User blog:Jkl9817/Top 30 Animated Shows of the 2000s, Part 3 (10-1)

That's it. What you guys have been waiting for for so many hours.

Before I move, on, I think I should make a few things clear. READ THE FOLLOWING LISTS BEFORE MOVING ON:

Ineligible:
 * The Boondocks (a South Korean co-production)
 * Daria
 * The Powerpuff Girls
 * Recess
 * Rugrats
 * Shaun the Sheep (not a series as much as a collection of shorts IMO, though I enjoy it)
 * The Simpsons
 * South Park

Still have to watch:
 * 6teen
 * American Dad
 * Archer
 * As Told By Ginger
 * Aqua Teen Hunger Force
 * The Batman
 * Drawn Together
 * Futurama
 * Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law
 * Invader ZIM
 * Megas XLR
 * Metalocalypse
 * My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
 * Robot Chicken
 * The Spectacular Spider-Man
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
 * The Venture Bros.
 * Young Justice

Yeah, I still have to watch a lot of shows.

Anyway, I'll just skip to the actual list, 'cause that's what everyone's here for. Have fun, and please give your opinion in the comments. Judging by what you guys said in the over 100 comments on the first two installments, I think you're going to like my top 10.

== '''10. The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2003-2008) Originally aired on Cartoon Network''' == Any cartoon that opens with a surly little girl philosophizing about life has my seal of approval. Like that wasn’t enough to testify its wit, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, a Grim & Evil spin-off that really overshadowed its source material, frequently touched topics such as death, right/wrong and oppression without failing to be hilarious -- the show’s strikingly dark tone contrasted with a huge amount of self-references and meta-jokes. Unfortunately, it garnered bad reputation due to the latter seasons relying too much on bathroom jokes and gross-out gags involving Billy. Still, a show that manages to make the Grim Reaper lovable will always deserve to be on the Top 10.

== '''9. Sheep in the Big City (2000-2002) Originally aired on Cartoon Network''' == The thing about Sheep in the Big City is that it never aimed too high; basically, it told the story of a runaway sheep trying to adjust to life in the big city. But the Wikipedia page says it was more popular among older audiences, and there’s good reason for that: having started in the early ‘00s, right before Cartoon Network made its ultimate transition from the clever cartoons it aired in the ‘90s to the kind of stuff it airs today, Sheep in the Big City reached a level of sophistication in its humor that no other Cartoon Network show has reached ever since. There was satire, there was nonsense (one of the city’s most beloved citizens is a Ham Sandwich), there were fake commercials, there was a lot of fourth wall breaking, and there were some very witty unrelated sketches Cartoon Network aired occasionally during commercial breaks. It was the whole package.

== '''8. Teen Titans (2003-2006) Originally aired on Cartoon Network''' == Thanks to Teen Titans, most now-teens of our generation probably know Robin as the leader of a kick-ass superhero team rather than as Batman’s sidekick. Whether or not that’s a good thing, Teen Titans was solid entertainment for kids and adults alike, following a team of teen DC characters while they struggled to save the world and grow up, often at the same time. The creators of the show have once stated it to target mostly young children, which would be true if it were just a generic action cartoon, but Teen Titans’ mature themes and season-long arcs proved it to be way beyond their expectations.

== '''7. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002-2006) Originally aired on Nickelodeon''' == When Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, Nickelodeon just had to make a TV show out of it. In most cases, that would definitely not work, but The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius didn’t just outgrow the movie it was based on; it may as well have been the best-written cartoon of the past decade. Comedy-wise, it was brilliant; adventure-wise, it was highly entertaining. And the best thing about it was that, every now and then, we were treated to an awesome new recurring character, a thought-provoking one-liner, or a tasteful pop culture reference.

== '''6. Spongebob Squarepants (1999-) Originally aired on Nickelodeon''' == Personally, I never liked Spongebob Squarepants that much, but if I were to pick a single cartoon to symbolize this decade, it’d have to be it. Like most modern classics, it should have ended earlier, but in its golden age it was the precursor of all those quirky cartoons Cartoon Network makes today, not to mention it was highly influential in its nonsensical, almost random humor and frequent use of meta-jokes. When it ends -- if it ever ends --, it will most definitely leave a respectable legacy of quotables, unforgettable characters, and immeasurable merchandise.

== '''5. Dave the Barbarian (2004-2005) Originally aired on Disney Channel''' == If Monty Python had created an animated series, it would be very similar to Dave the Barbarian. Plot-wise, it was very simple: the story of a dysfunctional family of barbarians from the fictional kingdom of Udrogoth. But, like a Monty Python sketch, it was hard not to love thanks to its hysterical characters -- the main antagonist was an egotist pig called Chuckles --, subtle satire, witty (but at the same time silly) humor, and the loads of meta-humor it threw at the audience continuously, much thanks to the hilarious narration. That’s nearly too much for a Disney Channel show, which must be why it was cancelled after only 21 episodes.

== '''4. Samurai Jack (2001-2004) Originally aired on Cartoon Network''' == If there was anything “artsy” concerning Western animation in the past decade, it was Samurai Jack. Aesthetically, it was like watching a movie; the pacing and visuals were different from anything before it. In terms of story structure, it basically comprised nearly independent stories tied together by its central character, a samurai trapped in a dystopian future trying to find a way to go back in time and defeat the demon that destroyed his father’s empire. Sometimes it was dark, sometimes it was nearly comedic, but it never ceased to be original, entertaining, and even groundbreaking.

