When we weren’t allowed to play video games, we turned our attention to animated series. On Saturday morning, we willingly chose to turn off our Super Nintendo console to watch the latest cartoons. Not all games had exciting storylines, and there were more action-platformers than immersive role-playing games. Many of these cartoons held our interest longer than video games.
As we watched these series, we became immersed in their stories. We found the characters relatable and felt their struggles as they attempted to take down evil. Many interesting shows were based on the comic books our parents didn’t allow us to buy at our local comic book shops. They were made appropriate for younger audiences, and it worked. We were hooked.
In the 1990s, Disney was also the leading force in animated movies. Their films captivated hearts young and old. Children were begging their parents to bring them to see the newest movies based on of fairy tales and historical lore. There were plenty of shows available for kids, and they became the talk of the playground, just like the latest video games.
Some cartoons interested us more because of the characters in the shows. As we began to watch these cartoons more, we may have developed crushes on some of the characters. It may have been because we related to their struggles or because they fulfilled a fantasy to be strong. Either way, many characters in the 90s who stole not only our attention but also our hearts.
25 Couldn’t Wait To Spend Time With Him At Recess
Recess starred a group of elementary kids trying to survive Third Street School. There was a constant battle over the “class system” school. T.J. Detweiler was the leader of the primary group of six kids on the show. He’s not smart at all, once receiving a 10% F on a test, preferring to have fun over taking tests. T.J. is outgoing and does his best to make his friends happy, just like most kids. He wants the kids to be able to have fun without worrying about tests and teachers. Though this was typical of most kids, he was one of the few who tried to put an end to unfairness on the playground. We couldn’t help but look up to him for his leadership and bravery.
24 The Coolest Girl In The Cul-De-Sac
Nazz Van Bartonschmeer was the main love interest of Ed, Edd, and Eddy. Though most of the characters had no idea why their hearts raced when they saw her, there’s no mistake everyone was crushing on her hard. She was stylish and confident. Nazz could play ball just as hard as any other kid on the cul-de-sac. She often played the sweet girl-next-door role, which was the complete opposite of the Kanker Sisters. Nazz just wanted to have fun with her friends during the endless Summer vacation. When school began, she took her role as Head Cheerleader of Peach Creek Jr. High. Nazz may seem a bit ditzy, but she was sweet to everyone. We can see why so many characters wanted to be her friend or were crushing on her.
23 A Pensive, Inhuman, And Tragic Hero
Goliath was the tragic hero of Gargoyles. He faced discrimination from humans, but still tried to do his best to protect both humans and Gargoyles. After reawakening in modern-day New York City, Goliath yet again had to hide from humans. He became their secret heroes, even though humans were afraid of him and would likely try to destroy him. Goliath’s strength was impressive, especially since he didn’t need fancy armor or a sword. He was a sight to behold as he attacked his foes with his claws or pushed them back with the power of his wings. Since he didn’t wear much clothing, his muscular body was in full view, making him impressive to watch in any form. He always appeared at the right moment to pose dramatically in front of a bolt of lightning.
22 The Babysitter Every Kid Wanted
Young children were dragged around the jungle thanks to their famous father, Nigel, in The Wild Thornberries. While Eliza took it on with open arms, since she could speak to animals, not everyone was so open to adventure. Debbie was Eliza’s 16-year-old sister and deep into her years of teenage angst. While Eliza had bright red hair in pigtails, Debbie was more mature, like the cool babysitter we always wanted. She wore grunge style clothing, complete with dark lipstick and hair dramatically placed over one eye. For those of us who weren’t interested in Eliza’s animal adventures, we wanted to see what Debbie would do. Debbie was the only family member who knew about Eliza’s secret and often helped her, reluctantly, on her jungle adventures.
21 A Fox That Stole Our Hearts
Disney’s animated hero in Robin Hood was an anthropomorphic fox dressed in bright green clothing. He was funny and sarcastic, making him a favorite of many children. For many, he was also easy to love. Following the basic historical story of “Steal from the rich and give to the poor,” Robin Hood was a fun character to follow on screen. He may have been a thief, but he never stole for personal gain. Robin Hood loved his friends and did his best to protect them from both Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin Hood was also extremely charming, just like the fox he was. As he romanced Maid Marian, once as a child and again as an adult, we may have also found ourselves falling for his charming personality.
20 A Totally Beautiful Trio
The Totally Spies starred three cute teenage girls from Beverly Hills. Sam was the intelligent redhead who took a leadership role. Clover cared more about fashion and romance than saving the world. Alex was more interested in sports but was the link keeping the trio together. Though they weren’t the best spies, they took their job seriously. They worked best together as a group and spent most of their time glued together. Not only was their friendship to be admired, but the girls themselves were fun and exciting. Every week, we looked forward to a new episode to see what outrageous new outfits and accessories the girls would get for each mission. They were just as fun to watch as they were beautiful on-screen.
