Here are the top 50 best 90s cartoons of all time. We are instantly transported back to our formative years once cartoons are mentioned. During those carefree days, we spent every spare moment discussing or collecting trading cards of our favorite cartoons or superheroes. In contrast to the magical worlds with damsels in distress, prince charmings, and fantastical villains, they were less prevalent in 1990s cartoons. We present a list of all the most popular animated series from the 1990s.
1. Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry is a 1940 comedy short film series and animated media franchise created in the United States by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. The series centers on the rivalry between the lead characters, a cat named Tom and a mouse named Jerry, and is most known for its 161 theatrical short films made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Recurring characters are a common feature in short films.
2. The Rescuers Down Under
A 1990 American animated adventure movie, The Rescuers Down Under, was created by Walt Disney Feature Animation and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.
In The Rescuers Down Under, Bernard and Bianca travel to the Australian Outback to save Cody from a cruel poacher who wants to catch an endangered bird of prey for money.
3. Goof Troop
Walt Disney Television Animation produces the American animated comedic television series, Goof Troop. The show centers on the connection between single-parent Goofy, his kid Max, and their neighbors Pete and his family. Robert Taylor and Michael Peraza Jr. created it. In addition, a Christmas special was developed, which was broadcast in syndication in late 1992.
4. Beauty and the Beast
Walt Disney Pictures released Bill Condon’s 1991 American animated musical romantic fantasy picture Beauty and the Beast.
The relationship between the Beast, a prince who magically changed into a monster, and his attendants into household items as punishment for his hubris, and Belle, a young woman whom he imprisons in his castle in return for her father, is the subject of Beauty and the Beast. The Beast must fall in love with Belle and win her heart before the final petal of an enchanted rose falls to break the enchantment; else, he will remain a monster for all time.
5. Aladdin
The 1992 American animated musical fantasy comedy film Aladdin was co-created by Walt Disney Feature Animation and Walt Disney Pictures.
The film’s main character, an Arabian street urchin named Aladdin, discovers a magical lamp containing a genie. While the Sultan’s wicked vizier, Jafar, plots to steal the magical lamp for his own goals, Aladdin disguises himself as a wealthy prince with the genie’s help to marry the Sultan’s free-spirited daughter, Princess Jasmine.
6. Lady and the Tramp
Lady and the Tramp is a 1955 American animated musical romance film directed by Walt Disney and distributed by Buena Vista Film Distribution.
Lady and the Tramp are based on Ward Greene’s 1945 Cosmopolitan magazine short story “Happy Dan, The Cynical Dog,” and follows Lady, an American Cocker Spaniel who lives with an upper-middle-class, prosperous family, and Tramp, a stray male mongrel. After having several romantic moments together, the two dogs fell in love.
7. The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated musical drama film[4] directed by Tim Burton and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff directed it.
In the African setting of The Lion King, a young lion called Simba will succeed his father, Mufasa, as King of the Pride Lands. However, after Simba’s paternal uncle Scar murders Mufasa to claim the throne, Simba is duped into believing he is to blame and flees into exile. Simba, who grew up with the carefree misfits Timon and Pumbaa, seeks advice from his childhood friend Nala and his shaman Rafiki before confronting Scar and taking his place.
8. Pocahontas
Based on the story of Powhatan lady Pocahontas and the arrival of English colonial immigrants from the Virginia Company, Pocahontas is a 1995 American animated musical historical drama film.
The story of Pocahontas meets John Smith and supposedly sparing his life is romanticized in the movie. Walt Disney Feature Animation created the movie, distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the sixth movie created and released under the Disney Renaissance and the studio’s 33rd animated feature picture overall.
9. Pinocchio
The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, an Italian children’s book published in 1883, served as the inspiration for the 1940 American animated musical fantasy film Pinocchio, created by Walt Disney Productions.
A wooden puppet named Pinocchio is carved by an elderly Italian woodworker named Geppetto, who desires could be a real youngster throughout the story. A blue fairy awakens the puppet, telling him he may become a real boy if he shows himself to be “brave, sincere, and selfless.”