== '''3. Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (2001-2006) Originally aired on Cartoon Network''' == One of the most adult-oriented shows ever to hit Cartoon Network, Justice League had its main trump in the fact that it appealed to kids as much as to grown nostalgic DC fans. The excellent dialogue, flowing entertainment, character-driven arcs and beautiful music were bonuses. The show that expanded on it, Justice League Unlimited, was even more embracing in its “put all DC characters in the same show” formula. You gotta love a cartoon that does something like that.

== '''2. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (2004-2009) Originally aired on Cartoon Network''' == Few people would have managed to pull off something as good after having created The Powerpuff Girls, let alone something better, but Craig McCracken did it. Not only that; he also set the bar for the quirky-and-different-but-also-very-witty cartoon. Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends was a delight to watch in every sense, with its unique visuals, great characters, and efficient juggling between clever, occasionally adult humor and pretty darn deep subthemes. In short, it was the perfect show for kids. But, overall, it was way more than that.

And the Best Cartoon of the 2000s (IMO) is...

== '''1. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008) Originally aired on Nickelodeon''' == Easily the best animated series of the past 15 years and perhaps one of the best ones in history, this now-cult quasi-anime series not only put Nickelodeon back in the party, but it also offered a stunning blend of complex, mature-themed storylines, incredibly tridimensional characters, mind-blowing visuals, consistent entertainment, thought-provoking social commentary and lots of family-friendly fun, all while creating an impressively textured and imaginative new world. Honestly, no cartoon has even come close this decade.

That's it. I hope you liked it. This was done before I even posted the first installment, so, oddly enough, the Top 10 wasn't at all influenced by your comments. Oh, also:

Honorable mentions:
 * All Grown Up! Many people hate this show for supposedly ruining the Rugrats, but I, on the other hand, think it only made them more tridimensional. The storylines were very basic, sometimes even cliché, and the dialogues, while decent, were not remarkable, but I have to give it a shout-out because it was so nice to see the babies we all love being given so much character development.
 * Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Even when Pixar does traditionally-animated Disney Channel kid cartoons, they do it right. This show focusing on the “actual” character of Buzz Lightyear was well-written and very entertaining, even if sometimes it felt a little too unpretentious, a noticeable flaw in almost every Disney Channel cartoon.
 * Camp Lazlo ‘Twas a good show indeed, but I always thought it was a little too childish and naive to be considered remarkable. In fact, I think it’s way overrated; did you know it won three Primetime Emmys?
 * ChalkZone One of those shows most people will have liked better as children; it was very creative in its visuals and had a great premise, but it always felt a little dull, humorless, and formulaic.
 * Codename: Kids Next Door While I always hated that show’s messages (Eating vegetables is bad! Every teenager is an airhead! Going to the dentist can kill you!), it did have an incredibly complex arc structure and some great characters. Also, whoever came up with all those acronyms deserves some kind of prize.
 * Ed, Edd n' Eddy It was pretty good, but WAY overrated.
 * El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera There’s not much to say about this one; it was fun, light, and entertaining, but the characters were a little shallow and sometimes it just felt too child-oriented to be taken seriously.
 * Lilo & Stitch: The Series Another example of a movie spin-off that outgrew its source material, Lilo & Stitch: The Series was consistently entertaining but had some hard-to-ignore plot holes, like, whenever Pleakley put on a wig everyone would buy that he was a human female.
 * The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack I consider this a result of the inexorable Chowder + Spongebob equation; it was very funny at times, but I always felt it tried too hard.
 * Totally Spies! A classic long-lasting daytime popcorn series with interesting arcs and cool gadgets, but its tendency to go teen-drama-y really tested my patience.

Intentionally omitted:
 * Courage the Cowardly Dog I harbor a strong dislike toward shows that try to be creepy, and in Courage the Cowardly Dog’s case it seemed as if the creepiness and the dark tone were meant to cover the dull, plotless episodes.
 * Family Guy It may as well be the most overrated comedy ever; I always thought it was humorless, plotless, and borderline offensive, and I find it to be the ugliest son of that crop of adult-oriented “animated sitcoms” from the late ‘90s.
 * Jackie Chan Adventures Yes, it was kinda fun if you were a 9-year-old kid, but why do people think it was so great?
 * The Mighty B! Never got all the fuss; just ‘cause it’s Amy Poehler doesn’t mean it’s good.
 * Total Drama series The first season definitely ranks among the best cartoons of the past few years, but, from the few TDA and TDWT episodes I've seen, the Total Drama series has become so helplessly bad and formulaic I don't even think it should make a list like this.
 * What's New, Scooby Doo? Some people seem to like it, but I always thought it was awful; the bland cliffhangers and music/chasing scenes were nothing short of ridiculous. Besides, the procedural aspect, which everybody praises, was very predictable, in my opinion.

Um, yeah. That's it it. I'm honestly rapt about this becoming a trend, because I didn't expect it at all. Any similar lists are very welcome (and allowed, before you ask XD), mainly because I'm curious to see you guys' picks. I always loved how, despite this site's theme, people here are a lot open-minded about shows; if I were to make a list like this on, say, Total Drama Wiki, they'd want to kick me out of the wiki just because I didn't include TDI.

Well, this short blog series ends here. I hope you liked it, and thanks a lot for all the feedback.