EJ Moreno on overlooked 90s animated shows that are worth revisiting…
Not long after the Biker Mice from Mars return announcement, the need for more of these underrated 90s cartoons became too much. I was on the hunt for all of the overlooked animated series from my childhood, leading me to revisit some of the wildest and weirdest shows.
While most of these felt like rip-offs of the G.I. Joe cartoon or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from the 80s, they still found a way to make their unique impact on me and fans worldwide. We’ll look at eight animated shows ranging from action adventures to adult animation and hopefully give you a YouTube binge of these must-see cartoons.
Be sure to check out our list of underrated 90s cartoons worth a revisit, and reach out to Flickering Myth to tell us our favorites…
Extreme Dinosaurs
As the Street Sharks spin-off that no one ever remembers, Extreme Dinosaurs is a perfect candidate to revisit. Since this is a spin-off of something that already served as a rip-off of Ninja Turtles, you wouldn’t think there would be much material to mine with this property, and you’d be slightly correct. It’s derivative but somehow still so fun.
Screaming, “Let’s Fossilize Him,” there’s almost no shame in their game, and it feels fun to watch something try so hard to be like its peers but also attempt its own path. There are some apparent similarities to shows like it at the time, but the use of dinosaurs allows for some great puns and character design. As anyone from the Jurassic Park-heyday will tell you, you will not turn down anything with cool dinosaurs.
Monster Force
It’s wild that this forgotten 90s cartoon is still better than Universal’s live-action attempt at a horror cinematic universe. Created by the wonderfully on-brand Marv Wolfman, Monster Force saw a wonderful mix of the 90’s action cartoons we all loved with a Universal Horror twist. It was fresh and unique then, and there’s still nothing like this.
The classic horror-inspired make this feel nostalgic to not only the 90s but back to when the Universal Horror Monsters ruled the world. If you were a fan of The Monster Squad from 1987, you’d enjoy this much-more action-centered outing. Out of all the cartoons listed here, this one feels primed for a modern retelling, which would let younger viewers discover the iconic monsters on their own.
Swat Kats
If you’re familiar with this title, it’s because Swat Kats is probably the most well-known out of all these overlooked animated shows. Still, this Hanna-Barbera production is often forgotten when looking at cartoons that shaped the 1990s. Sadly, the “violent” nature of the show led Ted Turner to brush it under the rug swiftly. That didn’t stop its cult-like following.
SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron made such an impression on fans, leading to years of fandom and calling for a reboot. That wish could become a reality as show co-creator Christian Tremblay opened up about bringing the series back last year. There’s been no word, but this overlooked gem could get another chance at mainstream love.
The Critic
Along with Swat Katz, this might be one of the most well-received shows included here, but there’s a large group of film and television that doesn’t know the glory that is The Critic. This was meta before we all knew what the term was; somehow, it lovingly mocked the world of film criticism while inspiring an entire generation to get into the business.
The series is also the only television series ever reviewed by Siskel and Ebert; that’s an insane feat, especially for something so early into adult animation. For being such an essential part of pop culture, it’s a shame that it isn’t still as beloved today. You can see the essence of this show all over snarky YouTube film critics, but none hit the level of the beloved Jay Sherman and his pitch-perfect move reviews.
The Savage Dragon
Image Comics was onto something in the 90s. Not only did they manufacture the iconic anti-hero Spawn, but they also gave us Savage Dragon, which became the criminally underrated series The Savage Dragon. The green-skinned, finned bad-ass gave us two seasons of surprisingly engaging cartoon action, feeling more adult than its peers.
Thankfully this isn’t one of the shows lost in time, as you can currently stream it on Peacock. The Savage Dragon show deserves a revisit simply because of the last power of its titular hero. Creator Erik Larsen has put a lot of time into making this character stick with fans, and even without a cartoon still, you can see why our green dragon remains loved.
Samurai Pizza Cats
This early 90s gem feels like a total fever dream when you watch it now. With its tacky 80s Japanese style influencing the vibe, Samurai Pizza Cats is somewhere in between Dragon Ball and Animaniacs in sheer WTF value. That’s not to say the show has no merits, though, as it’s a delightful watch that feels unique compared to today’s cartoons.
It’s no shock that this came from Saban Entertainment, a king of bringing the strangest things from Japan to English viewers. Thankfully, they did find this, even if the lack of studio notes and no translations led to Samurai Pizza Cats becoming something very different here than its original run. Whether serious or campy, the show is a treat and worth revisiting.
Beetlejuice
For having four seasons and Tim Burton’s involvement, you’d think the animated Beetlejuice series would be as beloved as the original 1988 film. But sadly, this spooky and kooky cartoon is often forgotten by fans, even diehard Tim Burton lovers. If you happen to have missed this must-see series, go out of your way to find a way to watch this deliriously good time.
What works best here is their liberties with the source material, reshaping the series to something just as good. Making Beetlejuice & Lydia friends helps remove any creepiness in their relationship, giving viewers an actual team to get invested in. This led to amazing adventures and lasting memories that carried the fandom for years between the original and the upcoming sequel from Burton.
The Mighty Ducks
Of all the “let’s turn something into the next Ninja Turtles,” The Mighty Ducks might be among the oddest. Instead of following the formula set in the films, the cartoon made them literal ducks who fought against evil dragons. Despite that insane logline, it’s a reasonably fun cartoon offering a different spin on its existing IP.
Since Disney+ still streams the series, it’s not as overlooked as others, but it’s wild to think Disney got away from making one of its beloved live-action films into a cartoon ripping off another. Instead of spending time with whatever new Marvel or Star Wars project Disney releases, revisit the cartoon that gave us the now iconic Wildwing, who is still the mascot for the actual hockey team.
What is your favorite 90s overlooked cartoon? Did I miss one of the most iconic of the underrated? Share your thoughts and memories by reaching out to Flickering Myth’s social channels @FlickeringMyth…
EJ Moreno
