black sunglasses, tight-fitting black shirt, and blue jeans, and he is also always trying to win the affections of women he encounters, though often without positive results. If you watched this as a kid, some jokes might’ve flown over your head, though your parents might’ve understood them, thanks to the show being filled with a lot of adult humor.

Teen Titans

Launched in 2003, the original Teen Titans show was well-loved and well-received thanks to its ability to tackle serious themes while still delivering intelligent humor. The show also followed character-based story arcs, giving each team member enough time to shine on their own and go through solid character development. It probably made you want to join Robin, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy and be one of the Teen Titans!

Totally Spies!

Another trio of girls who made you want to save the world are the ladies of Totally Spies. While The Powerpuff Girls gave us cute and powerful, Sam, Clover, and Alex gave us cool girlboss before we even knew what girlbossing meant. In this show released in 2001, the three teen girls seem like average high school students in Beverly Hills, but their also secret agents working for the World Organization of Human Protection going on Charlie’s Angels-level missions.

PS. A new season is coming out this year!

Ben 10

Aired first in 2005, Ben 10 was so well-loved that it earned the title of Cartoon Network’s longest running franchise, getting five different iterations and a reboot. It follows 10-year-old Ben Tennyson, who accidentally came to possess the Omnitrix, a watch from outer space that allows him to transform into different aliens. With the help of his grandpa Max and cousin Gwen, Ben fights evildoers — and maybe even gets into some mischief.

We Bare Bears

Released in 2015, We Bare Bears is a relatively newer show compared to the others on this list, but it has been critically acclaimed thanks to its ability to portray “modern millennial anxieties” and ethnic diversity — all these despite being a show about bears! The animated show follows three different bears Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear as they attempt to find their place in civilized society in San Francisco from looking for food to trying to make human friends or even scheming to become famous on the internet.

Adventure Time

For many Gen Zs, Adventure Time was their entry point to Cartoon Network. This fantasy series follows 12-year-old Finn and his magical dog Jake as they battle evil in the Land of Ooo. Thanks to its unique animation style, original music, strange characters, queer representation, and life lessons, Adventure Time is well-loved by both kids and adults alike.

What other shows do you think should be on this list? Tell us below!

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