25 Years Later, This Lost Cartoon Network Classic Is Still The Funniest Sci-Fi Show

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25 years after its original premiere, this now lost Cartoon Network series is still the funniest science-fiction series that has ever aired with the channel. Cartoon Network is in the midst of a revival era for some of their biggest shows. Many franchises from the 2000s and 2010s have made their comebacks with all sorts of fun new projects, but there are many others that have yet to get the same chance. In fact, there are many Cartoon Network shows that have pretty much disappeared with no legal means of seeking them out easily.

Time Squad first aired on Cartoon Network on June 8, 2001 – over 25 years ago! This funny animated series put a humorous spin on historical figures. While it wasn’t one of the network’s biggest hits, it definitely added to the fun of the Cartoon Cartoons lineup. Unfortunately, it’s currently difficult to find or stream in the United States.

Time Squad Premiered 25 Years Ago But It’s Lost Now

Created by Dave Wasson for Cartoon Network in 2001, Time Squad was one of the network’s popular Cartoon Cartoons, alongside hits like The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, and Ed, Edd n Eddy. However, it didn’t achieve the same level of success. After just two seasons and 26 episodes, Time Squad struggled to gain a following, which is unfortunate considering the creative talent involved.

Millions of years in the future, Time Squad is about a group dedicated to protecting the timeline and fixing problems as they happen throughout history. The show focuses on a funny team consisting of Otto, a young history enthusiast (voiced by Pamela Adlon, also known as Bobby Hill from King of the Hill), Buck, a somewhat clueless Time Squad officer (voiced by Mark Hamill, famous for Star Wars and Regular Show), and Larry 3000, a robot who keeps them on track (voiced by Rob Paulsen, known from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Animaniacs).

The show centers around a team tasked with correcting errors in the timeline to protect the future – a surprisingly advanced idea for a cartoon at the time. While similar high-concept sci-fi ideas are common in big-budget movies now, this show didn’t quite catch on with cartoon audiences. It’s a shame, really, because it cleverly featured historical figures like Napoleon, Abraham Lincoln, and Edgar Allan Poe in funny ways. Had it premiered a little later, it likely would have found a bigger audience among adults.

What Happened to Time Squad?

Time Squad was just a victim of circumstance. Not only did it not get a lot of attention from Cartoon Network fans at the time, it was also the final series to be launched under previous management that was going through a tumultuous period with disagreements from those at the top. It was also the first full Cartoon Network Studios production following the death of former Hanna-Barbera co-founder William Hanna, and ultimately only got two short seasons released within the span of two years.

Despite receiving some award nominations, critics didn’t quite understand Time Squad when it first came out. It was often criticized for being funnier than historically accurate, but that was intentional – the show prioritized jokes over education. Limited support for home video releases has also made it difficult to find on streaming services today, and it’s largely been forgotten over time.

Warner Bros. Animation took down a lot of its shows from HBO Max, and while many of those classics are now available on streaming services like Tubi and Hulu, the show Time Squad seems to have disappeared completely. You can’t find it streaming, on DVD, or even on TV. It’s mostly been forgotten except by the Cartoon Network fans who watched and enjoyed it when it originally aired. Unfortunately, as it exists now, it’s unlikely to gain much new appreciation.

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2026-06-11 00:18