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Disney+ is going to be a real treat to those of us that grew up in the ’90s. The streaming service will feature a number of animated series that were and are big deals to us 90s kids. And you know what? A lot of those shows are still worth checking out.
The ‘90s were a time for great advancements in animated children’s television. Creators were given a chance to tell more complex stories, and an influx of young talent meant that animation styles were also being experimented with. It was an era where animation began to “grow up,” even though it was still being made for young audiences. And thanks to that mindset, we got a plethora of fantastic shows that continue to leave their mark to this day.
Whether you want a healthy dose of nostalgia or want to introduce a new generation to these shows, we’ve highlighted some of the absolute best ones you can watch on Disney+ when it launches. And we’ll even highlight a few of the must-see episodes for each series!
Gargoyles
(October 24, 1994 – February 15, 1997)
Let’s start things off with what might be the best original Disney animated series of all time. Gargoyles (Watch now on Disney+) tells the story of a band of guardian creatures that become cursed to live as stone statues during the day. Eventually, they find their way to modern-day Manhattan and try to protect themselves and humanity. Thanks to beautiful animation, mature storytelling, exceptional voice acting, and rich mythology, Gargoyles has aged like a fine wine.
Episodes to Watch: “Awakening” Parts 1-5
This five-part introduction to the series acts as a solid feature film for the show. The series delivered its premise with incredible confidence in this opening season, and these first five episodes are the perfect way to revisit the series or to introduce someone to it.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series
(November 19, 1994 – January 31, 1998)
One of the best things about Disney+ is that we’ll be getting a number of Marvel animated series on the streaming platform. Originally, all the Marvel shows on this list aired on Fox Kids during their initial run. After Disney acquired both Marvel and Fox, it was almost certain that we’d be seeing these series make their way to Disney platforms.
Possibly the greatest of these Marvel cartoons is Spider-Man: The Animated Series. Lasting for five seasons, the show built up its own unique take on the web-slinger and his many villains, and the show ended up crafting one of the best takes on the Spider-Man universe ever made. There’s no better time than now to see just how good it is.
Episodes to Watch: “Spider Wars” Parts 1 & 2
The series has a number of standout episodes, but it’s doubly impressive how the show managed to wrap things up with a satisfying two-part finale that celebrates the variety of the character. And the way the final villain — a version of Spider-Man that bonded with the Carnage symbiote! — is defeated showcases the best aspect of Spider-Man: his heart.
Darkwing Duck
(September 8, 1991 – December 5, 1992)
Disney created its own original superhero with Darkwing Duck, a not-so-subtle parody of Batman and other pulpy heroes. Filled with kooky villains and a goofball sense of humor, this character has continued to capture the imaginations of kids and adults, appearing in episodes of the new DuckTales series. If you want to see where DW started, definitely give this a watch.
Episodes to Watch: “Twin Beaks” and “Time and Punishment”
Wanna see how good Darkwing Duck was at variety when it came to episodes? Watch these two episodes back-to-back. “Twin Beaks” is a remarkably on-point parody of Twin Peaks, and “Time and Punishment” is a time-traveling sci-fi look into a possible dark future for Darkwing that actually packs an emotional punch.
X-Men: The Animated Series
(October 31, 1992 – September 20, 1997)
For a lot of ‘90s kids, X-Men: The Animated Series was their introduction to Marvel’s family of mutants. With long over-arching stories and a huge roster of characters, X-Men: The Animated Series felt like one of the first superhero shows that took world-building as serious as the comics did. If you can’t wait to see the X-Men in the MCU, this is your best bet for getting a good mutant fix.
Episodes to Watch: “Days of Future Past” Parts 1 & 2 and “Weapon X, Lies & Videotape”
X-Men: The Animated Series excelled at multi-part story arcs, and “Days of Future Past” might be the greatest of them all. It’s a deeply layered and effective adaptation of the classic comic arc. But, if you want a standalone episode, “Weapon X, Lies, & Videotape” delves into the origins of Wolverine and is a great introduction to everyone’s favorite mutant.
TaleSpin
(September 7, 1990 – August 8, 1991)
Who would’ve thought that taking the characters from The Jungle Book and putting them in a 1930s air delivery adventure series would actually work? Well, it did! TaleSpin feels like it’s riffing on the best elements of DuckTales and the Indiana Jones movies with some high-flying action thrown in for good measure. For as weird as the idea seems on the surface, TaleSpin’s uniqueness has only helped it to stand out from the crowd all these years later.
Episodes to Watch: “Plunder and Lightning” Parts 1-4
This pilot feature is easily one of the best animated pilots of the ‘90s. It somehow sells the wackadoo idea of the series with total sincerity, and it has a genuinely thrilling sense of adventure and scale. Much like Gargoyles, these episodes act as their own feature film.
Silver Surfer
(February 7, 1998 – May 16, 1998)
If there is one Marvel series that hasn’t gotten its due, it’s Silver Surfer (Watch now on Disney+). Although the show only lasted for one season, it was an incredible distillation of what makes the comic character so intriguing. Less superhero action and more thoughtful sci-fi, Silver Surfer is a show that was mostly ignored at the time but deserves to be rediscovered. Thanks to Disney+, we can all do exactly that.
Episodes to Watch: “The Origin of the Silver Surfer” Parts 1-3 and “The Forever War”
The three-part origin story is a great one for anybody that isn’t familiar with the character, but if you want the best standalone episode of the series, make sure to watch “The Forever War.” It features a great sci-fi concept and an appearance from another significant Marvel character, Adam Warlock.
Goof Troop
(September 5 – December 5, 1992)
The majority of these shows are all pretty serious, so let’s end things on a sillier note. Goof Troopnwas a radically modern spin on the classic character Goofy. Setting him in a modern world and giving him a son, Max, led to the show being a fun little family comedy that inspired two really great little animated features. If you just need a good laugh, Goof Troop has you covered.
Episodes to Watch: “Everything’s Coming Up Goofy” and “Midnight Movie Madness”
“Everything’s Coming Up Goofy” introduces the idea of the series and sets a really good foundation for the show’s heart and humor. But, a personal favorite of mine is “Midnight Movie Madness” because it centers around Max and his friend P.J. getting super spooked by a scary movie. So, P.J.’s dad Pete decides to have a little fun at their expense.
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