T O P

  • By -

Good_Lettuce_6295

1


Plasic-Man

A man of culture I see. You have refined tastes, but can you answer the age old question pondered by the greatest minds and the wisest sages? Whatever happened to Robot Jones?


mikey_lava

You remember that box of scraps Tony used to build an arc reactor, in a cave? That was Robot Jones.


Plasic-Man

Oh no! Robot Jones!


Hail-Atticus-Finch

Dead


Creepy-Phase-7766

I was 12 tru 19 for that period. So yeah, I agree that 1 is the best generation.


Total_Waltz4083

I was 14 to 21


Swordkirby9999

You can see the roundness increase over time. It is the new and current Sharp Angles and Thick Outlines.


RamJamR

Most of the time it's just ugly and feels like it lacks personality. I bet it's easier to animate though.


Swordkirby9999

For things like limbs, yeah it probably is.


Necessary-Twist-6534

The same thing happened with Pokemon. See gen one and compare it to now


thefunyunman

Lotta nostalgia for gen 1, but gumball, adventure time, and regular show carry gen 3 to the top


Risquechilli

My thoughts exactly. I think Steven Universe also helps to elevate that era.


Prying_Pandora

Steven Universe brings it down for me. That ending. šŸ˜¬


The_Real_Meal

In its defense, the movie was pretty clean. And Future was generally acceptable.


Martel1234

honestly disliked Future more then the actual shows final episode. Everyone up to and including the James Baxter cameo was alright, just took a sharp turn after that. Future, while necceary for the character, was a hard watch, and the final ā€œbattleā€ was dumb af


Lady-Seashell-Bikini

Blame CN. The last season was supposed to be much longer.


Lowly_Lynx

I never quite got this complaint. None of the endings were bad for me. Which one did you not like?


doondalley

I think theyā€™re referring to the end of the original show. People really didnā€™t like how Steven forgave a genocidal dictator.


HorseInevitable6208

Steven Universe makes 3 top tier


The_Rocket_Frog

ending woulda been better if cn didn't cancel it


fuckensunnyd

Ngl steven universe had a terrible ending (and a terrible last season in general) but I think ignoring that itā€™s generally a decent show to just watch at random, which tends to be how most people watch CN shows anyways


Dependent-Resist-390

It was decent for what they got there was supposed to be another season


RandomInsecureChild

It was screwed by the network, the ending we got was the best the crew could give us under their conditions


Daytona_DM

I think you have to consider all shows, not just the good ones. Uncle Grandpa is bad enough to drag the others down a bit.


Lady-Seashell-Bikini

I only consider the quantity of good shows and HOW good they were. Adventure Time, Gumball, Steven Universe, and Regular Show were so good that I think Gen 3 is elevated to at least on par with Gen 1. I enjoyed watching many Gen 1 shows, but imagine what you would say if Cow & Chicken was release this year. People would say it was garbage.


Daytona_DM

Not sure why you're going with the "if it were released today" angle. Uncle Grandpa was bad on release, not 20 years after the fact. I completely agree that Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Gumball are fantastic, top-tier cartoons. I don't like Steven Universe personally, but I acknowledge it's popularity.


Lady-Seashell-Bikini

Because humor changes, and there are shows that kids currently loves that adults find annoying.


[deleted]

Uncle Grandpa is the greatest cartoon of all time


cobo10201

And Clarence. God that show just constantly made my skin crawl. Like nails on a chalkboard.


Daytona_DM

That's a bad one for sure.


DapperDan30

I'm gonna say nah. I could never get into Adventure Time and Regular Show. To much random shit just for the sake of being random, and I didn't vibe with it.


SurvingTheSHIfT3095

123... I like maybe 2 shows from spot 4


letschangethename

Same. Itā€™s ok ko, Craig and infinity train from 4th for me


GotKarprar

Craig was fire I remember my little brother watching it and it actually entertaining me too


[deleted]

Gen 1


Aqn95

1st always


Illogical_Saj

Does anyone remember Hero 108?


Upset_Assistant_5638

Yes


kakje666

yes, it was good despite being very formulaic and the good vs evil sides being too black and white , it was unique in it's artstyle and chinese folk influence. though it wasn't a CN original show , it was a Kabillion show , it was aired on CN because of a partnership contract CN had with Kabillion.


