Summary
There have been several majorCartoon Networkreboots in recent years that have highlighted other series that should also return. WithAdventure Timegetting a movie,Regular Showreceiving a new series, and a new season ofGumballon the way, this brings to mind the other fantastic shows that Cartoon Network viewers would love to see back on the small screen. While some were lesser-known productions that deserved more attention, other major series also have maintained plenty of reboot potential.
Many ofthe best Cartoon Network showshave long reached their conclusion and left viewers wishing they would return. While some potential reboot series included shows that have not been gone for very long, there are others that have been off the air for many years and would do well if they were introduced to a new generation for the first time. There’s just so many options when consideringwhich Cartoon Network shows deserve to come back.
8Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends (2004 - 2009)
6 seasons
Cartoon Network shows during the mid-2000s were packed with uniquely creative ideas, and one of the most interesting wasFoster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. Set in a world where children’s imaginary friends coexist with humans, this series featured an eight-year-old boy named Mac and his friend Bloo getting caught up in adventures at a home for abandoned imaginary friends. With a host of incredible characters who mimicked the wishes and interests of their children creators,Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friendswas a series whose concept meant the only limit to its potential was the imaginations of its writers and animators.
Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friendswas one of Cartoon Network’s most successful series during its run and would be a fantastic candidate to receive the reboot treatment. While it would be great to see the return of Mac, Bloo, and the original cast, the concept ofFoster’s Home for Imaginary Friendsalso means its return could come in the form of an entirely new set of imaginary creatures. Interestingly, for those hoping to see the show return, aspin-off series aimed at preschoolers titledFoster’s Funtime for Imaginary Friendswas announced in 2022, although it has yet to be released.
Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends
Cast
Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends is an animated television series created by Craig McCracken. The show follows Mac, a young boy, and his imaginary friend Bloo, as they navigate life at Foster’s, a mansion for abandoned imaginary friends. The series features a host of unique characters and explores themes of friendship, imagination, and belonging. The show originally aired on Cartoon Network from 2004 to 2009.
7Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999 - 2002)
4 seasons
Courage the Cowardly Dogwas truly one ofthe most genuinely terrifying cartoonsever produced by Cartoon Network. With bizarre supernatural and paranormal events, this series followed the titual dog who lives with an elderly couple in the middle of Nowhere as he consistently faced spooky adventures and was forced to overcome his cowardly nature. With elements of dark and surreal humor,Courage the Cowardly Dogat times felt like a David Lynch movie mixed withThe Twilight Zone, all presented in a kid-friendly package.
The unnerving nature ofCourage the Cowardly Doglikely fostered many children’s interest in horror as they grew up to become lovers of scary movies and dark Lovecraftian storytelling. While Courage did return briefly for the crossover movieStraight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dogin 2021, it would be incredible to see the original series properly revived once again. As a rich and imaginative series, there’s no shortage of story potential when it comes to bringing Courage back for more spooky adventures.
Courage the Cowardly Dog
Courage the Cowardly Dog is a cartoon that follows the titular pet Courage, who faces his uncontrollable fear and anxiety while fighting off countless supernatural creatures that threaten his owners, the elderly Muriel and Eustace. The Cartoon Network series aired from 1999 to 2002 with four seasons and 52 episodes.
6The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
The premise ofThe Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandyinvolved the Grim Reaper being forced to be best friends forever with a happy-go-lucky boy and a cynical, cold-hearted young girl. Born out of the segmented seriesGrim & Evil, Billy & Mandy built a rich and imaginative world over the course of six seasons that was populated by a host of incredible supernatural characters. With a storyline that opened itself up to endless possibilities,The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandywould be the perfect candidate to return for a reboot series on Cartoon Network.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandywas created by the American animator Maxwell Atoms. Atoms later created the animated seriesBunnicula,which ended its run in 2018 after three seasons. With seemingly no upcoming series in the works, there’s potential for Atoms to bring backBilly & Mandyif he wishes. With a dark sense of humor that blended supernatural concepts with absurd, over-the-top antics, to seeBilly & Mandyreturn to the small screen once again would be a true delight.
The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy
The ill-tempered Grim Reaper gets into a wager that forces him to become the life-long companions of two scheming youngsters after he loses.
5Johnny Bravo (1997 - 2004)
Society has progressed a lot in the 20 years sinceJohnny Bravowent off the air, and viewers would be forgiven for thinking that his macho persona would feel out of step with modern expectations. However, it’s for this reason exactly thatJohnny Bravoshould be rebooted, as his toxic masculinity has a lot to say about vital issues around consent, feminism, and pick-up culture. With all these aspects in mind, a reboot ofJohnny Bravocould be a hit with viewers if it was done in a nuanced and clever way.
While the conversation aroundwho should play Johnny Bravo in a live-action moviehas raged for decades, this character worked so well in animation that the show should instead be rebooted. As the memory of Johnny’s character has endured within popular culture, now would be a great time to introduce him to a whole new generation of viewers. Although Johnny’s womanizing tactics never quite pan out as he hoped, there were always plenty of lessons in this series to teach viewers how not to act.
Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo is an animated television series centered on a muscular, egotistical young man named Johnny who is constantly in pursuit of love and adventure. Voiced by Jeff Bennett and created by Van Partible, the show humorously portrays Johnny’s failed attempts at romance and his interactions with various characters. The series aired on Cartoon Network, blending slapstick comedy and cultural references to create a unique and entertaining experience.
