Ahhh... Remember the good ol' days? Watching cartoons on cable, buying CDs, and even seeing the early 3D animations from the early 2000's. Life was simple. I remember my favorite cartoons back in the day; most of them inspired me and defined my personality and taste.
So, today, I'm going to share my Top 5 favorite cartoons since childhood. I still watch these cartoons from time to time, not only to get that sense of nostalgia but also to wind down in a world of chaos. I can even recommend these cartoons to you all if you've never heard of them or if you're a parent, guardian, babysitter, or teacher wanting to entertain some kids.
And I can also give some honorable mentions at the end for a few cartoons that I enjoyed so much, but aren't included in my Top 5 list. If any of these are your favorite cartoons, let me know!
5. Backyardigans
"With your friends, the Backyardigans~."
Backyardigans! It is a show with colorful animal friends with big imaginations, simple as that. I remember watching this show as a young kid who was still learning English and, at the same time, Filipino, and this was a comfort show to me. It had songs with different musical genres, engaging plots (even though it's all just imagined), and fun characters. My favorites were Uniqua and Pablo.
Even now, I still watch Backyardigans for nostalgia, especially on my favorite episodes like "Whodunit," "Flower Power," "International Super Spy" (James Bond-inspired), "Mission to Mars," and "Break Out," to name a few. There is nothing else to say other than I fully recommend it. It's got a ton of great songs, and I do enjoy the use of jazz. Plus, they can be rather funny too. It's free serotonin for ALL!
4. Sofia the First
Your royal Majesties, here we have Sofia the First!
A Disney Junior show from 2012 features a young, ordinary girl from the village named Sofia who became a princess overnight after her mother married the king (her theme song already explains the plot, but I'll tell it anyway). As the new princess, she has to learn what it means to be royal while encountering magical creatures, new friends, and villains, embarking on adventures, and exploring life lessons. The show even features past Disney princesses making special appearances in episodes where Sofia and her friends need guidance, and the princesses share their wisdom with them.
Sofia has always been a great role model of mine growing up. She is compassionate, courageous, empathetic, grounded, and loyal. She challenges social norms, such as the episode where she wants to join the derby team, which is traditionally a sport for princes, and she inspires change in others, such as growing her relationship with her stepsister, Amber, who used to be jealous and cruel towards her.
Of course, Sofia herself isn't perfect. She makes mistakes too, and that's what makes her a great main character. Moreover, the world of Sofia the First is filled with magic! And I do love me some fantasy.
3. Angelina Ballerina
Ahhh yes... Angelina Ballerina: the reason I pursued ballet as a child, but ultimately, I never followed through.
Angelina Ballerina is a British animated series based on the books by Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig. It is about a feisty and energetic little mouse named Angelina who wants to become a prima ballerina. The 2001-2006 version follows her at Chipping Cheddar, where she has small-town adventures with her best friend, Alice, and attends dance classes with Miss Lilly. In the 2009-2010 version, the show is now CGI-animated and follows Angelina, an 8-year-old girl who moves to a new city and attends Camembert Academy. At the academy, she meets new friends and explores various forms of art, styles of music, and dance.
The first time I watched Angelina from the 2001 version, it sparked my interest in dance, specifically ballet, and I used to copy her moves at home as she danced in her pink tutu, imagining myself as an aspiring ballerina too. I remembered having mixed feelings about Angelina's flawed character, with her being bossy, stubborn, and feisty, but also talented and kind to others. I like her, but I also don't like her. She even influenced my personality as a child, making me a bit stubborn.
But, for the 2009-2010 version, she is bubbly, optimistic, compassionate, and absolutely sweet compared to her previous version. I've heard that they softened her to make her approachable to kids, removing her flaws to make her a perfect role model. She still has her feisty moments, but they're still softened. But anyway, I loved this cartoon growing up, and because of Angelina, I became interested in dance and music. Even now, I still am!
2. My Little Pony
Yup, I'm a proud brony! For a long time, this cartoon has been my hyperfixation since I was a kid. I might as well call it my obsession and my whole personality. I've collected figurines, plushies, and even owned a My Little Pony shirt once... which no longer fits me.
Concisely, My Little Pony is a show made by Hasbro, and it's about Twilight Sparkle, a studious and gifted purple unicorn, who was sent to Ponyville by her mentor to learn about friendship. There, she befriends five colorful ponies with different personalities and flaws, and she and her friends face dangers, enemies, and friendship problems along the way.
I put this cartoon high up on my ranking because it was not only my MOST favorite, but it truly inspired and motivated me. This show taught me a lot. As a shy Filipina who... often has her head up in the clouds, My Little Pony taught me kindness, patience, and just the importance of friendship. Thus, little by little throughout my school years, I learned to connect with others and be confident.