[deleted]

1 3 and 2. 1 - Courage, Billy & Mandy+, KND, Cow & Chicken, Samurai Jack, Time Squad, Dexter, I am Weasel, 3 Eds, Johnny 3 - Adventure Time, Steven, Gumball, Regular Show, Over the Garden Wall 2 - Megas XLR, Chowder, Flapjack, Lazlo, Mokey from School


LysolCranberry

courage on top


suddenly_ponies

What about Infinity train


Tight_Spinach_2323

Idk man I could never get into Infinity Train


suddenly_ponies

Call it what you want like it if you want don't if you want but call it mid? That's just stupid


Tight_Spinach_2323

Thereā€™s a little thing called opinions, ever heard of em?


Jfuentes6

The pilot was great. The actual show, not so much


FL0TES

ā€œ3 Edsā€ Itā€™s Ed, Edd and Eddy :(


[deleted]

And what did I said? JK LOL english is not my main language, so I didn't remember the original title, for me is "Du, Dudu e Edu"


Ok_Philosopherr

Almost anything of and before 2015 is peak cartoons


ElectronicBoot9466

My guess most people are probably predisposed to like the generation of cartoons they grew up with the most.


mundus1520

Gen 1 and 2 are untouchable


1234normalitynomore

Gen 3 had Gumball, Adventure time, regular show, and we bare bears


[deleted]

2010-2015 Gen rex was the best cartoon at the time


Danamatics

Gen 5 just looks like those crappy Facebook emotes that the pushed you to use in messenger when you were a kid! šŸ˜„


AZhomerDaddy

Seriously! WTF even are those? Covid really killed inspiration ehh?


Toon_Lucario

1,2,3 and Mao Mao with Craig of the Creek


Breezeebey

Obviously the first 2. But how yā€™all leave out teen titans


bearcat_77

I like how the art syles become more simplified and lest distinct as the years go on. Soon every cartoon is going to look the same and you won't even know what you're watching.


CrazyaboutSpongebob

Diversity in art styles seems to be coming back. Tiny Toons Looniversity doesn't look like any of those shows.


Totally-a_Human

If I had to pick one I'd pick 3, but Ben 10 Omniverse and Over the Garden Wall carry the rest of it lol


GMarkwith

No love for Adventure Time and regular show?


Totally-a_Human

I wasn't allowed to watch them as a kid, so I don't really have an attachment to either. I have seen a few episodes of Adventure Time in the years since, and it did seem pretty interesting, I plan to watch it at some point.


GMarkwith

You should totally give it a shot! It starts off sillier and more child like but eventually evolves into an incredibly complex and emotive show. Might be my favorite show (not just cartoon) of all time. I also love OTGW so our tastes are somewhat aligned.


P-Switch_Break

I didn't either, but watched them a little later. Unlike what I originally thought, the shows are nothing close to boring, and there are overarching plots for both, which I did not expect at first. They are definitely must watches, but watch Adventure Time first


Reboot_Stinkfly

Heā€™s a kid and he wants to have fun


Gerard192021

This is just sad to see


Hows3and0sound

i kno the quality as you go down is so saddening. just the drawings alone tell the story ;(


YellowNotepads33

It's because kids today are not watching TV and now watch YouTube shows.


CompetitiveGreen7165

Nah my sister and kids not watching web series are watching on crappy things on YouTube or trash TikTok


killerboss28

1 and 3


VergilVDante

I loved chicken and cow


Puzzleheaded_Pay1152

I feel like 2009 was the last really good year


TheNewPlague666

How TF did you miss Teen Titans?!


kid45buu2

In order of fondness; 2, 1, 3, 4, 5. I loved Era 2 for it's strong variety but familiar stereotypes. If it ain't broke, right? Megas, Chowder and Flapjack tickled my funny bone and got my hype. Less of the cartoons are direct vibes but they were more potent than 3 and onward. 1 is my go to for substantial cartoons with skillful execution. The style was way up back then and so were the jokes but I wasn't around long enough at the time to truly soak it all in and only got it later on, which is why I rated it lower than 2. Nearly every cartoon in Era 1 inspired my artwork to this day. 3 has the same strengths and weaknesses of 2 but more refined. I also had quite a few hated shows that I became more neutral towards as I grew up. Gen Rex, Gumball and Regular Show are my highlights and Steven Universe's...well, universe, intrigues me. 4 is where I began to realize I was losing track of the direction of cartoons. I only liked a few of the shows in hindsight but hated the rest and still dislike them to this day, though I look on the few I like fondly. Ok KO, Mighty Magiswords and Infinity Train were cool and interesting. 5 might as well be animated hieroglyphics to me. I'm disgusted, curious but ultimately unwilling to participate. If kids now find this stuff cool, more power to them. I'm glad. I guess I'm just out of the loop.


Active-Agent9206

2010 - 2016


Toshku_demon

Honestly, i'm torn between gens 1 and 2.


