We just can't get enough of these cartoon offerings. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the animated TV episodes that offer endless enjoyment with each watch, whether it be due to Easter eggs, iconic moments, or their exploration of certain characters.
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00:00You. Went into outer space. You.
00:02Sure. You've never been?
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the animated TV episodes that offer endless enjoyment with each watch,
00:15whether it be due to easter eggs, iconic moments, or their exploration of certain characters.
00:20It goes without saying, but a spoiler warning is now in effect.
00:24The reason anyone would do this, if they could, which they can't, would be because they could, which they can't.
00:31Number 20, dude, we're getting the band back together, Phineas and Ferb.
00:36Arriving halfway through Phineas and Ferb's first season, this musical episode serves as a welcome shake up to the Disney Channel's Originals established formula.
00:45With their parents' anniversary on the horizon, the titular stepbrothers team up with their sister Candace to reunite the rock band Love Handle for an all-time celebration.
00:54Oh, hey, Stacey. I can't talk right now. My brothers and I are reforming Love Handle for a concert in our backyard.
00:59Love Handle? That's my mother's favorite band.
01:01Hey, Mom, did you know Love Handle is reforming?
01:04Meanwhile, Dr. Doofenshmirtz set aside his evil schemes by recruiting Perry to help throw his daughter a birthday party.
01:11As is to be expected, this episode is packed to the brim with some tremendously catchy songs as the Love Handle trio rediscover their love of music.
01:20But it certainly doesn't skip on the heart either, sneaking its way right into a touching finale where everything that can go right does go right.
01:28Number 19. 1 plus 1 equals Ed. Ed, Edd n Eddy.
01:38This Cartoon Network staple would be weird enough if its kooky assortment of characters lived in a completely normal world.
01:45But they don't. And an episode like this demonstrates just how strange the world can get.
01:50That's the spirit. Let's get educated. Shall we begin our journey of knowledge at Ed's house?
01:56When the Eds seek to improve their lives through gaining knowledge, they open a can of worms that causes reality to fall apart around them.
02:03The neighborhood becomes a veritable playground for the animators as the Eds remove Sarah's mouth, cut a hole in the sky and give Ralph two more heads.
02:12And that's not even the half of it.
02:15It's all become very complicated, Eddie.
02:18It's a psychedelic visual feast that fittingly sums up the show's chaotic madness and one that deserves to be studied by anyone seeking a career in the visual arts.
02:27Number 18. Bobby goes nuts. King of the Hill.
02:30Low hanging fruit may not be the most impactful source of comedy, but King of the Hill crafted one of its most memorable episodes by giving new meaning to the phrase.
02:39There is only one person who can fight your battles for you. And I know you don't want to hear this, but that person is you.
02:47Look at me. This can't fight.
02:50Well, then take a boxing course at the YMCA.
02:53After Hank encourages Bobby to take boxing lessons to boost his confidence, a misunderstanding lands the impressionable preteen in a self-defense class for women.
03:02If you're wondering what happens next, you might find a hint in the episode's title.
03:08The pride Bobby discovers by kicking wrongdoers directly in their manhood is undeniably juvenile.
03:14But we're kidding ourselves if we don't laugh uncontrollably each time he delivers that hysterical threat.
03:21Let go of my purse!
03:26I don't know you!
03:28Nevertheless, Peggy and Hank keep the show's message in focus by steering him straight and teaching him the value of approaching the world with empathy.
03:36Number 17. Channel Chasers. The Fairly Odd Parents.
03:40Epic isn't always a word that's used when discussing this Nickelodeon series, but this three-parter earns that distinction.
03:47When Timmy Turner wishes for a magic remote allowing him to travel through his television, he's thrust headlong into a world of seemingly endless and endlessly humorous parodies.
03:57Sweet! I'm in the Futurellies! The show about a futuristic Italian-American family.
04:03The cool thing about this show is that all the characters are robots!
04:06Combining tongue-in-cheek satire and various animation styles, everything from the History Channel, reality talent shows, and even fellow Nickelodeon series are up for grabs.
