If you are a ’90s kid, this story will bring tears of joy to your eyes. We are about to take you on a trip down memory lane to some of the most beloved cartoon series that are timeless classics. The best part is that you can relive your childhood by streaming these old cartoon shows on OTT platforms.
Remember when Sundays meant tuning into Cartoon Network and enjoying animated gems one after the other? It was iconic shows like Tom and Jerry, Powerpuff Girls and Baby Looney Tunes that defined moments of simple fun and ushered in peels of laughter. Meanwhile, the resilient characters of Bob The Builder introduced us to the phrase “Can we fix it? Yes we can,” which became the team slogan for kids of that generation.
While we all had our favourite Powerpuff Girl, the surreal adventures of Courage The Cowardly Dog left us petrified. Today’s new generation would probably never understand how we screamed with fear and peeked through our fingers every time some spirit haunted the Bagges’ rickety house.
Sure, we have animated titles for adults as well now, but the charm of our childhood cartoon characters is still strong. While we are on the topic of old cartoons, there’s another good news. Pingu is making a comeback, and this time on OTT. Known for the ‘Noot Noot’ sound, a bright red beak and playful antics, the beloved mischievous penguin is being brought to life again. Mattel and Aardman are co-developing a new stop-motion series that will be an ode to the charm of the ’90s show.
Excited? This is your cue to take a break from web series and films and binge-watch your favourite old cartoon shows with friends and family. Just like in your childhood.
Old cartoon shows and their OTT platforms
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- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
- Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)
- Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010-2013)
- DuckTales (1987-1990)
- The Looney Tunes Show (2011-2015)
- The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2004)
- The Tom and Jerry Show (2011-2022)
- The Jetsons (1962-1963)
- Mr Bean: The Animated Series (2002-2019)
- Bob The Builder (1997-2012)
IMDb rating: 9
Heir to the Wayne family fortune, Bruce Wayne is a millionaire socialite by day, but by night he assumes his crime-fighting alter-ego, the caped crusader of Gotham City, Batman. He receives help from allies Dick Grayson, aka Robin and Barbara Gordon, aka Batgirl, as well as Police Commissioner James Gordon as he fights all the goons and rogue thugs who try to wreak havoc.
Awards won: Won the 1993 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less).
Image: Courtesy Batman: The Animated Series/ © 1992 Warner Bros. Animation/ IMDb
IMDb rating: 8.3
Join Courage, a timid dog, as he takes care of his elderly owners and protects them from dangerous monsters and supernatural creatures that haunt their dilapidated house. The family stays in a forlorn deserted land with nothing in the vicinity and often receives unwanted bizarre guests that throw them into tumultuous adventures.
Image: Courtesy Courage the Cowardly Dog/ © © & TM 2003 Cartoon Network./ IMDb
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IMDb rating: 8.2
In every episode of this old cartoon show, friends Shaggy, Welma, Daphne, Fred and Scooby the Great Dane, embark on one epic adventure where they encounter evil people disguised as dragons and monsters. While Shaggy and Scooby are the most timid of the lot, together they help find clues and solve mysteries. In this reimagined series, the gang resides in Crystal Cove, a small town with a long history of ghost sightings, monster tales and other mysteries ripe for the sleuths to solve once and for all.
Image: Courtesy Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated/ IMDb
DuckTales (1987-1990)
IMDb rating: 8
The old cartoon show defined fun family bonding and hilarious adventures across the globe. Join the billionaire Scrooge McDuck and his three grand nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and temperamental nephew Donald Duck as they set out to solve mysteries, uncover secrets and face dangerous enemies.
Image: Courtesy DuckTales/ IMDb
IMDb rating: 7.8
Next on the list of old cartoon shows that we can stream on OTT platforms is The Looney Tunes Show. This is a take on the classic American TV production featuring talking animals who embark on misadventures. From solving mysteries to playing pranks on each other and ultimately coming together at the end for hearty laughter and togetherness, they are the perfect playmates for kids highlighting the spirit of friendship.
Image: Courtesy The Looney Tunes Show/ IMDb
IMDb rating: 7.3
If there was ever an iconic trio, Buttercup, Bubbles and Blossom has to be it. The scientifically made supergirls are composed of sugar and spice and everything nice and a strong dose of chemical X, a concoction that imparts supernatural abilities. The Powerpuff Girls rescue the world from the scheming plots of Mojo Rojo and show that girls can do anything they set their minds to. This is undoubtedly one of the old cartoon shows that instilled a love for adventures among kids.
Image: Courtesy The Powerpuff Girls/ IMDb
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IMDb rating: 7.1
The cat-and-mouse-chase show has been an irrefutable part of our childhood and even today, fans cannot pass a television without pausing if an episode is on. The Tom and Jerry Show brings back the evergreen slapstick humour in a high-definition quality. Each episode features Tom, the cat, and Jerry, the mouse, plotting against each other in their traditional suburban setting. They are accompanied by additional storylines where their rivalry is set in fantastic new places, like a witch’s cabin or even a mad scientist’s lab.
Image: Courtesy The Tom and Jerry Show/ IMDb
The Jetsons (1962-1963)
IMDb rating: 7
The Jetsons introduced a whole generation of kids to animated science fiction cartoons. A counterpart to the Stone Age sitcom The Flintstones, this cartoon show features an ultra-modern space-tech family in the year 2062. Here, aliens, holograms, robots and fanciful inventions that make life easy, sometimes complex, are everyday affairs.
Image: Courtesy The Jetsons/ IMDb
IMDb rating: 6.9
English actor-comedian Rowan Atkinson not only immortalised the live-action Mr Bean but went on to co-create the animated series, which is equally fascinating and hilarious. Mr Bean (voiced by Atkinson) is clueless yet he is clever. He is a loner in London, but this teddy soft toy gives him company more than any partner can. The series shows him stumbling through life as he faces unusual troubles and lands in rib-tickling situations.
Image: Courtesy Mr Bean: The Animated Series/ IMDb
Bob The Builder (1997-2012)
IMDb rating: 5.6
This series may not have a high IMDb rating but when it comes to nostalgia-laden old cartoon shows, Bob The Builder deserves to be on the list. Bob and his wife Wendy make a working-class family who can practically build anything. With the help of their construction vehicles, whom they treat as family, and a plethora of mechanic tools, they define the essence of teamwork, hustle and determination.
Image: Courtesy Bob The Builder/ IMDb
(Hero and featured image: Courtesy The Tom and Jerry Show/ IMDb)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In India, Jio Cinema, Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix are the best OTT platforms for watching old cartoon shows.
Apart from YouTube, Jio Cinema, Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar have a good collection of old cartoon shows.
A major chunk of Cartoon Network shows are available on Jio Cinema.
A large number of '90s cartoons are available on Jio Cinema, Netflix and Disney + Hotstar.
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Trinetra is an ardent foodie and bibliophile who writes about films, travel, food and lifestyle. As a writer and literature student, slam poetry and storytelling are her go to jam. When not working, Trinetra is busy looking for her next place to visit or binge-watching Instagram videos for travel inspiration.
