Growing up in Australia in the 90s was a blast! In the absence of modern pastimes like Youtube, social media, and video games; 90s kids entertained themselves by tuning in to some great classic TV shows.
Now that everything from those eras (like old TV series, classic films, and even silent movies) is being digitized and uploaded to Youtube, media that was once thought to be lost to time can now be revisited. Former 90s kids can go back in time and access their favourite 90s cartoons whenever they like; and 00s and 2010s kids today can now get a taste of what 90s cartoons were like, without having to rummage through their parents’ VHS collection.
Here is a list of the best, most unique, and most nostalgic 80s and 90s TV shows you can watch on Youtube.
10. Bananas In Pyjamas
This 1992 show was inspired by the song of the same title by Carey Blyton, written in 1967. In retrospect, its premise is quite strange: it’s about the home life of two twin anthropomorphic bananas in blue pyjamas that work as lifeguards in the nearby beach. Sometimes the neighbouring teddy bear family or the Rat in a Hat join in on the fun.
The show is aimed at very young children and the plot of every episode is easy to digest. Thus, it became wildly popular among its target audience, and its success helped it remain on-air for 9 whole years. “Bananas in Pyjamas” has become a cultural icon and is now synonymous with Australian children’s programming.
9. Dinosaurs
This dinosaur show for kids, a Jim Henson and Disney collaboration, featured a family of puppet dinosaurs. It’s a sitcom set in an alternate universe wherein dinosaurs never became extinct.
8. Agro’s Cartoon Connection
This show was a sort of “repackaging” of other 90s kids shows like Sailor Moon, Scooby-Doo, Popeye, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Each segment was presented by Agro, a puppet character so named because of his aggressiveness, which was often played up for humour.
Between the cartoon segments, there were also short comedy skits starring Agro and other hosts. This variety of content within one single episode made for a pretty memorable viewing experience for us 90s kids.
7. Ren And Stimpy
Everyone’s experience with Ren and Stimpy in the 90s is different. Its youngest viewers were likely equal parts horrified and intrigued by the distinctly unattractive animation style. Some children may have found its themes too disgusting or weird to be entertaining. Teens and young adults may have loved the surreal humour and its numerous innuendos.
This unhinged show was revolutionary in the world of animation. Its dark, adult humour was unprecedented in the realm of cartoons, and the show singlehandedly started a trend of weirdness amongst Nickelodeon shows which can still be felt today in shows like ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ and ‘Adventure Time’.
6. Cheez TV
This show had a format that was almost exactly like Agro’s Cartoon Connection, except that it was much more kid-friendly (Agro was infamous for its subtle adult humour). Hosted by Ryan Lapin and Jade Gatt, Cheez TV holds a special place in the hearts of 90s kids for showing some of the best kids television available at the time, and the abrasive yet catchy theme song will forever be etched deeply in our memories.
5. Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z was a worldwide phenomenon in the 90s, making an appearance on almost every Australian TV in the 90s. Parents were perplexed, and kids were utterly enthralled. It was many 90s kids’ first taste of Japanese animation. Dragon Ball Z was violent, complex, fantastical, and had such detailed animation and character design: traits that are absent in many of its western cartoon contemporaries.
Dragon Ball Z is primarily about Goku’s exploration of his superhuman powers. Following along on his journey across the galaxy, viewers saw Goku defeat stronger and stronger enemies. Though the series can sometimes be formulaic, children and teens in the 90s nevertheless got hooked on its badass characters and its intense fight sequences.
4. Rocko’s Modern Life
This Nickelodeon show is one of Ren and Stimpy’s direct descendants, with dark humour, weird-looking animation, and poorly-masked sexual innuendos; it ticks every box. The main character Rocko is a wallaby (with an unconvincing Australian accent), immigrating to the United States and settling down in the fictional O-Town. There he meets his eventual best friend Heffer the cow as well as other animal neighbours.
Though Ren and Stimpy’s influence on Rocko’s Modern Life is unquestionable, its humour is markedly tamer and more accessible to children than its predecessor, giving it a rather unique appeal.
3. The Adventures of Blinky Bill
There is no kids show more distinctly Australian than The Adventures of Blinky Bill. Dorothy Wall’s famous koala character has been in books, kids movies, and live-action TV shows, but its most famous iteration is this ABC cartoon show from the 90s. In each episode, Blinky Bill and the show’s other Australian wildlife characters taught children about the importance of caring for the environment as well as other important values. The cartoon is now considered a classic and the character is recognised as a national icon.
2. Batman: The Animated Series
Fresh off the heels of the 1989 Tim Burton “Batman” movie, this TV show was made to capitalize on the movie’s commercial and critical success. Episodes took stories from Batman’s decades-long comic book history, and introduced children to characters from the source material that they had never seen before: Mister Freeze, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, and many more.
Despite it being a cartoon, Batman: The Animated Series appealed to both children and adults, with its colourful characters playing out complex themes of revenge, justice, grief, and crime. With its brilliant, timeless writing and its beautiful animation, it’s been frequently appraised as one of the best animated television shows ever made.
1. Art Attack
Ask any young creative professional out there and it’s likely that they would fondly remember Art Attack, hosted by Neil Buchanan. In every episode, Neil would guide viewers through 3 or 4 craft projects, which any kid can easily make with household items and recycled materials. Between each segment are short comedy skits, and occasionally there would be a “Big Art Attack” segment where Neil would create large scale artwork with unconventional materials.
Even if you didn’t follow along with Neil’s art projects, Art Attack was still such a joy to watch. Seeing something fanciful and unexpected be created out of nothing was inspiring to so many children. There’s nothing quite like Art Attack, and that’s why it tops our list.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
