Binge TV isn't a new trend; it just has a new, trendy name. Binge-watching is just what you think it is: Watching one episode after the other of one TV series. TV shows that have completed their run, either because they chose to do so or because they were canceled, make for the most satisfying binges.
Thanks to streaming services, like Hulu and Netflix, and DVDs being released continuously, anyone can stockpile snacks and drinks, press play and binge-watch a new or favorite TV series.
But what about cartoons? TV watchers can easily find dramas, like The Wire, or serialized comedies, like How I Met Your Mother, to spend hours watching. But cartoons lovers can find worthy cartoons for binge-watching, too, with a little guidance from this list, sorted chronologically.
Click through the slideshow to find cartoons to binge-watch.
Jump to
- Daria
- Batman: The Animated Series
- Superman
- Home Movies
- Samurai Jack
- Justice League
- Star Wars: Clone Wars
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Wolverine and the X-Men
- Archer
- ThunderCats
'Daria'
Around the same time Teen Nick's Degrassi was dissecting the life of a teenager, Daria premiered on MTV to do the same thing. Daria Morgendorffer was a teenage girl who attends Lawndale High School, along with her younger sister, Quinn, and her best friend, Jane Lane.
See also: 10 Best Daria Episodes
Daria was a funnier version of My So-Called Life, if Claire Danes had worn glasses. Daria was also an existential examination, with the lead character wondering where she fit when she seemed to be the only person enduring the world as it was, not the candy-coated version her family and classmates enjoyed.
We followed Daria through finals, hook-ups and break-ups, and finally graduation.
Premiere: March 3, 1997 on MTV.
Favorite Episodes: "The Invitation" and "Is It College Yet?"
Notable Cast: None, really. Most of the cast, including Tracy Grandstaff, who played Daria, only ever voiced characters for Daria. A few, including Julián Rebolledo ( Pokémon), have had some success as actors.
Awards: Hold onto your pencil cases, because can you believe Daria never won an award? But she did win our hearts. Awww.
'Batman: The Animated Series'
Batman is more hero than super, because his fighting skills and helpful gear are what give him the ability to fight crime and evildoers. When he's not lurking in the shadows, he is Bruce Wayne, billionaire orphan and playboy.
Batman: The Animated Series removed the camp which marked the franchise after the '60s TV series and 1989 movie starring Michael Keaton. The cartoon shifted the focus to the darker aspects of Batman's story, including Bruce Wayne's childhood.
The music from the Batman movie heightened the drama, but the episodes were full of humor, too.
See also: 10 Most Popular Cartoons from the '80s
The most memorable character, however, was The Joker, played masterfully by Mark Hamill (Star Wars). Hamill was nominated in 1994 for an Annie Award for Best Achievement for Voice Acting, thanks to his ability to drop from a high-pitched giggle to a throaty threat in the turn of a batarang.
Premiere: September 6, 1992 on FOX, then later jumped to The WB. Ended in 1995.
Favorite Episodes: "Joker's Favor" and "Robin's Reckoning" two-parter.
Notable Cast: Kevin Conroy (the voice of Batman in a variety of cartoons); Bob Hastings (McHale's Navy) as Commissioner Gordon; Melissa Gilbert (Little House on the Prairie) as Barbara Gordon; Ron Perlman (Hellboy) as Clayface.
Awards: 1993 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less).
'Superman'
Superman came to Earth as a baby when his parents sent him away from their home planet, Krypton, as it was coming apart. He grows up as Clark Kent, hiding his powers of super strength, flying, X-ray vision and lasers that shoot from his eyes.
See also: 50 Best Classic Cartoon Characters of All Time
Like Batman: The Animated Series, Superman turned its focus to classic comic book villains, like Lex Luthor and Brainiac.
The man of steel also battled his alter ego, Bizarro. The cartoon featured highly stylized animation and dramatic music. Tim Daly and Dana Delaney had already voiced Superman and Lois Lane, respectively, in the Superman video game and The Batman Superman Movie: World's Finest. Both actors were adept at grounding the characters, but delivering funny punchlines.
Premiere: September 6, 1997 on The WB, after airing a special in 1996. The series ended in 2000.
Favorite Episodes: "Little Girl Lost" (parts 1 and 2) and "Legacy" (parts 1 and 2).
Notable Cast: Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs on SpongeBob SquarePants) as Lex Luthor; Corey Burton (Count Dooku on Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Brainiac; Lori Petty (A League of Their Own) as Livewire.
Awards: Nominated for two Daytime Emmy awards, in 1997 and 2000.
