A Guide to Obscure Cartoons and Characters (Underrated Shows I Still Think About)

Many obscure cartoon characters are overlooked in favor of more well-known characters because they are not widely known or popular.

If you’re a fan of cartoons, chances are you’ve heard of the obvious icons—Bugs Bunny, SpongeBob, Mickey, all the usual legends.

But the cartoons I keep thinking about years later? A lot of them are the ones people don’t bring up in every conversation. The weird ones. The short-lived ones. The ones that got buried under bigger shows, moved to a rough time slot, or lived on as a “you had to be there” memory.

That’s what this guide is for. I’m giving some love to obscure cartoons and characters that feel like hidden treasure—shows that were just as crucial to making the cartoon era fun, even if they never became household names.

And if you’re in that nostalgic mood, you’ll probably also like best kids shows of the 2000s, cartoons in the 70s, and Cartoon Network cancelled shows.

Coolest Obscure Cartoons & Characters

So what makes a cartoon “obscure”? For me, it usually means one of these:

And here’s the part I actually love: obscure cartoon characters can be just as exciting and complex as famous ones. Sometimes even more, because the writers and artists were willing to get strange. They tried risks. They played with horror, sci-fi, satire, and concepts that were ahead of their time.

Alright—these are the shows and characters I always think of when someone says “What’s an underrated cartoon nobody talks about anymore?”

Courage the Cowardly Dog

Courage the Cowardly Dog aired on Cartoon Network from 1999 to 2002. Even though it’s beloved now, I still think it counts as “obscure” in the sense that it never got the same casual mainstream love as the more “friendly” Cartoon Network hits.

What made it special (to me) was the tone. It could be goofy one minute, genuinely creepy the next. The show wasn’t afraid to use horror and sci-fi elements in a way that felt completely different from typical children’s animation. If you’re into darker vibes in cartoons, you’ll probably also like dark cartoon characters and dark cartoon characters (Nickelodeon).

Biker Mice From Mars

Do you remember Biker Mice From Mars? Humanoid mice, motorcycles, chaos, and that whole “we’re cool and we know it” 90s energy. It’s the kind of show that feels like a time capsule: the attitude, the pacing, the character designs—everything screams that era.

For me, it’s the perfect example of “obscure but not forgotten.” People who loved it still love it. It just doesn’t get brought up as often as the biggest franchise cartoons. If you’re on a nostalgia binge, it pairs nicely with your bigger retro lists like best kids shows of the 2000s.

Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm

Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm aired in 1996 and ran for one season. It follows a team of Mortal Kombat warriors fighting supernatural threats to protect Earthrealm. The best way I can describe it is: it feels like the writers were constantly balancing “we need action” with “we can’t go full Mortal Kombat here.”

Even if you don’t love it, it’s worth mentioning because it represents a very specific era of animation—when studios were experimenting with adapting everything into a cartoon. And when it works, it’s ridiculously fun.

The Mighty Ducks (Cartoon)

The Mighty Ducks cartoon aired on ABC from 1996 to 1997. Even though it was based on a popular movie franchise, it’s one of those shows that feels like it slipped through the cracks. If you blinked, you missed it.

Part of that is timing. The 90s kids cartoon market was chaos—so many shows, so many blocks, so many “must-watch” options. If you love that era specifically, it’s worth browsing ABC Saturday morning cartoons because it explains why some shows got lost in the shuffle.

Earthworm Jim

Earthworm Jim debuted on TV in 1994 and instantly became a “what am I watching?” kind of hero—in the best possible way. He’s a worm in a super suit battling evil with comedy and confidence, and the storylines never pretend to be normal.

I include it here because it sits in that perfect obscure zone: famous enough that people recognize the name, but not talked about as often as it deserves. If you like wild character concepts, you might also enjoy browsing chaotic cartoon characters.

Dexter’s Laboratory

I know some people will argue this isn’t obscure—fair. But I still think it gets under-appreciated compared to the biggest Cartoon Network legends. Dexter’s humor was clever, satirical, and sometimes surprisingly sharp for a kids show.

