TVLine recently ranked the 10 best animated shows streaming on Paramount+, and the details we have cover five of them: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987), Rugrats (1991), Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria, and South Park. This guide takes one angle on those five. Which ones are worth your time because they are good, and which ones mostly run on nostalgia? Treat the verdicts below as my take, not TVLine's.
The outlet's description says Paramount+ "boasts a pretty solid streaming catalogue in the realm of animation." Its list mixes nostalgic classics, adult animation, and long-running franchise staples. That mix is the useful part, because each type ages differently.
A quick way to judge whether an old cartoon holds up
Nostalgia is a feeling, not a quality measure. A simple test helps: ask whether the show depends on you remembering it, or whether it works for someone seeing it fresh. Shows built on a strong character or a sharp point of view tend to survive. Shows built mainly on a catchy theme song and a toy line tend to lean on memory.
That is my framework, not TVLine's. Here is how the five picks fit it.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987): the nostalgia play
The 1987 series is a franchise cornerstone, and TVLine includes it among the staples. My read: this is the clearest example of a show you watch largely for the memory. The appeal is the familiar cast and a simple, easygoing adventure format. That makes it a good fit for an introduction for kids, or for a comfort rewatch, but you are probably there for the feeling more than for surprises.
Best for: Parents sharing a childhood favorite, and anyone wanting low-stakes comfort viewing.
Rugrats (1991): nostalgia with a clever hook
Rugrats is on the list as a 1991 classic. Its central idea is a world seen from a toddler's level, which is a durable concept rather than a dated one. A premise like that tends to travel across generations better than a trend-driven joke. My read: it sits in the middle, part memory and part solid idea.
Best for: Families with young kids, and millennials curious whether childhood memories match reality.
Beavis and Butt-Head: a time capsule with a point of view
This is one of the adult animation entries on the list. Its comedy is deliberately crude, and that is both its draw and its limit. It is very much a product of its era, so how well it holds up depends on your taste for that humor. If you want to see where adult animation came from, it is a natural stop.
Best for: Adult-comedy fans interested in the roots of the genre.
Daria: the one most likely to surprise you
Daria is a 1990s-era favorite that earns its place on the list as more than a nostalgia pick. My view is that a show built around one dry, observant character has a better shot at aging well than one built around gags. If you only pick one title here to test whether old animation still works, I would pick this one.
Best for: Viewers who want character-driven adult animation rather than shock humor.
South Park: the staple that keeps going
South Park is the franchise staple of the group, and a reminder that adult animation has real staying power on this service. If you want adult animation beyond The Simpsons and Family Guy, it is the most obvious place to settle in, and it has the deepest catalog to binge.
Best for: Binge-watchers who want a lot of episodes.
Why streamers keep leaning on shows like these
Per the context around the list, Paramount+ is leaning heavily on recognizable franchises and legacy animation as streaming services compete for binge-worthy libraries. That is an observation about the market, and it explains why your feeds keep surfacing cartoons you watched decades ago. Familiar titles are an easy sell, and a deep back catalog gives you reasons to stay subscribed.
A simple viewing plan
- Start with Daria if you want to test whether older animation still earns its reputation.
- Add South Park if you want a long binge.
- Pull up Rugrats or the 1987 Turtles for family viewing.
- Try Beavis and Butt-Head as a history lesson in adult animation.
TVLine's full list has ten entries, and only these five are covered here, so check the original for the rest of the ranking.
The takeaway
Before you rewatch a childhood favorite, decide what you want from it: comfort or quality. Pick the comfort shows for a lazy night, pick Daria when you want proof that a cartoon can age well, and let the first episode settle the argument.
