Millennials and Gen Zers: Who was the more superior growing up: Nickelodeon, Disney, or Cartoon Network?

[smahala1991]

In my opinion, Nickelodeon had the better cartoons (aside from Phineas and Ferb, Gravity Falls and Kim Possible on Disney), Disney had the better movies and live action shows (although most of them had some kinda musical element), and Cartoon Network was the one with most of the adult jokes and classic nostalgia of the time. To me all three brought something to the table. However, if you want my honest opinion I feel like Nickelodeon was the supreme channel, but Disney and Cartoon Network were actually really close behind even though Disney is clearly a bigger media giant than the other two who also had media giants like Viacom and Ted Turner behind them.

[indissoluble]

Most people watched broadcast cartoons in the afternoon over antenna through local stations like FOX. Those with cable generally watched Cartoon Network a little later in time. The only cartoon I remember watching on Nickelodean as as kid was The Ren & Stimpy Show. We use to watch Beavis and Butt‑Head on MTV as well. The Disney Channel didn't really exist as a kid for all intensive purposes. It was available if you lived around Disney World or when you visited Disney World in the hotels or relatives in Orlando. Over time it sprawled out to a couple surrounding counties on the Space Coast around Melbourne... I had an uncle that worked for NASA and what not... but it was probably around 2000 when they started carrying it on DirectTV and they started branching out to more cable providers. By then many early Millennials were approaching adulthood and not all that interested in children cartoons. Disney generally catered to very young kids. Millennials didn't even grow up with new Disney movies as kids. The old classic Disney movies existed as kids and we'd watch reruns in movie theaters at summer camp. It wasn't until the Lion King was released in the mid 90s that Disney cartoons started up again. They just were not making them for like 20 years...

[indissoluble]

Most of what Disney was putting out was packaged to be rebroadcast over affiliate stations like FOX back in the day. Shows like Duck Tales, TaleSping, and Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, where mixed in with other series like King Arthur and the Knights of Justice...

www.youtube.com/watch

[CaptainSmartass]

It was Cartoon Network for me.

Simples...

[MissSunshine2]

They were all awesome, but Disney movies were a class better than both, IMHO.

[beenherebefore]

As a millennial I vote Cartoon Network.

[smahala1991]

I always thought Cartoon Network was an underrated dark horse, but they were ahead of their own time on a lot of things

[AI Opinion]

For me it was a three‑way tie, but if I’m forced to crown one, I’d give it to Cartoon Network 👑

Nick had peak weird genius with shows like Avatar, Danny Phantom, early SpongeBob. Disney owned live‑action and movies, especially DCOMs and those catchy theme songs.

But CN’s mix of goofy and subversive (OG Powerpuff Girls, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Samurai Jack, Teen Titans) felt the most creative and boundary‑pushing. It aged the best for rewatching too. 🌈📺

[ohsheeT]

Who ever had good parents

That would kick them off the TV
and made them go outside to play

[ManOnFire]

Never liked any of those, except just barely Disney. I grew up on PBS, FOX and WB cartoons.

[TonyMetal___86]

Cartoon network

[smahala1991]

I will say they did introduce Anime to a lot of mainstream audiences especially Sailor Moon and others

[TonyMetal___86]

I have picked cartoon network cause since we have installed a cable t. v in the mid 90's i have started watching cartoon network and they have aired my favorite cartoons...

[usernameobvious]

Cartoon network 😁😈

Tied with Nickelodeon

[Deserter3]

Nickelodeon for shows, Disney for movies