Happy Birthday Cartoon Network!

Today, Cartoon Network is celebrating its 20th anniversary! From now-playing shows like Regular Show and The Amazing World of Gumball to those gone by the wayside (Johnny Bravo, Samurai Jack), that’s twenty years of slack-jawed viewers mesmerized by, arguably, some of the silliest (But clever!) animated programming on TV.

We’d like to take a moment to highlight some CN cartoons past and present. After the jump you'll see a list of a few shows we felt we had to mention alongside some incredible fan art found from across the web!

 Click the image to see the artist's work in a larger format on the source website!

Dexter's Laboratory 

The series about the boy-genius with the impressive (and secret) in-home science lab, clueless parents, annoying sister and evenly-matched egghead of an enemy graced television screens with new episodes for nearly a decade. Dexter's Lab single-handedly turned "omelette du fromage" into a pick-up line, which by the way, actually works in some cases. Tested and proven by someone in the world...somewhere.

Currently, the show reruns on Boomerang.

The Powerpuff Girls

 

Three girls with insane superpowers who were born in a lab late one night from a highly-questionable chemistry experiment conducted by a lonely middle-aged bachelor sounds like something that might not be safe for young eyes to see, but lo and behold, The Powerpuff Girls proved to be a hilarious romp for children of all ages. The show stayed strong and kept fighting through seven years of fickle children's programming. The fun animation style and unique characters and story lines kept kids and adults alike tuning in.

Recently, there was a rumor churning that the Emmy award-winning show was making a comeback next year, which made us at offcultured more excited than we care to admit.

 Alas, our favorite girls made of sugar and spice and everything nice, along with a heaping dose of kick-ass, is not returning, but you can still catch reruns of your favorite fighting female trio on Boomerang.

 
Courage the Cowardly Dog

The creepiest chidlren's show EVER. We're not basing that on personal opinion as we were easily spooked (Was Legends of the Hidden Temple supposed to be scary?), but on the fact that whenever this show is mentioned, people seem to have immediate "Aw, hell naw!" flashbacks of the crazed barber and demands to "return the slab". 

If you aren't familiar with Courage (you're probably very young), it's set on a lonely farm in Nowhere, Kansas, where Muriel and Eustace Bagge live with their skittish dog, Courage. The farm is such a huge magnet for other-wordly activity it could have been a wonderland for the Men in Black--that cross-over should have happened.

Like The Powerpuff Girls, there were rumors that Courage the Cowardly Dog was returning this year but no new episodes are in the works.

 Codename: Kids Next Door

This show could have easily fit in with the cartoons of the nineties during the days of the glorification of summer camps and McDonald's "Hey, it could happen!" slogan. Running for six seasons from 2002-2009, it's a showcase of childhood done in one of the best ways possible.

The "numbuhed" Kids, age twelve and under, vow to protect their young comrades from teenagers, who were decommissioned at thirteen, forgetting their days as one of the Kids as a result; and adult villains, including  Stickeybeard, Knightbrace, Toiletnator, and the series' literal shadow-man, Father. The rivalries and transformations in the show mirror those of real life, albeit exaggerated and way cooler. 

By the way, did they ever get some birthday cake from The Delightful Children from Down the Lane?

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

We were all too sad to see go yet another beautifully created Emmy award-winning show. This program used flash animation to tell its unique stories that focused on Mac, a young boy who was forced to give up his imaginary friend Bloo. Luckily for Mac, he wouldn't have to part with his bestie for long since Madame Foster and her home full of quirky, left-behind imaginary friends were there to take Bloo in.

Mac not only found a new home for his friend but tons of new friends in the likes of Mr. Herriman, a noble rabbit who happens to be the butler; Wilt, a basketball loving heck-of-a-guy; potato-adoring Eduardo; Frankie, the only other human besides Madame Foster and Mac; fan-favorite Cheese, who is a headache to every other character on the show, and many more endearing and unique characters 

The show ran for six seasons, glorious seasons, spurning tons of merchandise including video games and children's books. Plus, it even earned a spot in the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for three of its five awesome years.

Chowder

This story is set in a town called Marzipan City, where everything and everyone is named after a famous food or dish. Chowder stars as an apprentice chef who can never seem to stop eating and doesn't really mind the constant chastisement he gets from his mentor, Mung Daal, who runs a famous catering company in town. 

Aside from the fanciful storylines, the show's animation was one of a kind. A constant array of pattern, texture, and color moved across the screen in a dizzying fashion. Keeping track of the textures in the character's clothing and surroundings as they constantly changed during each episode was like viewing a fun Magic Eye optical illusion, but the effect was done beautifully and added to the rich detail that seems to be the exception and not the norm when it comes to children's programming.

Chowder ran for only two short years but proved itself to be quite a memorable one through its 49 episodes.

  

Ben 10: Alien Force

A great sci-fi show for both kids and adults alike, Ben 10: AF  features aliens, strange planets, big crashes, loud booms, and bevy of other flash, bangs, and pops to keep the attention of younger viewers. Although geared towards kids around age fourteen, Ben 10:AF fuels itself with an incredible storyline that handles adult themes like loyalty, selfishness, and bravery in ways that a younger viewer can appreciate. The show is a sequel to the original Ben 10 and set five years after the action of the first series takes place so its darker mood and more adult story telling is a welcome inclusion.

Ben Tennyson is the title character tasked with responsibility of being the newest wearer and guardian of the Omnitrix, a watch like device that allows its wearer to transform into ten preset alien forms. With this device, it is up to Ben to  fight off invaders and evil doers who would try to steal the Omnitrix, often times not only saving Earth, but other planets in solar systems far away.

The story of Ben Tennyson continues in Ben 10: Ultimate Alien and now again in the all new Ben 10: Omniverse, which premiered in August this year.

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack

This was a highly imaginative show about a junior adventurer living in a whale that was over before its time, broadcasting on Cartoon Network for two short years. Sure, it tested viewer's growss-out levels with grotesquely detailed close-ups a la Ren & Stimpy and Spongebob Squarepants, but that's become a regular occurrence in cartoons nowadays.

Set on Stormalong Harbor, the series featured an interesting cast of characters in addition to the adorable (and strange) blond haired Flapjack, Bubbie the whale, Cap'n'K'nuckles the worn-out sailor, candy shop owner Peppermint Larry, and Dr. Barber...the doctor-barber, just to name a few. Flapjack was an adventurer in training, learning the ways of adventuring from K'nuckles as they embarked on an endless quest to find Candied Island, getting into a heap of trouble along the way. 

Reruns recently aired on Cartoon Planet on Cartoon Network.

Adventure Time with Finn and Jake

Finn, the last human on the planet and the greatest adventurer of all, was raised side by side with his best friend, Jake, a dog who can stretch, shrink, expand, and mold his body as he chooses. They go on epic quests, rescue princesses from the Ice King, and party just as eagerly as they protect. Little details like the chunk missing from Earth, the half-buried bombs, and automobiles of old sunk in the ocean give insight to the setting; a post-apocalyptic world with traces of what existed before the Land of Ooo and its interesting inhabitants.

You can watch new episodes on Cartoon Network. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the channel, the 100th produced episode of the series (101st to air), "The Hard Easy" will air tonight.