04:16But it's not all fun and games, as Timmy's quest to stop Vicky from using the remote to take over the world teaches him some hard lessons about growing up and self-reliance.
04:25Do you think he heard the message?
04:33You bet I did!
04:34Timmy!
04:36Wrapped up into a thrilling whole, it's a tribute to the power of imagination that honors the best that TV has to offer.
04:47Now that Bishop is something of a mainstay on X-Men 97, surely it's worth revisiting where the time-traveling bounty hunter originated, right?
04:55Well, that's just one of the many reasons to return to this retelling of the classic X-Men storyline.
05:01We rebels have a theory.
05:05If the assassination of the 90s never occurred, then none of this misery would have happened?
05:11None of the Sentinels, none of the camps, none of the terminations?
05:15But the team attempted to stop one of their own from causing events with drastic ramifications.
05:20Days of Future Past opens viewers up to alternate realities with startling revelations.
05:25Every possibility is both intriguing and terrifying to consider.
05:29But that's what makes it so captivating.
05:32With energetic action sequences to boot, this episode will leave you wondering who's right and who's wrong when it comes to topics like equality and justice.
05:40I stopped the assassination.
05:42Then something else must have happened afterwards.
05:45Something that has made the future still turn out like this.
05:49No matter how many times you watch it, you may never have a definitive answer.
05:54Number 15. Jeepers, it's the Creeper.
05:57Scooby-Doo, where are you?
05:59If Mystery Inc. has a signature villain, it just might be the Creeper.
06:03With his hunched back, bulging eyes, and limited vocabulary, this green ghoul poses a clear and present danger to the gang in one of their most absorbing mysteries.
06:12Were there any clues to who did this?
06:15No, sir. But the guard handed us this blank paper and mumbled,
06:19The flame will tell the Creeper.
06:21Like, who is this Creeper anyway?
06:23On top of supposedly being able to walk through walls, the clues at hand make his identity harder to sniff out than others.
06:30Having a tougher nut to crack means that this episode has a little more edge than the standard Scooby-Doo affair.
06:36The Creeper certainly doesn't go quietly, and the gang's final confrontation with him is a surprisingly physical one.
06:42It's Mr. Carswell, the bank president.
06:45How about that?
06:48If you need proof of how future iterations of this series were able to embrace a darker, more mature tone, look no further.
06:59You know what they say.
07:00Love is patient.
07:02Love is kind.
07:03Our patience was certainly tested as Fry and Leela took their time making things official.
07:07But this may have been the first indication that they were always meant to be together.
07:12Please, let me make it up to you.
07:14I'll treat you to a fancy birthday dinner tonight at Cavern on the Green.
07:17Wow, that'll be the nicest place I've ever been stood up.
07:20Not this time.
07:22No matter what happens, I swear I'll be there.
07:24After helping Professor Fawn's work test his time machine, Fry finds himself trapped thousands of years in the future.
07:30To make matters worse, he misses an important date with Leela, and the latter becomes convinced that he's passed.
07:36Futurama doesn't shy away from marrying thought-provoking sci-fi with very human themes.
07:42And the lengths Leela goes to to help bring Fry back is a preeminent example.
07:47I have to admit, I was afraid you wouldn't make it.
07:50That was the old Fry.
07:52He's dead now.
07:54It's a love story quite literally for the ages, and one that any hopeless romantic can find comfort in.
08:00Number 13, The Wrong Jedi, Star Wars, The Clone Wars.
08:04It ultimately wasn't the show's last, but Season 5 of The Clone Wars would have been a bold yet fitting coda that most series only dream about.
08:12That's because it saw the Star Wars universe set up some of its most consequential storylines.
08:17I never planned on killing you, but I will make you share my pain.
08:23Kenobi!
08:25We thought things couldn't get more tense after witnessing Darth Maul's grudge match against Obi-Wan.
08:31But we were thrown for a loop in the finale, which sees Ahsoka standing trial after being falsely accused of attacking the Jedi Temple.
08:39Like the Hitchcock film it's named after, The Wrong Jedi is steeped in suspense, heartbreak, and shocking twists.
08:46I am here with evidence and a confession from the person responsible for all the crimes Ahsoka has been accused of.
