Summary
- These underappreciated Nickelodeon shows have intriguing plots and deserve more recognition from viewers.
- Shows like CatScratch and ChalkZone were overlooked due to timing and shifting trends in animated series for kids.
- Invader Zim and CatDog may have been unsettling for some viewers, but they offer a unique and entertaining experience.
Audiences have been treated to many wonderful Nickelodeon shows, but it is concerning that some have been disregarded. Some shows have come and gone over the years, becoming popular, while others have been discontinued. Renowned Nickelodeon cartoons such as SpongeBob, Fairly OddParents, and Avatar: The Last Airbender have gained recognition. However, some programs that are just as entertaining and have excellent content as the ones described above are often disregarded. Thus, after viewing these underappreciated Nickelodeon series, viewers will be gripped to the very last minute.
Using IMDb votes as the standard metric, these shows are yet to receive great appreciation from their viewers, and most times they go unnoticed. These shows relay intriguing plots that are sure to entertain their viewers, leaving them asking for more.
10 CatScratch
IMDb Rating: 6.7
- IMDb Votes: 3,111
- Creator: Doug TenNapel
- Release Years: 2005–2007
- Number of Episodes: 40
Three brothers who don't resemble cats or brothers are the subject of the cartoon series CatScratch. After their affluent owner, Edna Cramdilly, died naturally, these cat brothers acquired a mansion, a truck, and their very own butler. Give this trio enormous riches and privileges, knowing that they will behave appropriately when they get into naughty mischief.
The play features a great deal of humor, outrageous taunts, and unanticipated poignant moments. Because other well-known series were debuting, it was missed, contributing to its poor IMDb rating. If viewers are tolerant, CatScratch will undoubtedly make them laugh, and it deserves a second watch.
9 ChalkZone
IMDb Rating: 6.5
- IMDb Votes: 3,569
- Creators: Bill Burnett, Larry Huber
- Release Years: 2002–2008
- Number of Episodes: 40
ChalkZone is an animated show that follows an artistic child named Rudy, who happens to discover a box of magical chalks that can bring his creativity to life. It also allows him to journey through ChalkZone, an alternate dimension where anything drawn on a board and erased comes to life.
The plot is known to be creative, with catchy songs, interesting adventures, and cartoony violence. Rudy is accompanied by his best friend, Snap, and Penny, his secret crush, and together they embark on amazing adventures. The show was seriously overlooked as it was released at a time when animated series for kids were undergoing shifting trends, and it lacked the attention it truly deserved.
8 As Told By Ginger
IMDb Rating: 6.9
- IMDb Votes: 7,032
- Creator: Emily Kapnek
- Release Years: 2000–2006
- Number of Episodes: 60
As Told by Ginger is an animated show that focuses on the social life of a preteen and her friends as they attempt to navigate middle school while trying not to embarrass themselves. The show displays the struggles and challenges that occur in teens in a very relatable way. Ginger, the main character, is a well-known Courtney Gripping who is self-assured and strong-willed and who is not afraid of her friends challenging her.
The plot is an interesting one, as Ginger tries to be more than a social geek; it displays how to deal with societal expectations from teenagers and find where one truly belongs but fails to get the attention of its audience as it was overshadowed by more realistic plots from recent Nickelodeon cartoons.
7 Rocket Power
IMDb Rating: 6.8
- IMDb Votes: 10,230
- Creators: Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo
- Release Years: 1999–2004
- Number of Episodes: 71
Having the same producer as the popular cartoon Rugarts, the animated show Rocket Power is not well known because it was released at a time when better sports animated series and shows were reigning, and the show eventually was stopped due to a lot of episode cliches. But it is considered a good show compared to Rugrats.
It tells the story of four friends who all share a passion for extreme sports, an adventurous spirit, and a love to break the rules. The show is filled with funny scenes, heartwarming friendships, and life-long lessons, making it an amazing show to see.
6 My Life as a Teenage Robot
IMDb Rating: 7.0
- IMDb Votes: 10,872
- Creator: Rob Renzetti
- Release Years: 2002–2009
- Number of Episodes: 39
Being a teenager tends to be confusing for most of us, but imagine how tough it will be for a robot. My Life as a Teenage Robot displays the struggles, complexities, and nature of human emotions as they happen, but in a robot.
