Disney has produced plenty of great animated TV shows over the years, from the 1980s to the 2020s. Starting with shows likeChip ‘n Dale Rescue RangersandDuckTales,Disney reinvented some of their classic characters for TV. Later, they started developing original TV concepts that didn’t rely on existing characters, but these shows became iconic in their own right.
Disney has never had quite as many iconic cartoons as other networks - like Cartoon Network, for example - because they also produced live-action TV shows for younger audiences. Still, there have been some animated classics over the years, from shows likeKim PossibleandRecessin the 2000s to modern hits likeAmphibiaandThe Owl House.Disney cartoons are often categorized by their sense of adventure, combining crowdpleasing humor with exciting stories.
Darkwing Duckbegan as a spinoff of the originalDuckTales, but it has its own unique tone. Rather than swashbuckling adventure,Darkwing Duckis packed with fight scenes as the titular hero protects his city from criminals each night. The titular hero is a great slapstick character, often inadvertently injuring himself just as much as his opponents. WatchingDarkwing Duckis almost like watching Donald Duck or some other cartoon character being thrown into a gritty crime thriller.
WatchingDarkwing Duckis almost like watching Donald Duck or some other cartoon character being thrown into a gritty crime thriller.
Darkwing Duckis a great genre parody, filled with references to superheroes such as Batman, The Green Hornet and many more heroes who appeared in the “Golden Age” of comic books. This could easily fly over the heads of younger audiences, butDarkwing Duckmanages to evoke a certain mood with such accuracy that it’s still funny to people who aren’t aware of these heroes.
There have been many Disney animated movies which have spawned spinoff TV seriesover the years, but not many of them manage to recapture the magic.Lilo and Stitch: The Seriesis one exception. It may not be quite as lively and heartwarming as the 2002 movie which inspired it, but it has a lot of fun sci-fi adventures, and it brings back the beloved characters from the movie for more laughs.
Every Lilo & Stitch Movie & TV Show, Ranked
Since Lilo & Stitch’s release in 2002, the iconic Disney franchise has spawned several other films and TV shows, so there’s plenty of Stitch to enjoy.
Now thatLilo & Stitchhas a live-action remakeon the way, more fans could be returning to the animated series to get their fill of Stitch’s slapstick antics and his adorable dynamic with Lilo. The show follows the duo as they help Jumba and Pleakley track down the other genetic experiments which are causing havoc on the Hawaiian archipelago. This means that there are many more creative characters just like Stitch, with each one bringing new abilities to each episode.
Before creatingAmphibia, Matt Braly worked as a director onGravity Falls,and his own show has the same creativity, humor and heart.Amphibiahas gotten even more popular over the last few years thanks to Disney+, and it now has the type of audience it deserves. The show follows a young girl who is magically transported to a world of anthropomorphic frogs, where she has a series of adventures while trying to find her way back home.
Amphibiahas both lighthearted standalone episodes and richly rewarding season-long arcs.
Amphibiahas both lighthearted standalone episodes and richly rewarding season-long arcs. It also strikes the perfect balance between comedy and adventure. All in all,Amphibiahas a little bit of something for everyone. The land of Amphibia is full of surprises, and it’s a joy to explore the strange world along with the characters. Anna and her friends may be trying to get home, butaudiences will want to get lost in Amphibia.
Even for those who haven’t seen a single episode ofThe Owl House, they may have heard about the show’s groundbreaking LGBTQ+ representation.The Owl Houseis famous for being the first Disney property to feature a same-sex couple in big roles, and there are plenty more firsts, including Disney’s first non-binary character.The Owl Housewas cut short, leading to a truncated season 3, but it still offers a lot to enjoy.
Even for those who haven’t seen a single episode ofThe Owl House, they may have heard about the show’s groundbreaking LGBTQ+ representation.
The Owl Houseis a fantasy series about young witches and wizards learning magic, but it’s far fromHarry Potter.With a cute animation style and some exciting villains,The Owl Housequickly developed a devoted following.The representation is just one part of what makesThe Owl Houseso popular.It also has some hilarious dialogue and some interesting character development that gradually builds throughout the show.
Gargoylesis much darker and scarier than most other Disney cartoons, but this is part of what makes it so special. It seems closer in tone to other animated action shows of the 1990s likeX-Men: The Animated Series,or the Saturday morning cartoons of the 1980s. The concept ofGargoylesis unique though, as it follows gargoyles who awaken after the sun goes down and fight to defend New York City from mysterious evil forces.
The 10 Best Characters In Gargoyles, Ranked
The classic animated TV series Gargoyles has showcased a multitude of characters, but these 10 have emerged as the series’ finest.