'Home Movies'
Home Movies centers around Brendon Small, an eight year-old boy whose passion is filmmaking. Brendon lives with his divorced mom, Paula, and his baby sister, Josie. When Brendon isn't doing homework, or at soccer practice, he is making his own movies with the help of his two best friends, Melissa and Jason.
See also: 9 Cartoons that were Canceled Too Soon
Home Movies' run overlapped with Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.
Both cartoons had characters voiced by stand-up comedians, and both cartoons experimented with Squigglevision. Although both cartoons shared producers and cast members, Home Movies told stories about the awkward time when you're nearing the end of childhood. Home Movies also touched on the pain divorce brings children and their parents.
Premiere: April 26, 1999 on UPN.
Favorite Episodes: "School Nurse" and "Curses."
Notable Cast: H. Jon Benjamin (Bob's Burgers) as Coach McGuirk; Jonathan Katz (Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist) as Erik Robbins; comedians Louis C.K., Todd Barry and Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers) also guest-starred.
'Samurai Jack'
Samurai Jack was a unique cartoon, containing very little dialogue. The series follows a warrior who is trained solely for defeating the evil Aku. But when Jack confronts Aku, he is thrown into a time portal and lands somewhere in the future. Samurai Jack must find his way back to the past, to his home and to his enemy.
See also: Your Guide to Star Wars: Clone Wars Micro-Series
Genndy Tartakovsky, who has another cartoon on this list, is the genius behind Samurai Jack.
The series is visually stunning, using split-screens and quick-cuts. The story is compelling, with Jack as a loner who cannot be distracted from his mission to defeat Aku.
Premiere: August 7, 2001 on Cartoon Network.
Favorite Episodes: "The Beginning" and "Jack And The Labyrinth."
Notable Cast: Phil LaMarr (Futurama) as Samurai Jack; the late, great Mako (Avatar: The Last Airbender) as Aku; Kevin Michael Richardson (The Cleveland Show) as an Alien.
Awards: Won three Emmys for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation and one for Emmy Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour) in 2004. Was nominated in 2005 for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour).
'Justice League'
Superheroes pack this list for binge-worthy TV cartoons because their comic book lives are ripe for harvesting ready-made stories. Each superhero comes with his or her own powers, weaknesses, significant others and nemeses. Justice League is no exception. With Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz), Superman, Green Lantern, Batman, The Flash and Wonder Woman leading the crime-fighting group, writers found no end to the possibilities for over-arching storylines.
See also: Exclusive Pictures from Marvel Cartoons
The tension that arose from so many lead and recurring characters also made for an entertaining cartoon, like watching Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne square off from time to time.
Fans of the animated series Batman and Superman enjoyed the continuity of hearing many of the same voices for each character, especially the villains, which included The Joker (Mark Hamill), Clancy Brown (Lex Luthor) and Clayface (Ron Perlman).
Premiere: November 17, 2001 on Cartoon Network.
Favorite Episodes: "Comfort and Joy" and "Clash."
Notable Cast: Carl Lumbly (Alias) as J'onn J'onzz; Phil LaMarr (Futurama) as Green Lantern; Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville) as The Flash.
Awards: Nominated for two Annie awards, two Primetime Emmy awards and one Writer's Guild of America Award.
'Star Wars: Clone Wars'
Genndy Tartakovsky is responsible for two of the cartoons on this list: Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars. The Clone Wars cartoon I am referring to is not the CGI version that aired on Cartoon Network, after the first "episode" was released in movie theaters in 2008. This Star Wars: Clone Wars was touted as a micro-series that filled the gap in the Star Wars saga between Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith feature films.
See also: Who did What Voice on Star Wars: The Clone Wars?
Clone Wars was conceived as a collection of animated shorts. They are fast-paced and gorgeous. The action is quick, with the 2D stylization Tartakovsky used in Samurai Jack. The story moves just as quickly as the action, taking fans over the bridge into Anakin's turn to the dark side.
Premiere: November 7, 2003 on Cartoon Network.
Favorite Episodes: Chapters XXI through XXV.
Notable Cast: Corey Burton (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Count Dooku; Tom Kane (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Yoda; Anthony Daniels (Star Wars: A New Hope) as C-3PO.
Awards: Nominated for two Annie awards, two Primetime Emmy awards and one Writer's Guild of America Award.
'Avatar: The Last Airbender'
Avatar: The Last Airbender followed Aang, the titular character, as he trained to defeat Fire Lord Ozai. He traveled the world with Katara and Sokka, a sister and brother from the Southern Water Tribe who helped Aang prepare for his final battle.
