Neo Ultra Mike
Creeping Shadow of "15000"+ Posts
You know though at this point we are talking about a period over at least two and a half decades in the past, the 1990's are still a very important part of animation even today. And yeah I have a bit of bias with that since as someone born in the late 1980's the first real animation and series I had any sort of vested info and memory of come from the 90s, but I think it's more then that. After all the 1990s were the first time television animation was truly allowed to move beyond just marketability of toy lines to determine major popularity as well as the first to truly push for adult animation to regular appear on your television screens. It had a freedom pushing the envelope we are still experiencing today. And probably a part of that is shows that really started in that decade are STILL going today. And I'm not talking just about reboots or even sequel series; I'm talking about the same series with the same name and same continuity with mostly the same voices and personalities attached that are still coming out with new episodes. Like I realized that 2025 is the first time seven shows in particular aired new episodes that all started in the 90s and are still going, but have never all been going before at the same time. And I think that's something to point out and talk about as it is a pretty historical event to happen; all of these shows that helped shape so many people's lives or created so many memories are still going and still delighting... or maybe annoying as yeah some are going to be better then others. Thus I wanted to talk about that and throw in my two cents on which ones last year had reached new peaks... and which ones aren't exactly up to snuff. So going to be going worst to best here on that and if you have thoughts on these shows and if they are succeeding or failing give them down below as well. As for me...
7. Spongebob Squarepants - You know I do feel really bad that the only Kids show still going from the 90s is the lowest on the list. And I will admit I still do need to see Search for Squarepants as I have heard apparently it's solid (not enough to know how as I don't like those kind of spoilers going into a movie) but this a thread talking about the actual quality of the series as it pertains to it's latest season/s. Since yeah I guess with Spongebob 2025 saw some of season 15 and season 16 but... neither of which have been really any good. Like the most interesting Spongebob got was a two part special crossover with The Patrick Star show of the Star family screwing up classic Spongebob episodes which just feels like baseless nostalgia baiting referencing the good old days to give this string of episodes some cred, but like not even with the fun self awareness or wit to really make this trip down memory lane worth remembering. Otherwise it's pretty much business as usual for Spongebob the last few years which is fairly expressive animation but yeah comedy and repetitive plots that fail to get any laughs. With most episodes not really having anything you can get out of which is why I do have to place it at the bottom.
6. Family Guy - Now even before the big four season pick ups that Simpsons, FG, American Dad and Bob's Burgers got that also restructured their season lengths (now going from 20-22 long seasons to only 15) FG was already being a bit restructured to try and capitalize on the Hulu streaming site by having holiday specials now airing on that which... are pretty much just standard episode without even unique enough gimmicks. Even the Lifetime Christmas episode wasn't done with the passion really needed for that episode to really break through as yeah FG especially seems to just be going through the notions. Say what you want about a lot of the worst 2010s episodes but they could at least be memorably shocking but it seems these days the writers and team aren't even trying to do anything interesting and just cycling through the most basic plots with pretty standard cutaway jokes and thus the show is a lot more miss then hit. And unlike The Simpsons where eventually effort was put back in it's hard to say that will be the case here especially with Seth MacFarlane more interested in other venues he's working on. What does give this the edge over Spongebob though is still having some decently amusing episodes; "Live Laugh Love" at least gave more effort of what could just be another excuse to have Principal Shepard be ultra pathetic; "The Chicken Or The Meg" had a decent idea behind it beyond just crapping on Meg or ending the Ernie rivalry (though I think the idea of not doing big Chicken fight episodes is more the team's laziness or not willing to look outside the box then just ending a long running gag because hello what about the rest of the series) and even "Hard Times At Adam West high" actual had more story behind what seemed like a one note time travel gag. Most episodes do feel really tired and been there done that (I mean The Simpsons had a much better White Lotus parody last season then they did here plus "Twain's World" feels like 50 other times they've done that exact same concept) but again there's something worth checking out which to me gives it the edge over Spongebob.