Gargoylesis getting a live-action reboot, highlighting how much of an impact it had on young audiences in the 1990s. Part of this impact can be attributed to the fact that it was unlike anything else on the Disney Channel at the time, but it’s also an exciting, action-packed show that deserves to be appreciated for what it is.Gargoylesalso has some visually striking sequences to accompany its dark mood.
5Recess
Recess Is A Great Show With Several Movies
Recessseems like a simple show at first, but the characters push a mundane concept to its limits. The main characters inRecessfall under broad archetypes of school children, including the performer, the geek and the athlete. The other characters that populate the playground are much weirder. There’s the school snitch, the king of the playground and even two friends known for simply digging holes.
Recessseems like a simple show at first, but the characters push a mundane concept to its limits.
Recessworks so well because the playground is a microcosm of society, but it’s a society that’s more varied and more interesting than normal. This means that the show has room for both ordinary, relatable storylines and more outlandish, adventurous tales. This is illustrated by the first of a fewRecessmovies, which starts off as a story about summer camp but quickly evolves into an espionage plot in which the school board hatch aBondvillain-style scheme to block out the sun.
There have been twoDuckTalesshows, with one of Disney’s first animated TV shows in 1987 and a reboot in 2017. Both shows are exciting, funny and full of quirky characters, but the reboot is the one more likely to connect with a young audience today. It updates the show in a few ways, but it keeps the same sense of adventure that made the original such a big hit for Disney while it was taking its tentative first steps into TV.
Both versions ofDuckTalesare exciting, funny and full of quirky characters.
DuckTalesfollows Huey, Dewie and Louie as they embark on perilous adventures with their great-uncle Scrooge McDuck. Each of the show’s three seasons gives a little more attention to one of the triplets, so that they each feel like fully-formed characters by the end. They are just one part of the appeal ofDuckTales, however, as they are constantly battling against a sea of colorful characters.Different episodes have child-friendly horror, exciting action and a touch of the occult.
From the moment the iconic theme tune kicks in,Kim Possibledelivers fans a weekly dose of action-packed adventure. The show follows the exploits of a high school student who leads a double life as a spy, often tasked with saving the world when she isn’t dealing with school drama. A 2019 live-action movie attempted to revive the franchise, but a string of negative reviews mean thatKim Possiblemay be gone for good.
From the moment the iconic theme tune kicks in,Kim Possibledelivers fans a weekly dose of action-packed adventure.
Kim Possiblehas plenty of fun action scenes, especially with the supervillain duo Dr. Drakken and Shego. The show manages to balance out the drama with plenty of humor, however. A lot of this comes from Kim’s clumsy best friend and sidekick Ron Stoppable, who is accompanied by his naked mole rat Rufus. These supporting characters makeKim Possiblewhat it is. The show is a great candidate for a reboot if Disney ever wanted on.
According to the theme song, there are 104 days of summer vacation, but Phineas and Ferb make every day into a grand adventure. With their wacky inventions and creative schemes, the two step-brothers are always finding new ways to get into trouble. Their own creativity is merely an extension of the inventive nature of the show’s writing, which always delivers a high-concept adventure.
Phineas and Ferbbalances the main plot with the surreal adventures of Perry the Platypus.
Phineas and Ferbbalances the main plot with the surreal adventures of Perry the Platypus, the silent super-spy who often defeats Dr. Doofenshmirtz. These subplots often tie into Phineas and Ferb’s story of the week, but they can also be standalone helpings of hilarious action.There have been a few movies which have kept the franchise alive, andPhineas and Ferbis getting a rebootfor a new generation of fans.
Gravity Fallsisn’t just Disney’s best animated show; it’s alsoone of the greatest animated shows of all time.The story follows Dipper and Mabel Pines as they spend the summer with their eccentric great-uncle Stan in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, which is constantly plagued by all manner of supernatural beings.Gravity Fallsran for just two seasons, but this means that there’s no filler, and no time for the show to dip in quality.
20 Shows To Watch If You Like Gravity Falls
Disney’s Gravity Falls ended in 2016, and fans with a Mystery Shack sized hole in their hearts can check out these other shows.
Gravity Fallsdelivers plenty of great standalone episodes, but it also leaves a few breadcrumbs on the trial to its outstanding series finale. The three-part “Weirdmageddon” finale offers some of thebest episodes ofGravity Falls, providing a hugely satisfying payoff for fans who watch the show the whole way through.Gravity Fallsis consistently hilarious, but it also has the potential to get spooky, emotional and completely thrilling.
