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List of Best Rated TV Series as voted by the Fediverse

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"Kids" in quotations because sometimes "kids" shows aren't really just for children, judging by their nuanced jokes.


Could be old, could be new.

I like a lot, two that stand out lately are Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, and Star Trek: Prodigy.

Going back a ways, Reboot and Beast Wars. (Reboot, upon relatively recent revisit earlier this year, has a few jokes that I certainly wouldn't have gotten as a kid nor even as a teen.)

You?

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[–] siv9939@lemmy.zip 29 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Gravity Falls and Steven Universe are the first two to pop into my head. Both start out having pretty self contained episodes before opening up to a big story arc. I think Star Wars Rebels gets overlooked even though it has seems to have less filler than Clone Wars did.

My kids are no where near the target demo anymore, but we've watch all of Bluey as a family too. The number of times I've teared up at that show is ridiculous.

I'm also a fan of the Adventures of Pete and Pete, Rocko's Modern Life, Invader Zim, and Magus XLR but they all have a heavy dose of nostalgia for me too.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 6 points 1 month ago

Oh yes, Gravity Falls and (at least the first couple seasons of) Bluey!

[–] Dalacos@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

I rather liked Prinze as Kanan in Rebels. (Also just enjoyed it in general.)

Clone Wars has an (IIRC official) episode guide I used the last time that was pretty good to get past most of the filler. Last few seasons were amazing for the most part.

[–] Matt 23 points 1 month ago

Avatar: The Last Airbender

[–] JakenVeina@midwest.social 19 points 1 month ago

The Owl House, for sure.

Also, Infinity Train comes to mind.

[–] antifa_ceo@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 month ago

Steven Universe has a really special place in my heart it's really a show for all ages with the themes it grapples with in many episodes.

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Adventure Time and Spongebob had a lot of stuff that only adults could catch. Also, a lot of shonen anime deal with mature subject matter.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Definitely SpongeBob! I don't even think this was intended to be a kids show in the first place. Anyhow, SpongeBob is clearly a teenager or even young adult.

I really liked Adventure Time, too. Probably very much intended to be high quality children's content, suitable for adults as a side effect.

[–] acosmichippo@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

i’ve tried watching spongebob a few times but couldn’t get into it. could you recommend a specific episode?

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[–] TheLeadenSea@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 month ago

My personal favourites are ATLA and The Owl House, I know they were already mentioned though.

[–] Walk_blesseD@piefed.blahaj.zone 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is goated with the sauce. Love the themes, the artstyle, the soundtrack, the characters... No joke, it made me cry on three occasions on my last watch (my 3rd). It's all even better when you're stoned.

She-ra and the Princesses of Power is really good. I like toxic yuri, and characters who just keep digging every time you think they've hit rock bottom.

Like others have pointed out, ATLA, Steven Universe, Infinity Train, Gravity Falls and The Owl House are all good, too.

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[–] bw42@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Azumanga Dioh

The Sisters Grimm

Darkwing Duck

Gargoyles

Fraggle Rock

Phineas and Furb

Animaniacs

Just some off the top of my head that I have enjoyed rewatching recently

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Animaniacs? Well now that I think about it, yes.

Rob Paulsen is a fucking genius of words though, even after his throat cancer...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYfTKVfwdjU

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

~~Starblazers.~~ ~~Battle of the Planets.~~

~~Interestingly, these were Japanese imports that were re-edited and dubbed well. One of these days I’m going to watch the Japanese versions because supposedly they are a little more adult.~~

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[–] Dalacos@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

Gargoyles

Been meaning to rewatch that for a long while now.

I do love me some Keith David. Despite seeing (hearing...) him in many roles before he'll always be Commander Anderson from Mass Effect to me first though. Dunno why, but it's the most memorable role for some reason. (For me.)

[–] Gerudo@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A couple not posted yet... Bluey, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends

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Invader Zim (obviously...)

Phineas and Ferb

Powerpuff girls

[–] Nightsoul@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

Avatar both Aang and Korra, easily some of the best characters and world building for a kids show

Zoids

Teen titans

Lot of the nickelodeon shows around early 2000s SpongeBob, fairy odd parents, jimmy neutron, Danny phantom. They kinda were releasing bangers for awhile

Adventure time I watched as an adult and really enjoyed it

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

PRODIGY is a good nutrek, unlike the 3 "live action ones", lower decks can be considered for teens? and good for adults. SGU wierdly try to target teens, but it failed poorly. young justice, some of the newer animated x-men spinoffs.

[–] Dalacos@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

I liked the first couple seasons of SNW. Spock Amok had me in stitches and Pike is the captain we've needed for a while now.

Lower Decks is... frighteningly good as the seasons progress. Their ability to target and poke fun at Trek-tropes was better than any YT channel I've seen, yet they respected the source material and mimicked it with commensurately great ability. I was torn between laughing and crying while they did laps around DS9. (DS9 being my fav trek.) And I was genuinely surprised they got Jolene Blalock back given I thought she hated the franchise after her time in it. Even if the humour was more miss-than-hit for me early on in the series.

SGU was weird and originally felt like a BSG knockoff, but I loved their big sci-fi hook and wish we got to know what it was. (BIG spoiler for it below. It's an old show but still. If you haven't seen it don't click.)

spoilerPattern in the cmbr, really cool sci-fi idea

That said, most of SGU, aside from the early eps when critical offline systems were important, didn't really land with me. High concept; poor execution.

