Maya Oswald’s Favorite Cartoon Network Shows

I have watched a lot of cartoons throughout my life, and I have to admit, when it boils down to it, I was a Cartoon Network kid when I was younger. I haven’t seen all of the shows, but these five shows are the cartoons that I find myself replaying even to this day. This article is entirely opinion-based. I will save the best for last, so my favorite show will be at the bottom. First up is: 

Chowder

Chowder is about a purple raccoon-bunny-thing named Chowder who shadows a “well-known” catering company. However, all of the food that is created isn’t real, which causes its own problems with talking foods, mythical monsters, and an elephant fruit salesman named Gazpacho that lives with his mom. I feel like the humor in this show is underappreciated, but I have to admit, it is more of a show for kids rather than adults. If people were to take the time to watch it, they wouldn’t be missing much if they were on their phone at the same time.

Regular Show 

This show follows Mordecai the bluejay and Rigby the raccoon as they try to do their job at their local park. These slackers spend any waking moment at the park doing anything other than their job, much to the chagrin of their boss, Bensen, the gumball machine. This can include a rock-paper-scissors tournament that almost consumes reality or playing with a magical keyboard that lands them on the moon. The humor in this show is just absolutely next level. The later seasons are a little eh: very reminiscent of jumping the shark and pushing the show past its prime. The earlier seasons, on the other hand, are really S-tier comedy.

Steven Universe

Steven Universe is a coming-of-age show about a boy as he learns about his magical powers and fights monsters with the Crystal Gems–three self-appointed guardians of the universe. As Steven learns more about himself, he struggles to live in the shadow of his passed mom, the old leader of the Crystal Gems. Personally, I don’t even take the time to watch the first season except for the last couple of episodes. If someone were watching it for the very first time, they should watch the whole thing, but after that, skip to the second season. The relationship between Steven and his family, the Crystal Gems, and his single dad, is truly heartwarming. The music alone is enough to get this show in my top five, but it’s Steven’s growing relationships that truly makes the show as wonderful as it is.

Over the Garden Wall

Over the Garden Wall follows two half-brothers, Wirt and Gregg, as they try to find their way back home after getting lost in the woods. Eventually, a talking bluebird named Beatrice and a frog whose name changes every episode accompany the brothers’ travels home. However, The Beast tries to make the boys even more lost in the forest. This show is easily one of the most underappreciated shows I have ever seen in my life. The art in this show is, in itself, a masterpiece. The brothers each have their own sense of humor that they bring to the table, but Gregg is one of the most quotable characters I’ve ever watched. The show is only ten episodes long, and each episode is only ten minutes. If one has about an hour and a half to burn, definitely give this show a watch.

Adventure Time

Adventure Time is another coming-of-age story about Finn the Human and his adoptive brother Jake, the magical stretchy dog. Finn happens to be the last human in this post-apocalyptic world that is ruled by a wide variety of different kinds of princesses, such as Princess Bubblegum and Lumpy Space Princess. The show goes on for ten separate seasons and has spawned a spinoff show. Over the course of the show, Finn truly matures with the help of the other characters. Adventure Time does take a while to get started and really get good, but the world-building in it is truly phenomenal. I’ve been watching and rewatching this show since it came out in 2010, and I still find things that I missed. The humor in it and the characters themselves are well-loved that even adults found themselves watching this show. One of the writers, Rebecca Sugar, ended up loving this show so much that she created her own show, Steven Universe. Honestly, I can’t recommend this show enough. It does take a long time to fully watch everything, but it really is worth it. 

All five of these shows were a huge part of my childhood, but they’re so good that I’m making them a part of my teenage life as well. Whenever I find myself in a bad mood, I can’t help but put on one. If you’re ever looking for something to watch, you can find all of them on HBO Max or Hulu.