My Little Pony has always warmed my heart with its amazing characters (my favorites being Fluttershy and Twilight), wholesome lessons and friendship moments, engaging arcs and themes (even some that are rather bold for a kids' show), worldbuilding, and great music. I even enjoyed the Equestria Girls spinoff movies and short series with them as colorful humans as well as the My Little Pony movie.
Despite being a show for little girls, it inspired and captivated tons of people of all ages with its lessons about friendship. The fandom even made amazing fan content, all out of love for the show, such as the fan-made songs like "The Moon Rises" and "Lullaby for a Princess" and fan-made animations like "Snowdrop" and "Children of the Night."
1. Strawberry Shortcake
"That girl's so sweet, just like her name~."
I LOVE Strawberry Shortcake, and here is why!
Strawberry Shortcake is a media franchise that originated from a series of greeting cards. Strawberry Shortcake started in 1973 and has continued through to the recent 2024 animated version. I grew up watching the 2003, 2007, and 2009 versions. Three of them are just as iconic. I even still have my scented Strawberry Shortcake and Raspberry Torte toy figures (2009 versions)... It's no longer scented, though.
What I love about the Strawberry Shortcake show, especially the 2003 and 2007 versions (Strawberry Shortcake 2007 has the characters all aged up), is that it is cozy, wholesome, and inviting. It even shares valuable life lessons in several episodes. Additionally, there were many unique characters, each with their own distinct personalities and styles, and I like them all. I remember the Festival of Friends episode (where they introduce new characters from different cultures), Strawberry's Big Journey (where they're taking a road trip to see a rare flower), The Play's A Thing episode (where they held a Cinderella play; I love the songs there!), The Legend of Sherry Bobbleberry and the Wizard of Oz episodes.
Strawberry Shortcake as a protagonist has always inspired me as a kid. With her kind heart and optimistic attitude, I wanted to be her. However, I remember watching the Festival of Friends and HATING Tea Blossom for being stubborn and being unable to enjoy her stay at Strawberry Land because she thinks it's "dangerous" and dislikes strawberries. But... now that I'm older, I can clearly understand the conflict.
It's about learning to accept and understand each other's differences and the importance of communication, and yet, I refuse to understand Tea Blossom's differing preferences. That episode should've taught me how to respect different cultures and backgrounds, but I guess it wasn't enough for little me to understand. I even glaze over the lyrics of "How Do You Make A Friendship Cake," saying:
"We don't have to like the same ingredients, we don't have to like the same flavors."
As for the 2009 version, I remember liking it a lot back then. It was still as wholesome and cozy as the previous versions, but this one takes place at Berry Bitty City, and Strawberry Shortcake and her friends own businesses. I've heard from fans saying that the character designs look rather same-y, with the long hair, same bubbly and girly personalities, same style of fashion, and same eyes. Back then, I didn't care for that as much. But when I rewatched the show, I understood why. Even Orange Blossom is a bit whitewashed...
While this version lacks variety, I still enjoy the wholesome vibes and the tight-knit community. My favorite characters besides Strawberry were Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Torte, and Lemon Meringue. I've barely watched the new 2024 Strawberry Shortcake version, and even if I like the 2D art style, I'm really gonna miss the cozy, cottagecore, fantastical world of Strawberry Land with chocolate lakes, gumdrop hills, and dessert-shaped houses. It now takes place in a modern city. But, oh, well, I'll stick to the classics!
Honorary Mentions
Bratz
Here are the girlz with the passion for fashion!
Despite the... awkward early 2000's 3D animation, Bratz remains iconic for its emphasis on fashion and girl friendships (girls helping girls, that's the way we like it~). They're unapologetic, confident, and of course, fashionable. I bet the Bratz really inspired a ton of people who are interested in fashion, who wish to be more confident, and people who want to stand out and express themselves wholeheartedly. Bratz even influenced the Y2K aesthetic because of their appeal.
If you haven't watched Bratz yet, man, you're in for a ride! Bratz is an animated series that focuses on four girls, each with different ethnicities, personalities, and personal styles. Together, they go on adventures and pursue their dreams. Bratz is still active today, releasing individual songs, bringing back the old Bratz movies and episodes, and even engaging on social media by recreating famous movie scenes and releasing short episodes of the Bratz in YouTube Shorts format.