08:53But it's the turning point in Ahsoka's relationship with Anakin that truly makes it an all-timer, and crucial to understanding the latter's disillusionment with the Jedi.
09:02Number 12, Not What He Seems, Gravity Falls.
09:05Like some of the greatest stories ever written, this episode of Gravity Falls is just as exciting to watch even when you know about its monumental ending.
09:14It's gonna be a bumpy ride, but it'll all be worth it.
09:18With Mabel and Dipper losing faith in Grunkle Stan following his arrest, Not What He Seems opens up an emotional floodgate as the two are forced to make life-altering decisions on his behalf.
09:28In between this, however, is one of the most textured animated episodes out there.
09:33Combining the titular town's mysterious nature with gripping drama and the white-hot thrills of a prison escape, you'll remain invested even without knowing who can be fully trusted.
09:43It's the final countdown! Just like they always sung about!
09:47For being the episode the entire series had been building up to, it's one that can also be enjoyed on its own merits.
09:53Number 11, Glued, Where's My Bob, Bob's Burgers.
09:57With its awkwardly sincere humor and eccentric ensemble of characters, Bob's Burgers is at its best when finding the best use for both.
10:05If there's one episode that does this better than the rest, it's this one.
10:10With the titular restaurant catching a big break, all that stands between Bob and a career-changing interview is an ill-timed prank that leaves him stuck on the toilet.
10:24Literally.
10:25As the entire town arrives to capitalize on the moment, Glued, Where's My Bob works overtime to give the supporting cast time to shine.
10:33As the series' 100th episode, the triumphant conclusion gives it the feel of a series finale.
10:39Pins and needles, can't feel my legs, going down.
10:42But the Belcher family's unwavering embrace of one another also makes it a fantastic starting point for novices.
10:49Number 10, Intervention, The Spectacular Spider-Man.
10:52While certain adaptations of the symbiote storyline have come up short, this episode of The Spectacular Spider-Man isn't one of them.
10:59We all just want to help.
11:01Help? Help? That's a good one. How exactly do you plan on helping?
11:08Do my homework, maybe lower my GPA?
11:10Or borrow my camera, take some Spidey pics, because I do need the money.
11:13The penultimate outing of Season 1, Intervention, pays off three episodes worth of build-up as Peter Parker finally confronts his new suit and the damage it's done to his life.
11:23With heart, mind, and relationships hanging in the balance, Peter undergoes an emotional metamorphosis as the symbiote tests his willpower and his ultimate purpose as Spider-Man.
11:33It all amounts to one of the show's most gratifying moments when Peter is saved with a little help from his loved ones.
11:39I'm stronger than you think.
11:41A stirring salute to the character as a whole, it's perhaps the greatest example of what this show had to offer before its unjust cancellation.
11:50Number 9, The Hall of Egress, Adventure Time.
11:53Rare is the day that Finn the human is seen without his canine companion Jake.
11:58But this episode from Adventure Time's seventh season dares to show us just that.
12:03Oh, well, now that's just great.
12:06You don't put traps in the foyer. The foyer is a safe space.
12:10Trapped in a cave with a mysterious door blocking his only exit, Finn discovers he can only pass through by keeping his eyes shut.
12:18However, no matter how far he gets from the cave, he's sent back to where he was the moment he opens his eyes.
12:23It's a perplexing puzzle for both Finn and audiences alike, but one that offers universal lessons for both.
12:29That must have been some cave.
12:31No comment!
12:34In many ways, the cave is a metaphor for life itself.
12:37It's full of unpredictable turns and setbacks that can all be navigated by embracing change and trusting your instincts.
12:44Number 8, Free Choro, Bojack Horseman.
12:47This Netflix original takes full advantage of animation's limited possibilities.
12:52More than that, it matches its resplendent visuals with some of the greatest dialogue the cartoon medium has ever seen.
12:59When people ask how I'm doing, I usually say, I am doing so great.
13:03So it's said something that Bojack can remain just as compelling when putting its faith in a single character and a single location.
