Nickelodeon (2000s)

It may not seem like it, but Nickelodeon was once a good channel. In the 2000s, it was the leading source of cartoons, cultivating a fierce rivalry with Cartoon Network. Even those without cable TV could still watch the channel's cartoons through the countless DVDs released during that time.

Logo from 2003 to 2010 (Brazil)

At the beginning of the decade there was a wide variety of series from the studio, with the Little Angels, the most popular at the time, passing the torch to SpongeBob who still had to compete for audience with The Fairly OddParents.

Nicktoons in 2002

Os Anjinhos was a hit in the 1990s, but continued to air new episodes until 2003. It was about babies who could talk to each other, but adults couldn't understand their communication. Angélica, on the other hand, was three years old and could talk to both, thus taking advantage.

They had a crossover with the Wild Thornberrys in the film "Rugrats Get Wild" (2003), in which they met a family of documentary filmmakers whose daughter, Eliza, can talk to animals. This other series aired from 1998 to 2004.

The Rugrats would also gain a sequel in the series "Rugrats All Grown Up" (2003-2008), in which the characters are now pre-teens.

"Hey Arnold," like the Rugrats, was another successful series from the 1990s that lasted until the 2000s, specifically until 2004. It portrayed the daily life of a boy with an anvil head and his friends, also with strange heads.

"CatDog" (1998-2005) and "Rocket Powers" (1999-2004) were other cartoons that enjoyed success in the early 2000s, although not as much as what is considered the most popular of the decade, and possibly the century: SpongeBob SquarePants. Here in Brazil, it arrived in 2000 on Nickelodeon and in 2003 on Globo, quickly becoming a hit. Toys, books, clothes, games, VHS tapes, and the iconic DVDs of the series took over the newsstands. The success was so great that it spawned a 2004 film, in which the characters must retrieve King Neptune's crown from the forbidden city of Shells...and along the way, they encounter David Hasselhoff.

A particularity of many Nickelodeon cartoons from the 2000s is that they were animated by Klasky Csupo, and they all have very similar styles. Besides the aforementioned Thornberrys, Rocket Power, and Rugrats, another cartoon made in this line was Ginger (2000-2004), a cartoon about a typical teenager facing the drama of growing up...

The second biggest Nicktoon, after SpongeBob SquarePants, was The Fairly OddParents, released in 2001 and lasting for 16 years. One of the series' most iconic moments was the crossover "Jimmy & Timmy: The Confrontation." Jimmy Neutron (2002-2006), in turn, tells the story of a boy genius who likes to call water H2O. With 3D animation that was impressive for a TV show at the time, the series is a spin-off of the 2001 film (Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius), which for some reason was nominated for an Oscar.

Butch Hartman, the creator of The Fairly OddParents, would later bring "Danny Phantom" (2004-2007) to the world, a cartoon about a boy who acquires powers after a laboratory explosion (duh). Now he's a half-ghost teenager, needing to hide his abilities in order to maintain a normal life.

In 2005, Avatar: The Last Airbender, considered one of the greatest cartoons of all time, was released. The series concluded in 2008.

"Water, Earth, Fire, Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked".

In 2007, Nickelodeon returned to 3D series, starting with The Secret of the Animals, based on the 2006 film. In 2008, it was the Penguins of Madagascar's turn to get their own series, as they were the characters of the moment after the success of Madagascar (2005). In this story, they live at the Central Park Zoo, alongside King Julian and company.

We also can't forget Nickelodeon's live-action series. One of the most popular was Drake & Josh (2004-2008), starring two boys who become brothers after their parents get married (a bit of a strange description, but there you have it).

Zoey 101 (2005-2008) also enjoyed some success, but not as much as its successor... iCarly premiered in 2007 and told the story of Carly and Sam, two friends who unexpectedly become internet stars. With this theme, iCarly was a truly pioneering show, so to speak.

Finally, there were countless notable shows that Nickelodeon premiered in the 2000s that could be covered here, such as Invader Zim (2001-2004), Teenage Robot (2003-2009), and Mighty B! (2008-2011)...the latter was popular in the US, but here it's practically lost media.

Besides the cartoons, we can't forget the iconic Nickelodeon logo: the famous orange splat, which had a specific variation for each cartoon.

VHS and DVD (1997-2009)

Danny Phantom variant

2008-2013

*What ended it?

Nickelodeon began to decline in 2010, releasing cartoons that didn't fare well against Cartoon Network's "golden trio." Without a contract with its former studios like Klaspy Csupo, DNA, and O Entertainment, Nick bet on internet stars, uninspired spin-offs, "copies" of successful cartoons from competitors, and hyperactive animations with easy, childish humor.

But the worst part was the change from the classic logo to something more minimalist in 2010 (here in Brazil). Recently, they've even been adopting strategies to revive the nostalgia of the old Nickelodeon, but with little success.

#oldnickelodeon #drake&josh #spongebob #2000s #cafevideo