For a while, it was assumed that cartoons could never be profitable on television due to the time required to make enough animation to produce a standard season of shows. Then, limited animation techniques were developed in the 1950s, especially the revolutionary methods by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, allowing shows to be produced en masse, at the expense of the fluidity and expressions found in theatrical shorts and films. As the decades progressed, bigger budgets and innovations allowed animated shows to further enhance their quality, with some of them almost looking as good as theatrical releases, and their art styles allowing for a greater variety between projects.

With so many shows coming out every year, it’s understandable that many older shows get forgotten as time marches on. However, many hidden gems are worth revisiting in the 2020s thanks to the quality of their writing, which makes them feel timeless in their themes and characters.

10

‘The World of David the Gnome’ (1985–1986)

Deep in the woods, hidden from human sight, lies the world of short, magical creatures called gnomes. One, named David (José María Cordero/Tom Bosley), is an accomplished doctor who uses his skills to help sick and wounded animals in need, often traveling on the back of his fox friend, Swift (Ramón Langa/Vlasta Vrána), and is sometimes aided by his loving wife, Lisa (Matilde Conesa/Jane Woods). Unfortunately, David also has to contend with Holler (Paco Hernández/A.J. Henderson), the leader of a gang of wicked trolls who like to use their magic for nasty mischief.

The World of David the Gnome is a lovely, laid-back kind of show that invites kids and their parents to enjoy some fun adventures. This is thanks to the great worldbuilding, with each episode delving into the minute details of gnome society, and the endearing characters, especially David, who often comes across like a firm but fair grandfather. Even so, the show knows when to dip its toe into darker material, especially in its finale, which ranks as one of the more bittersweet episodes of any kids’ show.

9

‘ChalkZone’ (2002–2008)

When Rudy Tabootie (E. G. Daily) discovers a box of magic chalk, he gains entry to ChalkZone, a parallel world inhabited by everything that was ever drawn and then erased on a chalkboard. He is joined in his adventures in this new land by Snap (Candi Milo), a superhero he created, and Penny Sanchez (Hynden Walch), his academically gifted best friend. However, ChalkZone has its fair share of dangers, and sometimes Rudy’s newest drawings have a habit of going out of control.

ChalkZone is an overlooked show fueled entirely by children’s imagination, and it makes sure to remind you with every episode. The conflicts can range from greedy theme park builders trying to use ChalkZone for gain to a vacuum nearly destroying the world, which always left you guessing how Rudy’s creativity would save the day. It’s also carried by its strong voice acting, which further includes voice acting legends like Roger Bumpass and Jim Cummings.

8

‘Fox’s Peter Pan and the Pirates’ (1990–1991)

Far away from the world we know is the island of Neverland, home of Peter Pan (Jason Marsden), a child who vowed never to grow up. He goes on many adventures with his band of fellow runaway children called the Lost Boys, his fairy friend Tinkerbell (Debi Derryberry), and the newly arrived Darling siblings: Wendy (Christina Lange), John (Jack Lynch), and Michael (Whit Hertford). However, Neverland is full of many hidden dangers, not to mention Peter’s rival, the notorious pirate Captain James Hook (Tim Curry), who has sworn revenge after Peter cut his hand off and fed it to a crocodile.

Fox’s Peter Pan and the Pirates chose to be a more faithful adaptation of J.M. Barrie‘s Peter Pan story than the iconic Silver Age Disney film, which helped give it a more unique identity. It wasn’t afraid to show Peter Pan in a more negative light, highlighting his immaturity and ruthless nature, alongside his love for adventure and pranks. It also gave a lot of depth and screentime to the pirates, and its version of Hook might be the best take on the character thanks to his engaging and nuanced backstory, plus Curry’s fantastic performance.

7

‘My Life as a Teenage Robot’ (2003–2009)