10 Forgotten Cartoons From The Early '00s Still Worth Watching

Published Aug 1, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The 2000s are home to some of the best animated TV shows of all time, and with so many cartoons to choose from, other great ones faded into obscurity, but they are still worth watching. The 1990s were a big decade for cartoons, with the emergence of blocks like Nicktoons and Cartoon Cartoons that launched now classic animated shows like The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rugrats, Dexter’s Laboratory, and Johnny Bravo. The 1990s set the bar high when it comes to cartoons, but the 2000s knew how to carry on with that popularity and reach an even wider and newer audience. The 2000s brought iconic animated shows like Phineas and Ferb and The Fairly OddParents, while other shows that premiered at the end of the 1990s peaked throughout the next decade, as was the case for The Powerpuff Girls, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Recess. However, many other great cartoons didn’t achieve mainstream success for different reasons. Some of these animated shows were overshadowed by other, bigger, and more popular cartoons released around the same time or with similar concepts, while others didn’t get the marketing support they deserved or were affected by bad scheduling. Still, despite now being mostly forgotten, these TV shows are still worth watching, and they will bring a good dose of nostalgia for those who did watch them when they first aired. Dave the Barbarian (2004-2005) Created by Doug Langdale, Dave the Barbarian premiered on Disney Channel in 2004 and ran for one season with 21 episodes, ending in 2005. Dave the Barbarian takes viewers back to the Middle Ages, to the kingdom of Udrogoth, to meet Dave, a cowardly barbarian. Dave’s parents, the king and queen of Udrogoth, are away on a mission, so Dave’s older sister is in charge as princess regent, while Dave is tasked with defending the kingdom. The siblings (including their youngest sister, Fang), along with their “wizard” uncle Oswidge, face various threats, most notably the evil yet comical Dark Lord Chuckles the Silly Piggy. Dave the Barbarian has a different kind of humor from other Disney cartoon shows, which is both its strength and what kept it from achieving mainstream success – but that’s also why Dave the Barbarian is worth watching. Time Squad (2001-2003) Time Squad was created by Dave Wasson and was part of Cartoon Network’s Cartoon Cartoons block. Time Squad follows a group of “time cops” from the far future formed by physically strong but dim-witted Buck, robot Larry 3000, and history buff Otto who travel back in time to correct the course of history. Thanks to this, the squad meets alternate versions of historical figures like Julius Caesar, Moctezuma, Leonardo da Vinci, and many more, whom they try to take on the right path. Time Squad’s absurd comedy, alternate history approach, and character dynamic make it one of the most underrated animated shows of the 2000s. Generation O! (2000-2001) Created by David Hale, Tim Newman, James Proimos, and Suzanne Collins, Generation O! aired on Kids’ WB for one season with 13 episodes. Generation O! follows eight-year-old Molly O, a rockstar and lead singer of the band Generation O!, along with her cousin and guitarist Eddie, kangaroo drummer Yo-Yo, and older British bassist Nub. In addition to everything that comes with having a successful band, Molly also deals with being a kid, school, friendships, and her annoying brother Buzz. Suzanne Collins is the author of The Hunger Games book series. Generation O! had catchy songs, relatable characters, and a unique main character who was both a kid going through what kids her age do and a rockstar going on exciting adventures. Unfortunately, Generation O! had a very short run, didn’t get the marketing support it needed, only a few episodes were released on VHS, and it’s absent from streaming platforms, further making it forgettable, but it stands as one of the coolest cartoons of the decade. Tracey McBean (2002-2006) Tracey McBean aired on ABC Kids for three seasons, from 2002 to 2006. Tracey McBean centers on the title nine-year-old girl who is a brilliant inventor. Tracey’s inventions are a bit of everything: from stuff for school competitions to objects to make life easier to some through which she tries to stop her annoying younger sister, Megan. Tracey McBean has a strong female lead character who also has an incredible creative mind that not only allows her to invent great things but also to solve different types of problems. Tracey McBean also leans into comedy, with Tracey’s inventions often backfiring and thus making way for hilarious moments. Sheep in the Big City (2000-2002) Created by Mo Willems, Sheep in the Big City was part of Cartoon Cartoons, and it aired on Cartoon Network for two seasons. Sheep in the Big City follows a one-of-a-kind character: a runaway sheep, named Sheep, who is getting used