Animation Origins & Behind-the-Scenes
SpongeBob SquarePants was originally going to be called “SpongeBoy,” but the name was already trademarked for a mop.
“Doug” was the first Nicktoon ever aired on Nickelodeon, premiering even before “Rugrats” and “Ren & Stimpy.”
The creators of “Ed, Edd n Eddy” used no digital animation in the early seasons—everything was hand-drawn and inked.
Genndy Tartakovsky originally developed “Samurai Jack” while working on “Dexter’s Laboratory.”
“The Powerpuff Girls” were originally called “The Whoopass Girls” in a student film.
“Hey Arnold!” was based on a claymation short the creator made in the 1980s.
“Daria” was a spin-off of “Beavis and Butt-Head” and originally appeared as a recurring character there.
“Johnny Bravo” was inspired by Elvis Presley, and the show includes many rockabilly references.
Tara Strong, voice of Bubbles and Timmy Turner, is one of the most prolific voice actors of the era.
“Recess” was created by two former “Rugrats” writers who wanted to portray kids outside the classroom.
Character Appearances & Designs
Courage the Cowardly Dog’s design was inspired by the creator’s real-life dog.
Kim Possible’s signature green cargo pants and crop top became a style trend for fans.
Helga’s unibrow in “Hey Arnold!” was a deliberate choice to break traditional ‘pretty girl’ norms.
Invader Zim was designed with jagged lines and neon colors to reflect his chaotic personality.
The “Dexter’s Laboratory” characters have no noses, emphasizing their cartoonish proportions.
Samurai Jack’s minimalistic eyes and sharp silhouette make him one of the most iconic visual designs of the 2000s.
Mandy from “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy” never smiles—except once, in a terrifying episode.
The “Rocket Power” kids all have oversized heads, skate gear, and extreme sport accessories as part of their aesthetic.
Tommy Pickles always wears a blue shirt and diaper—a nod to timeless baby simplicity.
Eliza Thornberry’s braces, glasses, and pigtails were chosen to emphasize her nerdy adventurer persona.
Voices & Actors
E.G. Daily voiced both Tommy Pickles and Buttercup from “Powerpuff Girls.”
Christine Cavanaugh voiced Dexter, Chuckie, and Oblina—three totally different voices.
Timmy Turner and Dil Pickles were both voiced by Tara Strong.
The voice of Nigel Thornberry, Tim Curry, is a legendary film and theater actor.
“Rugrats” used actual toddler babble as a reference for character vocal patterns.
Dee Bradley Baker, who voiced Klaus in “American Dad,” also voiced every creature in “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”
Phil and Lil from “Rugrats” were voiced by the same actress, Kath Soucie.
Billy’s voice in “Billy & Mandy” was inspired by Ed from “Ed, Edd n Eddy.”
Mark Hamill, best known as Luke Skywalker, voiced the villain Fire Lord Ozai in “Avatar.”
The original voice of Johnny Bravo, Jeff Bennett, also voiced Dexter’s dad and many other characters.
Crossovers & Cameos
The Powerpuff Girls crossed over with “Dexter’s Laboratory” in a Cartoon Network commercial.
Eliza Thornberry and the Rugrats met in “Rugrats Go Wild,” a crossover movie.
The Teen Titans had a cameo in “Kids Next Door” during a channel bumper.
Fred Flintstone appeared in a “Johnny Bravo” episode as a karate teacher.
There’s a billboard for “Acme Corporation” in the background of “Animaniacs.”
Courage briefly appears in the background of a Cartoon Network “House Party” music video.
Samurai Jack’s world subtly connects to the world of “The Powerpuff Girls” via shared art direction.
Scooby-Doo met Batman, Johnny Bravo, and the Harlem Globetrotters in different 90s specials.
“Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” features cameo appearances by characters from “Powerpuff Girls.”
Grim from “Billy & Mandy” made a guest appearance in “Codename: Kids Next Door.”
Plot Twists & Dark Moments
In “Hey Arnold!,” Helga’s mother is implied to be an alcoholic.
The “Ed, Edd n Eddy” fan theory that the kids are actually in purgatory gained huge online traction.
“Courage the Cowardly Dog” is filled with disturbing imagery and psychological horror themes.
“The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy” originally started as a short called “Grim & Evil.”
In “Danny Phantom,” the alternate future version of Danny becomes a supervillain.
