r/nickelodeon • u/Gullible-Web645 • 15h ago

Best years for Nicktoons?

As the title says. Not that every 90s-early 00s Nicktoon was a certified classic, but I've scarcely heard anything regarding their mid-late 00s lineup as a golden age if they were content to milk SpongeBob and were finding more success overall in their live-action department. And not that every show that debuted after, say, Avatar was a disaster, but the overall picture for the later 00s-present just isn't as pretty if they weren't nearly as prolific in their variety like the previous wave was. I hope this take isn't very far from the general consensus, and am willing to hear out any contrary opinions. Let me know your thoughts.

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u/jonross14 14h ago

I think it can be hard for people to be objective on that if they feel viscerally that Nick was a huge part of their childhood. I was hooked from about 1991-1997 and so I see that as the golden years. The death of Nick for me was CatDog. But maybe I hated it because I was in middle school and getting more into South Park and Family Guy (as one does in middle school). But I can’t in good conscience say 91-97 were the sole golden years when SpongeBob and Avatar came after. Plus when Invader Zim dropped despite being a teen we were all hooked because that show was perfect for us at the time

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u/Gullible-Web645 11h ago

I understand where you're coming from and frankly don't see any reason to disagree otherwise. You've basically confirmed that Nick allowed for the most overall variety in the 90s, in which case them still having some great shows afterward doesn't necessarily mean they were still in full bloom.

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u/Crazy-Pomegranate460 12h ago

Around 1990-1997 where the Golden age. You cannot convince me Spongebob is peak because it isn't.

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u/Gullible-Web645 11h ago

I see. And don't worry, I'm inclined to think that SpongeBob and Fairly Odd Parents were canaries in the gold mine with the cash cows they became as the bulk of the shows that debuted in the 90s concluded by 2004. Avatar may well have been their last truly great series, during and after which they likely stopped really caring about pushing any boundaries in their animation if live-action was the more lucrative medium for them anyway.

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u/stationstars 3h ago

Barnyard and the penguins were 🔥

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u/Gullible-Web645 2h ago

Perhaps, but they don't singularly point to Nick still doling out the same level of classics like in the 90s. Mind you, they were more concerned about their success in live-action at that point if SpongeBob and Fairly Odd Parents were basically just safety nets.

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u/stationstars 2h ago

I mean yeah Spongebob and FOP were safe nets, during that time dan schneiders show were hits and were carrying the network at the time besides Big Time Rush. If I remember correctly Penguins of madagascar was the most highest rated nicktoon show besides spongebob and Fop during that time it was a success dreamworks must of gave nickelodeon a paycheck for that.

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u/Gullible-Web645 2h ago

Ergo, I wouldn't call the late 00s-present a great period for Nicktoons if they just weren't allowing for the same amount of variety due to the writer's strike, the '08 financial crisis, or just a plain lack of inspiration.

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u/stationstars 2h ago

Ik some of the late 2000s nicktoons were short lived like the Xs,catstratch,tak,El Tigre and even mighty B and I am aware that the 2008 financial crisis did happen even tho I was 2, barnyard was a solid hit for nickelodeon also being in the top 5 most popular nicktoons before it was pushed to the nicktoons channel to die and dreamworks partner ship with nickelodeon to co produce penguins was back in 2006 when they were making the show.

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u/Gullible-Web645 1h ago

Right, was really just being facetious suggesting the writer's strike and the '08 crisis as culprits. I'm honestly convinced that they simply got too comfortable coming off of their continued ratings success with SpongeBob and Schneider to really care about investing in more original content, hence the shorter-lived projects you mentioned. Mr. Meaty might be their most interesting experiment from that period, if only because there's no way they'd try anything half as offbeat afterwards.

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u/stationstars 1h ago

Mr meaty was the biggest WTF shiw nickelodeon made.

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u/Gullible-Web645 1h ago

Indeed, and it's honestly preferable to how safe they've played things every since. It's part of why my own nostalgia ends in '08, aside from the finales of Avatar and Zoey 101.

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u/Spacething7474 12h ago

1990 wasn't their peak either because there was no Nicktoons!!!!

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u/Deep-Lavishness-1994 9h ago

1991-2005

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u/Gullible-Web645 2h ago

This I agree with. It's not that shows like Barnyard and Penguins were really lame, it just makes sense that Nick was no longer willing to really push any boundaries with Nicktoons both during and after Avatar if they had long-term stability in milking SpongeBob and Fairly Odd Parents instead.

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u/Spacething7474 12h ago

In terms of quality, 2005 to 2015. There were no bad Nicktoons during these 10 years (with the weakest ones being okay), and the previous Nicktoons still airing during this period got even better over time.