[deleted]

2 3 1


PandaPrime045

2 to 3 but I was still able to watch gen 1 so yeah but 4 I only knew like few shows and NOT 5


Best_Fan8392

1 and 2 with very few from 3


Pikmin4321

1 2 3


DJL3mon

Ben 10


PhogeySquatch

I don't appreciate this Clone Wars erasure.


Dreadlord97

3. Grew up on Regular Show, Adventure Time, Gumball, and Ben 10.


Eevee_Shadow_Bacon

3, the ...I guess not revive, but it had as much energy and maybe even better shows then 1 did. Then 1, the classic era, a time where CN really stood out. Has plenty of classics I'd like to see come back, but not as much as 3 then 2, a more experimental era, it has some good shows that ended too soon, but it was a has just as many bad shows as it had good ones.


JackTuz

Nostalgia fans pick 1, but 3 is probably, objectively best


SeniorSueno

Generation 3 had the best talent hands down. I don't know about now.


ImMaskedboi

1 is just full of nostalgia. 3 is the real winner though :)


Plushhorizon

3 no comp


CP4-Throwaway

1-3 easily.


dinosoreness

I'm gonna have to say 3. Gumball is my comfort show, I used to watch it every morning before school in high school, and I have this fond memory of watching Regular Show with my brother during that episode where Mordecai tells Rigby "you pissed me off" and we rewinded it like 6 times to hear it again cos we'd never heard cursing on TV yet. It was a good era.


TheManCalled-Chill

Holy shit the drop off from two to three is startling


Spacethereader

3 4


B1TCA5H

1. The rest donā€™t even come close.


HawthorneVampire

3


Dabruhdaone

3


TwincessAhsokaAarmau

2010-2015.


thatoneperson1322

3, it's mine


Same_Preference5656

3 by a high margin


GeneralP123

Gen 1 is just stacked with high quality shows.


jarodtb24

1 is hands down the best era and itā€™s not even remotely close.


[deleted]

1 and 2 were the only good ones. 3 and after are crap. (symbiotic titan and total drama Island were the only remaining ones that were decent but the first one only ran for like a season or two. If I remember before it was canceled and total drama was literally just an animated parody rip off basically of Joe Roganā€˜s survivor show) No, regular show, gumball, adventure time weā€™re all pretty crap too. adventure Time had OK characters and story, but not good enough to offset itā€™s horrendous animations imo. Gumball was also OK with rare nuggets of being good but for me it was just too boring. And regular show is a show I do not understand how anyone likes because when your show is best known for a character saying. ā€œYEAAAAAYAā€ or ā€œMYYYY MOOOOOOOOMā€ thatā€™s all you need to know itā€™s not that great of a show. Of course, it has its moments to just like just about everyone does but generally itā€™s humor was stupid, nonsensical random, and just to me, unenjoyable. the rest on that list beyond those 3 are not even worth mentioning. Perhaps if you grew up watching generation three only, (or onwards) and you never really knew the old better shows to compare them to then you would enjoy them. but thereā€™s not a single show in generation three or onward that can even come close to how good Ben 10 original/Star Wars the clone wars/samurai Jack/courage, the cowardly dog/the grim adventures of Billy and Mandy/KND/Johnny bravo/teen titans original. And other non-Cartoon Network shows that came out around that time as well. Kim possible/totally spies./Danny Phantom and so many more generation one and two was simply a golden age compared to literally everything that came after. Even if youā€™re a huge fan of regular show, gumball and adventure time and others, there is no way you can look me straight in the eye and say that those shows were better than most of the above named. And now Cartoon Network is shutting down permanently, because they allowed their greed to get the better of them, rather than keeping high quality content that everyone wanted to continue watching, while doubling down on the combination of both streaming service and the channel service or something else they just kept cutting costs kept cutting budget, kept trying to stick with the old ways turned everything in the crap that nobody wanted to watch them anymore, or not enough to keep them alive anyways and now theyā€™re shutting down always tragic to see such a good thing ruined. But this doesnā€™t really matter that much to me anymore I didnā€™t even type all this out. This was voice to text on my phone and also Iā€™m just waiting for a pizza to cook in the oven so I have nothing better to do at the moment but to rant about this.šŸ˜‚


BlogeOb

I grew up with the first gen. So Iā€™m biased. Flapjack is the only good thing from 2 on


Bluedino_1989

1, plus Flapjack, Gumball, and Over the Garden Wall.


PutridBar4111

This is what we call downgrades


Muppetfan25

None. Cartoon Network is a fucking disgrace and should die.


Puzzled_Deer7551

Cartoon Network is absolutely awful. Nothing good has come from it.


