10 classic ’90s cartoons sure to make you feel nostalgic

3. Hey Arnold!

No cartoon has ever been cooler than Hey Arnold! It aired from 1996 to 2004 on Nickelodeon and follows nine-year-old Arnold (although he seems way older than that) who lives in the city of Hillwood with his grandparents.

The show felt different than others before it because it took place in a big city and showed kids hanging out, living, and having adventures in a setting that wasn’t the suburbs or some pristine-looking town. Arnold lives in a rundown boarding house. Before this, most cartoons did not show that side of life.

Arnold’s friends include Gerald, the leader of their friend group and the coolest character on the show, and Helga, Arnold’s bully and also secret admirer (she has a shrine to him in the back of her closet. YIKES).

Each episode usually featured Arnold and his friends trying to solve a problem either at school or in the neighborhood. There were also episodes where they would deal with an urban legend or superhero that Gerald was obsessed with.

Hey Arnold! is hard to describe. The vibe of it is just so much cooler than any other cartoon show before it, and that and the characters is what made it a hit.