15. My Life as a Teenage Robot
Jenny Wakeman is a robot. And a teenager. Those two things together do not make high school life any easier. Not to mention she’s always on call to save the world while trying to study for a math test! No matter what you’re made of, being a teen is tough! Even for the toughest of metal!
A beloved Nick cartoon that showed the REAL scenes behind high school life.
She and Robot Jones should hang out.
14. As Told By Ginger
Junior high school student Ginger Foutley is a kind, smart teen who always sees the best in others. While she and her friends want to rise from their “total geek” positions, she is thankful for their bond. Furthermore, her school’s most popular student actually takes a liking to her, mainly for her “gingerisms”. This gets Ginger and her friends into popular kids’ social things that come with hilarious results. At the end of the day, it’s another adventure worth writing about in Ginger’s journal.
Much like Jenny Wakeman, Ginger Foutley felt like a role model. Someone who prepared us for when we went to high school.
While the humor was not like Spongebob or Rugrats, there was always a warm feeling after every episode.
This was one of Nick’s best yet slightly underrated cartoons that connected with kids, teens, and adults exploring their lives.
13. Atomic Betty
Betty Barrett is a smart, athletic student who is great in science, enjoys singing in her band, oh, and saving the universe when it calls hers. On Earth, she’s just Betty. In space, she’s Atomic Betty, always saving planets and people while balancing her social life and studies at home!
SO UNDERRATED.
Some people have already believed this show was a fever dream instead of having actually aired on Cartoon Network.
I still remember the first episode of this show. Betty gets a horrible haircut and tries to hide it at school. But it turns out her hair looked amazing according to the photographer, thus there really was a silver lining out of this!
While sort of weak in introducing the show, we do see she’s definitely not a weak character.
Not going to lie, I liked the episodes BEFORE Noah became part of Betty’s space team. He’s just so annoying and basically just exists to be a satellite love interest.
Also...I am REALLY mad that the sequel series Atomic Betty Redux was cancelled “to focus on other projects”.
Why do good sequels always have to be rejected or cancelled?!
12. Kim Possible
Kim Possible may seem like your average teen in high school, studying hard and leading cheer. But along with her best friend Ron Stoppable, she is the world’s best agent. Always saving it before an exam. Making a difference before dinner.
You can’t have a list about best female leads without KP!
Strong, brave, kind.
A REAL Disney Princess.
11. HiHi Puffy AmiYumi
Ami and Yumi are a two-person girl band who are often hit and miss when it comes to their popularity. Some days they are the talk of the city they’re performing in. Other times they might have to find jobs or deal with no-gooders because their “music is lagging”. But they still rock the house regardless!
Growing up, it kind of sucked how people were only mildly interested in this show. And only knowing it as “the cartoon with those two Japanese girls”. (There weren’t that many weebs back then as there is today)
That and their real-life counterparts sang the Teen Titans theme song.
10. Mike, Lu, and Og
When Mike was asked where she would like to go in the student exchange program, she said she wanted to go somewhere “tropical”. She ends up on a small island with citizens who are completely out of touch with her modern ways. She always takes this opportunity to show them the cool things from the city. With disastrous results.
This show was a blessing to the golden age of Cartoon Network.
Yet still so underrated, forgotten, and overshadowed by “big names” like Ed, Edd, n’ Eddy.
I would have really liked to know what more Mike could have done for the island...
9. Mighty Magiswords
Sibling Vambre and Prohyas are “Warriors for Hire”, who make a quick buck fighting monsters and evil-doers. They often use their acquired funds to stock up on weapons known as Magiswords. Each item has a certain skill, which the siblings often find beneficial to get out of a situation.
This show was WILD. And really fast-paced.
A lot of us just really enjoyed Vambre’s character (and not because she was fan-service, okay?).
That and I’m pretty sure most of the viewers were Game Grumps fans.