Jiminy Cricket, the leading figure in the story, serves as Pinocchio’s conscience and tries to teach him the difference between good and wrong. In his quest to become a genuine boy, Pinocchio runs across several sketchy individuals that stand in for life’s temptations.
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Walt Disney’s 1937 American animated musical fantasy film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released by RKO Radio Pictures.
It is based on the Brothers Grimm’s 1812 German fairy tale and is the first full-length conventionally animated feature film and the first Disney-animated feature picture.
Innocent Snow White is put to death by the ruthless queen, who is envious of her beauty, only to find that Snow White is still alive and has been hiding in a hut with seven compassionate young miners. Snow White receives a poisoned apple from the queen, who is a bog, and falls into a deathly sleep that the prince’s kiss can only break.
11. Fantasia
The construction of the 1940 American animated musical anthology film Fantasia, written and directed by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer, was overseen by Walt Disney and Ben Sharpsteen.
The third Disney animated feature film consists of eight animated parts set to classical compositions conducted by Leopold Stokowski, with seven of the pieces performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. What began as a method to further Mickey Mouse’s career evolved into a full-fledged feature that is still unrivaled in animation history.
12. Dumbo
Walt Disney directed the 1941 American animated fantasy film Dumbo, released by RKO Radio Pictures. The main character is Jumbo Jr., an elephant cruelly referred to as “Dumbo,” as in “stupid.” He is made fun of for having big ears, yet he can fly by using them as wings. Timothy, the mouse, is his only true friend, aside from his mother, and their friendship plays on the stereotypical rivalry between mice and elephants.
13. Robin Hood
The 1973 American animated musical adventure picture Robin Hood was produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Distribution. It is based on the same-named English folktale, but the characters are given animal anthropomorphic interpretations.
The story follows Little John, Robin Hood, and the citizens of Nottingham as they battle Prince John’s oppressive taxes and see Robin Hood win Maid Marian’s hand.
14. Peter Pan
Peter Pan is an American animated fantasy adventure film produced in 1953 by Walt Disney Productions, based on J. M. Barrie’s 1904 play Peter Pan.
Wendy and her two brothers are taken aback when Peter Pan, a supernatural kid, soars into their bedroom while reportedly following his wayward shadow. He and his fairy friend Tinkerbell are from Neverland, a secluded area where children never grow up. The youngsters are enchanted and follow him back. When Pan’s arch-enemy, the pirate Captain Hook, causes havoc, the children begin to pine for their former lives.
15. Bambi
Based on Felix Salten’s 1923 novel Bambi, a Life in the Woods, Bambi is a 1942 American animated drama film directed by David Hand and made by Walt Disney.
The main character is Bambi, a white-tailed deer. His parents, the Great Prince of the Forest, his unnamed mother, and his friends Thumper, a pink-nosed rabbit, Flower, and Faline, his childhood friend and future wife.
16. Sleeping Beauty
Walt Disney’s 1959 American animated musical fantasy film Sleeping Beauty was based on Charles Perrault’s 1697 story “Sleeping Beauty.”
Maleficent, the jealous witch, curses Princess Aurora to die on her sixteenth birthday. Aurora enters a deep slumber only when Prince Phillip kisses her, which her guardian fairies can disrupt. Maleficent kidnaps and imprisons Phillip to prevent him from rescuing Aurora. The only way Phillip can be set free and awaken Aurora is through the good fairies.
17. Cinderella
Based on Charles Perrault’s fairy tale of the same name, Walt Disney developed the 1950 American animated musical fantasy film Cinderella.
Cinderella’s chances of attending the royal ball were bleak due to her cruel stepmother, two jealous stepsisters, and servitude to rags. Cinderella charms the gorgeous Prince Charming at the ball when her fairy godmother magically transforms her reality into a dream come true. Still, she must face her enraged stepmother and sisters when the enchantment wears off at midnight.
18. The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.
Ariel, a young mermaid princess who longs to be human, falls in love with Eric, a human prince, and enters into a mystical contract with Ursula, a sea witch, to become human and be with him.
19. Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland is a 1951 American animated musical fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice books.
