31 Years Ago Today, Cartoon Network’s Most Iconic Series Started (And Gave Fans All Their Favorite Characters)

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Cartoon Network first went live on October 1, 1992. While it’s now famous for creating tons of original shows and memorable characters, it started as a simple way to give older, beloved cartoons a home when they weren’t being shown anywhere else. Because Turner Broadcasting, the original owner, had the rights to the Hanna-Barbera library, shows like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo were shown frequently, along with other favorites like Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry. Though people loved watching these classics, it was something else that would eventually make Cartoon Network so popular.

The show that ultimately made Cartoon Network famous began with a special premiere over thirty years ago. On February 20, 1995, the first episode of What a Cartoon! aired during Space Ghost Coast to Coast, billed as the “World Premiere Toon-In.” This launched an anthology series of brand-new, original cartoons that quickly became the foundation of Cartoon Network’s programming, introducing beloved characters and launching new shows – even the ones that didn’t quite succeed.

What a Cartoon! Gave Cartoon Network All Its Best Shows

The first animated short shown as part of the What a Cartoon! series was “Meat Fuzzy Lumkins” by Craig McCracken. This short was notable because it introduced both the villain of the same name and, more significantly, the Powerpuff Girls. New shorts then began premiering every Sunday, with Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Dexter’s Laboratory” being the second one shown.

Those familiar with early Cartoon Network will remember these shorts as the starting point for many popular shows. After the initial run, fans voted for their favorite, and the winner, Dexter’s Laboratory, was developed into a full series that lasted four seasons. It was quickly followed by other hits like The Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo, Courage the Cowardly Dog, and Cow and Chicken, which even spawned its own spin-off, I.M. Weasel.

The first season of What A Cartoon! included 48 short films, and ultimately led to the creation of seven successful animated series, each with many episodes. In a 2003 interview, the show’s creator, Fred Seibert, explained that any single one of those resulting shows generated enough revenue to cover the entire cost of producing What A Cartoon!.

Beyond its successful shows, What A Cartoon! quietly contributed to animation history with a short that didn’t initially take off. One of the last shorts from the show’s first run was called “Larry and Steve,” created by recent art school graduate Seth MacFarlane. The short featured a clueless character named Larry and his intelligent, talking dog, Steve – both voiced by MacFarlane himself. Originally MacFarlane’s college thesis film, “Larry and Steve” would eventually become the foundation for the popular animated series, Family Guy.

Watching Larry & Steve makes it obvious that Seth MacFarlane had already developed many of the ideas for Family Guy. The two main characters sound remarkably like Peter Griffin and Brian, and the short film uses quick cutaway gags for instant laughs – a signature of Family Guy. Surprisingly, this short served as a test run for Family Guy and was originally created for What A Cartoon!, but it didn’t gain traction right away. Today, Family Guy is still popular and has been on the air for over a decade longer than any other show that started on What A Cartoon!, despite not initially winning over audiences.

What a Cartoon! Evolved and Continued to Give Us More

After the first batch of shorts for What A Cartoon! finished, the series ended. However, Cartoon Network liked the idea and created The Cartoon Cartoon Show in 1998. This new show featured pilot episodes that viewers could vote on, ultimately leading to the creation of popular Cartoon Network series like Mike, Lu & Og, Sheep in the Big City, Whatever Happened to… Robot Jones?, Codename: Kids Next Door, and the hugely successful The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.

Originally ending in 2002, The Cartoon Cartoon Show made a comeback in 2005. By then, it had inspired numerous spin-offs and new series, allowing the show to repackage segments from those programs as complete episodes before finally concluding in 2008. Recognizing the show’s lasting impact, Cartoon Network revived The Cartoon Cartoon Show once again in 2024.

More than thirty years ago, Cartoon Network reached a turning point, evolving from a channel that simply re-aired old shows into the powerhouse it is today. Three key decisions really defined its success: launching Adult Swim with programming for grown-ups, introducing the Toonami block which brought anime to American viewers, and premiering What A Cartoon!, the show that created many of the beloved characters fans still talk about.

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2026-02-20 22:41