The show follows a teenage robot named XJ-9, or Jenny, as she tries to balance a normal teenage life with saving the world. Its plot is a blend of teenage drama, comedy, and action in a way that is related to other shows. But it is a wonder that it wasn't more recognized and noticed when it was aired, as the series gave animated shows a fresh perspective.
5 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
IMDb Rating: 7.2
- IMDb Votes: 12,312
- Creators: Gabor Csupo, Peter Gaffney
- Release Years: 1994–1997
- Number of Episodes: 52
Aaah!!! Real Monsters is an animated show that revolves around three monsters, namely Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm, who attend a monster school under the city dump where they are taught the art of scaring. In the monster school, they are more often given assignments to come up to the surface and scare humans, usually children.
The art style of the show isn't for everyone, as the show possesses characters that can get a bit scary and disgusting at times, which is one of the main reasons why the Aaah!!! Real monsters are often underrated. But it's a humorous, well-written show, and its characters were well-voiced, which gave it a unique charm of its own, and it deserves another look.
4 The Angry Beavers
IMDb Rating: 7.2
- IMDb Votes: 15,635
- Creator: Mitch Schauer
- Release Years: 1997-2001
- Number of Episodes: 62
The animated show Angry Beavers is generally known for hilarious scenes. This animated show tells the story of two young beaver brothers, Norbert and Daggett, who moved out of their parent’s house to live as bachelors near the town of Wayouttown. These brothers always get on each other's nerves and cause trouble at every turn.
Their adventures were full of laughs, bickering, and brotherly moments. The show wasn't well known in the 21st generation as the producers decided to cut short the series due to some inner conflicts, but this is one cartoon that should be brought up again.
3 The Wild Thornberrys
IMDb Rating: 6.6
- IMDb Votes: 15,644
- Creators: Jeff Astrof, Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo, Steve Pepoon and David Silverman
- Release Years: 1998–2004
- Number of Episodes: 91
This animated show tells the life of an adventurous family from the perspective of a young girl named Eliza Thornberry who is gifted with the ability to communicate with animals because of her encounter with an African Shaman. The show showcases Eliza’s misfortune of getting into trouble and her relationship with her family as they journey around the world to video exotic animals.
7 Most Iconic Nickelodeon Cartoons
Nickelodeon had its fair share of great cartoons in its day. These are some of the most famous of the bunch.
Although the show is highly overlooked, it wasn't noticed at the point of release, and only a few have seen it. It is regarded as a very entertaining and interesting show with loveable characters. It is highly recommended for all who are animal lovers.
2 Invader Zim
IMDb Rating: 8.4
- IMDb Votes: 22,304
- Creator: Jhonen Vasquez
- Release Years: 2001–2006
- Number of Episodes: 27
This animated show, Invader Zim, follows an alien named Zim who is sent to conquer Earth, not knowing that his superiors are also trying to get rid of him, so he goes on to disguise himself as a human boy, but only one boy can see him for what he truly is.
This show is weird, gross, interesting, hilarious, and epic at the same time. Invader Zim was mostly overlooked as the show possesses scary scenes unfit for individuals under the age of ten, leaving most of them to have terrifying nightmares. Especially the part where Zim steals organs from kids and inputs them into himself to appear human. But overall, this show is for anyone in need of a bit of peculiarity and a good laugh.
1 CatDog
IMDb Rating: 6.5
- IMDb Votes: 24,541
- Creators: Peter Hannan
- Release Years: 1998-2005
- Number of Episodes: 66
CatDog is an animated show that follows the story of a conjoint twin, who happens to be a cat and a dog. The plot gives a whole new friendly perspective to the raging war between cats and dogs, and it showcases how this unlikely pair thrives to accommodate each other while being opposites.
There are a lot of strange characters, scenes, and gross-out humor in the show, which violates the limits between these two types of beings. Because of the show's concept, CatDog went unnoticed, and some viewers found it, to put it mildly, horrifying. Others, meanwhile, thought the show's charm resided in its ridiculousness.