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Most Influential Cartoons Ever

Take a look at our list of the most influential cartoons in television history.


by Scott Harris

Throughout the course of human history, whenever mankind has been faced with choice, debate and argument has followed. Catholicism or Reconstruction? Communism or Democracy? Tastes Great or Less Filling? Here at the UGO think tank, our scientists and doctors have been debating the great question of our age: South Park or The Simpsons?

Of course, the answer to that depends on just what the question is. When you're evaluating two legendary shows like these, you have to factor in not just ratings or popularity, but also cultural relevance and industry legacy. In other words, like the headline for this entire feature kind of says, what's the most influential cartoon of all time?

We'd explain to you how we came to our conclusions, but let's face it: methodology is boring. That's why you surf porn during the part of the Oscars where the guys from the tabulating firm talk about themselves. So we'll skip that and cut right to the chase. Is He-Man more influential than Speed Racer? Does The Herculoids hold a higher place in the American imagination than Family Guy?

We're sure you have your own ideas on these issues, but if we wanted your opinion we'd have asked for it. Instead, let us do the thinking for you and enjoy our list of the Top Eleven Most Influential Cartoons in Television History.

 

Avatar: the Last Airbender

Broadcast Details: Avatar: the Last Airbender first appeared in the boob tube back in 2005 on that bastion of hipness, Nickelodeon.

Memorable Characters: Aang, Katara, Sokka and a bunch of other characters with rejected Mortal Kombat names.

Cartoon Overview: Avatar: the Last Airbender follows the story of Sokka and Katara, members of the Water tribe, who seek the help of Aang, the last Airbender and Avatar of the world. They need help because the Fire tribe is all up in everybody's stuff. There's a bunch of, like, symbolism here; all we can say for sure is that someone involved in this show is a damn dirty hippie.

Impact and Influence: Okay, right off the bat we're cheating by changing our own criteria for the list. Why? Because that's how mama likes it. Even though Avatar: the Last Airbender has only been airing for a couple years, we're putting it on our list because of the influence it's going to have. While American animation techniques have made great strides over the past decade, anime remains more popular thanks to superior storytelling techniques; engaging, long term serialized plotlines grab and retain viewers. Avatar: the Last Airbender is the first American show to successfully emulate not just the visual but also the storytelling style of anime; its popularity ensures a new movement to come in American cartoons.

See More: South Park | South Park HQ | Cartoon Network | Family Guy | Most Influential Cartoons | The Simpsons | Aang | Avatar: The Last Airbender | Katara | Sokka