5. Beavis & Butthead - You know it's probably due to the fact that thinking about it this is the show with the shortest run technically of any series (despite being the second oldest it had one run from 1993 to 1997, a quick 2011 season, then a movie 10 years later and has been having a couple seasons in the mid 2020s) but Beavis and Butthead feels the least evolved from it's original inception. Which is likely the point; like even total cares most about the joke then about the story series like Spongebob or Family Guy not only have had much longer runs but also still do try and focus more on the actual world and other characters and will give bits of lingering stuff to happen to it's main leads to deal with. B&B don't really have that; like the biggest thing to happen in the last few years outside of changing networks is now having segments featuring older takes on the character and the occassional Tom Landry or other supporting character spotlight plus yeah now making commentary from our world. But if you still want to see these two idiots engage in very basic set ups in their desperate attempts to score or look cool or not do work and not learn anything you are still going to get that and honestly it is done decently fine. I guess sans also the voices being different from the 90s you can tell the commentary in those segments does feel a bit more on point compared to how more basic it was in the original run but it is still these characters and they still are amusing to check out from time to time. Unlike SB or FG who do have much example of weaker outings from a much weaker point in it's history, B&B newest season is at it's standard of quality it's always been. Probably not hitting the exact highs of the 90's run but not like a major downgrade or anything but when even more standard episodic comedy even for dumb teens has risen the fact this really hasn't does knock it down some points. Then again if you want to see a Mike Judge cartoon evolve over time... we'll talk about that one later still have some other ones to go over.
4. Futurama - Unlike every other show which at least has 2-3 more seasons if not more green lit Futurama may be finally ending for really really reals this time this year like Hulu hasn't admitted if season 11 will be the last but it is the last one we know they ordered. If that is the case I don't think though the show will be going out on the worst note ever will be going out on a particularly high one which is a bit frustrating. It's pretty clear the team are trying to go back to the spirit of that original FOX one without evolving much past it even though they really could in this streaming era but aren't taking full advantage of it sadly. I guess season 10 is trying to course correct more from seasons 8 and 9 by actually remembering Fry is supposed to be more the main character and giving him more to do. Sadly that also means doing more with the Fry and Leela relationship drama everyone wants to just see evolve but no now we are still getting episodes of "oh is Leela really Fry's soul mate" malarky with crap like "50 Shades of Green" that is just embarassing in this age to air and yeah other epiosdes that do feel like they are altering what came before for no good reason like "Murderoni" retconning Fry's pizza delivery boy history having been apparently now discovered for the first time or "Scared Screenless" trying to do something with the kids but just making a bunch of zoom millenial generation jokes that feel super dated. Still there are some pretty great episodes in this run; "Destroy Tall Monsters" actually uses it's Pacific Rim homages well and actually is a unique way to do a Fry and Leela subplot; "Crab Splatter" actually pairs Leela and Zoidberg of all characters really well in a sweet way and "The White Hole" is a really cool and interesting concept for an episode I give them major kudos for conveying well. But yeah there is still a lot of wasted potential here that can't land the show any higher despite having a lot of solid eps.