I remember watching the Bratz Rock Angels movie, loving the song "So Good," and feeling... rather embarrassed. I used to hide my interest in cartoons, especially the Bratz, because I thought I would be teased for liking them, not realizing that it's normal for kids to enjoy them. I was a rather self-conscious child. I still watch the old Bratz episodes because they're nostalgic, even listening to their numerous songs, and they have a LOT of great songs! I especially love their rock and RnB songs.
Nevertheless, I love the Bratz, even though I don't own any of their dolls. They inspired me to be confident and to express myself fully.
Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb is also my favorite cartoon from childhood, but it's unfortunately not on the list because I'm more of a casual fan. I remember watching some episodes of Phineas and Ferb that my dad downloaded on our old computer. This was when my home didn't have internet yet, and then after we had it, I used to watch random episodes on YouTube.
I love Phineas and Ferb. Sometimes I envy them for having the longest summer vacation, and it makes me dislike the idea of boredom during summer breaks. I do remember shipping Isabella and Phineas together, and relating to Isabella a lot as a kid - Just a dreamy girl in love with a boy. The show is also funny and engaging, with amazing songs. My favorites were "Summer Belongs To You," which made me want to spend my summers to the fullest; "What Might Have Been," which made me cry over Isabella and Phineas as grownups; and "S.I.M.P (Squirrels In My Pants)," of course.
The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
It's as simple as that. I love Winnie the Pooh because both the shows and the movies are pretty wholesome. I really love watching shows that heal my inner child and bring me joy and childlike wonder. Sometimes I would feel like a kid again, just watching my favorite movies like The Heffalump Movie and the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh series. Almost all the movies I have watched since childhood, even this little show called The Book of Pooh, where they use puppets, and it takes place in Christopher Robin's storybook.
Oh, and I can't forget "My Friends, Tigger and Pooh" with Darby as the female lead instead of Christopher Robin.
Blues Clues
Blues' Clues - A cute kids' show involving a blue puppy and two guys named Steve and Joe solving little mysteries.
In summary, it's adorable and cozy. It features mixed media elements, including 2D animation, puppetry, CGI, and live-action characters, specifically humans. I think this show is the reason I started drawing my own doodles. I remember copying Steve's drawings in his little notepad, and yeah, that really sparked my interest in the arts. There are times when Blue becomes a puppet that talks to us and writes in her journal. I think it was called "Blue's Room." Additionally, this is a great show for children to learn about shapes, colors, friendship, sharing, and the enjoyable activity of solving clues and drawing.
I know the new Blues' Clues involves a phone instead of a notebook, then mail becomes e-mail, and Blue becomes 3D; I don't mind any of that. Heck, they even have a guy who is Filipino-American and sharing his Filipino heritage with young kids. That's great! It's good to give children exposure to different cultures and good representation. Even though the art direction has changed, it still captures the charm of the original Blues Clues and holds a special place in my heart.
Barney and Friends
Last but definitely not least, Barney and Friends!
So, concisely, Barney & Friends is a live-action television series featuring a purple stuffed dinosaur named Barney and three of his young friends: BJ, Baby Bop, and Riff, who share adventures with a cast of children. Children learn through songs, dance, and games, which fosters their love of imagination and play.
This is the only kids' show that I don't always watch because it's clearly meant for toddlers and up, and I'm obviously older. But even so, I loved Barney and Friends as a kid. I basically grew up with the entirety of Barney & Friends, even the early seasons from the 90s- well, I've watched a few episodes, but that counts. (I'm a 2005 girl!)
Currently, I've only watched random short clips of the show for nostalgia, not actually sitting down to watch full-length episodes. But besides the point, I remembered how wholesome the Barney & Friends show was. It did teach me a lot of things like different cultures, music, colors, and just other things that little kids learn. I even remembered watching a full-length movie called Barney's Great Adventure.
Indeed, that is all, folks!
A little childhood wonder, always
These cartoons taught me many valuable lessons as a child, and I still cherish the joy, fond memories, and themes they brought as I grew up. Reflecting on these cartoons has helped me appreciate my own childhood, and I often revisit them to relax and experience that joy again.
Just because they're made for kids doesn't mean it has to be loud and bright to be entertaining, or that the story has to be dumbed down for kids to understand. There are a lot of cartoons that bring heart to the kids- And I meant cartoons who are made with passion and well-written, and had substance, with themes and stories that can resonate, motivate, or inspire children (even mature themes that help them understand the world), worlds for them to explore and engage with, characters that they form meaningful connections with, and even feelings for them to explore.
Plus, there are cartoons kids and even adults can watch to turn off their brains to relax and enjoy the fun of watching, like We Bear Bears and Little Bear. So, these are my Top 5 favorite cartoons since childhood. Let me know what your Top 5 cartoons are.
