Underrated 2000s Cartoons We Thought We Made Up

Considering Jackie Chan is practically a real-life superhero, it makes all the sense in the world to make an animated series about him. Jackie Chan Adventures introduces a fictionalized version of the action legend who is both a highly skilled martial artist and archaeologist in the series. When he discovers an artifact that possesses supernatural powers, he and his family - including his magically knowledgeable Uncle and his feisty niece Jade - must fight the forces of evil who want the power for themselves. James Sie provides the voice of action superstar in the cartoon, but Chan himself also appears in live-action “Hey, Jackie” segments at the end of each episode to answer fan questions. Jackie Chan Adventures ran for five successful seasons between 2000 and 2005 - and even received two video games. It proved to be extremely popular among fans by nailing the same formula found in Chan's films, which is combining lighthearted fun with exhilarating action sequences. Fans will definitely maintain charming memories of Jackie using magical talismans to gain powers inspired by the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.

From 2002 to 2008, Codename: Kids Next Door told the story of a group of five children who take on codenames designating them by a “Numbuh” and operate out of their high-tech treehouse. On the surface, it might seem like a bunch of kids having fun and living out their imagination, but they are actually a part of a top-secret spy organization known as Kids Next Door where they keep other kids safe from nefarious teens and adults. With its combination of smooth animation, delightful characters, wide array of gadgets, and the ability to poke fun at the spy genre in its episodes, Codename: Kids Next Door is a show that still holds up to this day. It also crossed over with other Cartoon Network series of the time, such as The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes. Any kid who saw this show certainly developed a desire to adopt their own code name - or at least to have a treehouse half as cool as the KND hideout.

DC's animated shows never miss - and Static Shock is yet another example of how to do superhero cartoons properly. The series begins as an origin story showing how 14-year-old Virgil Hawkins gains electromagnetic powers after he is exposed to mysterious gas canisters during a gang fight. Taking a page out of Spider-Man's book and apply great responsibility to his great power, he adopts the alias “Static” and uses his abilities to fight crime. From 2000 to 2004, Static Shock aired for four seasons, receiving praise for being the first time an African-American superhero led their own animated show. The series also succeeds in creating a relatable and likable protagonist in Virgil, who is easy to get behind in his adventures. Also, lest we forget, Static Shock boasts an amazing array of music, full of influences from hip-hop and electronica, that makes it stand out from other programs of that era. The pulse-pounding theme song will surely bring a wave of nostalgia to viewers who haven't seen the show in years.

Combining martial arts and magic, Xiaolin Showdown follows four Xiaolin Dragons-in-training - Omi, Raimundo, Kimiko, and Clay - who train to master the elements of Water, Wind, Fire, and Earth, respectively. Under the teachings of Master Fun and their dragon pal Dojo, they protect ancient magical artifacts known as Shen Gong Wu from the ghost-witch Wuya, who employs “evil boy genius” Jack Spicer to seek out the artifacts on her behalf. Expectedly, there's a lot of magic and fighting in each episodes as the characters compete to lay claim to freshly revealed Shen Gong Wu. From 2003 to 2006, Xiaolin Showdown aired for three seasons. While it didn't catch on as a major franchise in the manner of similar cartoons like Avatar: The Last Airbender, it still possesses eye-catching action, visual humor, and memorable characters. Anyone who saw the show back in the day will unlock memories upon hearing the characters cry out the name of a Shen Gong Wu, like the Mantis Flip Coin or Fist of Tebigong, to use its power in battle.

American Dragon: Jake Long centers the action around Chinese-American 13-year-old teen Jake Long who holds a special ability: He can turn into a dragon. This form also allows him to utilize his claws and tail, fly, and even breathe fire. When he finally unleashes his full potential, he transforms into the American Dragon and uses his power to protect Manhattan, while trying to handle the hassles of being a regular teenager in high school. American Dragon aired for two seasons from 2005 to 2007. In this time, it built up a cult following among fans who appreciated the show's fast-paced action, mixing of mythology with original storytelling, and its compelling cast of characters. The show was popular enough at one point to cross over with Lilo & Stitch, too. Despite its inventive concept, the show remains less popular than many other Disney properties and has seldom been revisited with new content.

