The Best Disney Channel Cartoons Of All Time

For decades now, Disney Channel has been a frontrunner in the world of original cartoon series. Now, multiple generations have grown up in different eras of the channel’s history, with each decade seeming to have its own highlights. In retrospect, however, it can be difficult to gauge exactly which series have truly reigned supreme.

From early successes like the original DuckTales series and Recess to more recent surprises like Kiff, the impact of Disney Channel cartoons on pop culture is undeniable. Series like Gravity Falls are still receiving supplementary material and merchandise years after their release, while shows like Phineas and Ferb are receiving sequel series and follow-ups. Although it has had its low points, like any channel, Disney Channel’s cartoon track record is a near-perfect example of how to make a timeless and completely original animated series.

Recess Holds Up as an Accurate Portrayal of Elementary School Drama

Recess was one of the earliest examples of Disney Channel’s true potential, running from 1997 to 2001 and showcasing the complicated society and playground hijinks of fourth graders. What made this series so delectable at the time makes it just as entertaining in retrospect, with a true respect for its young characters. The main cast of characters within the series, led by the ever-lovable T.J., offered an honest and charming representation of the best aspects of a childlike worldview. By balancing naivety with genuine wisdom, the cast of characters established themselves as endearing and more than worthy of their leadership positions in their self-proclaimed society.

Part of Recess’ success stems from being in the right place at the right time. The ’90s and early 2000s were a time full of admiration for young, spunky characters, and Recess offered them in droves. Unlike other shows of the time, however, this series was built on a genuinely wholesome foundation, opting for heartfelt messages and caring, if flawed, characters instead of the typical sarcastic archetypes of the era. All in all, Recess is such a gem of a show that has held up tremendously despite the evolving culture of schools and childhood in a more internet-driven world.

Kiff is an Underrated, Zany, and Genuinely Hilarious Series

Kiff is a much more recent highlight of the channel’s history, but it deserves a place in the conversation nonetheless. The series appears to be much more lighthearted and child-oriented than many of the channel’s other shows upon first glance, almost suggesting a series that belongs on Disney Junior instead of Disney Channel proper, but when actually given a chance, Kiff proves itself to be a thoughtfully constructed, hilarious romp for all ages. The titular Kiff and her best friend Barry are adorable and always ready for the wild adventures they’re whisked away on.

Most of Disney Channel’s most memorable cartoons offer some sort of overarching narrative, priding themselves on high-concept worlds and concepts that soar regardless of their execution. Kiff is a much more traditional cartoon in the sense that it approaches a generally zany world and cast of characters and places them in bizarre situations that work in a myriad of ways that differ from episode to episode. While Kiff has yet to secure an audience as widespread as some other Disney Channel cartoons, it is still one of the most charming series the company has released in a long time and will surely be remembered for years to come as a beloved entry into the Disney Channel canon.

Star vs. the Forces of Evil Combines Comedy, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi With Ease

Star vs. the Forces of Evil felt like something of a spiritual successor to the Disney Channel era of Gravity Falls and Phineas and Ferb, while also providing something of an answer to the tonality of many of Cartoon Network’s 2010s efforts. The show utilized a high-concept fantasy and sci-fi hybrid to tell the tantalizing tale of the titular princess, Star Butterfly, and her run-of-the-mill teenage counterpart, Marco. The pair’s dynamic wasn’t a far cry from other cartoon duos, but there was an additional magic to their chemistry that constantly teased a pairing that worked wonderfully as a friendship and, eventually, a romance — even if not everyone was on board with that decision.

Running for an impressive four seasons, the show found a devoted fanbase that adored the unique world of the series and its sprawling narrative, with many fans especially attached to the lead duo and the impressive voice work of both Eden Sher and Adam McArthur. The series acted as a successful marriage of both serialized cartoons and narrative series, with a consistent throughline narrative providing a backbone to even the series’ more focused episodes. While it didn’t reach the level of success of other shows of the era, there is a reason Star vs. the Forces of Evil has a committed fanbase to this day: it is, by all accounts, a really well-made and memorable show worthy of standing the test of time.

Amphibia Evolves From a Concise Cartoon to a Sprawling Epic

Sandwiched between Disney Channel juggernauts Star vs the Forces of Evil and The Owl House, Amphibia didn’t have quite the splash of popularity that it deserved when it first premiered. Thankfully, many would re-evaluate their dismissal of the series before it reached its true peak and evolved into one of the best series to ever debut under Disney. What started as a cute and wholesome cartoon that introduced series lead Anne to the world of Amphibia where she is taken in by the lovable Plantar family eventually evolved into a complex, overlapping narrative that explored Anne’s colorful past and the true origins of the world.

While many Disney cartoons have been either a serialized, lighthearted cartoon or a complicated narrative masterpiece, Amphibia manages to be both at different points in its run. It is a charming series that also feels emotionally and humorously driven. Across three seasons, Amphibia provides a fulfilling journey that has a tonality not dissimilar from other fantastic series, but still unique in its own way. There is truly nothing like Amphibia, both within the history of Disney Channel and beyond.

Kim Possible Is a Timeless Romp Built on Strong Cartoon Foundations

It is kind of impossible to have a conversation about impactful Disney Channel cartoons without mentioning the ever-popular Kim Possible. The series debuted in 2002 and sent waves across the entire channel as a genre-defining action-packed adventure with likable characters, interesting plots, and a theme song for the ages. Even decades after its debut, Kim Possible holds up as an absolute highlight in the channel’s legacy.