I have binge-watched Avatar: The Last Airbender more than once. Though the main storyline centers on Aang, other engrossing stories are weaved into each episode.
Prince Zuko's redemption journey from Aang's nemesis to his best friend is perhaps the most interesting storyline in the series.
See also: 10 Craziest Villains on Avatar: The Last Airbender
The world of Avatar also draws you in, with the Four Nations having centuries of culture, traditions and history.
Premiere: February 21, 2005 on Nickelodeon.
Favorite Episodes: "Zuko Alone" and four-parter "Sozin's Comet."
Notable Cast: Mae Whitman (Tinker Bell movies) as Katara; Dante Basco ( American Dragon: Jake Long) as Zuko; Mako (Samurai Jack) as Iroh; Dee Bradley Baker (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Appa and Momo.
Awards: Won three Annie awards. In 2007, nominated for a Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour) and won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation.
'Archer'
Wolverine and the X-Men follows Professor X's students after he disappears during an attack on his school. When they catch a glimpse of the future, and the world in ruins, Wolverine becomes the mutant students' leader, helping them track down the Professor while uncovering the villain behind the attack.
Wolverine and the X-Men is squarely aimed at X-Men fans. Wolverine is mature, having to become responsible for the other students in the Professor's absence.
However, his attitude and cutting humor are still evident. Plenty of X-men favorites play important parts in the series, including Beast, Storm, Cyclops and Nightcrawler. Characters from the recent X-men movies make a few appearances, such as Jean Grey, Mystique and Sabretooth.
See also: X-Men Anime from G4
Taking the Professor out of most of the action allows the story to follow Wolverine while he stumbles and works to overcome his instinct for solitude. Watching him interact with the younger students makes for an entertaining series.
Premiere: September 8, 2008 on Nicktoons.
Favorite Episodes: "Wolverine vs. Hulk" and "Shades of Grey."
Notable Cast: Legendary Steve Blum (Transformers Prime) as Logan; Yuri Lowenthal (Ben 10) as Bobby Drake; Tara Strong (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic) as Marrow; Kevin Michael Richardson (The Cleveland Show) as Bishop; Phil LaMarr (Futurama) as Bolivar Trask.
'ThunderCats'
Archer has the sleek look of a spy comic worthy of James Bond. But the characters couldn't be more base, which results in episode after episode of hilarity.
Archer follows the spies at ISIS agency, which is headed by Malory Archer, whose son, Sterling, is her best agent. The agents work to avoid one international crisis after another, while managing to gouge each other in the process.
See also: Sexiest Cartoon Characters on TV
In the five seasons the cartoon has aired, Sterling has loved and lost, fathered a child, and almost discovered the identity of his father. His romance with Lana, a fellow agent, has sizzled and fizzled alternately. An amazing number of stories bloom from a small cast of characters (country singers and cocaine!), all of them funny.
Premiere: January 14, 2010 on FX.
Favorite Episodes: "Stage Two" and "The Wind Cries Mary."
Notable Cast:H. Jon Benjamin (Bob's Burgers) as Sterling Archer; Aisha Tyler (The Talk) as Lana Kane; Jessica Walter (Arrested Development) as Malory Archer; Judy Greer (The Descendants) as Cheryl Tunt.
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For more than two decades, the call of "Thundercats, ho!" brought back memories of the '80s cartoon that starred a flaming-haired Lion-O. The 2011 reboot kept the same cast of characters, but toned down their cat features and calmed the reds and oranges that colored the '80s series.
See also: What's a Furry? Enter this Remarkable World of Fandom
Cartoon Network's ThunderCats also kept the storyline that Lion-O is destined to lead the Thunderans out of the shadow of the evil Mumm-Ra.
The series is full of action, telling the age-old story of right versus wrong, of loyal friends and family, and a boy who must grow up and accept the mantle of leadership.
Premiere: July 29, 2011 on Cartoon Network.
Favorite Episodes: "The Duelist and the Drifter" and "What Lies Above" in two parts.
Notable Cast: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World) as Lion-O; Kevin Michael Richardson (The Cleveland Show) as Panthro; Dee Bradley Baker (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Slythe.
Need a bucket list of cartoons to watch? Start here.
10 Best Nickelodeon Cartoons of the '90s
9 Cartoons Cancelled Too Soon
8 Best Stop-Motion Animated Cartoons
10 Most Popular Cartoons from the '80s
6 Spooky Cartoon Series
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