3. The Simpsons - This is a pretty monumental year for the Simpsons as 2025 saw the end of Al Jean's era as show runner who has been maintaining a grip on the series since 2001 in some form or another which honestly is probably for the good thing. I do feel Jean did a decent job in his first few years but yeah he let the ship majorly stink in the later 2000s and early 2010s that's been more righted thanks to co show runners stepping in and I have a feeling under Matt Selman more the show will get even better. That said 2025 wasn't a horrid year of the Simpsons or anything; I guess the Disney Plus "specials" were hit and miss with the Animal Planet one being meh but there being some good stuff with "The Past And The Furious." I will say a fair amount of season 36's later half wasn't that good but "The Flandshees of Innersimpson" "P.S I Hate You" and even "Estranger Things" are really good episodes and are the kind of concepts I feel the show could only best tackle now not even in it's golden years (as you know they'd make "P.S I Hate You" a Homer and Marge episode even if done in season 6 and yeah would not work nearly as well) and honestly season 37 has been pretty soid... okay the premiere "Thrifty Ways To Thieve Your Mother" was a really good Lisa and Marge episode and after that it's been kind of meh for a few eps but from "Sashes To Sashes" onward we've been getting some good episodes. "The Day Of The jack Up" being a really solid Trap parody; "Aunt Misbehavin" easily being one of the best Patty and Selma episodes in ages that actually ends on a change they aren't just going back on; "Parahormal Activity" doing a good look at the kids more as teens in an amusing way but one I get why they aren't going to focus the show on doing like a season on it like some want and even "The Fall Guy Ayiyiyiyi" actually making a good Bumblebee Guy Episode... granted one that feels one part "Bart The Daredevil" and another part "Homerpalooza" but still a solid construct that shows there's still potential for everyone's favorite family and even seems like now more people are catching on "hey the Simpsons is actually trying again" so let's hope they keep that up the rest of the 2020s.
2. South Park - So last year South Park was sort of forced to take a break because of corporate behind the scenes politics involving licensing deals and likely Matt and Trey realizing they were going to have to address the current political landscape and not wanting to. And though season 26 I feel was pretty solid it did seem a fair amount of people despite the specials were losing interest in SP. But then 27 and 28 came in to kick interest back into the show as for the first time in ages we were having episodes coming out in summer but getting focus on a wider range of characters and using continuity to change things around in what feels like a new era of life. And yeah it did result in some issues; Matt and Trey found a clever work around to dealing with Trump by pretty much turning him into Saddam Huessin and I think that invigorated them into dealing with big political issues but I think they pushed that too much as yeah giving a spotlight to members of the entire team felt like too much. SP isn't "That's My Bush 2: That's My Trump" we want to focus more on the characters and even in Trump is now the big villain having it be in every episode got a bit much. Plus yeah they are really doubling down on "we're now showing how stupid society is by allowing these monsters to continue to fester in them not taking them out" which can be depressing. However not only was there still an actual more positive ending that did make you feel good but again there were solid spot like focuses that really also felt like a tribute to the classic era as well. Again 2025 is the first time since... what 1997 SP had a Halloween Thanksgiving AND Christmas special in a row and in bringing back some old favorites they did find things to do with them. Plus hey only like one real Randy spotlight as we also got good focuses on Cartman, Kyle Stan and even Kenny got some lines besides just being meta about it. And episodes like "Conflict of Interest" and "Sora Not Sorry" again do show there is a lot in the now SP can take great jabs at. But yeah there's a show that came back this year much better and is easily the best 90's animated series right now...
1. King Of The Hill - Okay if you were to tell like the 13 year old me "Mike of all these cartoon series you're watching right now, the one that will be best in 25 years later is King of the Hill" I would have simply not believed you. It's not like I ever disliked KOTH but Spongebob, Family Guy, Futurama, Simpsons, South Park even Beavis and Butthead had moments or episodes or runs that would make me declare "those have to be best. It can't be the more straight laced super grounded series that is the best right?" But turns out KOTH was the only one who fully grew up and really allowed itself to tell new kinds of stories in not only a new era but with beloved characters in ways you couldn't do it before. Like I was watching some KOTH on Adult Swim after having seen the revival going "oh right Bobby used to be more over the top and goofy because he was a kid man I like him so much better NOW" which yeah really sells how solid his development is into being an adult has really been. Not making him perfect as that would be boring but really changing him and the other "kids" in fun ways that offer more great story experiences. And yeah some of the voices took a bit to get used to considering this is the last season of Johnny Hardwick's Dale who did not go out on the best terms and it took a bit for Toby Huss to catch his tone but once he did he succeeded and yeah getting all of these characters back with new problems just shows how this premise agruably works jsut as well if not better NOW. Hell the fact this is a show that can now not only age characters but do more seasonal arcs because we live in a TV era where that's possible just works so well but allows also for more episodic fun like Bill desperately trying to pretend he and Peggy are married just to keep face with new friends or Hank trying to stop his half brother G.H from growing up to be like their father. Just really good stuff. Like this freshness felt needed since yeah I can see why people felt the later KOTH becamy a bit too sitcomy especially in it's endings but this fresh new direction that still feels wrapped in the show just changes things so much for the better and easily shows why it's the best cartoon right now from so long ago. And if it keeps on this level hope it keeps on going again for even longer.