Kim Possible is also one of the few Disney cartoons to ever be adapted into a live-action format, with a 2019 Disney Channel Original Movie debuting and adapting the series for modern audiences. While Kim’s presence in pop culture might be waning, it would be hard to find a 2000s kid who doesn’t remember her iconic escapades. There is a charm that this series manages that hasn’t been replicated since, and its impact on Disney’s trust in producing cartoons cannot be overstated.

The Proud Family broke multiple barriers by being both created by and almost entirely composed of Black artists. Beyond this, it also uniquely adapted the sitcom format to the world of animation, making for one of the most charming and rewatchable cartoons in Disney Channel history. The titular Proud family, led by series protagonist Penny, established itself as one of the most charming Disney families to ever hit the small screen.

Years after its conclusion, The Proud Family continued to be one of the most beloved and talked about Disney cartoons, winning several awards and receiving accolades for both its impact and sheer quality. This would eventually lead to the revival series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, which, while not on the same level as its predecessor, still impressed fans and found an audience of its own. It is wonderful when series take more creative risks and offer diverse stories, but it is especially grand when the stories being told are actually built on the stories of the groups and individuals that are depicted, which is what makes The Proud Family such a legendary series.

The Ducktales Reboot Somehow Outdoes the Legacy of the Original Series

While many Disney Channel fans might quickly proclaim Ducktales as their favorite Disney cartoon, a follow-up conversation would likely be needed to determine which series they are referring to. The original series, released in 1987, is still talked about to this day, largely for its depiction of Scrooge McDuck and his nephews and, of course, the earworm of a theme song. When Disney announced it would be reinventing the series in 2017, fans were understandably skeptical. To their surprise, and by some miracle, the Ducktales reboot managed to somehow top the original in both scope and quality.

The original Ducktales series had some high highs, but it also had a fair few forgettable and lackluster episodes, whereas the 2017 reboot prioritized quality at every turn. The series was overflowing with a spunk that rivaled even its predecessor and found a new, more narrative-driven tone that added a lot to the success of its most ambitious creative decisions. The timelessness of the premise argues that both series deserve to be remembered, but it is not hard to see why so many consider the reboot to be the superior series. It is genuinely such a well constructed cartoon that honors the legacy of Disney cartoons, old and new, while also crafting a unique overarching tale that every cartoon fan should put at the top of their priorities if they haven’t already witnessed it.

The Owl House Is an Inspired Queer Narrative That Shouldn’t Be Forgotten

The Owl House is Disney’s most recent narrative-driven cartoon, and it truly capitalizes on the foundations set by its predecessors. The show’s fandom sprung up rather quickly and remained a consistent reason for the show’s success and reach. Beyond this devoted fanbase, however, it was also a really good series, full of clever writing, legendary voice work, and a lot of important narrative beats explored in a nuanced, one-of-a-kind manner that made the series a top contender for Disney’s best animated series of all time.

The show, which followed the lovable Luz and her journey into the magical Demon Realm, where she meets the fan-favorite Eda and her adorable henchman King, was praised for its representation of both Luz’s Dominican-American heritage and her queerness. In a stunning move from the Disney company, the series did not shy away from a front-facing sapphic relationship, and the fan reaction proved this to be a successful decision that, when added on to the well-crafted nature of the series, made it exactly the kind of show many audiences had been longing for. Unfortunately, Disney pulled the plug on the series rather hastily, forcing it to rush an ending that, while less than perfect, ultimately stuck the landing and did not diminish from the overall brilliance of this undeniably phenomenal series.

Phineas and Ferb Perfects the Serialized Cartoon Structure With Unending Spunk

The case can certainly be made for Phineas and Ferb being the very best Disney cartoon of all time, and revisiting in 2024 would do nothing but affirm this assessment. It is, through and through, a thoughtful, hilarious, and charming series that captures the joys of childhood through its unique blend of humor and absurdity. The series follows a pretty linear episodic structure, with the plot of each episode being split between the summertime. escapades of titular brothers Phineas and Ferb and the secret agent alter-ego of their pet platypus, Perry, in his attempts to foil the dastardly deeds of Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.

Phineas and Ferb was a home run for Disney both in terms of success and acclaim. The series produced some of the biggest outputs of merchandise and supplementary material in the history of the Disney Channel and the cultural reach of the show’s characters is something that remains even years after its bittersweet conclusion. The beloved nature of the show rendered it a perfect chance for a revival, and it is receiving just that with a promised sequel series currently in production. While Phineas and Ferb is likely Disney’s best cartoon of all time, it does have to share this title with a series that might just deserve that title the slightest bit more due to its compelling narrative and everpresent fanbase.

Gravity Falls is One of the Greatest Narratives Of All Time

In just two seasons, series creator Alex Hirsch managed to craft the undeniable peak of Disney Channel cartoon history with Gravity Falls. The series followed twins Dipper and Mabel Pines and their summer escapades with their Grunkle Stun in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls. By utilizing an overarching narrative to an extent that no prior Disney cartoon had and funneling that into an intricately crafted and endlessly interesting location overflowing with lovable and hilarious characters, Gravity Falls broke every barrier imaginable and made what, for good reason, became one of the most beloved shows of the era.

Years after its conclusion, Gravity Falls is still one of the most talked about shows in Disney Channel’s history, with the recent release of The Book of Bill and continuous discussions of a series revival being timely examples of the show’s impact. Revisiting the series today proves exactly why fans fell so in love with this world and these characters. There is so much heart and creativity poured into every single episode, with the show pulling out all stops to craft a colorful and, at times, dark narrative that wowed audiences at the time and continues to impress them today. While it does have some tough competition, it would be a disservice to Gravity Falls to call it anything less than the best Disney Channel cartoon of all time because, frankly, it is.