13:11For nearly half an hour, the titular horse rants, mourns, and goes on several tangents while eulogizing his abusive mother.
13:19Free Choro is arguably the most sophisticated episode in a show full of them.
13:23And Will Arnett's delicate performance allows us to hang on to every word.
13:28I was prepared for more cruelty.
13:30I was sure that she would get in one final zinger about how I let her down and about how I was fat and stupid and too tall to be an effective Lindy Hopper.
13:38How I was needy and a burden and an embarrassment.
13:42All that I was ready for.
13:43It doesn't exactly make for easy viewing, but it's worth revisiting due to the questions it asks about how much the past should dictate the present.
13:51Number 7, Scott Tenorman Must Die, South Park.
13:55The no-holds-barred approach of this series is such that some of its best jokes don't even need a punchline to stand the test of time.
14:02For every episode with something to say about the world at large, there's one like this that takes a simple premise and runs wild.
14:10I'm gonna get him.
14:11Cartman, can I give you some advice?
14:12What?
14:13Just let it go, dude. You're only out $16.12. Count your losses and move on. He's smarter than you.
14:18He is not smarter than me. He just charmed me, that's all. He's a charmer that Scott Tenorman, but I'll get him someday.
14:23After being scammed out of his money by the titular high schooler, a vengeful Cartman begins a chain of events that are the stuff of South Park legend.
14:31It seems like the fourth grader has finally met his match, but his most evil tendencies awaken in a last-minute twist that's so disturbing, it's brilliant.
14:39Do you like it? Do you like it, Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tenorman Chili.
14:44It's amusingly over-the-top and extremely low all at once, which is precisely what makes it one of his signature moments.
14:51Number 6, Almost Got Him, The Batman The Animated Series.
14:55A hero is only as great as their villains, and few episodes of television encapsulate that better than this one.
15:02While playing a game of poker, five of Batman's most iconic adversaries share stories about the times they nearly killed him.
15:09You think one of us would have got him by now? I've come the closest.
15:13Are you kidding? I was the one who nearly...
15:16Nobody's come closer to snuffing the Batman than me.
15:19The setup could have easily lent itself to the kind of dark subject matter Batman The Animated Series boldly embraced,
15:25but each tale is more thrilling and hilarious than the last, capturing the Caped Crusader's rogues gallery at their most intimidating and most inept.
15:33Despite telling five stories in one, nothing goes to waste as each character's relationship to Batman is fully fleshed out.
15:40Almost got him. Yes, if not for that infatuated feline.
15:46It's one of the series' most purely entertaining episodes, and embodies everything that made it such a game-changer.
15:52Number 5, Pickle Rick, Rick and Morty
15:55Of all the episodes that could have won Rick and Morty its first Emmy, we're glad it was this one.
16:01When Rick refuses to join his family at therapy, he devises the perfect solution, turning himself into a pickle.
16:08It totally slipped my mind. Jeez, oh man, I'm a pickle. I mean, I don't know if I can...
16:13Rick, did you do this on purpose to get out of family counseling?
16:16Morty!
16:17It's okay, Beth. I understand Morty's suspicion. I've misled him before.
16:21The crazed scientist's new look alone was enough to inspire countless internet memes,
16:26but Pickle Rick backs up its zany premise by taking Rick on an action-packed adventure through the sewers and beyond.
16:32His exploits are enough to convince you that he's the smartest being in the universe,
16:36while also painting a surprisingly complex portrait of his family's dynamic.
16:40Rick, why did you lie to your daughter?
16:44So I wouldn't have to come here.
16:45Why didn't you want to come here?
16:47Because I don't respect therapy. Because I'm a scientist.
16:49This episode ruminates on the lengths Rick is willing to go to avoid his problem,
16:54balancing the show's penchants for extravagant science fiction and existential themes perfectly.
17:00Number 4, The Tales of Ba Sing Se, Avatar The Last Airbender
17:04Even without heart-racing action, the heroes of Avatar continue to grow by facing their insecurities
17:10and using them as motivation to finish their quest.
17:12The stage show performed by the Ember Island players offers this kind of candid reflection in a hilariously meta way.