to his new life in the Big City. Sheep leaves the farm as a Secret Military Organization wants him for an experiment. Because of this, Sheep must balance city life, new friends, a romantic relationship, and running away from the organization. Sheep in the Big City is one of the funniest and cleverest cartoons of the decade, with brilliant meta-humor, visual gags, wordplay, and a unique character, as Sheep never speaks, but he definitely knows how to communicate. Unfortunately, a mix of low viewership, changes to its schedule, and its different comedic style led to Sheep in the Big City unfairly becoming a forgotten show. Dragon Tales (1999-2005) One of the most beloved animated shows from the 2000s, but also a forgotten one, is Dragon Tales. Created by Ron Rodecker and Jim Coane, Dragon Tales follows siblings Emmy and Max, who, through an enchanted dragon scale and a special rhyme, are transported to Dragon Land. There they befriend four dragons, and they all go on different quests and adventures together. At the end of each episode, Emmy and Max return to Earth by reciting another rhyme. Although Dragon Tales is aimed at a very young audience, it appealed to a wider audience that stayed thanks to its feel-good pace, characters, and stories. However, a lack of reruns, no reboots, and a relatively short run compared to other educational shows led to it becoming forgotten, but those who remember it do so fondly. Fillmore! (2002-2004) Created by Scott M. Gimple, Fillmore! aired on ABC and Toon Disney from 2002 to 2004, for a total of 26 episodes. Fillmore! follows Cornelius Fillmore, a seventh grader and juvenile delinquent with a record (as he was caught raiding the school’s chalk shipment). Fillmore is given a choice by the patrol officer: he could either spend the rest of middle school in detention or help him solve another case. Of course, Fillmore chooses the latter, and he ends up joining the safety patrol. Fillmore! is a fun but clever parody of police dramas, with the title character and company taking on cases that end up addressing important themes. Unfortunately, Fillmore! arrived during a time of transition at Disney, being the last show produced by Walt Disney Television Animation for ABC, leading to it having an unfairly short run. Braceface (2001-2004) Created by Melissa Clark, Braceface aired on Teletoon for three seasons, from 2001 to 2004. Braceface introduces viewers to Sharon Spitz, a high school student who gets braces. If that wasn’t already tough, Sharon’s braces get her into the most bizarre moments as they are somehow electrically charged, thus messing with communication channels and more. This, of course, is on top of dealing with mean girls at school, family dynamics, and her crush, Alden. Braceface is funny, relatable, and knew how to address themes like peer pressure, divorce, self-esteem, and even Sharon’s first period. Unfortunately, an inconsistent broadcast, episodes that didn’t air for whatever reason, and some “taboo” themes (such as Sharon’s first period), stopped Braceface from being better known and thus remembered by more. The Weekenders (2000-2004) Created by Doug Langdale, The Weekenders aired from 2000 to 2004 for just two seasons. The Weekenders centers on best friends Tino, Lor, Carver, and Tish, seventh-graders who do their best to enjoy their weekends to the max. As such, every episode of The Weekenders is set over the course of a weekend, and they go on a variety of adventures in just three days. The Weekenders has a unique narrative structure, relatable characters, and running gags that invite the audience to stay. Despite having everything to succeed, a change of network and a slower pace compared to contemporary shows led The Weekenders to become forgotten. As Told By Ginger (2000-2006) As Told By Ginger was created by Emily Kapnek and ran for three seasons on Nickelodeon, from 2000 to 2006. As Told By Ginger follows junior high school student Ginger Foutley, who, along with her best friends Dodie and Macie, does her best to navigate adolescence, family, school, relationships, and more. Unlike most cartoons, the characters of As Told By Ginger grew up alongside its audience, and it had serialized storytelling. While those are some of the strengths of the show, they ultimately played against it and stopped As Told By Ginger from achieving mainstream popularity. However, As Told By Ginger is still worth watching thanks to its evolution in every season, how it addressed mature themes, its character development and depth, and how relatable it is. Release Date 2000 - 2016-00-00 Network Nickelodeon Directors Ron Noble, Michael Daedalus Kenny, Dean Criswell, Mark Risley, Joseph Scott, Anthony Bell, Carol Millican, Frank Marino, Andrei Svislotski, Cathy Malkasian Writers Erin Ehrlich Cast Melissa Disney Dodie Bishop (voice) Aspen Miller Buddy Baker (voice) Liz Georges Dr. Leventhal (voice) Kenn Michael Mr. Patterson (voice) Creator(s) Kate Boutilier, Emily Kapnek, Eryk Casemiro, Gabor Csupo