19 Can’t Disguise These Feelings
Transformers first began in the early 1980s, but it continues today in different forms. The series has since spawned multiple comic books, cartoons, CG series, and live-action movies. The most striking character for many was Optimus Prime. Yes, he was a robot, but he was also strangely attractive. He was a strong, brave leader, with broad shoulders. With his booming voice, he not only gained the respect of his followers but proved himself a threat against the Decepticons. He was not just a friend to his fellow robots in disguise but also a friend to many of the human children he tried to protect. He wanted every sentient being to be free and would do anything in his power to make sure no one, human or robot, was enslaved by the enemy.
18 Heart Beat Steady As A Drum When She Was On-Screen
Disney took plenty of liberties with the story of Pocahontas. We always knew she was a strong-willed female character in history, but seeing her on-screen was different. Though her father bore the weight of leading the clan, she inherited different traits. In the most recent movie, Pocahontas is older and wiser. She was more like her deceased mother: free-willed and did what she thought was right. When her clan and the new settlers arrived, she was ready to sacrifice herself to try and bring peace between both. Just as John Smith was breath taken by her long, dark hair flowing in the wind, so were we. She was a character that didn’t want to be held down, and we loved her for her independent spirit.
17 The Slacker Older Brother Everyone Loved
Trent Lane was the older brother of Jane in MTV’s animated series Daria. He was Daria’s crush for the first part of the series, and many of ours for the entire show. Trent was a laid-back character who lived life on his terms. He wasn’t rich, but he was the coolest guy on the show. He was in a band, traveled to shows in a van, and loved music. He even shared the same first name of Trent Reznor, the lead singer of Nine Inch Nails who was rising in popularity at the time. During the 90s, he was exactly the type of character many young teens loved. However, we knew Trent wasn’t the best match for Daria. He was too old and wasn’t a very responsible adult. Though Daria found love with Jane’s ex-boyfriend Tom, that didn’t keep most of us from crushing on Trent.
16 Even If He Doesn’t Love You, We Do
Helga G. Pataki wasn’t a hero in Hey Arnold!. She was a bully and uncomfortable in her skin. Since her family took out their grievances on her, she turned around and bullied Arnold. Who could forget her counting down the hours when Arnold would have to fight a classmate? It turns out that Helga was a girl filled with nothing but love. It’s not her fault her her upbringing was so terrible, which was relatable to kids going through similar experiences. She wanted to do the right thing. Helga was hurting inside, but she was tough enough to stand up for herself in any situation. Helga was a strangely appealing character with her unibrow that made many kids take a liking to her.
15 Our Protector Of Love And Justice
Tuxedo Mask made both Serena and viewers swoon in Sailor Moon. In a nicely pressed tuxedo and carrying around an unlimited amount of red roses, he was the hero we wanted to rescue us from danger. He wasn’t as powerful as the Sailor Soldiers, but he was handsome enough to catch all of their attention. His everyday form as Darien also interested us. He was a college graduate in his apartment and formerly worked as a model. He was an orphan with a tragic past, which made many fans swoon. Many viewers fell for his sad story. Others wanted a romance like his and Serena’s that spanned across centuries. When his music started playing, hearts started racing. Tuxedo Mask was always a welcomed sight on-screen.
14 Ruh-roh, Our Heroine Has Arrived
The Scooby Doo franchise has been successful since its start in the late 1960s. There’s always a new version of the show for kids and nostalgic adults. Daphne may have attracted fans by her damsel-in-distress act, but Velma impressed everyone with both looks and genius. She wasn’t asking to be saved, and often, she helped rescue Daphne. Not only was Velma cute in her oversized orange sweater and knee-high socks, but she was incredibly intelligent. Velma was a vital part of the team. Without her, the gang would not have solved so many mysteries. Velma was the heart of the group and probably could have run her a detective agency on her own. Velma proved that smarts could win our hearts over beauty.
13 Civilization? I’ll Stay Right Here
Tarzan is based on the long-running story about a man raised by jungle animals. He doesn’t know a thing about human civilization, and that’s just the way we love him. Tarzan had a close bond with his animal friends and did his best to protect him. He wore little clothing, opting to live as free as the creatures around him. Tarzan was also incredibly athletic, swinging from tree to tree with nothing more than a vine. When he meets Jane, their relationship made our hearts soar. We would have loved to be in Tarzan’s arms as he took us on a jungle adventure. Jane helped the untamed man become more human and did what many of us wanted: tamed his heart.
