MTV was known for music videos and reality TV back in the 90s, but many viewers forget that the network also had a diverse lineup of adult animated series. Many fan favorites only ran for one or two seasons, but they each left their mark on the cartoon world.
Their influences show up in modern fan-favorite series, and many of the creators of these shows have gone on to create cult classics on Adult Swim and other networks. Some of these cartoons were relatable, some were funny, and some were downright weird. Either way, no other network was producing such oddball curiosities at the time, and even today, fans still like to rewatch some of their favorite cartoons and bathe in the nostalgic glory of yesteryear.
10 The Brothers Grunt Was Lovably Terrible
The Brothers Grunt was one of the stranger offerings in MTV's animated lineup. It was created by Danny Antonucci, who would later go on to create the Cartoon Network fan-favorite series Ed, Edd n Eddy. The show features a zany cast of hideous human-like creatures who are on a quest to find their missing brother.
The characters are grotesque, the humor is cringe-worthy. Each of the characters was named after 50s crooners, and that was just the start of the weirdness that this short-lived show had to offer. The Brothers Grunt was one animated series that fans and critics loved to hate, but it's still worth checking out.
9 The Head Is An Everyman In Crazy Circumstances
The Head has a classic premise: a relatable Everyman is thrown into a larger-than-life situation and hilarity ensues. In the case of trade school student, Jim, the situation is his own head.
Jim wakes up one morning to find that his head has swollen to a massive ovoid shape, and it's not long before a little purple alien named Roy pops out of it. The banter between Jim and Roy is a big part of what made The Head a winner – their personalities follow the classic Odd Couple scenario, and their opposite qualities are the source of the series' laughs. The Head was one of several 90s-era projects created by director Eric Fogel for MTV.
8 Station Zero Had A Unique Premise
Station Zero was one of those shows that won over audiences with its unusual premise. It's based on a comic strip from The Source and follows four Bronx teenagers through the various misadventures that come from running their own public access television show. The dynamic cast of teens represents several different aspects of 90s culture and their charm is infectious.
Unfortunately, Station Zero only ran for one 20-episode season before being canceled due to low ratings. However, there has been renewed interest in the series recently, including a rumor that it may be picked up by Paramount+ for streaming in the near future. As far as representation in cartoons goes, most shows are severely lacking. Station Zero was a brief respite from the sameness pervasive in television everywhere (even today).
7 Liquid Television Birthed A Niche Genre
In many ways, Liquid Television was the series that started it all. The show ran in short, quick-burst segments – a format that has since been imitated by countless animators and creators. The series featured a plethora of great music from the 80s and 90s in every episode and was truly an immersive viewing experience. It included multiple types of animation: cut-out, puppetry, claymation, and many more, providing a what-will-happen-next quality to the proceedings.
Some of the most recognizable MTV cartoons, such as Beavis & Butt-head and Daria, actually got their start as segments on Liquid Television. The MTV animated lineup of the 90s could not have existed without this risk-taking series.
6 Downtown Is An Emmy-Nominated Gem
Downtown was a series that had a limited run but for those who have taken time within its world, it is a memorable experience. The story follows a cast of diverse young people through the trials and tribulations of New York City life. The cast spanned multiple races and cultures, providing fans generous representation on the small screen.
What's unique about this underrated animated series is that the issues faced by the characters were directly inspired by interviews with real people about their experiences living in NYC – providing something of a time capsule of its era. At the time, Downtown resonated with twenty-somethings, but only ran for a truncated 13 episodes before cancelation. It was even nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program.
5 The Maxx Brought A Strange Comic Book To Life
The Maxx got its start as a dark (emphasis on dark) humor comic series that ran for five years in the mid-90s. The television spin-off features the eponymous character who waffles back and forth between the real world in which he's a homeless person, and the imaginary "Outback," the name given to the subconscious in the comics. Many characters have psychic links to each other, and the series features some unusual psychological elements that set it apart from other series in this genre (an already limited form).
The Maxx is a hero – sort of – who is constantly bailed out of jail by a social worker named Julie. The miniseries ran for thirteen episodes and gave audiences an inside look at the unique psychology of the fictional world created in the comic series. In the current state of IP-run series, the 90s was an opportunity for networks like MTV to support unique comic storytelling and share it on a wide scale.
4 Beavis & Butt-Head Were A National Sensation
Beavis & Butt-Head is one of the most iconic animated series of its day – the characters are household names – and drew a massive audience to MTV's cartoon lineup. Mike Judge (King of the Hill) created Beavis & Butt-head for MTV in the early 90s, which quickly became a shorthand for those in the know. The series even spawned a theatrical release during its heyday. Good news for loyalists: Beavis & Butt-Head has been given new life in a reboot series on Paramount+ (coming soon).
Judge voices both main characters who use satire and sarcasm to poke fun at society, each other, and a litany of neighbors who can't stand the two. A lot of the humor was lowbrow and made audiences cringe, but the social commentary was on par with the likes of early South Park.
3 Aeon Flux Spawned Is A Cult Favorite
Aeon Flux was among the most well-loved of the 90s MTV lineup. The series follows the title character through a futuristic dystopia populated by mutants, robots, and other modified humanoids. Aeon Flux has the rare distinction of being an animated drama, rather than a comedy or sitcom. The show was so popular that it has since been adapted into a comic, a video game, and a 2005 live-action movie starring Charlize Theron as the title hero.
What's more, Aeon Flux is due to receive the live-action reboot treatment. At the time of its initial appearance, there was nothing like it – this was back in 1991 – and Peter Chung's distinct style was in a league of its own. Chung's 1999 epic, Alexander Senki (aka Reign: The Conqueror) is also worth taking a look at.
2 Celebrity Deathmatch Changed The Face Of Claymation
MTV's unforgettable claymation series, Celebrity Deathmatch, was unlike anything audiences had ever seen when it premiered in the late 90s. The show features various pop culture icons battling it out in an old-school wrestling ring, which quickly escalates into over-the-top violence. The gore, rendered in claymation is as grotesque as it is hilarious.
Everything from the hosts to the referee is completely absurd in Celebrity Deathmatch, and present-day viewers will love the 90s-era celebrities even more than they did when it originally aired. However, this show is a case of the "right place, right time" approach: several attempts to reboot the series have completely failed over the last two decades.
1 Daria Depicted A Typical 90s High School Experience
Daria is a prime example of how important relatability can be to the success of a show. The series perfectly depicted a typical high school experience in the 90s, distilled into a minimalist format: jocks, popular kids, freaks, and nerds swarmed the halls as reluctant Daria and her best friend, Jane, did their best to survive the mundanity of their everyday lives.
Even better than the school dynamic was Daria's family unit: zany father, out-of-touch mother, and "popular girl" sister who wasn't as airheaded as she seemed. Daria reboots have been hinted at on and off for years, but it's unlikely that anyone could improve on this 90s classic.