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Dates: 2002-2007
Disney Channel
87 episodes
Created by Mark McCorkle & Robert Schooley
Starring: Christy Carlson Romano, Will Friedle, Nancy Cartwright, Tahj Mowry, John Di Maggio, Nicole Sullivan, Raven-Symoné, Kirsten Storms, Gary Cole, Jean Smart, Shaun Fleming (2002-2006), Spencer Fox (2007)
Synopsis
Kim Possible saves the world when she isn't at cheerleader practice.
Why It Made The List
For four seasons this light-hearted action comedy lampooned the genre with affection and a sense of fun. Its characters acknowledged the clichéd plots and stereotypical actions, but did so without lapsing into irony or self-aware winking. It even managed to fleetingly glance at teen issues.
For four seasons, it consistently entertained, especially during a final season replete with continuity nods and references for loyal fans.
3. SAMURAI JACK
Dates: 2001-2004
Cartoon Network
52 episodes
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky
Starring: Phil LaMarr, Mako
Synopsis
A samurai is flung into the future, where he must battle a shape-shifting wizard.
Why It Made The List
One of the most stylish series of the decade, Samurai Jack set itself apart almost immediately with its use of limited animation as a striking stylistic choice rather than as a necessary budgetary evil. It also showcased an eclectic range of influences, from gangster movies, horror movies, westerns, and film noir, to rave culture, chambara drama, and (of course) the classic films of Akira Kurosawa.
It also boasted a diverse array of characters and dropped them into sometimes hallucinogenic bizarre worlds. It also featured striking action sequences, including a glorious chiaroscuro duel that we named one of the Top 5 duels ever animated.
Dates: 2001-2004
Cartoon Network
52 episodes
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky
Starring: Phil LaMarr, Mako
Synopsis
A samurai is flung into the future, where he must battle a shape-shifting wizard.
Why It Made The List
One of the most stylish series of the decade, Samurai Jack set itself apart almost immediately with its use of limited animation as a striking stylistic choice rather than as a necessary budgetary evil. It also showcased an eclectic range of influences, from gangster movies, horror movies, westerns, and film noir, to rave culture, chambara drama, and (of course) the classic films of Akira Kurosawa.
It also boasted a diverse array of characters and dropped them into sometimes hallucinogenic bizarre worlds. It also featured striking action sequences, including a glorious chiaroscuro duel that we named one of the Top 5 duels ever animated.
2. FOSTER'S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS
Dates: 2004-2009
Cartoon Network
79 episodes
Created by Craig McCracken
Starring: Sean Marquette, Keith Ferguson, Grey Delisle, Tom Kane, Candi Milo
Synopsis
A boy hangs out with a home for abandoned imaginary friends.
Why It Made The List
Foster's Home takes a brilliant—and in retrospect obvious—conceit and makes it silly in all the right ways.
Naturally, a show about imaginary friends rises or falls on the quality of the imaginary friends themselves. Luckily, characters like Wilt, Eduardo, Coco, and Bloo are clever, beautifully designed, and smart (and stupid) enough to have funny adventures. They are also a lot of fun to hang out with and quite believable as the kind of characters a lonely child might invent as a companion.
There is also the series' look, which is cleanly stylized but highly expressive, giving the show its own distinctively imaginative sheen.
And the number one show of the decade is...
Dates: 2004-2009
Cartoon Network
79 episodes
Created by Craig McCracken
Starring: Sean Marquette, Keith Ferguson, Grey Delisle, Tom Kane, Candi Milo
Synopsis
A boy hangs out with a home for abandoned imaginary friends.
Why It Made The List
Foster's Home takes a brilliant—and in retrospect obvious—conceit and makes it silly in all the right ways.
Naturally, a show about imaginary friends rises or falls on the quality of the imaginary friends themselves. Luckily, characters like Wilt, Eduardo, Coco, and Bloo are clever, beautifully designed, and smart (and stupid) enough to have funny adventures. They are also a lot of fun to hang out with and quite believable as the kind of characters a lonely child might invent as a companion.
There is also the series' look, which is cleanly stylized but highly expressive, giving the show its own distinctively imaginative sheen.
And the number one show of the decade is...
1. AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER
Dates: 2005-2008
Nickelodeon
61 episodes
Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Koniezko
Starring: Zach Tyler Eisen, Mae Whitman, Jack DeSena, Jessie Flower, Dante Basco, Mako (2005-2006), Greg Baldwin (2007-2008), Grey DeLisle
Synopsis
The 12-year old Aang awakens after a hundred years in suspended animation. To end the rapacious Fire Nation's century-long world war, Aang must shoulder his burden as the Avatar and master the four elements of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.
Why It Made The List
According to co-creators Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Nickelodeon's call for a show with "magic, action, and adventure" led to a pitch session for Avatar the Last Airbender that began with a concept illustration for each of those three words and continued for two-and-a-half hours as the pair outlined the rough story arc for all three seasons of the show. Afterwards, Eric Coleman, Nick's VP/EP of Animation Development at the time, told them two things. The first was that, ironically, they pretty much had him after the first drawing. The second was that they broke all the rules of how you're supposed to pitch a show.
That's emblematic for Avatar, which broke a lot of rules about kids cartoons while delivering magic, action, and adventure in spades over its 61 episode run. Its Asian-influenced world of four warring nations provided a vividly realized and richly-detailed backdrop for an epic story that successfully made the classic hero's journey feel fresh and original. It was a show that succeeded on all levels, with a gripping story and creative plot development; witty and intelligent dialogue; superb voice acting and character development; a marvelously eclectic soundtrack; beautiful art direction and character design; and some of the very best action animation ever made. Finally, Avatar is a tremendously effective long-term serial narrative, managing to produce excellent single episodes that join together to become far more than the sum of their parts. Many of the show's fans express a little disappointment at the start of the third season, but this is only because it followed one of the best single seasons of television ever made, live-action or animated.
If the title character of the show is the master of all four elements, then Avatar is the master of Hollywood's "four-quadrants," easily cutting across all lines of age and gender to create a diverse and sometimes near-fanatical fandom. It is another elegant proof of John Lasseter's claim that "Quality is the best business plan." We can hardly wait to see Konietzko and DiMartino come up with next.
Dates: 2005-2008
Nickelodeon
61 episodes
Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Koniezko
Starring: Zach Tyler Eisen, Mae Whitman, Jack DeSena, Jessie Flower, Dante Basco, Mako (2005-2006), Greg Baldwin (2007-2008), Grey DeLisle
Synopsis
The 12-year old Aang awakens after a hundred years in suspended animation. To end the rapacious Fire Nation's century-long world war, Aang must shoulder his burden as the Avatar and master the four elements of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.
Why It Made The List
According to co-creators Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Nickelodeon's call for a show with "magic, action, and adventure" led to a pitch session for Avatar the Last Airbender that began with a concept illustration for each of those three words and continued for two-and-a-half hours as the pair outlined the rough story arc for all three seasons of the show. Afterwards, Eric Coleman, Nick's VP/EP of Animation Development at the time, told them two things. The first was that, ironically, they pretty much had him after the first drawing. The second was that they broke all the rules of how you're supposed to pitch a show.
That's emblematic for Avatar, which broke a lot of rules about kids cartoons while delivering magic, action, and adventure in spades over its 61 episode run. Its Asian-influenced world of four warring nations provided a vividly realized and richly-detailed backdrop for an epic story that successfully made the classic hero's journey feel fresh and original. It was a show that succeeded on all levels, with a gripping story and creative plot development; witty and intelligent dialogue; superb voice acting and character development; a marvelously eclectic soundtrack; beautiful art direction and character design; and some of the very best action animation ever made. Finally, Avatar is a tremendously effective long-term serial narrative, managing to produce excellent single episodes that join together to become far more than the sum of their parts. Many of the show's fans express a little disappointment at the start of the third season, but this is only because it followed one of the best single seasons of television ever made, live-action or animated.
If the title character of the show is the master of all four elements, then Avatar is the master of Hollywood's "four-quadrants," easily cutting across all lines of age and gender to create a diverse and sometimes near-fanatical fandom. It is another elegant proof of John Lasseter's claim that "Quality is the best business plan." We can hardly wait to see Konietzko and DiMartino come up with next.
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