Created by Rugrats masterminds Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó, Rocket Power is an animated series centered on a group of four friends - Otto, Reggie, Twister, and Squid - who partake in a variety of extreme sports and get up to mischief together. Throughout the episodes, the characters walk on the wild side of life, as they practice skateboarding, hockey, surfing, and more. Much like Rugrats, Rocket Power possesses a distinctive Nickelodeon animation style and easy-to-follow episodic structure. The show ran for four seasons from 1999 to 2004 and instilled an ambition of learning to skateboard in countless kids at the time, remaining a fond memory even for those who had no talent at the actual sport.

Based on the 2001 live-action/animated hybrid film Osmosis Jones starring Chris Rock, Ozzy & Drix follows the cool white blood cell known as Ozzy and his pal, the uptight, rule-following cold pill Drix as they take the fight to the germs and viruses inside young Hector Cruz's body. This animated show aired for two seasons between 2002 and 2003, in the wake of the original film. Ozzy & Drix captures the tone of the film, but without the overly gross humor or non-PG situations. Though adults may notice the loss of major stars from the movie's cast, kids were still able to appreciate the work of voice actors Phil LaMarr and Jeff Bennett capturing the voices used by Chris Rock and David Hyde Pierce as the title characters. It shines as a humorous, action-packed series that might actually teach kids a thing or two about how the human body works.

Lucha libre is one of the most exciting pro wrestling styles in the world, and ¡Mucha Lucha! captures the beauty and legend in this animated tribute. The show centers on three mascaritas - Rikochet, Buena Girl, and the Flea - who train to be luchadors and adhere to the strict code of never removing their masks. Episodes follow their quest to improve their skills, square off against rivals, and nail the signature move that will make turn them into superstars. Wrestling fans - especially those who love the styles of WWE's Rey Mysterio and AEW's Lucho Brothers - will adore this comedy series that's a heartfelt homage to Mexican pro wrestling. It isn't too difficult to spot all the thought and passion that went into this show, which ran for three seasons from 2002 to 2005. Nowadays, the Lucha glory of this cartoon is largely forgotten, except in the minds of those who grew up around this time.

Johnny Test follows the adventures of the titular 11-year-old boy who becomes the test subject for experiments from his genius twin sisters, Susan and Mary. Johnny is game for anything - no matter how outrageous it is, bringing along his talking dog Dukey for the wild ride. Full of ridiculous jokes, fast pacing, and wacky sound effects, it's a time capsule of cartoon trends of the era. The series ran for six seasons from 2005 to 2014, having a remarkably long run by animation standards. It might not be as well remembered as other similar series like Dexter's Laboratory or Jimmy Neutron, but the old-school animation style coupled with the inventive premises ensure that Johnny Test makes for a fun watch for the whole family.

Based on the cute-as-a-button pink character from Nintendo's video game series, Kirby: Right Back at Ya! is an anime show that follows the titular character who lands on the planet Popstar and befriends siblings Tiff and Tuff. They team up to defeat the sinister emperor known as Nightmare (also known in the English version of the show as “eNeMeE”), whose name pretty much sums up his personality and motives. Of course, this show is designed to be appreciated by fans of the video game series, especially since it features other staple characters from Kirby games like Meta Knight and King Dedede. However, it's also a whimsical and beautifully animated show for non-fans to savor and get lost in. Kirby: Right Back at Ya! ran for 100 episodes from 2001 to 2003, and remains an often-forgotten gem despite the continued popularity of the character's video game franchise.

Superman's pooch Krypto features in many comic books and animated series, but in 2005, the Pup of Steel received his own solo show called Krypto the Superdog. In this version, Krypto lands on Earth and is adopted by nine-year-old Kevin Whitney and his family who believe Krypto to be an ordinary dog. However, when they aren't looking, he transforms into Superdog and fights evildoers, using his Kryptonian powers. Only Kevin learns the truth about his pet, and helps Krypto keep his canine-superhero identity a secret from everyone else in the neighborhood. Krypto the Superdog aired for two seasons between 2005 and 2006. It employs the same old-school Hanna-Barbera cartoon style, focusing more on the element of breezy and family friendly storytelling rather than super-serious narratives.

