10 Best Cartoons of Gen Z, From Avatar to Phineas and Ferb

The best cartoons of Gen Z include Avatar: The Last Airbender, SpongeBob SquarePants, Phineas and Ferb, Teen Titans, Cartoon Network classics like Samurai Jack and The Powerpuff Girls, and, for Indian kids, Chhota Bheem. Most aired between the late 1990s and 2010s. Several have returned in 2025 and 2026 through revivals, sequels and spin-offs.

For Indian Gen Z and late millennials, after-school hours often meant Cartoon Network, Pogo, Nickelodeon or Disney Channel. The characters from those years stayed with many viewers long after the morals were forgotten. Here are 11 shows that defined that childhood, with an update on where each one stands now.

Quick guide

Show	Original run	Original network
Avatar: The Last Airbender	2005 to 2008	Nickelodeon
Justice League	2001 to 2006	Cartoon Network
Samurai Jack	2001 to 2004, 2017	Cartoon Network, Adult Swim
SpongeBob SquarePants	1999 to present	Nickelodeon
Phineas and Ferb	2007 to 2015, revived 2025	Disney Channel
Teen Titans	2003 to 2006	Cartoon Network
Chhota Bheem	2008 to present	Pogo

10 best cartoons of Gen Z, plus one Indian favourite

1. Avatar: The Last Airbender

Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, this Nickelodeon series ran for three seasons and 61 episodes from 2005 to 2008. It follows Aang, the last airbender, as he learns to master all four elements and stop the Fire Nation’s war. The show is praised for its storytelling and its handling of war, empire, loss and choice.

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The franchise is very active. Netflix released a live-action adaptation in 2024 and renewed it for two more seasons. A sequel animated series, Avatar: Seven Havens, is expected on Paramount+ from 9 October 2026.

2. Justice League and Justice League Unlimited

This DC animated series ran on Cartoon Network from 2001 to 2004 and continued as Justice League Unlimited until 2006. It brought together Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl. Many fans still consider it the best animated version of these characters.

3. Samurai Jack

Created by Genndy Tartakovsky, this Cartoon Network series follows a samurai thrown into a distant future by the demon Aku and his long attempt to return to the past. The original run lasted from 2001 to 2004. A darker fifth and final season aired on Adult Swim in 2017 and gave the story a proper ending.

4. SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob has been on Nickelodeon since 1999 and is one of the longest-running American animated series. The cheerful sea sponge, his friend Patrick and grumpy neighbour Squidward still drive countless memes. The franchise continues with new episodes, spin-offs and films.

5. Phineas and Ferb

Created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the show follows two stepbrothers who build wild inventions every summer day, while their sister Candace tries to get them caught and their pet platypus, Perry, secretly fights the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz. The original run lasted from 2007 to 2015.

Disney brought it back. A new season premiered on Disney Channel on 5 June 2025 and streamed on Disney+ the next day. In January 2026, a third Phineas and Ferb film was also given the green light.

6. Teen Titans

Running from 2003 to 2006 on Cartoon Network, this series followed Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven and Beast Boy. It mixed anime-inspired action with serious storylines. The lighter spin-off Teen Titans Go! began in 2013, though many older fans still prefer the original.

7. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy

Billy, a dim but happy boy, and Mandy, his cold and clever friend, win the Grim Reaper as their permanent “best friend” after beating him in a game of limbo. The show began as part of Grim and Evil in 2001 and ran on its own from 2003 to 2007. Its dark humour felt different from most kids’ shows of the time.

8. House of Mouse

In this Disney show, Mickey Mouse runs a nightclub where classic Disney characters gather to watch cartoons. It aired from 2001 to 2003 and was a fun crossover for children who knew the older Disney films.

9. Ed, Edd n Eddy

Created by Danny Antonucci, this Cartoon Network series ran for six seasons from 1999 to 2009. Three boys named Ed spend their days in a cul-de-sac trying to con the neighbourhood kids out of money for jawbreakers. It was one of the longest-running original series on the channel.

10. The Powerpuff Girls

Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup are three kindergarten-age superheroes created from sugar, spice, everything nice and an accidental dose of Chemical X. They protect the city of Townsville from villains such as Mojo Jojo. The original series ran from 1998 to 2005, and a reboot aired from 2016 to 2019.

11. Chhota Bheem

For many Indian Gen Z children, no list is complete without Chhota Bheem. Produced by Hyderabad-based Green Gold Animation, the show first aired on Pogo on 6 April 2008. Set in the kingdom of Dholakpur, it follows a strong, laddoo-loving boy and his friends Raju, Chutki, Jaggu, Kalia, Dholu and Bholu. It became one of India’s most successful home-grown animated brands, with films and merchandise.

Why these shows still matter

• They are easy to rewatch now on streaming platforms, so many adults return to them.
• They shaped meme culture. SpongeBob and Phineas and Ferb clips remain common on social media.
• Several of them, especially Avatar, dealt with serious themes in a way children could follow.

For more nostalgia and pop culture, see our entertainment section and our buzz section.

Further reading: Cartoon Network.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Wikipedia: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Wikipedia: Phineas and Ferb, Wikipedia: Chhota Bheem, Wikipedia: Ed, Edd n Eddy.