Most people have a favorite cartoon they were born watching. They might even come back to it when they need a pick-me-up. Some might also have a cartoon they hate, where even the mention of it makes them angry and ready to argue their case.
Not every cartoon is going to stand the test of time, and not every favorite childhood show is going to elicit the same belly laughs they did 20 years ago. There are plenty of cartoons that may have been fan favorites for seemingly indiscernible reasons; however, there are fewer that seem undeserving of the popularity they garnered.
10 The Underdog Might Have Been Just That, If Only He Was Interesting
Few may remember the odd 2007 Disney flick The Underdog, which somehow brought Kronk, Tyrion Lannister, and Earl together on the big screen, and fewer remember the original 1964 cartoon. Still, the canine Superman is a classic amongst nostalgic baby boomers and the occasional five-year-old.
Unfortunately, a canine Superman is all Underdog ended up being. His stories, personality, costume, and even love interest was an almost carbon copy of the Man of Steel, only smaller and fuzzier. Not even an adolescent Taylor Momsen could save this franchise from its unfortunate return to obscurity.
9 Digimon Rode On The Coattails Of Pokémon And Failed
Digimon was adapted from a 1997 Japanese toy marketed as the "masculine" version of Tamagotchi. Each series follows a different human child as they venture into the Digital World with their cyberspace pets. For obvious reasons, comparisons have been made between this series and the more popular Japanese children's series, Pokémon.
Far too many similarities exist between the two, including their premises, their episode plots, and even their stock characters. Whether it's laziness or plagiarism that made Digimon so referential, it's clear its creators took more than a few cues from the Nintendo powerhouse, much to the dismay of potential fans looking for a fresh new take on the pocket monster genre.
8 Both Bojack Horseman And His Show Are Beyond Saving
Raphael Bob-Waksberg's raunchy celebrity parody show, Bojack Horseman, is a favorite amongst fans for its hilarious and hyperbolic portrayal of celebrity life. However, critics and former fans agree the aging Will Arnett-voiced horse is too toxic for a protagonist. The show also tends to trivialize addiction.
Despite the seemingly natural success of the first season and its lighter humor, the following seasons became progressively dark and offensive. TikTok and Twitter are brimming with fans' takes on the unfortunate downfall of Bojack Horseman, most sighting the protagonist's unreliable nature and refusal to become a better person as the cause for their rejection of the show.
7 Phineas And Ferb Somehow Made Summer Boring
The premise of this 2007 Disney cartoon revolved around two brothers building things in their backyard. It's a simple enough formula that seems difficult to make uninteresting. Other cartoons like Jimmy Neutron and Dexter's Laboratory have successfully executed the child genius archetype, but they've also made their protagonists flawed and deep characters.
On the contrary, Phineas and Ferb somehow failed to do the same for four seasons. The titular brothers are given little personality beyond their knack for invention throughout the show's eight-year run, as is the case with their friends and family. For a show that's so character-centric, it's disappointing its characters didn't develop past one dimension.
6 Fans Have Placed "Batman: The Animated Series" On A Pedestal It Can't Get Down From
When Warner Bros. Animation premiered the gothic animated Batman series in 1992, DC fans were ecstatic to see a true-to-comics film noir adaptation of The Dark Knight's adventures. They were rightfully excited because Batman: TAS went on to become the most memorable on-screen portrayal of the masked vigilante.
In fact, there's little negative to say about the show itself. It introduced a lot of new Batman fans to Gotham and its villainous underground in a way that was stylistically striking and accurate to the source material. However, what makes Batman: The Animated Series so overrated is how often fans over-hype this '90s classic, making it seem much better than it is, despite its occasionally mediocre writing.
5 Ladybug and Cat Noir's Game Of Chicken Has Gone On Too Long (Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Cat Noir
This French cartoon follows the adventures of two teen superheroes, Ladybug and Cat Noir, as they battle Parisian villains and their complicated feelings for each other. One of the show's running conflicts is between the two main heroes themselves. They know each other outside of crime-fighting but somehow never recognize each other's superhero identities.
To the annoyance of many fans, this conflict is yet to be resolved, causing some to lose interest in the show for its overly drawn-out romantic tension. Aside from that, critics often condemn the show for its repetitive and unoriginal writing.
4 Nickelodeon Was Right To Give Up On Doug
The '90s Nickelodeon-turned-Disney classic, Doug, has long been considered a staple of both networks' '90s and '00s animated catalogs. However, fans have since spoken out against the show for its poor writing and characterization.
As is commonplace amongst '90s cartoons, Doug's diverse cast of characters are as one-dimensional as they are oddly designed. The main character spends the entire series facing incredibly trivial issues, not to mention his ability to somehow make any situation turn out in his favor. Doug rarely grows throughout the show's five seasons, and whatever lessons he does learn are forgotten by the next episode.
3 The Loud House Got Too Loud, And Fans Aren't Happy
Dubbed the 2010s answer to the success of SpongeBob SquarePants in the '90s and '00s, The Loud House is a quirky ensemble show following eleven-year-old Lincoln and his ten sisters. Much like the underwater fry-cook, Lincoln Loud quickly grabbed the attention and viewership of young audiences.
However, Nickelodeon tried too hard to match SpongeBob's influence and immediately took to creating spin-offs, a Netflix movie, and countless merchandise. These efforts may have been justified had The Loud House not been written with one-note stock characters making up its main cast.
2 We Bare Bears Never Seemed To Find Its Footing
Daniel Chong's animated Cartoon Network sitcom, We Bare Bears, follows a brown bear, a polar bear, and a panda as they attempt to join human society in San Francisco. The show adopts the slice-of-life trend popularized by shows like Steven Universe and Adventure Time, but with little success.
What makes the Crystal Gems' and Finn and Jake's everyday stories so enjoyable is how they're told between more fantastical adventures and battles. While We Bare Bears certainly has enjoyable episodes, its characters never seem to develop past their initial archetypes, and too many of its episodes leave questions about the characters and their stories unanswered.
1 The Original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cartoon Doesn't Live Up To Its Successors
Since its comic debut in 1984, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has become a staple of American pop culture and an animation juggernaut. Despite the franchise's overall success, the original TMNT cartoon falls short of the turtles' charisma and intrigue.
While its flawed animation is due to its '80s production, there's no excuse for this cartoon's lackluster writing. Its overly episodic nature and many unresolved story arcs make watching the 1987 cartoon more of a chore than a casual, relaxing experience.