The Woody Woodpecker Show (1957)
Classic woodpecker slapstick from the original television collection. Older kids should watch selected shorts with a grown-up.
Age bands: 9-12
Classic cartoons to rediscover: the 1950s to the 2000s
Woody Woodpecker (Pica-Pau), Garfield, DuckTales, Doug, the Smurfs and more: an editorial nostalgia collection for families, with original release years, parent notes and regional viewing links. These are favorites, not a popularity ranking.
Match a cartoon by age, mood and decade
1950s cartoons & family films
1960s cartoons & family films
Sesame Street (1969)
Songs, letters, numbers, kindness and classic character comedy.
Age bands: 3-5, 6-8
The Jetsons (1962)
A futuristic family, flying cars and playful space-age mishaps.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
The Yogi Bear Show (1961)
Picnic baskets, park adventures and classic bear comedy.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
The Flintstones (1960)
Stone-age family comedy for older kids to enjoy with a grown-up.
Age bands: 9-12
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969)
A friendly dog and a team of young detectives solve spooky mysteries.
Age bands: 9-12
1970s cartoons & family films
Schoolhouse Rock! (1973)
Catchy animated songs introduce numbers, grammar, science and history.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
Honey, friendship and little adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood.
Age bands: 3-5, 6-8
The Rescuers (1977)
Two brave mice team up to rescue a child in an adventurous classic.
Age bands: 9-12
1980s cartoons & family films
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
A warm, magical family story about sisters, nature and a forest friend.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
A young witch builds confidence, friendships and a new life in a seaside town.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
The Smurfs (1981)
Little blue friends learn teamwork in a magical forest village.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
Inspector Gadget (1983)
A bumbling detective, a clever niece and a helpful dog solve cases.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
DuckTales (1987)
A duck family explores treasure stories and faraway adventures.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (1989)
Tiny detectives tackle big mysteries with teamwork and clever inventions.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985)
Magical bears bounce into medieval adventures and work together.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
The Care Bears (1985)
Colorful bears share caring lessons and imaginative adventures.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988)
Pooh and friends enjoy warm, imaginative adventures together.
Age bands: 3-5, 6-8
Garfield and Friends (1988)
Lasagna-loving Garfield, Odie and farmyard friends turn ordinary days into silly stories.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
1990s cartoons & family films
The Wiggles (1998)
Bright songs, movement and preschool-friendly learning.
Age bands: 3-5
Arthur (1996)
School, friendship and thoughtful everyday lessons with Arthur and friends.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
Rugrats (1991)
Imaginative baby adventures turn ordinary places into big discoveries.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
The Magic School Bus (1994)
A curious class takes extraordinary field trips into science.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
Franklin (1997)
A young turtle learns about kindness, friendship and daily routines.
Age bands: 3-5, 6-8
Little Bear (1995)
Gentle woodland stories about friendship, family and imagination.
Age bands: 3-5, 6-8
The New Woody Woodpecker Show (1999)
Woody, Chilly Willy and their friends cause playful cartoon chaos. Choose Portuguese, Spanish or English viewing links.
Age bands: 9-12
Doug (1991)
An imaginative schoolboy navigates friendship, confidence and everyday school challenges.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
Recess (1997)
A group of school friends explores teamwork, fairness and playground adventures.
Age bands: 9-12
Hey Arnold! (1996)
A thoughtful city kid learns about friendship, empathy and growing up in his neighborhood.
Age bands: 9-12
2000s cartoons & family films
Peppa Pig (2004)
Short, simple stories about family, friends and playful routines.
Age bands: 3-5
Pocoyo (2005)
Simple visual comedy and curiosity for very young viewers.
Age bands: 3-5
Shaun the Sheep (2007)
Wordless farm comedy with clever visual jokes and gentle chaos.
Age bands: 3-5, 6-8
Ratatouille (2007)
A food-loving rat follows his creative dream in a Paris kitchen.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
Dora the Explorer (2000)
Join Dora and Boots for map-reading, songs and friendly learning adventures.
Age bands: 3-5, 6-8
Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000)
A very big dog and his friends practice kindness and community.
Age bands: 3-5, 6-8
Kim Possible (2002)
A resourceful teen and her friends tackle action-filled missions.
Age bands: 9-12
Phineas and Ferb (2007)
Two inventive brothers fill summer days with spectacular ideas.
Age bands: 6-8, 9-12
The Backyardigans (2004)
Backyard friends dance and sing through make-believe worlds.
Age bands: 3-5, 6-8
Ben 10 (2005)
An alien-transforming watch turns a summer road trip into superhero rescues. Contains animated fighting.
Age bands: 9-12
Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003)
Lilo and Stitch find a home for unusual alien experiments through teamwork and family.
Age bands: 9-12