4Codename: Kids Next Door (2002 - 2008)
Codename: Kids Next Doorwas a fantastic Cartoon Network series that followed five children living in a high-tech treehouse who used advanced technology to fight against tyrannical teens and antagonistic adults. As part of a global organization called the Kids Next Door, this clever animated series captured the joy and frustrations of childhood with a unique sense of play and adventure. With an enjoyable cast featuring the children using code names Numbuhs 1 to 5,Codename: Kids Next Doorblended spy fiction with fantasy and action-adventure stories.
With such a fascinating premise,Codename: Kids Next Doorhas a lot of potential for a reboot. The series creator even pitched a follow-up series titledGalactic: Kids Next Doorto Cartoon Network, although it was not picked up at the time. However, the open-ended nature of the series conclusion meantCodename: Kids Next Doorstill has the potential to return.Codename: Kids Next Doorwas a classic Cartoon Network show that’s seriously overdue for a sequel.
Codename: Kids Next Door
Codename: Kids Next Door is an animated television series that premiered in 2002, created by Tom Warburton. The show follows five 10-year-old children who operate from a high-tech treehouse, undertaking missions to fight against adult tyranny and childhood injustices. The team, known as Sector V, utilizes advanced gadgets and teamwork to combat various villains, navigating a world where kids rule. The series is noted for its imaginative storytelling and visual style.
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3The Cramp Twins (2001 - 2004)
2 seasons
As a short-lived series with just two seasons, one Cartoon Network series viewers may have forgotten wasThe Cramp Twins. As a series produced by British cartoonist Brian Wood,The Cramp Twinsfollowed the day-to-day lives of two brothers named Lucien and Wayne and the adventures of the unusual residents of Soap City. The Cramp Twins featured the voice of Spongebob Tom Kenny as Wayne and, as one of the most underrated Cartoon Network shows, deserves to be rebooted and given the opportunity to reach a larger audience than in its initial run.
Part of the appeal ofThe Cramp Twinswas its unique cast of supporting characters, such as the boys' germaphobic mother and Western-obsessed father.The Cramp Twinsalso featured hilarious side characters like the swamp child Tony Parsons. All of these characters had lots of untapped potential that could be powerfully explored in a reboot series.
The Cramp Twins
The Cramp Twins is an animated television series that follows the lives of 10-year-old twins Wayne and Lucien Cramp, who share a strong dislike for each other. Despite their constant bickering and rivalry, they must navigate their daily lives in the fictional town of Soap City, often finding themselves in humorous and unexpected situations.
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2Ed, Edd N Eddy (1999 - 2009)
The three scheming friends inEd, Edd n Eddy, collectively known as “the Eds,” led one of Cartoon Network’s most enjoyable original series. With a story set in the young boy’s neighborhood cul-de-sac,Ed, Edd n Eddyprimarily focused on the main characters trying to make money to purchase giant jawbreakers. With an absurd sense of humor and unique visual style,Ed, Edd n Eddyproved incredibly popular over the course of its ten-year run.
Althoughthe series had a strong conclusion with the release of the movieEd, Edd n Eddy’s Big Picture Show, it has now been 15 years since the series went off the air, and it feels time to bring the boys back for a reboot. With plenty of frantic, gross-out humor, but also just as much heartfelt poignancy,Ed, Edd n Eddywalked the fine line of absurdity and entertainment to deliver a series that connected incredibly well with kids. It’s only right that they be reintroduced to a new generation who can enjoy their misguided and hilarious adventures.
Ed, Edd n Eddy
Three boys with the same name, Ed, Edd, and Eddy, concoct elaborate schemes to scam their peers out of money to buy jawbreakers. Set in a suburban cul-de-sac, their plans usually end in comical disasters, while navigating friendships, rivalries, and the antics of their quirky neighborhood.
1Steven Universe (2013 - 2019)
5 seasons
The coming-of-age storySteven Universewas one of the most beloved Cartoon Network series ever madeand was powerfully told throughout its five-season run, movie, and epilogue series. With so many incredible moments, this Rebecca Sugar-created show built a fascinating world that’s rife for continued exploration. Not only didSteven Universeaddress important themes of love, family, and friendship, but it also deeply connected with viewers as the hardships of the alien Gems seen in the series mimicked the marginalization of many real-life communities and minority groups.
With all these important aspects in mind,Steven Universewould be the perfect series to reboot, as the continued story of Steven and the challenges he faces as a half-human, half-gem have remained incredibly relevant. There are so manyreasons aSteven Universerevival needs to happen, and Sugar has even hinted that she’s open to the possibility of bringing the show back (viaVariety.) While the conclusion of the epilogue seriesSteven Universe Futuremay still seem too recent for another revival, ifSteven Universedid decide to come back toCartoon Network, viewers will eagerly anticipate its return.
Steven Universe
Steven Universe is an animated television series created by Rebecca Sugar. The show follows the coming-of-age story of Steven, a young boy who is half-human and half-Gem, discovering his heritage and learning to harness his powers. Steven lives with the Crystal Gems—Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl—who protect Earth from various threats while teaching him about loyalty, family, and identity.