Prodigy was the Voyager continuation we apparently all needed but didn't know. (At least I didn't.) Was glad to hear a lot of familiar voices in S2, reprised.

[–] haywire7@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

Can't believe no one's mentioned SpongeBob!

[–] massive_bereavement@fedia.io 6 points 1 month ago

Dexter's Laboratory.

[–] crunchy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 month ago

I did a rewatch of Avatar: the Last Airbender with my kids this summer leading up to the Magic the Gathering set, and I forgot how good it was.

[–] buttmasterflex@piefed.social 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The Dragon Prince is fantastic!

[–] Dalacos@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Watched it seasonally since S1 and enjoyed it but hit a wall at S6. Been meaning to finish it. Has some good high/epic-fantasy in there though. (Which I am a sucker for.)

Reminded me of Netflix's Voltron series which I also quite enjoyed. Nothing too complex but it had something going for it.

[–] edgemaster72@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Star vs The Forces of Evil. Not sure how broadly we're defining "kids" here, these I guess might be more like pre-teen/teen/YA, idk.

[–] LOLseas@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 month ago

Ren & Stimpy. Real talk.

[–] ace_garp@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Sid the Science Kid

Ulysses 31

Magic Schoolbus

Mighty Mouse: The new adventures

GI Joe PSAs

[–] acosmichippo@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

most DC and Marvel superhero cartoons.

ducktales original and 2017.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 month ago

Just recently finally finished Adventure Time. The Fiona and Cake series on HBO is great (for adults though).

[–] pjwestin@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

My toddler has become obsessed with Sonic the Hedgehog, but it's been hard to find any age appropriate stuff for him from that franchise. We recently discovered Sonic Boom, which is not only not too violent or scary for him, but is also legitimately funny. A nice surprise, since the only thing I knew about Boom was that the tie-in game was the worst Sonic game since Sonic '06.

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[–] astro_ray@piefed.social 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I also love Star Trek: Prodigy
Other than that:
Avatar: The Last Air Bender
Star vs. The Forces of Evil

[–] ninjabard@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Star vs wrecked me in a way I didn't think was possible.

[–] astro_ray@piefed.social 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] ninjabard@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

The finale. I'd watched so many shows where the ending was perfect for the show but wasn't ultimately "happily ever after." Whether that was the direction of the writing or idiots in the executive suite Steven Universe Future, Owl House, Gravity Falls, etc.

Star vs really is a "happily ever after" and made it work within the bounds of the show. Very little lampshading or deus ex machina hand waving.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Been watching Sonic: Boom. It's great.

I haven't seen Bluey but I'm probably going to.

Also Adventure Time, Regular Show, Chowder, Gumball, and Gravity Falls also csme out when I was already an adult and I love those.

[–] nutbutter@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

iCarly.

Both Avatar shows.

Oggy and the Cockroaches

Teen Titans Go

[–] Nightsoul@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Lol iCarly not a cartoon, but was pretty goated. Spencer easily the best character

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Going back aways, too, Blues Clues. Not that I still watch it, but when my kids were of that age, I enjoyed watching it, and I'd even watch it without them sometimes.

[–] atrielienz@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

I'm going to shout-out Kids Next Door and Arthur. Loved both of them both as an adult and as a kid. Also, Recess.

[–] lambdabeta@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago

I'm surprised that My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic hasn't been mentioned. For me it and ATLA are good for eternal rewatching.

Since ATLA was already posted (what a show, truly a pearl of Western animation), I'll say YuYu Hakusho. Yeah, it's a bit slow and repetitive but the emotional highs and lows still hit, and the animation and writing is still much better than much of what we have today. Also, seeing Yusuke's very real struggle (broken home, missing dad, alcoholic mom, feeling utterly pointless) still makes me feel strong feelings...

[–] SailorFuzz@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That nobody ever brings up Centaurworld is a crime.

Yall missed out on and still sleep on it.

[–] bhamlin@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

To be fair, just because it's a cartoon doesn't make it kids media. Centaurworld is not for kids.

[–] AceFuzzLord@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago

Not including my top show ever despite being too old for it, Franklin ( that preschool show ablutnthe turtle ), I'm going with Summer Camp Island as maybe 2nd place right now since I started rewatching it again. 6 seasons of a show starting off fairly episodic before coming together to tell what I consider a beautiful ending, even if it kinda feels like they had a network rush placed on them. Absolutely LOVE the final episode.

Though I have also been rewatching Code Lyoko since they have a full dedicated channel to the English dub of the show on yt. One of my all time favorite kids sci-fi TV shows period. Giant foreheaded minors attending a boarding school and fighting a virus capable of doing impossible tasks like making teddy bears turn into giant monsters or take control of rats to cause a plague or something along those lines? What's not to love?

[–] jqubed@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The Adventures of Pete & Pete

[–] LOLseas@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago

OH MY GUCCINESS, YESH! Also Hey Dude

[–] thatradomguy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Totally Spies, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, PPG, Courage The Cowardly Dog, Tom & Jerry, Flinstones, Looney Tunes, Masha and Bear, Larva, and many more.

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