The “Rugrats” episode about Chuckie’s mom reveals she passed away, making it one of the show’s saddest moments.
The “Zim eats waffles” episode was a surreal fan-favorite with almost no plot.
“Foster’s Home” had an episode where Mac considers leaving Blooregard forever.
The “Teen Titans” episode “Haunted” implies Robin is hallucinating Slade.
“Recess” touches on themes of government control and conformity in its school setting.
Fandoms & Online Culture
Zim’s fanbase grew even larger after cancellation, prompting reruns and DVDs.
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” became a meme goldmine with lines like “My cabbages!”
Tumblr popularized shipping dynamics from “Teen Titans” and “Danny Phantom.”
The phrase “Sugar, spice, and everything nice” became a common online reference.
“SpongeBob” quotes are among the most memed cartoon lines of all time.
“Ed, Edd n Eddy” was one of the earliest cartoons to get fan animations on Newgrounds.
Fans still debate who the best Titan is: Raven, Starfire, or Robin.
A deleted “Invader Zim” episode script called “Mopiness of Doom” became infamous online.
There’s an entire subreddit dedicated to dissecting “Courage the Cowardly Dog” theories.
The “Hey Arnold!” fandom campaigned for years to get “The Jungle Movie” made—and won.
Catchphrases & Quotes
“I’m ready! I’m ready!” is SpongeBob’s iconic rally cry.
“Stupid dog!” is Eustace’s repeated insult to Courage.
“Who loves orange soda?” became Kel’s catchphrase crossover from “Kenan & Kel” into animation parodies.
“Omelette du fromage” from Dexter became a pop culture catchphrase.
“Booyah!” is Cyborg’s go-to exclamation in “Teen Titans.”
“I’m gonna rule the world!” is a recurring goal of Mojo Jojo.
“Smashing!” is Nigel Thornberry’s oddly specific signature line.
“I’m not your friend, buddy!” was parodied from “South Park” countless times.
“You are so busted!” was Kim Possible’s callout to villains.
“Goodnight, everybody!” from “Animaniacs” was often used after a questionable joke.
Love Interests & Relationships
Arnold had a secret crush on Lila—but Helga loved Arnold, leading to a love triangle.
Raven and Beast Boy’s slow-burn dynamic became a fan-favorite ship.
Zuko and Mai’s relationship in “Avatar” was dark, moody, and perfect for emo fans.
Timmy Turner and Trixie Tang were a classic unrequited love trope.
Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable proved best friends can make great couples.
Angelica had a crush on a boy band member in “Rugrats in Paris.”
Double D (Edd) possibly harbored feelings for Marie Kanker.
Mac and Frankie from “Foster’s” had a sweet but ambiguous connection.
Starfire and Robin’s will-they-won’t-they arc stretched across five seasons.
Eliza Thornberry and Darwin shared the most heartwarming human-animal bond.
Theme Songs & Music Moments
“The Fairly OddParents” theme was written to sound like a 1950s sitcom jingle.
“Kim Possible’s” ringtone “Call Me, Beep Me” became a radio hit.
“Danny Phantom” had a full rap intro—rare for a Nickelodeon show.
“Recess” used military drumlines to hype up schoolyard mischief.
“Powerpuff Girls” remixed classical music in its background scores.
“Teen Titans” had two versions of its theme song: English and Japanese.
“Hey Arnold!” featured jazz instrumentals inspired by New York city life.
“Ed, Edd n Eddy” had no spoken intro—just jazzy slapstick music.
The “Courage” theme included whispers and eerie tones for atmosphere.
“Avatar” used authentic East Asian instruments to reflect cultural depth.
Merchandise, Legacy & Cultural Impact
“SpongeBob” was one of the first cartoons to have a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon.
“Rugrats” had a full toy line, cereal, and even a Hanukkah special.
The “Powerpuff Girls” were featured on clothing, makeup, and even sneakers.
“Hey Arnold!” got its own movie and a long-awaited sequel, “The Jungle Movie.”
“Danny Phantom” still has fans begging for a reboot or continuation.
“Teen Titans Go!” was a divisive but financially successful reboot.
“Courage” inspired indie horror games and fan comics.
“Ed, Edd n Eddy” had one of Cartoon Network’s longest original show runs.
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” sparked a Netflix live-action series reboot.
“Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” inspired a 2020s reboot aimed at preschoolers.