So how about you what order do you think these shows should go in? Any others I should have included? And which do you think will do well this year? Put your thoughts down below!
7. Spongebob Squarepants - You know I do feel really bad that the only Kids show still going from the 90s is the lowest on the list. And I will admit I still do need to see Search for Squarepants as I have heard apparently it's solid (not enough to know how as I don't like those kind of spoilers going into a movie) but this a thread talking about the actual quality of the series as it pertains to it's latest season/s. Since yeah I guess with Spongebob 2025 saw some of season 15 and season 16 but... neither of which have been really any good. Like the most interesting Spongebob got was a two part special crossover with The Patrick Star show of the Star family screwing up classic Spongebob episodes which just feels like baseless nostalgia baiting referencing the good old days to give this string of episodes some cred, but like not even with the fun self awareness or wit to really make this trip down memory lane worth remembering. Otherwise it's pretty much business as usual for Spongebob the last few years which is fairly expressive animation but yeah comedy and repetitive plots that fail to get any laughs. With most episodes not really having anything you can get out of which is why I do have to place it at the bottom.
6. Family Guy - Now even before the big four season pick ups that Simpsons, FG, American Dad and Bob's Burgers got that also restructured their season lengths (now going from 20-22 long seasons to only 15) FG was already being a bit restructured to try and capitalize on the Hulu streaming site by having holiday specials now airing on that which... are pretty much just standard episode without even unique enough gimmicks. Even the Lifetime Christmas episode wasn't done with the passion really needed for that episode to really break through as yeah FG especially seems to just be going through the notions. Say what you want about a lot of the worst 2010s episodes but they could at least be memorably shocking but it seems these days the writers and team aren't even trying to do anything interesting and just cycling through the most basic plots with pretty standard cutaway jokes and thus the show is a lot more miss then hit. And unlike The Simpsons where eventually effort was put back in it's hard to say that will be the case here especially with Seth MacFarlane more interested in other venues he's working on. What does give this the edge over Spongebob though is still having some decently amusing episodes; "Live Laugh Love" at least gave more effort of what could just be another excuse to have Principal Shepard be ultra pathetic; "The Chicken Or The Meg" had a decent idea behind it beyond just crapping on Meg or ending the Ernie rivalry (though I think the idea of not doing big Chicken fight episodes is more the team's laziness or not willing to look outside the box then just ending a long running gag because hello what about the rest of the series) and even "Hard Times At Adam West high" actual had more story behind what seemed like a one note time travel gag. Most episodes do feel really tired and been there done that (I mean The Simpsons had a much better White Lotus parody last season then they did here plus "Twain's World" feels like 50 other times they've done that exact same concept) but again there's something worth checking out which to me gives it the edge over Spongebob.