17:19We constantly roam these icy South Pole seas, and yet never do we find anything fulfilling.
17:26All I want is a full feeling in my stomach. I'm starving!
17:30But The Tales of Ba Sing Se stands out for doing it six times over.
17:35Told through a series of vignettes, each segment follows the characters throughout the Earth Kingdom city.
17:40Zuko pursues romantic connection, Katara and Toph have a spa day,
17:44and Ero gives back to others before creating a moving tribute to his son.
17:49Allowing the group to catch their breath may sound like harmless fun,
17:52but it's a breathtaking reminder to the audience of what remains at stake.
17:56How was your night, Prince Zuko?
18:03It was nice.
18:04Number 3. Back to the Pilot – Family Guy
18:07Bryan and Stewie's adventures have provided Family Guy with some of its most enjoyable and original stories.
18:13What? What do you mean our credit card was declined?
18:17No, no, no, no, no, no, no, there's no need to come up. We'll, we'll... Blast!
18:20We were oh-so tempted to give the spot to the greatest and most multiversal of their Road to episodes.
18:26But even we can't deny how well Back to the Pilot honors what made the show great to begin with.
18:32Quahog has changed a lot since our first visit,
18:35and the idea is milked for everything it's worth when the dog and baby travel back to the moment in question.
18:41Although their time in the past comes with consequences,
18:44there are more than enough cheeky references to reward long-time fans for their commitment to the series.
18:49Stop, both of you!
18:50What the hell? Who are you?
18:52We're you from the future.
18:53Oh boy, this can't be good news. Who screwed up?
18:56In other words, this is a 10-season celebration done absolutely right.
19:01Number two, Band Geeks, SpongeBob SquarePants.
19:04This Nickelodeon juggernaut has too many quintessential episodes to count.
19:08We'd be hard-pressed not to try a hot slice of Krusty Krab pizza,
19:12and we certainly wouldn't close the door on SpongeBob and Patrick's chocolate pitch either.
19:17So why does the Bubble Bowl remain the most irresistible offering?
19:21I was hoping you and your band could cover for us.
19:24Oh, uh, I, I, I, I, uh...
19:27I knew it! You don't even have a band!
19:31Well, I'll just let you get back to the service industry now.
19:35Well, not only does this episode close on a crescendo for the ages,
19:39but the journey there is just as rewarding.
19:42Serving up sight gags and quotable one-liners galore,
19:45Band Geeks delivers with its unbeatable timing.
19:48Encompassing the show's timeless blend of silly and sweet to a tee,
19:53it's hard not to be moved as Bikini Bottom rallies behind Squidward in his hour of need.
19:58A victory as anthemic as the song they perform.
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20:25Number one, Homer's Enemy, The Simpsons.
20:28Homer Simpson's many escapades and accomplishments seem too amazing to be true,
20:32and that's because they are.
20:34But if there's one thing this series has taught us not to question,
20:38it's this oafish, patriarch, startling amount of love.
20:41Hey, you seem like a great guy, so I'll give you a little tip.
20:44If you turn that security camera around, you can sleep and no one will ever know.
20:50I don't think we're being paid to sleep.
20:52Oh, yeah, they're always trying to screw you.
20:55Enter Frank Grimes, an ambitious professional driven mad by how little stands in Homer's way.
21:00In an episode that's equal parts dark and darkly hilarious,
21:04Grimey sets out to expose Homer's incompetence,
21:07and his lack of results ultimately gets the better of him.
21:10In the process, the writers spare no expense in taking shots at themselves
21:14and boiling the show's illogical nature down to its essence.
21:18Ooh, I eat like a slob, but nobody minds!
21:21Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah!
21:25I ping on the seat! Give me a raise!
21:28Some still consider it one of The Simpsons' strangest episodes,
21:32but we'd argue it's one of the most ingenious.
21:35Is there a TV episode you can't get enough of?
21:38Be sure to let us know in the comments down below.
21:40Dude, I think it might be best for us to never piss Cartman off again.
21:43Good call.
21:44Oh, the tears of unfathomable sadness!
21:47Mmm, yummy! Yummy, you guys!
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