Although not as widely known as Disney, Nickelodeon’s cartoons eventually became just as popular as those from legendary studios like Hanna-Barbera. This was mainly thanks to SpongeBob SquarePants, who attracted a huge audience to the network and helped make other Nickelodeon characters well-known.
Nickelodeon first launched in 1979 as a channel for children’s television, initially featuring educational programs like Pinwheel, which was its main show for quite some time. In the 1990s, the network started focusing more on animated series, and popular shows like Rugrats and Doug quickly made Nickelodeon a huge hit with kids.
Arnold (Hey Arnold!)
Hey Arnold! was a popular early cartoon on Nickelodeon. The show centered around Arnold Shortman, a fourth-grader who lived with his grandparents in a city apartment building. It followed Arnold as he dealt with everyday life, friendships, and the people around him.
The animation style is unique, and Arnold’s head shape – it’s famously football-shaped – makes him instantly recognizable. He’s incredibly kind and always willing to lend a hand to others. Plus, he’s endlessly positive and believes in the good in everyone, making him a wonderful role model for kids watching Nickelodeon.
The popular cartoon Hey Arnold! originally aired for five seasons with a total of 100 episodes, ending in 2004. It also had a movie released in theaters, Hey Arnold!: The Movie, and a follow-up TV movie in 2017, Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie, which wrapped up the series’ storyline.
Zim (Invader Zim)
First airing in 2001, Invader Zim was a Nickelodeon cartoon known for being surprisingly mature, often appealing more to adults than children. The show centers around Zim, an alien from the planet Irk (voiced by Richard Steven Horvitz), whose mission is to conquer Earth and enslave humanity.
He shows up by himself, accompanied by a broken robot dog called GIR. His mission is doomed to fail, and when a curious young paranormal investigator discovers his evil scheme and tries to intervene, it sparks a strange and comical sci-fi adventure.
After two seasons, Nickelodeon stopped making the show, and the last six episodes weren’t shown on TV until the DVD came out. Despite this, the cartoon became increasingly popular and is now considered a cult classic. It continues to sell well as merchandise, and the character Invader Zim remains a fan favorite.
Cosmo (The Fairly OddParents)
From 2001 to 2017, The Fairly OddParents was a popular animated series on Nickelodeon, running for 10 seasons and 172 episodes. The show centers around Timmy Turner, a 10-year-old boy with two fairy godparents who use their magic to help him deal with typical kid challenges.
Cosmo and Wanda are Timmy Turner’s fairy godparents, and Cosmo is often the main source of comedy. Voiced by Daran Norris, he’s a bit of a clumsy fairy who frequently messes up when granting wishes, leading to chaotic situations. This often forces Timmy to figure things out on his own, without relying on magic.
Though he’s meant to be a problem-solver, he often creates more trouble, making him a bit of a comical villain. However, he’s so endearing and silly that you can’t help but like him – he’s easily the funniest character in the show. A new version of Fairly OddParents began airing in 2022.
Ren (The Ren & Stimpy Show)
While both Ren and Stimpy could be mentioned, Ren is truly the main character of the Nickelodeon cartoon. He’s flawed – mean, self-centered, and often mistreats his friend, Stimpy.
Stimpy, though a bit silly, doesn’t deserve the way Ren treats him, but their difficult relationship is what makes the show so funny. Ren is consistently either cruel or completely indifferent. While the show was for children, viewers often felt sorry for Stimpy, but Ren provided the humor.
Ren & Stimpy became a huge hit, running for five seasons on Nickelodeon and even getting a revival geared towards adults in 2003.
Jimmy Neutron (The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius)
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius started as a movie, and then became a popular cartoon on Nickelodeon. The original 2001 movie was even nominated for an Academy Award, highlighting how well-made the show and its characters were.
The show that emerged was the first fully computer-animated cartoon on Nickelodeon, and it had a huge impact on the network for many years. It centers around Jimmy Neutron, a boy from Retroville who constantly invents things and gets into adventures with his friends – though his inventions don’t always work as planned.
The Nickelodeon cartoon lasted three seasons with a total of 61 episodes. It also featured several crossover events with the show The Fairly OddParents.
Korra (The Legend Of Korra)
Many Nickelodeon viewers first became fans with Avatar: The Last Airbender and then watched its sequel, The Legend of Korra. Though Avatar: The Last Airbender was the original series, some believe The Legend of Korra is actually the stronger show.