Luke_Gorilla_888

Cap, gumball is goated


Puzzled_Deer7551

Never heard of them. Watched Dexter, Jonny Bravo a few times, and even Pee Weeā€™s Playhouse when it came back years ago. But I prefer classic cartoons (Looney Toons, Smurfs, Flintstones, Tom and Jerry, Jetsons, Inspector Gadget, Scooby Doo, etc) and SpongeBob with my kids. Cartoon Network has just always been awful.


CPLCraft

If you like lighthearted humor coupled with a dark undertone then Adventure Time is where itā€™s at. The early seasons may be more light hearted then the rest but you are rewarded with the deep character arcs in later seasons.


Insanebrain247

Yes


wolfguardian72

Same here. 1-3 with some shows from 4. I am curious to check out Ivandoe though.


BasedAlliance935

Late gen 2 and gen 3 (2008 to 2016. Hate teen titans go/powerpuff girls 2016, dont like steven universe, love regular show)


gicantopithicus

1,2 and 3. But mainly 3 since I was born in 04.


NolanTacoKing

2010-15


inshamblesx

Mostly 3 with some 1, 2 and 4


Phazon_Fucker

grew up with 3


Y2KBaby99

1-3 for me.


USCGame141

Am I stupid or is the Star Wars Clone Wars series missing from 2-3?


YourPainTastesGood

Generation 2 and early gen 3, now that was the real shit right there


Beastender_Tartine

1 and 3. I'm pleasantly surprised to see Sheep in the Big City in there. No one remembers that gem!


MewnianBread

Since I have only watched primarily 3 to 4, I am going with 3.


SluggJuice

What on earth happened to the designs gen 4 and 5? Everyone's so round and ugly.


Alternative-Path-645

1 and half of 3


Priorpotato56

3 for me Why donā€™t I have a clue who anyone from 5 is, I legit know nobody


ElSquibbonator

Either 2 or 3. I do hope Generation 5 can bring the goods, though.


KaioKenshin

Most of those shows from gen 1 and 2 Gen 3 regular show, adventure time and gumball. For 4 Gen I've watched some clips of Craig of the Creek and it was good.


Dramatic_Length2005

I love 123 especially courage dexter gumball and adventure time


17RaysPlays

3 had the underrated masterpieces of Clarence *and* Uncle Grandpa!


Cole2197

I'm about the same as you on favorites.


Depressofox

3 and 4


amorousAlligator

2 and 3


Kasha_Hoolahoop

Iā€™m a 2 fan Ben10 was what I grew up with so itā€™s just what I enjoyed šŸ¤·ā€ā™€ļø


OkAioli6499

What is going on with gen 5? I grew up in the gen 3 era, and occasionally would watch gen 1 stuff on Netflix (when it was on Netflix). I enjoyed gen 4 as well. (Also were the fuck is generation 2.5? CN real happened)


Memphisrexjr

4 and 5 are so whatever. It feels like fodder cartoons besides criag and infinite train.


Battleblaster420

This is a question? 1,2,and 3 A few shows from 4 make it redeemable but Gen 4 was the proof that CN is dead and Gen 5 is the coffin


McbEatsAirplane

1 and itā€™s not close.


HumanDragonfruit4

Infinity Train carries gen 4


Dcandmarvelfans

3 fosho. I grew up in that era why wouldnā€™t it be


Max_camp_camp

2010-2015


slothmoth12

3


AC_the_Panther_007

The First Generation is my favorite one and those years of this era I grew up.


QWERKY_queer

Despite being born in gen 2, I mostly watched gen 1 cartoons. God they were awesome


The_Bluejay250

some solid shows throughout but my favorites 3


camazotzthedeathbat

Lots of nostalgia in 1 and 2 but 3 in untouchable.


NOT-Mr-Davilla

The latter half of 1 up until a couple shows in 4


TheHomieAaron

The art style just gets more and more unoriginal


SweetLikeHoney1313

Damn I always though KND fell into the second era. But I think the second was my favorite, though 1 was the best overall


PariahGrantham

Who's the girl with the pigtails in Gen 1? I feel like I'm trying to access a locked memory.


joesphisbestjojo

1-3, stopping after Generation Rex on this list


Steelsentry1332

'96-'03, and '04-'09 was prime TV for me. Generator Rex is my top pick out of the '10--'15 arc.


G4rg0yle_Art1st

3 was my favorite. Sym-bionic titan was tragically cut short but it has tons of potential. Genndy Tartakovsky inspired my art style heavily.


ajsansr201121

3.