Lewis Carroll’s classic fantasy narrative comes to life in this timeless Disney animated work. A restless young British girl named Alice falls down a rabbit hole and enters a beautiful universe. There, she encounters a weird array of characters, including the cheerful Cheshire Cat and the foolish Mad Hatter. When Alice finds herself in the repressive court of the Queen of Hearts, she must maintain good ties with the monarch or risk losing her head.
20. Mulan
American Walt Disney Feature Animation produced the 1998 animated musical adventure movie Mulan for Walt Disney Pictures.
At mass conscription to fight a Hun invasion, Fa Mulan, the daughter of an ancient warrior called Fa Zhou, pretends to be a man to step into her father’s shoes. The story takes place in China during this unspecified Imperial time.
21. Hercules
The 1997 American animated musical comedy picture Walt Disney Feature Animation created Hercules for Walt Disney Pictures.
The movie is partially based on the Greek mythology character Heracles, the mythical hero who was the son of Zeus and is also known in the movie by his Roman name, Hercules. Hercules, a super-strong demigod who was reared among humans, must learn to become a genuine hero to regain his godhood and rightful place on Mount Olympus while thwarting the plans of his wicked uncle Hades.
22. Tarzan
Tarzan is a 1999 American animated adventure movie produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation for Walt Disney Pictures.
In this Disney animated tale, Tarzan grows up after being raised by the devoted gorilla Kala in a remote African wilderness. Tarzan learns he is also human when a British expedition enters the jungle and encounters the gorgeous Jane. After falling in love with Jane, Tarzan is torn between embracing civilization and keeping with his gorilla clan, which is being threatened by the ruthless hunter Clayton.
23. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1996 American animated musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and distributed by Walt Disney Feature Animation. Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise directed it.
The film is based partly on Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel of the same name. The plot revolves around Quasimodo, a deformed and imprisoned Notre Dame bell-ringer, and his desire to experience the outside world and fit in with society, which contradicts the wishes of his ruthless, puritanical foster father, Claude Frollo, who also wishes to exterminate Paris’ Romani population.
24. The Jungle Book
Walt Disney Productions produced the animated musical comedy The Jungle Book in 1967. The story concerns Mowgli, a wolf-raised wild child, as his friends Bagheera the leopard and Baloo the bear try to persuade him to flee the forest before the arrival of the evil tiger Shere Khan.
25. Pokémon
The Pokémon Company, formed by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures, manages the Japanese media property Pokémon.
Satoshi Tajiri founded the series in 1996, and it is based on fictitious animals known as “Pokémon.” Humans, known as Pokémon Trainers, collect and train Pokémon to combat other Pokémon for sport in Pokémon. The franchise’s media works are all set in the Pokémon universe. The franchise’s English motto is “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!” There are presently 905 different Pokémon species.
26. Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers
A Walt Disney Television Animation animated adventure comedy series is called Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
Chip and Dale, two well-known Disney characters, appeared in this new universe that Tad Stones and Alan Zaslove developed. Following the teaser episode “Catteries Not Included” on August 27, 1988, the series premiered on The Disney Channel on March 4, 1989.
27. Sailor Moon
Naoko Takeuchi is the creator and illustrator of the Japanese comic book series Sailor Moon. It was serialized in Kodansha’s shojo manga publication Nakayoshi from 1991 until 1997.
The narrative follows the exploits of Usagi Tsukino, a young woman who transforms into Sailor Moon in search of the fabled “Legendary Silver Crystal.” To stop the Silver Crystal’s theft and the Solar System’s destruction, she leads a group of friends known as the Sailor Soldiers, later renamed the Sailor Guardians.
28. Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball is a Japanese media brand founded in 1984 by Akira Toriyama.
The series recounts the experiences of protagonist Son Goku as he trains in martial arts from childhood to maturity. He spends his youth distant from society until he encounters an adolescent girl named Bulma, who pushes him to join her mission to find the seven orbs known as the Dragon Balls, which, when gathered, unleashes a wish-granting dragon.
Along the way, Goku meets new friends, starts a family, finds his extraterrestrial ancestry, and faces several adversaries, many of whom are also after the Dragon Balls.
29. Darkwing Duck
Darkwing Duck is a Disney Television Animation animated superhero comedic television series from 1991 to 1992.