12 I Can Say It (I’m In Love)
In the late 1990s, a new Disney movie based on Greek mythology was released called Hercules. It starred a struggling half-God trying to discover his place on Earth. It wasn’t Hercules who impressed our young hearts. It was his love interest, Megara. Meg wasn’t your usual love interest. She already had her heart broken and was jaded on romance. Meg was an independent character who wasn’t afraid to talk back to Gods or other mystical creatures. It wasn’t until she met Hercules that she discovered what true love was. She was also willing to sacrifice herself for Hercules after he was almost killed by a falling pillar. Meg isn’t a Disney Princess, but she was charming enough to capture our young hearts.
11 The Only Beast We Need
Before most kids learned about being treated respectfully in a relationship, we watched Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Belle was the intelligent daughter of an ailing inventor that many girls wanted to be. She was a bit of an outcast, but she had the eye of Gaston. With his bright red shirt that held a chest full of hair, he was a typical manly man that looked more like a hero than an antagonist. Gaston was also filled with confidence. He knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to take it, even though the object of his desire refused him several times. That included Belle’s heart or the Beast’s head. Even though most were rooting for Belle and Beast, there were some who were still impressed that Gaston would search for the woman he loved.
10 She’s The Mayonnaise For Me
When Doug first met Patty, he had the same feelings as viewers. Her voice was slightly crackly, and she had a strangely addicting laugh. She was an athlete and much more mature than her friends, due to having to grow up fast. She knew she had to be mature after her mother passed away and her father was restricted to live in a wheelchair. She didn’t let her tragic situation stop her from being an active athlete or being a good friend. She even stepped up to the plate and asked Doug on a date before he ever stepped up to make a move. Paty’s confident, independent nature may have impressed Doug, but it also kept viewers turned to the show each week.
9 A Con-Man Turned Hero
Dmitri is the handsome love interest of the movie Anastasia. He may have instantly grabbed your heart with his shaggy brown hair. He first proved himself a hero when he saved Anastasia and her grandmother, Marie, before they were captured by the invading Bolshevik forces. Dmitri is no longer the ten-year-old hero from years ago. He’s torn between his life as a conman and wanting to do the right thing. Paired with the voice of John Cusack, his struggles appealed to everyone. What makes Dmitri different from other heroes, especially from Disney films, is that he knows he’s not a good guy and doesn’t force himself. But when someone he cares about is in trouble, he does what it takes to protect them.
8 Does The Game Have A Romantic Visual Novel Mode?
Dot Matrix was the leading lady of ReBoot. When her show first debuted, it was rare to find a female lead who was just as capable as the males instead of being a damsel-in-distress. Dot was also proud to sport a short haircut that showcased her business-like demeanor. Sometimes Dot was too serious, but that was part of the fun of her character. She was there to provide backup support and strategic plans to protect Mainframe. She also wasn’t afraid to jump into the action. She was an active asset during each Game cube invasion and helped lead the team to victory. When Megabyte took over the Principal Office in Season 3, Dot was the commander of the rebellion, working hard to reclaim the city. She was level-headed, calm, yet strong. We knew why Bob liked her so much.
7 Bad At Karate And Slightly Better At Love
Johnny Bravo was a muscular man with tall, blonde hair. We’ve never seen his eyes because they’re hidden behind a pair of black sunglasses. Some viewers thought he was cool and others were entranced by his athletic body type. After a rough childhood, he turned things around as an adult. His current best friend, Carl, was even his former elementary school bully, but Johnny still gave him a chance. Johnny was full of confidence and taught children never to give up. He was his own worst enemy on the show, which was hilarious to watch, but you couldn’t help but feel bad for him. Johnny was a fun character with (questionable) martial arts skills, but the best part about Johnny? He loved his mom more than anything.
6 A Slam Dunk On Our Hearts
Lola Bunny is an anthropomorphic female rabbit and the female heroine of the 90s movie Space Jam. She’s also Bugs Bunny’s girlfriend, yet, she wasn’t about to play second fiddle to Looney Tunes’ starring bunny. She also brought up controversy among fans for being too strong and independent. There’s no such thing as bad press, so Lola quickly became a popular Space Jam character, and she still appears on Looney Tunes cartoons. Lola isn’t just easy on the eyes (for a humanized bunny). She’s also an incredibly skilled athlete. After auditioning for the team, Lola ends up being the second best player on the team, second best only to Michael Jordan. Though she loves playing basketball, her heart only belongs to Bugs.