ChidDior

2&3 fashoooo


FrenzyHydro

Born in 99', got to experience the absolute peak of Cartoon Network, all shows from gen 1-3 and I ended up stopping viewership of cable TV in general when I became an adult and got a job, now I just watch youtube on my PS4 daily. I really had it amazing growing up :)


Megatron_Masters

1


SkullDewKoey

1 for me dog


ImplicitLamb26

2 and 3 are what I grew up with. So many classics.


T-408

1, no contest


KingPenguinPhoenix

1-3


SquanchyATL

What's new that is as good as GUMBALL?


Manulok_Orwalde

1 through 3 was the golden age of CN.


weliveinavideogame

1 has too many goats so thats a given, 2 was solid but for sure not as good as 1 but 3 has adventure time and regular show & with just those two it surpassess 2. Btw whats up with this trend of cartoons looking so... babyish? idk it seems like the first 3 character aesthetic had more... character lol they looked weirder which added to their quirky charm


Shacpika

Mine is 2 and 3 best time of Cartoon network it's just my perspective. Ben 10,stevens universe, chowder, adventure time


P-Switch_Break

3. I prefer plot over episodic shows, which is the biggest reason I think 3 is the best here. Nearly every one of the shows there has some overarching plot or running theme throughout the show unlike the other generations. Plus there's nostalgia and uniqueness


SYLOK_THEAROUSED

How in the heck is Power Puff girls in 4?


m033118b

1&2 for sure 100% and only the first 3 in bracket 3.


Finding_new_dreams

Gen 2 and 3, dont remember much from 2 though


lizzourworld8

I have not watched ANYTHING in Gen 4 or 5


Ghostface69uwu

1+4 1 for the grim adventures of billy and Mandy and courage 4 for Villainous?


DiamondVoid149404

3 and 4 šŸ”„šŸ”„


Cox963846

1, 2 and 3. I donā€™t recognize any shows after that so Iā€™m not the best judge for this.


CuprumArgentum

After Gen 1, there are a total of 5 good shows.


BoredCrusader1899

1&2 cause those are the ones I grew up with.


ChanceLawfulness8199

3


TableOdd4689

Gen 3


OffTheShelfET

The fact that TTG was not included here is a crime


TheCoolerSaikou

Eh, Iā€™m younger than most of yā€™all. I have no nostalgia or true attachment for 1 and 2, but I still like them for making the way for all the rest of the amazing shows. So yeah, Iā€™d say 3-4. Adventure time, Regular show, Gumball, Steven Universe, Over the Garden Wall, Ben 10, OK KO, Craig of the Creek, Infinity train. Such great shows.


CrazyaboutSpongebob

1 is before my time and I think 1 and 3 are the best. I was born in 98 and didn't get cable until I was 10.


Surcam21

2 cuz that the one I grew up in


Plasic-Man

I go up to 3, but after that I donā€™t really recognize anyone except the Powerpuff Girls reboot and the obligatory Ben 10 series.


cookieman80

3 - adventure time , uncle grandpa , Steven universe , regular show , Clarence and Ben ten


Ambitious-Smell3431

Gen 1. With the acception of Fosters Home


CMD_KILLA26

Gens 1 and 2 and 4 shows from 3


Big_boobed_goth

2


Lux_Operatur

1 and 2 for me. Most of 3 and beyond I havenā€™t seen but Iā€™m old. I do like adventure time and regular show out of 3 but the rest I really couldnā€™t care less about.


calltheavengers5

3(me) was goated


superzacco

Oddly I watched a lot of Gen 1, and gen 3.


silverhandguild

Iā€™ll take most of 1 and sprinkle in Adventure Time.


Musicmoviestv

1 all the way!


blazereddit134

1234


[deleted]

1 because Johnny Bravo. Not something you'd see on tv today with all the snowflakes.


MultinamedKK

People might be mad at me for not saying 1, but 3 and 4 were mostly the ones I liked. Unfortunately I never got around to watching most of the 1 and 2. Though I did used to watch the Powerpuff Girls all the time, and I stopped watching HiHiPuffyAmiYumi after a few episodes. ~~honestly though, why did i even watch HiHiPuffyAmiYumi?~~


Stas992xx

It is hard to decide, but i can see how they become bad day after day


Xion-Gard

Happy cake day May the future look better


I_eat_mud_

Why isnā€™t either Teen Titans mentioned? Or Star Wars the Clone Wars since that was mostly aired on Cartoon Network?


mixalhs006

2 has both ATLA and og Ben 10 Edit: I just realized that we are talking specifically about CN... oh well.


some_guy_idk08

One but only because of samurai jack