Last Updated on 5 February 2024
I searched the Internet for lists of the best cartoon shows of all time. Criteria included the shows being ranked, not just listed; covering all time, not just a decade; and generally created by groups, whether teams or committees or based on general public voting (like Ranker.com).
I was able to find 14 lists. I took the 14 lists and added all their content into a spreadsheet, noting the rank of every cartoon. I ended up averaging the rankings each one got (there were 88 that were on at least 2 lists) and dividing that average by a factor of the number of lists that cartoon was on. The lowest score meant a high ranking average on many lists. The complete spreadsheet is attached at the bottom.
The cartoons that were on the most lists (out of 14) were:
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996) – 12 lists
- Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (1969–1978) – 10 lists
- Animaniacs (1993-1999) – 10 lists
- ThunderCats (1985-1989) – 10 lists
- The Smurfs (1981-1989) – 10 lists
- X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997) – 9 lists
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) – 9 lists
- Garfield and Friends (1988-1994) – 9 lists
- DuckTales (1987-1990) – 9 lists
- The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991) – 9 lists
- Muppet Babies (1984-1991) – 8 lists
Here are links to the lists I used along with dates the lists were created:
- Ranker – 2 Feb 2024
- Listverse – 20 Jan 2024
- Collider – 17 Dec 2023
- MovieWeb – 10 Jul 2023
- Digital Converters – 15 Mar 2023
- FamilyMinded – 10 Feb 2023
- CBR – 22 Jan 2023
- ComingSoon – 2 Mar 2021
- American Grit – 30 Mar 2018
- Complex – 25 Jan 2018
- Bustle – 10 Oct 2014
- SlashFilm – 29 Sep 2014
- Philadelphia Magazine – 14 Jun 2013
- IMDb – 2 Apr 2011