The Looney Tunes cartoon characters have received a plethora of animated series. However, Loonatics Unleashed may well be one of the most innovative in the same line as Tiny Toon Adventures. This action-packed series follows the descendants of characters, such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, in the year 2772 as they become superheroes and keep the city of Acmetropolis safe from all threats. The result is dark, gritty, superhero takeoffs on classic Loony Tunes characters - Ace Bunny, who has laser vision; Lexi Bunny, who can launch psychic blasts; Danger Duck, who can teleport and throw explosive “eggs”; Tech E. Coyote, who can rapidly heal and manipulate magnetism; and Rev Runner, who has super speed. Running for two seasons from 2005 to 2007, Loonatics Unleashed combines the superhero genre and the Looney Tunes characters in a darker setting. In fact, it probably shares more in common with an edgier show like SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron than it does with other Looney Tunes shows. For this reason, Loonatics was quickly buried by the Looney Tunes crew and remains an artifact of its time in the memories of the few who saw it.

Oh, who doesn't miss the misspelling of surnames at school! For Adam Lyon, the accidental change-up from "Lyon" to "Lion" sends him to an all-animal middle school in 2005's My Gym Partner's a Monkey. Naturally, Adam feels out of place until he makes pals with his gym partner Jake Spidermonkey. Across four seasons, the cartoon follows their wild and wacky school adventures as they become BFFs. Essentially, My Gym Partner's a Monkey is a buddy comedy that features a lot of slapstick and goofy humor. Despite the high-octane gags, the storylines aren't dumbed down for the audience, allowing for the show to be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. The very title of this show promises how bizarre and fun it is, and calls up memories of rushing home to watch similar shows on Cartoon Network.

Based on the action figure range and airing for two seasons from 2000 to 2002, Max Steel is the story of 19-year-old extreme sports star Josh McGrath. One night, after an encounter with the villainous Psycho, Josh collides with powerful nano-machines called "Max-Probes." Josh's stepfather uses innovative techniques to save his stepson's life, but it also results in him receiving superpowers. Josh adopts the identity of Max Steel and uses his newfound abilities to battle the likes of Psycho and other supervillains for truth, justice, and the animated way. What isn't there to like about Max Steel? The combination of extreme sports and superpowers perfectly captures the fixations of kids around the turn of the millennium. Additionally, the cartoon's tie-in action figures and comic book series are a perfect throwback to the '80s and ‘90s where every show had its own toy range and fans could get lost in a multimedia franchise. Though the original show’s run brief, the media tie-ins kept the fanbase active enough to merit a reboot TV series on Disney XD in 2013.

What's better than a cartoon that's an allegory for real life? That's essentially the point of Sheep in the Big City - a show about a sheep that flees his farm for the city to escape villains who want to use him for a sheep-powered ray gun. The cartoon pokes fun at genre tropes and uses wordplay in the names of characters, like the villain named General Specific and his henchman, Private Public. The show sports an adorable art style thanks to creator Mo Willems, also known for work in picture books such as Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Knuffle Bunny. Bursting with a wicked sense of humor and a quirky animation style, Sheep in the Big City dazzled for two seasons from 2000 to 2002. Its self-aware humor makes it even more enjoyable for old fans rediscovering it past its time, and it's a shame that it was mostly forgotten in its own era.

Based on the video game series, the 2004 anime Viewtiful Joe adapts the ultimate wish fulfillment premise as film buff Joe sees his girlfriend get sucked into a movie about his favorite character, Captain Blue. Determined to get his girlfriend back, Joe seeks out Captain Blue, who grants him his own powers. He then becomes known as Viewtiful Joe and has wacky film-inspired adventures. The series remains largely faithful to the source material; however, it does apply creative license when necessary. It's a colorful and loud show that never skimps on the action or over-sized fun. Fans who want to return to the bizarre yet delightful show in adulthood might even check out the original Japanese dub of the show, rather than the edited version that made it to Saturday morning cartoons in English-speaking countries.

The best kind of animated series are the ridiculous ones with outlandish premises like Cow & Chicken. Built in a similar vein, Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island takes place on an island where all its residents are fruits. Coconut Fred - a happy coconut who lives life like he'll never end up in a piña colada - also has the ability to materialize anything he imagines into reality - yet, he still remains a coconut. Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island aired for two seasons between 2005 and 2006. It's a highly imaginative cartoon with a distinctive art style - plus, it also features the voice talents of renowned voice actor Rob Paulsen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Animaniacs) as Coconut Fred. Though perhaps attempting to capitalize on the success of SpongeBob SquarePants, Coconut Fred didn't find the same fanbase and ended so quickly it's hard to remember he was ever on TV at all.