And honestly, the fact that it existed alongside so many other giants is exactly why some shows felt “smaller” than they were. If you want more of that “why did this disappear?” vibe, Cartoon Network cancelled shows is a good rabbit hole.

Dumb and Dumber (Cartoon)

The Dumb and Dumber cartoon follows Harry and Lloyd as they stumble through life making everything worse. The humor is outlandish, and it leans into the “cartoon logic” version of the movie’s energy.

I like including this one because it represents a whole category of obscure cartoons: the adaptation that got buried. Shows like this often came and went before they could ever build a big fan base.

Mighty Max

Mighty Max was a must-watch for a certain type of 90s kid—the kind who loved monsters, portals, and “we have to stop evil” storylines. Max, Norman, and Virgil felt like a weird little trio that didn’t belong in a normal world, which is probably why it sticks in my memory.

If you’re into adventure cartoons that feel like they’re one step away from horror, you’ll probably also like browsing monster cartoon characters and kids cartoons about time travel.

Samurai Pizza Cats

Samurai Pizza Cats is a perfect example of an “obscure but unforgettable” animated series. It’s weird, loud, and full of that rapid-fire humor that makes you feel like you blinked and missed a joke.

If you’re a fan of anime-style cartoons and the whole Toonami-era vibe, you might also enjoy anime that aired on Toonami and unforgettable samurai anime.

More obscure cartoon picks I don’t see talked about enough

This is where I go deeper into the “true obscure” zone—shows that weren’t always mainstream, sometimes ran briefly, and feel like a secret handshake when you meet someone who remembers them.

2 Stupid Dogs

I like including this because it represents the “short, weird, and memorable” category. Some cartoons didn’t need deep lore—they just needed an identity.

Storm Hawks

Some shows feel like they could’ve been massive with the right timing and marketing. Storm Hawks is one of those “this deserved more attention” examples.

Robotboy

Robotboy lives in that pocket of “I swear this was on TV all the time… why does nobody bring it up now?”

Kaput and Zosky

This is a show I bring up when someone specifically asks for “obscure cartoons with weird humor.” It’s not trying to be normal, and that’s the whole point.

Ned’s Newt

Some obscure cartoons aren’t “dark” or “deep”—they’re just quietly funny and tied to a very specific era of TV.

Supernoobs

Sometimes “obscure” just means “not enough people gave it a chance.” Supernoobs is one of those shows that’s fun if you let it be fun.

Lloyd in Space

There’s a whole category of “space cartoons that weren’t huge but were actually good.” Lloyd in Space sits in that category for me.

Wander Over Yonder

Wander Over Yonder is the kind of show that reminds me animation doesn’t need to be cynical to be clever.

Why obscure cartoons matter (and why I keep hunting them)

Obscure cartoons matter because they show the “edges” of animation—where creators took risks and tried something different. Even when a show only ran for a season, it can still leave a mark. Sometimes it introduces a visual style you don’t see anywhere else. Sometimes it nails a specific kind of humor that bigger shows don’t touch. Sometimes it’s just a memory that feels personal, like you found it on your own.

If you want more “lost gems” style content, I highly recommend exploring Cartoon Network cancelled shows and anime that aired on Toonami. Those lists are basically built for rediscovery.

Obscure Cartoons & Characters

What are obscure cartoons?

To me, obscure cartoons are shows (or characters) that didn’t become mainstream staples. They might have had short runs, niche humor, limited replays, or just got overshadowed by bigger franchises at the time.

Are obscure cartoon characters worth getting into?

Yes—especially if you like discovering new favorites. Obscure characters are often where you find the weirdest humor, the boldest design choices, and the most unexpected story ideas.

Why do some cartoons become “forgotten” even if they were good?

Timing and exposure. A show can be great and still get lost if it aired in a crowded era, had poor scheduling, didn’t get reruns, or was hard to find later. That’s why some of these feel like “secret nostalgia” now.

What’s a good starting point if I want to dive into older cartoon eras?

If you want a structured way to dig, start with era-based lists like cartoons in the 70s and broader nostalgia collections like best kids shows of the 2000s. It’s the easiest way to find shows you missed.