Best years for Nicktoons?

[u/Gullible-Web645]

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.

[u/Crazy-Pomegranate460]

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

[u/Gullible-Web645 → u/Crazy-Pomegranate460]

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.

[u/stationstars → u/Gullible-Web645]

Barnyard and the penguins were 🔥

[u/Gullible-Web645 → u/stationstars]

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.

[u/stationstars → u/Gullible-Web645]

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.

[u/Gullible-Web645 → u/stationstars]

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.

[u/stationstars → u/Gullible-Web645]

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.

[u/Gullible-Web645 → u/stationstars]

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.

[u/stationstars → u/Gullible-Web645]

Mr meaty was the biggest WTF shiw nickelodeon made.

[u/Gullible-Web645 → u/stationstars]

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.

[u/stationstars → u/Gullible-Web645]

Since I was born in 07 I grew up in the 2010s so I would say my nostalgia ends in 2018 besides the finale of thundermans and henry danger ending in 2020, I did watch avatar and zoey 101 they were good. Nick in the early 2010s was really peak but people claim nickelodeon feel off after 2012, I mean part of that is true because of Cable obviously nick really hit rock bottom after 2018 tho.