5. Beavis & Butthead - You know it's probably due to the fact that thinking about it this is the show with the shortest run technically of any series (despite being the second oldest it had one run from 1993 to 1997, a quick 2011 season, then a movie 10 years later and has been having a couple seasons in the mid 2020s) but Beavis and Butthead feels the least evolved from it's original inception. Which is likely the point; like even total cares most about the joke then about the story series like Spongebob or Family Guy not only have had much longer runs but also still do try and focus more on the actual world and other characters and will give bits of lingering stuff to happen to it's main leads to deal with. B&B don't really have that; like the biggest thing to happen in the last few years outside of changing networks is now having segments featuring older takes on the character and the occassional Tom Landry or other supporting character spotlight plus yeah now making commentary from our world. But if you still want to see these two idiots engage in very basic set ups in their desperate attempts to score or look cool or not do work and not learn anything you are still going to get that and honestly it is done decently fine. I guess sans also the voices being different from the 90s you can tell the commentary in those segments does feel a bit more on point compared to how more basic it was in the original run but it is still these characters and they still are amusing to check out from time to time. Unlike SB or FG who do have much example of weaker outings from a much weaker point in it's history, B&B newest season is at it's standard of quality it's always been. Probably not hitting the exact highs of the 90's run but not like a major downgrade or anything but when even more standard episodic comedy even for dumb teens has risen the fact this really hasn't does knock it down some points. Then again if you want to see a Mike Judge cartoon evolve over time... we'll talk about that one later still have some other ones to go over.
4. Futurama - Unlike every other show which at least has 2-3 more seasons if not more green lit Futurama may be finally ending for really really reals this time this year like Hulu hasn't admitted if season 11 will be the last but it is the last one we know they ordered. If that is the case I don't think though the show will be going out on the worst note ever will be going out on a particularly high one which is a bit frustrating. It's pretty clear the team are trying to go back to the spirit of that original FOX one without evolving much past it even though they really could in this streaming era but aren't taking full advantage of it sadly. I guess season 10 is trying to course correct more from seasons 8 and 9 by actually remembering Fry is supposed to be more the main character and giving him more to do. Sadly that also means doing more with the Fry and Leela relationship drama everyone wants to just see evolve but no now we are still getting episodes of "oh is Leela really Fry's soul mate" malarky with crap like "50 Shades of Green" that is just embarassing in this age to air and yeah other epiosdes that do feel like they are altering what came before for no good reason like "Murderoni" retconning Fry's pizza delivery boy history having been apparently now discovered for the first time or "Scared Screenless" trying to do something with the kids but just making a bunch of zoom millenial generation jokes that feel super dated. Still there are some pretty great episodes in this run; "Destroy Tall Monsters" actually uses it's Pacific Rim homages well and actually is a unique way to do a Fry and Leela subplot; "Crab Splatter" actually pairs Leela and Zoidberg of all characters really well in a sweet way and "The White Hole" is a really cool and interesting concept for an episode I give them major kudos for conveying well. But yeah there is still a lot of wasted potential here that can't land the show any higher despite having a lot of solid eps.
3. The Simpsons - This is a pretty monumental year for the Simpsons as 2025 saw the end of Al Jean's era as show runner who has been maintaining a grip on the series since 2001 in some form or another which honestly is probably for the good thing. I do feel Jean did a decent job in his first few years but yeah he let the ship majorly stink in the later 2000s and early 2010s that's been more righted thanks to co show runners stepping in and I have a feeling under Matt Selman more the show will get even better. That said 2025 wasn't a horrid year of the Simpsons or anything; I guess the Disney Plus "specials" were hit and miss with the Animal Planet one being meh but there being some good stuff with "The Past And The Furious." I will say a fair amount of season 36's later half wasn't that good but "The Flandshees of Innersimpson" "P.S I Hate You" and even "Estranger Things" are really good episodes and are the kind of concepts I feel the show could only best tackle now not even in it's golden years (as you know they'd make "P.S I Hate You" a Homer and Marge episode even if done in season 6 and yeah would not work nearly as well) and honestly season 37 has been pretty soid... okay the premiere "Thrifty Ways To Thieve Your Mother" was a really good Lisa and Marge episode and after that it's been kind of meh for a few eps but from "Sashes To Sashes" onward we've been getting some good episodes. "The Day Of The jack Up" being a really solid Trap parody; "Aunt Misbehavin" easily being one of the best Patty and Selma episodes in ages that actually ends on a change they aren't just going back on; "Parahormal Activity" doing a good look at the kids more as teens in an amusing way but one I get why they aren't going to focus the show on doing like a season on it like some want and even "The Fall Guy Ayiyiyiyi" actually making a good Bumblebee Guy Episode... granted one that feels one part "Bart The Daredevil" and another part "Homerpalooza" but still a solid construct that shows there's still potential for everyone's favorite family and even seems like now more people are catching on "hey the Simpsons is actually trying again" so let's hope they keep that up the rest of the 2020s.
