There are certain kids shows that are universally beloved. No one is ever going to forget about Rugrats, Doug, or Lizzie McGuire. But what about all of those nostalgic shows from your childhood that don't get as much love as they deserve? For every Are You Afraid of the Dark?, there's an Eerie, Indiana that's being left out of the conversation. That's why this list is being devoted to the unsung saviors of boring Saturday afternoons, the animated shows that kept you occupied over holiday breaks, and those live-action gems that taught you about sharing, caring, and surviving the weirdness of small town life.
From the hilarious madness of Animaniacs to the adventures of the Porter family in Land of the Lost, the '90s were full of underrated kids shows. It's time to delve deep into your TV-loving past and rediscover the series you totally forgot you were addicted to. Because you definitely loved these awesome shows, even though you don't think about them as much as you daydream about upcoming return of Hey Arnold!.
Prepare to be hit with some major nostalgia as you revisit these 29 shows from your childhood that never get enough love. Please note, this list will almost certainly lead to a YouTube spiral, and it will be amazing.
1. Animaniacs
Animaniacs gave the world so much — the "Nations of the World" song, Pinky and the Brain, exposure to countless references to movies you didn't see until you were an adult — it should be appreciated accordingly.
2. Allegra's Window
Pre-school shows usually get left out of the nostalgia love, but these are the shows that taught you the most. Where would you have been without having Allegra to hang out with everyday before you ventured off to kindergarten?
3. Bobby's World
If you've ever wondered why you have a soft spot for Howie Mandel, this show will explain so much.
4. Land Of The Lost
The cuteness of Tasha, the most adorable baby dinosaur in all the land, must never be forgotten.
5. Under The Umbrella Tree
Even if you haven't thought about it in at least a decade, Holly's umbrella tree was a place where you learned how to let your imagination run wild.
6. The Angry Beavers
Daggett and Norbert taught you that it was OK to be angry sometimes, and OK to laugh at beavers who are angry all of the time.
7. Eerie, Indiana
Eerie, Indiana was often far scarier than Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark?, it just didn't last as long as its contemporaries.
8. Animorphs
OK, the transformations were the stuff of nightmares, but seeing your favorite characters from the books on the small screen (almost) made the horror worth it.
9. The Mighty Ducks
The Mighty Ducks film franchise inspired a weird, but cool, cartoon about hockey-playing ducks from space. It had nothing to do with the movies, but it was still appointment TV.
10. Life With Louie
Before he was a Baskets scene-stealer, Louie Anderson created a genuinely funny cartoon about his childhood.
11. The Baby-Sitters Club
This show captured the spirit of the book series perfectly. It's too bad it didn't last for more than 13 episodes.
12. Bear In The Big Blue House
Is it even possible to listen to "The Goodbye Song" without crying?
13. Ready Or Not
If you were lucky enough to catch Ready or Not, then best friends Amanda and Busy likely taught you everything you ever wanted to know about growing up.
14. Hey Dude
Salute Your Shorts is a fun show, but so was its contemporary, Hey Dude — and it holds the special distinction of being the only reason why you've ever wanted to go to a dude ranch.
15. Cow And Chicken
There's no getting around the inherent trippiness of Cow and Chicken, but the show's weirdness factor is what made it so entertaining.
16. Captain Planet And The Planeteers
Captain Planet is the Earth's hero. Without him, would you even know what recycling is?
17. Eek! The Cat
Poor, Eek. He always wanted to help, but his efforts almost always ended with him getting hurt.
18. Little Bear
Watching Little Bear is like being wrapped in a warm hug. It was the show you could turn to when you wanted to be assured that the world was a safe and happy place.
19. The Big Comfy Couch
Loonette is the only clown you were never afraid of.
20. Ghostwriter
You totally wanted a book-loving ghost to show up at your house because of this show.
21. The Mystery Files Of Shelby Woo
Shelby was the '90s answer to Nancy Drew, only way more awesome.
22. Goof Troop
Goofy and Max were a father-son dream team. (Although, the world still wants to know who Max's mom was.)
23. Tales From The Cryptkeeper
You know you're a '90s kid when the Cryptkeeper's laugh makes you want to hide under a blanket.
24. Wishbone
Wishbone can never get enough love. This little dog instilled a love of reading into an entire generation.
25. KaBlam!
KaBlam! was probably your first introduction to sketch comedy, and that's reason enough for the show to never be forgotten.
26. The Saddle Club
Friendship, horses, and weekly adventures — what more could you ask for?
27. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
This ingenious cartoon about monsters attending a scare school is by far the most underrated Nickelodeon animated series.
28. Cousin Skeeter
No one is cooler than Cousin Skeeter.
29. So Weird
A perfect mix of scares and genuine emotion, So Weird was a genre show ahead of its time.
These 29 shows helped shape your childhood, and for that reason, they deserve to be cherished just as much as Rugrats and Hey Arnold!.
