This is my kind of topic!
Though I don't think my standards are flexible enough to allow twenty whopping cartoons into my all-time favorites list.
Here we go, in no particular order...
-Spongebob Squarepants (Seasons 1, 2, and 3, plus the "'Fear of a Krabby Patty' + 'Shell of a Man'" half-hour block)
This series, despite it being a shell of its former self today, has redefined what a modern cartoon is. I love it for its delightful sense of humor, not relying on popular culture or crude humor like so many other animated series do. Its jokes are all its own, using its alluring undersea setting, ingenious premises, and simply letting the characters' personalities run the show. It's all great stuff, and though many have tried, no other series of its kind have come close to the oodles of personality that this show was renowned for. Watch it, buy it, pirate it, whatever. The first three seasons of this show are a true testament to animation as an art form, and simply must be watched.
-Chowder
Following Spongebob's writing staff reconstruction (and resulting quality downturn), many of the old writers of the series called it quits to work on their own projects. One was "Chowder", created by Spongebob veteran C.H. Greenblatt. The show's roots are evident, and nearly captures the same sort of magic, while having its own, more kid-friendly appeal.It is a bit tamer than the yellow sponge's constant barrage of hilarity, but its distinct art style to its colorful (literally) characters make "Chowder" a short-lived winner. Following the series' cancellation, Greenblatt began working with a new series, "Fish Hooks". I'm quite curious as to how that show will fare, especially considering it's on the Disney Channel.
-The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack
This curious little show seemingly came out of nowhere, and hit viewers of Cartoon Network like a brick wall. The show is, quite simply, indescribable in words. But if I were to attempt, I'd say it were a delicious blend of weird-out tactics, visual humor, and charming characters, all delivered in a fashion that just shows how much fun the writers were having in making this outrageous series. Simply Image-Googling "Flapjack" will result in a cornucopia of assorted cute, weird, disturbing, and downright hilarious facial expressions delivered by the titular character. This cartoon would be nothing without its amazingly kooky art style. Seriously, check this one out, starting by searching for all its best moments on Youtube (I suggest "Flapjack creepy old man").
-The Emperor's New Groove
Out of all the Disney animated films, I really really REALLY wish this one would get more recognition. While other Disney cartoon movies are notorious for their conservative, generic character designs and their tendency to take themselves
much too seriously (with some exceptions, of course), this rip-roaring good time of a movie is pure, zany cartoon goodness that never takes itself too seriously. If you've made the grave mistake of dismissing this as yet another kid cash-in piece of trash, kindly stop being an idiot and pick this up immediately.
-Adventure Time
Featuring the eccentric Pen Ward as its creator, this avant-garde series is a wonderful marriage of a cartoon and the very definition of "whimsical". The series is an unending cannonade of nerd culture, bright, cutesy colors, zany, abstract chiptune music, and characters and settings well beyond "acid trip" calibur. Throw in a devoted, colorful internet fanbase, and you've got a cartoon that can be compared to no other. Watch this one, if not only for curiosity's sake, not to mention to keep up on all the quotes that will inevitably be spouted by fans of this series.
I'll write more later, as there's so much I haven't covered. (90's Nickelodeon, anyone?)