2. South Park - So last year South Park was sort of forced to take a break because of corporate behind the scenes politics involving licensing deals and likely Matt and Trey realizing they were going to have to address the current political landscape and not wanting to. And though season 26 I feel was pretty solid it did seem a fair amount of people despite the specials were losing interest in SP. But then 27 and 28 came in to kick interest back into the show as for the first time in ages we were having episodes coming out in summer but getting focus on a wider range of characters and using continuity to change things around in what feels like a new era of life. And yeah it did result in some issues; Matt and Trey found a clever work around to dealing with Trump by pretty much turning him into Saddam Huessin and I think that invigorated them into dealing with big political issues but I think they pushed that too much as yeah giving a spotlight to members of the entire team felt like too much. SP isn't "That's My Bush 2: That's My Trump" we want to focus more on the characters and even in Trump is now the big villain having it be in every episode got a bit much. Plus yeah they are really doubling down on "we're now showing how stupid society is by allowing these monsters to continue to fester in them not taking them out" which can be depressing. However not only was there still an actual more positive ending that did make you feel good but again there were solid spot like focuses that really also felt like a tribute to the classic era as well. Again 2025 is the first time since... what 1997 SP had a Halloween Thanksgiving AND Christmas special in a row and in bringing back some old favorites they did find things to do with them. Plus hey only like one real Randy spotlight as we also got good focuses on Cartman, Kyle Stan and even Kenny got some lines besides just being meta about it. And episodes like "Conflict of Interest" and "Sora Not Sorry" again do show there is a lot in the now SP can take great jabs at. But yeah there's a show that came back this year much better and is easily the best 90's animated series right now...
1. King Of The Hill - Okay if you were to tell like the 13 year old me "Mike of all these cartoon series you're watching right now, the one that will be best in 25 years later is King of the Hill" I would have simply not believed you. It's not like I ever disliked KOTH but Spongebob, Family Guy, Futurama, Simpsons, South Park even Beavis and Butthead had moments or episodes or runs that would make me declare "those have to be best. It can't be the more straight laced super grounded series that is the best right?" But turns out KOTH was the only one who fully grew up and really allowed itself to tell new kinds of stories in not only a new era but with beloved characters in ways you couldn't do it before. Like I was watching some KOTH on Adult Swim after having seen the revival going "oh right Bobby used to be more over the top and goofy because he was a kid man I like him so much better NOW" which yeah really sells how solid his development is into being an adult has really been. Not making him perfect as that would be boring but really changing him and the other "kids" in fun ways that offer more great story experiences. And yeah some of the voices took a bit to get used to considering this is the last season of Johnny Hardwick's Dale who did not go out on the best terms and it took a bit for Toby Huss to catch his tone but once he did he succeeded and yeah getting all of these characters back with new problems just shows how this premise agruably works jsut as well if not better NOW. Hell the fact this is a show that can now not only age characters but do more seasonal arcs because we live in a TV era where that's possible just works so well but allows also for more episodic fun like Bill desperately trying to pretend he and Peggy are married just to keep face with new friends or Hank trying to stop his half brother G.H from growing up to be like their father. Just really good stuff. Like this freshness felt needed since yeah I can see why people felt the later KOTH becamy a bit too sitcomy especially in it's endings but this fresh new direction that still feels wrapped in the show just changes things so much for the better and easily shows why it's the best cartoon right now from so long ago. And if it keeps on this level hope it keeps on going again for even longer.
So how about you what order do you think these shows should go in? Any others I should have included? And which do you think will do well this year? Put your thoughts down below!
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