The exploits of the titular superhero, Darkwing Duck, are told through the eyes of his sidekick and pilot, Launchpad McQuack. He lives in a modest suburban home with his adoptive daughter Gosalyn, next door to the perplexingly dim-witted Muddlefoots.
Darkwing tries to reconcile his selfish desire for fame and recognition with his desire to be a decent parent to Gosalyn and contribute to the betterment of St. Canard. Most episodes pit these two elements of Darkwing’s personality against one other, with Darkwing’s better nature typically triumphing.
30. Marsupilami
American half-hour animated television program Marsupilami made its premiere as a part of Raw Tonnage in 1992. Belgian artist André Franquin and others used the well-known comic book to inspire the image. The Marsupilami must contend with several dangers in the Colombian bush, a strange yet lovable long-tailed animal.
31. Three Little Pigs
Three Little Pigs is an animated short film released on May 25, 1933, by United Artists, produced by Walt Disney, and directed by Burt Gillett.
Fifer Pig, Fiddler Pig, and Practical Pig are three brothers who build their own houses. All three of them play a different musical instrument – Fifer the flute, Fiddler, the violin, and Practical is initially seen as working without rest. Fifer and Fiddler build their straw and stick houses easily and have fun all day.
32. One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Based on Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel of the same name, One Hundred and One Dalmatians is a 1961 American animated comedy-adventure film produced by Walt Disney Productions.
The film’s plot centers on Cruella de Vil, a villain, stealing a litter of Dalmatian puppies so she may use their fur to make coats. When their parents, Pongo and Perdita, set out to rescue their puppies from Cruella, they also managed to save 84 other Dalmatians that had been bought as pets, bringing the total number of Dalmatians to 101.
33. The Sword in the Stone
A 1963 American animated musical fantasy comedy film called The Sword in the Stone was created by Walt Disney and distributed by Buena Vista.
The traditional fable’s Disney rendition traces King Arthur’s modest beginnings. Arthur, known initially as Wart, is an orphan who wishes to support his foster brother Kay in becoming a knight.
34. Alakazam the Great
Alakazam the Great, a 1960 Japanese animated musical film, is based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West from the 16th century. This one was one of the earliest anime movies released in the US.
Young and bold monkey Alakazam has been pushed by his friends to take the throne as their leader. After taking the throne, he becomes evil and totalitarian and no longer believes that others are superior to him.
35. The Man Called Flintstone
American animated musical comedy The Man Called Flintstone was created and released in 1966 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.
The Green Goose’s top female lieutenant, Tanya, has promised to surrender the bird in return for the opportunity to meet the alluring Rock Slag. Thus Flintstone’s objective is to find her. The Chief assures Rock that he will keep an eye on Fred despite Rock’s reservations about the strategy.
36. The Aristocats
The Aristocats is a 1970 American animated romantic comedy film directed by Wolfgang Reitherman and produced by Walt Disney Productions.
The narrative, written by Tom McGowan and Tom Rowe, is around a family of royal cats and how an alley cat friend assists them after a butler kidnaps them to acquire his mistress’s inheritance, which was meant to go to them.
37. Tonde Burin
The Tonde Burin manga series is written and illustrated by Taeko Ikeda. An anime series based on the manga was produced by Nippon Animation and shown on all MBS stations in Japan from September 3, 1994, to August 26, 1995.
A young child develops the capacity to change into a mighty alien pig. She must change from a pig to a girl with superpowers by fending off villains and saving people’s lives.
38. Snoopy Come Home
Based on the Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy, Come Home is a 1972 American animated musical comedy-drama film directed by Bill Melendez and written by Charles M. Schulz.
Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s loving dog, receives a letter from his original owner, Lila, who is ill in the hospital. Snoopy travels across the nation with his bird friend Woodstock to meet Lila, despite seeing “no dogs permitted” signs everywhere. When Lila recovers, she invites Snoopy to live with her.
39. The Smurfs and the Magic Flute
The Smurfs appear in Peyo’s 1976 Belgian animated feature The Smurfs and the Magic Flute, which he also directed.
The movie is set in a castle from the Middle Ages. The King orders the trader to leave before Peewit, the royal jester, comes since Peewit is a terrible musician. The trader had brought musical instruments to sell to Peewit.