While the original Avatar: The Last Airbender was enjoyable, The Legend of Korra features more complex characters and a more intricate story. The action sequences in Korra are also generally more impressive, largely due to the strength and abilities of the main character, Korra herself.
Korra, the current Avatar and a spiritual figure representing balance and change, was different from her predecessor, Aang. While Aang was a child when he had to end a war, Korra was older when she took on the responsibility. The series was also groundbreaking for its portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships, a rarity for children’s television at the time. It consisted of four seasons and a total of 52 episodes.
Tommy Pickles (Rugrats)
One of the first three original cartoons on Nickelodeon in the 1990s was Rugrats, which premiered in 1991. The show centered around babies and toddlers, but unlike some other children’s programs, it wasn’t simply sweet and innocent. Rugrats featured toddlers who constantly went on exciting adventures and found themselves in mischievous situations.
Tommy Pickles was the main leader of the group of toddlers, with help from his friends Chuckie Finster and the twins, Phil and Lil. The show originally ran for 65 episodes before ending in 1994, but it came back in 1996 and continued for nine seasons, totaling 172 episodes. It’s still considered one of Nickelodeon’s greatest cartoons.
Tommy Pickles could be considered one of Nickelodeon’s first truly popular cartoon characters. He was a curious and energetic baby, and the adventures he and his friends had, while often simple, always felt big and exciting. Many people who grew up in the ’90s still fondly remember him.
Dora Márquez (Dora the Explorer)
For many children, Dora the Explorer was a groundbreaking show, offering representation that was rare on television at the time. The series follows Dora, a Latina girl, and her monkey companion, Boots, as they embark on exciting adventures. It’s famous for incorporating Spanish language learning and engaging viewers with its interactive style, encouraging them to participate in the journey.
Dora Márquez made a real impact by providing representation for young girls and Latina children through her fun and educational show, Dora the Explorer. The show ran for eight seasons with a total of 172 episodes, and Dora also made guest appearances on Go, Diego, Go!
In addition to the original series, there have been several follow-ups: a show called Dora and Friends: Into the City! launched in 2014, a completely new version premiered in 2024, and a live-action movie came out in 2019.
Aang (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Although SpongeBob SquarePants is Nickelodeon’s most famous and successful cartoon character, Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender is also incredibly popular. This hit show aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008 and centered around the adventures of 12-year-old Aang.
This animated series centers around martial arts and magical abilities. The main character, Aang, is a young boy who prefers peace over fighting, but is a skilled combatant, especially when defending those he cares about. In this world, people can control the four elements – water, earth, fire, and air – and Aang is the last of his people, a master of airbending.
As a huge fan, what I love about this show is that it centers around a twelve-year-old kid with this incredible mission: to end a war started by the Fire Nation and stop their ruler, Fire Lord Ozai, from taking over the world. And if you enjoy it as much as I do, there’s even a sequel series called The Legend of Korra to continue the adventure!
SpongeBob SquarePants (SpongeBob SquarePants)
SpongeBob SquarePants is easily the most popular and well-loved cartoon character in Nickelodeon’s history. The show demonstrated Nickelodeon’s ability to appeal to both adults and children, using quirky, over-the-top humor and silly situations.
SpongeBob SquarePants is Nickelodeon’s most famous character. Since first appearing on the network in 1999, the popular animated fry cook has starred in multiple movies, with the latest one released in 2025. The show remains on the air after over 26 years.
Though the show features many popular characters like Patrick Star, Mr. Krabs, Sandy Cheeks, and Squidward, it’s SpongeBob SquarePants – with his always-positive attitude – who is still the main attraction.
Read More
- Lacari banned on Twitch & Kick after accidentally showing explicit files on notepad
- YouTuber streams himself 24/7 in total isolation for an entire year
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Ragnarok X Next Generation Class Tier List (January 2026)
- ‘That’s A Very Bad Idea.’ One Way Chris Rock Helped SNL’s Marcello Hernández Before He Filmed His Netflix Special
- Shameless is a Massive Streaming Hit 15 Years Later
- Answer to “A Swiss tradition that bubbles and melts” in Cookie Jam. Let’s solve this riddle!
- We Need to Talk About Will
- Binance Wallet Dives into Perpetual Futures via Aster-Is This the Future? 🤯
- Drunk fishermen under fire for jumping on dead whale in viral video
2026-01-25 16:38