As we reach the end of our high school careers, essentially leaving behind the last bits of our childhood, it’s normal to want to look back at what made our young lives feel so special. And what better way to do that than through the shows we watched as kids? Whether it was on Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, or even PBS Kids there was always a wide variety of television shows at our disposal. Now’s the time to look back on those shows and reminisce on why we loved them so much.
- “Wild Kratts” PBS Kids (2011-present)
PBS Kids has brought children dozens of educational television shows but “Wild Kratts” might be one of the most memorable. Starring the Kratt Brothers, Chris and Martin Kratt, “Wild Kratts” is all about introducing children to nature and the animals that live in it. Though each episode starts with a short live-action segment from the Kratt Brothers introducing the animals they are featuring in each particular episode, the main portion of the show is the animated segment featuring cartoon versions of the siblings as they use “creature power suits” to save animals and battle villains. Though the prospect of watching an animated show about animals might not seem interesting to most teenagers, there is a certain nostalgia in seeing the Kratt Brothers explain the unique characteristics of animals like the Tasmanian Devil or Red Kangaroo that not many shows have.
- “Liv and Maddie” Disney+ (2013-2017)
Are you a Liv? Or are you a Maddie? If you were a fan of the Disney Show “Liv and Maddie” it’s possible that you tried to fit into one of the two categories. The show focuses on identical twin sisters, Liv and Maddie Rooney, as they navigate high school. With Liv, a very girly and over-the-top actress, and Maddie, a tomboyish, star athlete, the two sisters could not be more different but as they say many times in the show they are “sisters by chance, friends by choice.” The show had dozens of great lessons from how relationships can prevail despite differences to the importance of loving yourself. While every minute of the show has the nostalgic feel of a better era of Disney, the last couple of seasons in particular show the sisters as they prepare to graduate and spend their last summer together before going on their seperate paths, a concept that might hit home for many graduating seniors.
- “Phineas and Ferb” Disney (2007-2015)
“There’s a hundred and four days of summer vacation” and as seniors, we can’t wait to enjoy every minute of it. If you were a fan of “Phineas and Ferb” as a kid you’ve probably seen brothers Phineas and Ferb build all sorts of fascinating contraptions to make their summer the most interesting one possible. I know as a kid, I wanted a summer just like theirs but since there is no portal to Mars and no way a giant rubber band ball could really bounce around the world watching episodes of the brothers and their friends have the time of their lives while just narrowingly escaping their sister’s attempts of “busting” them will have to do. With four seasons and 2 movies out on Disney+, there are tons of episodes to binge now, not to mention the new season that’s been filmed and is expected to air sometime this year giving fans of the show new content to look forward to. If you’re looking for a fun way to reminisce about your childhood, while also getting a healthy dose of that carefree summer feeling “Phineas and Ferb” is the show for you.
- “Scooby-Doo” (1969 – present)
Since 1969 fans of Scooby-Doo and his friends have been watching the gang solve mystery after mystery. With countless iterations of the show, there is no doubt that there’s a version for everyone. For most seniors, those versions would most likely be “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?” which ran from 2002 to 2005, or my personal favorite, “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated” which aired from 2010 to 2013. If you’re searching for endless content though, this is definitely where you’ll want to look. With dozens of movies and a wide variety of shows to pick from, even super fans will have an episode or two they haven’t seen. Though the bad guys and traps don’t give the most summer vibe as the hot weather approaches, the show still takes you back to a simpler time when the college was far away and villains like Miner 49er or Space Kook were the worst of our problems.
- “Jessie” Disney+ (2011 – 2015)
New to New York, pursuing her dreams as an actress and accidentally becoming a nanny in the process is life for the titular character Jessie in the show “Jessie.” If you were a fan of Disney in the 2010s there is almost no doubt you haven’t seen this show. Running for four seasons during what some might call “the golden age of Disney,” “Jessie” seemed to be the show that all others surrounded. There were crossovers with “Austin and Ally,” “Good Luck Charlie,” “Karate Kid,” “Liv and Maddie,” “I Didn’t Do It,” and even the animated superhero show “Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors.” So if you’re looking for a show that can give you the most nostalgia in the shortest amount of time look no further. Every episode, while funny in the kind of way that brings you back to your childhood, really keeps you wanting to watch more due to the star-studded cast. With actors ranging from the ever-iconic Debby Ryan to the dearly departed Cameron Boyce, everyone in that show just screams Disney channel and helps add to the feel that we all look for in a Disney show.
- “Adventure Time” Cartoon Network and Hulu (2010 – 2018)
If you’re looking for a show to prove that “kids” shows aren’t just for kids, look no further than the animated series “Adventure Time.” While the show surrounding the adventures of best friends and brother Jake and Finn as they roam the Land of Ooo battling evil can be pretty childish at times for the most part this show has a lot of heartfelt and meaningful moments. Through the characters “Adventure Time tackles many important lessons and issues in the world. We see the secondary character Ice King battle what seems to be dementia though they never fully say that out loud, the heartbreaking season 5 episode “Puhoy” is really just a massive metaphor for the lengths the main character Finn will go to to to escape his feelings, and on a happier note throughout the series we see characters Princess Bubblegum and Marceline fall in love despite the two girls hating each other at the beginning. Not only is “Adventure Time” a great show from our childhood, but it can be a great show for our lives now too.
