Cartoons bring a level of nostalgia to most people because they grow up watching them, and that’s why adults still watch them as they grow up. While they’re typically aimed towards younger audiences, a great cartoon can capture the attention of everyone, regardless of their age. There have been some unforgettable cartoons over the years, but some disastrous ones also missed the mark completely.
The Nutshack
The Nutshack was one of the worst cartoons ever, mainly because of the poor animation. While people don’t expect perfection from every cartoon’s animated quality, it can be impactful when it’s very poor. This series tried to cater to an adult audience, so people were less forgiving about the poor animation. Plus, the crude jokes ended up turning lots of viewers off.
The Problem Solverz
This Cartoon Network series tried to capitalize on the success of other quirky shows but ended up being too alienating. Its hideous art style and confusing story made it difficult for audiences to enjoy, as it was tough to understand what was happening.
Mega Babies
Mega Babies wasn’t a popular show combining disgusting visuals with childish humor. It attempted to be similar to Rugrats in many ways but failed in all of them. It created a show that neither adults nor children wanted to watch, so it’s been viewed as one of the worst cartoons ever.
Little Ellen
Ellen DeGeneres has often been famous and beloved by audiences worldwide, which is why she’s been so successful over the years. But the cartoon based around her, Little Ellen, wasn’t an example of that. It received lots of backlash because of its timing, as the show launched when DeGeneres had lots of controversy surrounding her due to her backstage behavior. Her reputation was tarnished. Therefore, the idea of people wanting to seek more content surrounding her wasn’t good.
The New Adventures of He-Man
Audiences loved the original He-Man series, and the idea of bringing it back was exciting. But the decision to shift the show from fantasy-based to science fiction wasn’t met with popularity. The futuristic setting completely changed the storyline and didn’t suit the character or the already-built world.
ThunderCats Roar
ThunderCats Roar is another classic that has been brought back and changed to the point where it is completely unrecognizable. This version focused too much on comedy, making the show unwatchable as it was previously serious. Fans had lots of backlash, so people didn’t appreciate it.
Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain
A decision was made to blend the characters from Animaniacs, and Tiny Toon Adventures sounded promising on paper for Pinky, Elmyra & The Brain. But Elmyra Duff’s inclusion ruined the dynamic between Pinky and the Brain, which hurt the show’s charm overall. The show felt redundant and lost the cleverness of what came before it, so there’s no reason to watch this one.
The Powerpuff Girls
This reboot misunderstood the original show’s concept. Changes in character personalities and poor animation quality left fans longing for the original trio, proving that not everything needs to be brought back in a new way.
Ren & Stimpy
Ren & Stimpy was another cartoon revival that fell flat. It was over the top with how crude it was, taking things to the extreme in that style of humor. While some of that can work, it feels cheap when stuffed into every episode and doesn’t provide the same shock value.
Hammerman
MC Hammer, as a superhero, sounded unique and had the potential to be interesting. But the execution could have been better. Poor animation and ridiculous storylines made Hammerman one of the most forgettable cartoons of the early ’90s.
Johnny Test
Despite a decent run, Johnny Test became known for its repetitive storylines and annoying sound effects. The show’s lack of innovation led to a significant drop in its appeal over time, with the quality dropping repeatedly.
Clutch Cargo
Clutch Cargo used real human mouths superimposed on cartoon characters, which created a strange visual that people didn’t enjoy. People couldn’t concentrate on anything else happening because of how odd this cartoon style was.
Fish Police
Attempting to cater to adults with a noir style, Fish Police failed to engage its audience. Its peculiar concept and lack of engaging content led to its quick cancellation, proving that it wasn’t entertaining enough to last long.
The Wacky Races
The original Wacky Races is a classic cartoon that still holds up today. It was beloved during its initial run, creating some iconic characters and compelling episodes. But the 2017 reboot fell short of the mark. The attempt to modernize this series was disappointing, as the charm ended up being lost, which did not bring the same quality as what people already knew.
The Brothers Grunt
MTV’s The Brothers Grunt was a bizarre and disgusting series that failed to find its audience, eventually leading to the show eventually coming off air. Its off-putting art style and nonsensical plots ensured it didn’t last long.
Butt-Ugly Martians
Despite a promising premise, Butt-Ugly Martians suffered from poor animation and lackluster storytelling, which made the show fail to live up to its potential. The series quickly became a footnote in the history of early 2000s cartoons.
Allen Gregory
This animated sitcom about a pretentious seven-year-old was criticized for having unlikeable characters and mean-spirited humor. Despite its high-profile backing, it didn’t resonate with audiences as there was nobody for audiences to relate to, which is always important.
Mother Goose and Grimm
Based on a popular comic strip, this series failed to translate its humor to the small screen. Its attempts at satire and wit fell flat, leading to people not watching the show.
The Adventures of Paddy the Pelican
Known for its extremely low budget, this 1950s cartoon featured minimal animation and terrible voice acting. It’s often cited as one of the worst animated series ever produced and is one that people have checked out just to see how bad it is.
