With popular Nicktoons like Rugrats, Doug, The Ren & Stimpy Show, and Hey Arnold! quickly approaching their 30th anniversaries this year (25th for Arnold), countless 90s Nickelodeon fans are getting hyped to celebrate the special event in any way they can - whether its amassing an impressive collection of vinyl figures to show off on social media, sporting your favorite characters on fashionable clothing on the street, or even decorating your own bedroom wall-to-wall in 90s Nick art. These shows are more than just a shot of nostalgia for all of us who grew up watching them; they're a lifestyle colorfully painting a landscape of retro fantasy, reminding us it's cool to be a kid. They're Nicktoons, and they are a part of our childhood, no matter what year we revisit them.

The Indelible Mark of Nicktoons

Jumping back to the 1980s when landmark shows like You Can't Do That on Television and Double Dare were making waves in attracting audiences, something was still missing to the programming lineup when it came to covering the full range of kid viewership. While the budding channel offered a plethora of imported animated shows ranging from Danger Mouse to Count Duckula for kids to feast their eyes upon, Nickelodeon still had yet to find their signature cartoon content to reel viewers in and keep them hooked. That was, until two women with a vision, Vanessa Coffey and Geraldine Laybourne, entered the scene to shake up the current formula. Bogged down by their dissatisfaction with most animated cartoons hyper-focused on selling toys at the time (and therefore lacking substance), their approach was to instead give show runners free reign to simply unleash all the great characters living inside the core of their being. Ultimately, dozens of animated show concepts were pitched, but after two weeks, it came down to three particular cartoons, each with their own unique style and identity, making the final cut.

Premiering on August 11, 1991, the network launched three cartoon pilots simultaneously under the new nicktoon brand: Doug, Rugrats, and Ren & Stimpy. Doug and Rugrats targeted younger audiences, with the former following an ordinary, wholesome kid with an extraordinary imagination and the latter focusing on a group of talking babies who would go on adventures in and around the house. As for the third show, Ren & Stimpy proved to be the forefather of edgy animation; it was enjoyed by both teens and adolescents not only for its crude humor, but for its loveable, yet insane characters: A dim-witted, red cat named Stimpy, and a high-strung Chihuahua named Ren Höek. 

With their trinity of toons in place, Nickelodeon firmly cemented their foundation in kids animation entertainment, thus paving the way for dozens of other Nicktoons to build upon what these three established before them - toons such as Rocko's Modern Life in 1993, Aaaahhh! Real Monsters in 1994, Angry Beavers in 1997, The Wild Thornberries in 1998, among many, many more. As a result, eager kids everywhere couldn't unglue their eyes from the TV screen! These shows reached nearly 100 million homes throughout the 90s, proving their influence was here to stay.

A New Generation of Influence

Long after these shows ended their original run, thousands of fans who have grown deeply connected with the aforementioned Nicktoons still keep their childhood memories alive in their hearts to this day. Due to increasing demand, several nicktoon shows gained their second wind in viewership, thanks to both TV DVD box sets and now popular streaming services where grown-up 90s Kids can revisit all the classics they have grown up with. In some instances, some of these shows have even received reboots, such as Rugrats on Paramount+. 

In many shows that have followed the wave of Nicktoons in the 90s, it is evident key features of what made them popular live on in new forms. For example: Spongebob Squarepants, the reigning 90s nicktoon still airing new episodes to this day, borrows heavily from Ren and Stimpy using a technique called "Gross Ups", where they would show an extreme close up of a character's face to emphasize exaggerated, often grossly detailed aspects of their face or emotional state. It's that kind of stark contrast to the cutesy characters that really draws people's attention to the tube.

Now looking back at Nicktoons' history, it makes one wonder: How would YOU celebrate your favorite nickelodeon cartoons turning 30...?

If you love reminiscing about Nicktoons and other cartoon art of your childhood, then look no further than Brett Wilson Art in Tampa, FL. His online shop is full of art prints, posters, and stickers inspired by nostalgic 90s shows. He also provides custom commissioned artwork for anyone looking for the perfect gift for a 90s cartoon fan. Visit the website to browse products, or text (860) 930-7150 to order a custom piece, or check out his Instagram for new art posts released every month.