8. Elena of Avalor
Thanks to Princess Sofia, Elena was finally freed from the amulet she had been trapped in all these years. Now reclaiming her kingdom, the once lost princess must learn a few things before she can become queen. After all, it has been quite some time since the kingdom of Avalor had found fun and sensation.
Unlike Sofia the First, this one isn’t sickeningly sugary.
And the songs are better.
7. Milo Murphy’s Law
Milo Murphy is a cheerful, optimistic student who is well-known for being the descendent of the creator of Murphy’s Law. Meaning every move he makes causes some kind of destruction or misfortune to the tri-state area. Despite his bad luck, Milo is able to overcome it with positive emotions and help from his best friends.
Made by the same people who created Phineas and Ferb (same universe, same tri-state area).
Melissa is like Candace Flynn but with a normal neck.
And Dr. Doofenshmirtz becomes part of the cast. Which makes this better than any Marvel crossover!
6. Fillmore!
Cornelius Fillmore was once a delinquent in X Middle School, from “milk counterfeiting” to “back talkery”. When he was caught by Safety Patrol member Wayne Liggit, he was given the choice: help him solve a case, or spend the rest of middle school in detention. Choosing the former, and solving the case, Fillmore has become a significant member of the Safety Patrol since. Joined by his new partner Ingrid, the two follow up on “illegal activities” happening in X Middle School.
Police drama for kids!
If you grew up on Toon Disney, you would definitely remember watching this after an episode of Recess!
While the cases are kid-friendly, the action and hard-boiling elements really makes this a show that could even fit today!
And Ingrid is the kind of Disney girl kids should be rooting for today!
I really wish middle school had been like this growing up.
5. The Mighty B!
Overachieving Honeybee scout Bessie Higgenbottom has the ultimate goal: earning every badge. And we do mean EVERY. SINGLE. BADGE.
A very underrated Nick cartoon that is amazing in every sense of the word.
A female lead who is silly, optimistic, and could possibly outshine Spongebob had the show stayed longer (but not long enough to be a shell of its former self, like Spongebob).
Her overly positive attitude and wacky-yet-kind community is what really won me over.
I still can’t help but wonder: did she ever get her final badge?
4. Amphibia
This was not how Anne wanted her birthday to turn out. Pressured by her friends to ditch the party her parents planned for her. Steal her “birthday gift”. Said gift suddenly transporting Anne to a world inhabited with frog people. So much for a sweet 13…
The last time we saw an Asian Disney girl with so much strength, bravery, and some mild stubbornness, it was Mulan.
Thai-American girl Anne Boonchuy shows the same traits. Hell, they both even know how to use a sword!
3. The Owl House
Luz was always the odd one in her school. Even her mom worries that being her “usual Luz self” will give her a life with no friends or opportunities. Set to go to a summer camp that will “fix” her, Luz takes a detour into what is known as the Boiling Isles. She meets a witch named Eda, whom she immediately pleads to teach her all about magic and witchcraft. While mom has no idea her daughter is not fulfilling her wishes, Luz finally fulfills her fantasies.
This and Amphibia have the QUEENS of Disney.
2. Lilo and Stitch: The Series
After discovering Jumbaa had made other experiments prior to Stitch, the capsules containing each one became scattered all over the island. Lilo and Stitch make it their goal to find every single one of the latter’s “cousins” before Gantu does. Looks like their Ohana just became a little bigger!
Let’s keep in mind that if it hadn’t been for the movie, Disney would have gone bankrupt.
And Lilo is the kind of girl that helps us feel we are better than what people judge us for.
Weird but iconic.
1. The Powerpuff Girls
Professor Utonium never thought that creating three perfect little girls could fight evil in the world. But Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup prove they aren’t just adorable kids. Protecting their beloved Townsville from villains like Mojo Jojo. Making the world a safer, happier place with their superpowers and kindness. And fighting crime before bedtime!
Who else deserves the #1 spot more than these girls?
If there was a definition for ‘girl power’, there would be a large image of these girls in the dictionary.
And no, don’t you dare say the reboot is included. That reboot basically destroyed everything that made the TRUE series great.