40. The Great Mouse Detective
Walt Disney Pictures produced and marketed the 1986 American animated mystery-adventure film The Great Mouse Detective. Basil, the rodent Sherlock Holmes, looks into the kidnapping of a toymaker and finds a connection to his bitter rival, Professor Ratigan.
41. The Chipmunk Adventure
Alvin and the Chipmunks is a Saturday morning television program that inspired the 1987 American animated musical-comedy The Chipmunk Adventure. To hide a diamond smuggling ring, the Chipmunks and the Chipettes set off on a hot air balloon race across the globe.
42. My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro, a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, was produced by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten.
In the acclaimed animated film by Hayao Miyazaki, student Satsuki and her younger sister Mei move into an old farmhouse with their father. At the same time, their mother recovers in a neighboring hospital. The children discover and interact with amusing spirits as they explore their new house and the nearby forest, most notably Totoro, a big, fluffy animal.
43. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a 1993 American animated superhero romance film directed by Eric Radomski and produced by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, and Michael Reaves.
The plot is based on Mike W. Barr’s Batman: Year Two comic book story arc, but it includes an original antagonist, the Phantasm, in place of the Reaper, as well as elements from the Batman: Year One graphic novel, which chronicles Bruce Wayne’s transformation into Batman and his first attempts to fight crime.
44. Thumbelina
Thumbelina is a 1994 American animated musical fantasy film directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fable of the same name.
Thumbelina, born from a flower and only a few inches tall, is frightened she’ll never meet someone her own size until she catches the eye of Prince Cornelius of the Fairies. However, as soon as she discovers love, it is taken from her when Ms. Toad abducts her. Thumbelina must now escape Ms. Toad’s clutches and seek out Prince Cornelius. Fortunately, there is a whole city of animals prepared to assist her.
45. Toy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated comedy film directed by John Lasseter and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.
Woody, a good-hearted cowboy doll owned by a little boy called Andy, loses his place as Andy’s new toy when his parents get him a Buzz Lightyear action figure. Worse, the arrogant Buzz believes he is a real spaceman on a quest to return to his home planet. When Andy’s family relocates, Woody and Buzz must flee the clutches of their boy’s maladjusted neighbor Sid Phillips.
46. Anastasia
Anastasia is a 1997 American animated musical film directed by Don Bluth and produced by Gary Goldman.
Based on the tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia, the film follows an eighteen-year-old amnesiac Anastasia “Anya” Romanov, who joins forces with two con artists to pass herself off as the Grand Duchess to dowager empress Maria Feodorovna.
47. Antz
Antz is a 1998 American computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by Eric Darnell and Tim Johnson and based on a script written by Todd Alcott, Chris Weitz, and Paul Weitz.
Z, the worker ant, attempts to reconcile his individualism with the ant colony’s common work ethic. Z falls in love with ant-Princess Bala and then must defend the ant colony from the villainous General Mandible’s deceitful machinations, threatening to wipe out the whole ant colony.
48. A Bug’s Life
A Bug’s Life is a 1998 computer-animated comedy film directed by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.
Flik, a misfit ant, is hunting for “strong warriors” to preserve his colony from a criminal enterprise run by Hopper’s band of grasshoppers in the film. Unfortunately, the “soldiers” he returns are an unskilled band of Circus Bugs.
49. The Prince of Egypt
The Prince of Egypt is a DreamWorks Animation and DreamWorks Pictures animated musical drama film released in 1998.
It is an adaption of the Book of Exodus and recounts the life of Israel from being a prince of Egypt to his eventual goal to guide the Jews out of Egypt. It is DreamWorks’ first conventionally animated feature picture.
50. Stuart Little
Stuart Little is a 1999 American live-action/computer-animated comedy film based on E. B. White’s 1945 novel of the same name.
When the Littles travel to an institution to select a new close relative, they choose Stuart, a delightful little mouse. While George is initially hostile to his new sibling, Snowbell, the household cat, is even less pleased about having a mouse as his “master” and schemes to get rid of him.
Stuart vows to meet these challenges with as much grit, love, and courage as he can manage. In doing so, he demonstrates to his adoring new family that big things may come in little packaging.