8 Greatest Kids' Shows Set In The '90s

Published Aug 20, 2026, 7:15 PM EDT Memory Ngulube joined Screen Rant in April 2024 as part of the Movies and TV team. Since then, she has written for the Perennials and Streaming team, covering a wide range of topics from new releases to old movies and TV shows. Memory is currently a Classic TV writer. Before joining Screen Rant, Memory was a freelance copywriter who specialized in email marketing and social media management. While she enjoyed her job, her true passion was always movies and TV. When she isn’t writing for Screen Rant, Memory can be found reading, baking (which is one of her passions), or watching her favorite K-drama. The 1990s remain one of the most nostalgic decades in history, particularly because of the era's influence on movies, TV shows, and music. Even now, the ‘90s serve as a backdrop to tell stories about growing up, friendship, family, and the strange experience of being a kid right before smartphones and social media changed everything. There is, of course, something appealing about a kids' show set in the ‘90s other than the nostalgia factor. TV shows set in the decade feel timeless because they tend to capture the same emotions of the era that kids have to deal with today. The themes that are explored in these '90s kids' TV shows are relevant and thus still hold up, despite the amount of time that has passed. One can argue that today's children's series aren’t as good as those that debuted in the 1990s. In fact, kids' TV shows from the popular era are so beloved that some of them have been revived or reimagined... often to diminished returns. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993–1996) The Power Rangers franchise is one of the most enduring children's entertainment franchises, with the 1993 series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers starting a global phenomenon that would span decades and include several iterations. The series follows a group of teenagers chosen to become superheroes known as the Power Rangers, who are tasked with protecting Angel Grove from Rita Repulsa and a seemingly endless army of monsters. As much as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is filled with action, terrifying villains, and larger-than-life superheroes, the TV show also had important things to say, like the power of friendship and teamwork. Although Mighty Morphin Power Rangers can look campy by modern standards, that over-the-top quality is part of the series’ charm, and its ability to make superhero adventures feel accessible to children helped turn it into one of the defining kids' shows of the 1990s. Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1991-2000) The horror genre isn’t typically kid-friendly, but Are You Afraid of the Dark? manages to tell scary stories that a young audience can enjoy. In the series The Midnight Society, a group of teenagers who secretly meet in the woods tells one another terrifying supernatural stories. Each episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? introduces a different tale involving ghosts or unexplained mysteries. An Are You Afraid of the Dark? reboot premiered in 2019 and aired for three seasons until 2022. Are You Afraid of the Dark? understood how much young audiences enjoy being scared without going too far. It offered genuinely creepy stories while keeping its storylines accessible to younger viewers and encouraging children to embrace their imaginations and curiosity. The show's campfire storytelling format also gives it a distinctly nostalgic quality, perfectly capturing the '90s experience of kids entertaining themselves without smartphones or the internet. The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1991-1996) Before children's television became dominated by polished franchises, The Adventures of Pete & Pete took a completely different approach to storytelling. The Nickelodeon series follows two brothers who share the same name, Big Pete and Little Pete, as they grow up in the bizarre suburban town of Wellsville. Big Pete and Little Pete deal with everything from eccentric neighbors to school bullies, all while maintaining an irreverent sense of humor. The Adventures of Pete & Pete excels at taking its young audience’s imagination seriously, something which can be lacking in other kids' shows. The 1994 series makes the weirdness of growing up feel exciting, thereby reminding its viewers that even the most mundane parts of childhood can become unforgettable adventures. Compared to other kids' TV shows released in the 1990s, The Adventures of Pete & Pete has a distinct style that gives it an endearing personality. Hey Arnold! (1996-2004) Kids' TV shows can sometimes be written off for not including stories that have a strong emotional anchor, but Hey Arnold! found the balance between depth and being a fun series. At the center of the TV show is Arnold, a thoughtful and optimistic fourth grader who lives with his grandparents in a quirky boarding house in the city of Hillwood. Like many kids his age, the titular character has to deal with the pains of growing up. Hey Arnold! is both relatable and mature. Episodes such as “Helga's Makeover” have a kind of emotional weight that one doesn’t expect from kids' shows because it deals with themes of self-esteem, acceptance, and identity. One of the most memorable episodes, “Parents Day,” involves Arnold learning about what happened to his parents and delves into the impact of absent parents and family separation. The Secret World of Alex Mack (1994-1998) The Secret World of Alex Mack demonstrated that the 1990s were a boon of excellent sci-fi TV, even for children. The show follows Alex, an ordinary teenage girl whose life changes after she is accidentally exposed to a mysterious chemical called GC-161, which gives her abilities such as telekinesis, electrical powers, and the ability to transform into a puddle of liquid. Whenever we encounter a story that begins like this in TV shows, the outcome is usually that the person with powers will immediately become a superhero. The Secret World of Alex Mack is different in that Alex doesn’t decide to use her new abilities for good just when she gets them. The series’ hook instead is that the titular character has to figure out how to live with these powers while keeping them hidden from her parents, classmates, and the company desperately trying to recover the chemical. This creates a fun combination of science fiction, comedy, and teenage drama, as Alex must worry about everything from controlling her powers to surviving school. Gargoyles (1994-1997) Gargoyles is one of the most influential TV shows from the 1990s that still resonates with audiences. In fact, the franchise's influence has extended beyond the original television series, with the TV show's story continuing in video games and comic books. More significantly, Disney has spent years attempting to bring the property back to television. A live-action Gargoyles reboot for Disney+ was announced in 2023, with James Wan's Atomic Monster attached to produce and Gary Dauberman serving as showrunner. Disney has not publicly provided the full details of the reported live-action series, such as its release date or whether it will continue the original story or create something entirely new, but it still proves that the '90s show remains in the pop culture conversation. The Tick (1994-1997) A list of the best kids' shows from the 1990s is incomplete without the inclusion of The Tick. The superhero series follows The Tick, a nearly indestructible but hilariously clueless superhero, and his reluctant sidekick Arthur. Together, Arthur and The Tick protect the City from an assortment of villains and threats, often while barely understanding what is happening around them. The Tick parodies superhero conventions without simply making fun of them. The titular character genuinely believes in being a hero. His exaggerated optimism and bizarre logic create situations that are both funny and surprisingly wholesome. Arthur provides the perfect contrast. While The Tick charges into danger without thinking, Arthur is the anxious, practical one who frequently has to keep his partner from making things worse. Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) Via MovieStillsDB At first glance, Batman: The Animated Series doesn’t seem like a kids' TV show. After all, its dark tone and mature themes can come off as something that isn’t meant for children. However, the opposite is true. The familiar story of a billionaire who spends his nights protecting Gotham City as Batman, aka the Caped Crusader, has been told several times, yet there is something special about Batman: The Animated Series because even decades after its debut, the show is still considered a masterpiece. Batman: The Animated Series is more than just a fun superhero story. Rather than simply fighting criminals, Batman investigates mysteries, uncovers conspiracies, and confronts some of DC's most memorable villains, including the Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, and the Riddler. The series also explores Bruce's relationships with Robin, Commissioner Gordon, and Alfred, giving Gotham and its inhabitants more depth than a typical children's superhero cartoon.