DARKWING DUCK

Many beloved shows from the Disney Afternoon lineup would take random cartoon characters from Disney’s past and put them in genre-heavy adventures. That made Darkwing Duck seem extra fresh in comparison, as other than the inclusion of Launchpad McQuack from DuckTales, this action adventure about an egomaniac pulp hero felt incredibly original. Everything about the show felt fully realized with its memorable family of heroes and iconic collection of villains. More than anything, it gave Dan Castellaneta a vehicle to do that awesome “Krusty the Clown going through puberty” voice for Megavolt, and for that, we will forever be grateful. – GJ

Daria

Sardonic high schooler Daria started out as a regular on Beavis and Butt-Head but arguably became the more compelling heroine when she got her own show. Daria was created by Glenn Eichler and Susie Lewis Lynn, but B&B’s Mike Judge wasn’t actually involved in the series, which ran for five seasons from 1997–2002. Daria is clever, acerbic, downbeat, and a cynical observer of school and family life, while her relationship with her artsy best friend Jane brings warmth. It’s packed with identifiable cultural tropes, the typical make-up of jocks and cheerleaders, stoners and nerds, but the show is so sharply written that it feels fresh even now. – RF

HEY ARNOLD!

Hey Arnold! is simply about Arnold (last name never revealed in the series, but apparently “Shortman”): a fourth grader with a football-shaped head who lives in a big American city and likes to hang out with his P.S. 118 classmates. The secret to the show’s appeal is how richly drawn Arnold and his crew are, both metaphorically and literally. His idiosyncratic peers—from the paranoid Sid to the obsessive Helga —bring a lot to the table. And that’s not even to mention the adult characters that make up Arnold’s grandparents’ boarding house. – AB

DR. KATZ, PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist starred Jonathan Katz as a shrink whose many clients were stand-up comedians. Under the guise of a therapy session, said comedians would essentially do their act, accompanied by some very limited and squiggly animation. Otherwise, Katz would have his own mundane yet humorous storylines going on with his friends, loser son, and disinterested secretary. The unique animation style and improvised dialogue would lead to the cast coming together for the similar and equally watchable Home Movies. – GJ