Remember These Classic Nicktoons? Test Your Memory!
- by Joey Haverford
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Nickelodeon gave us some of the greatest animated series of the 90s. Their aptly named “Nicktoons” ranged from groundbreaking adult comedies to traditional children’s programs that connected with all audiences thanks to a unique form of storytelling. Many of the cartoons of the era left a memorable legacy. Nickelodeon was forced to start airing quite a bit of their 90s hits and actually has a sister network dubbed Nicktoons for the old cartoons. Every 90s kids has fond memories of these hit series that opened up a world of imagination and helped break ground on the animated genre.
We will take a look at some of the memorable shows of the era. Hey Arnold, Rugrats, Doug, The Ren & Stimpy Show, The Angry Beavers, CatDog, Rocket Power, The Wild Thornberrys, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Rocko’s Modern Life and SpongeBob SquarePants will be examined in this quiz. Both individual questions regarding each hit show from the 90s and general trivia regarding the history of Nick Toons will be part of the process as we test your memory. Find out if you are the ultimate 90s fan when it comes to the history of Nicktoons by getting a positive score on the following quiz.
Which Nicktoon has lasted the longest?
Of the Nicktoons to premiere in the 90s, one ended up lasting in the long run. The majority of cartoons from the brand delivered a few seasons of excellence before getting canceled. It was just the way that television worked with great shows reaching the point of no return after a few years. One show just made too much money for them to get rid of and ended up having a ridiculously long stint surpassing all the others. Which is the longest running Nicktoon in terms of new episodes being released?
What is the job of Tommy's father on Rugrats?
Tommy Pickles is the main character of Rugrats leading his fellow babies to adventure as they get into trouble every time the grown-ups turn their back. The father of Tommy is Stu Pickles and he plays an important role on the show. Stu’s job often provides reasons that lead the babies to wanting to get out of their pen. If not for Stu’s job, a few episodes on Rugrats would not have been feasible. What was the job title of Stu Pickles?
What is Arnold's nickname created by Helga in Hey Arnold?
Hey Arnold! was one of Nickelodeon’s top shows thanks to one of the all-time great lead animated characters. Arnold clearly connected with the audiences of all demographics thanks to being a relating character. He was the crush of fellow main character Helga but often found his way insulted by her. Helga berated Arnold every episode as a way to hide her feelings. One derogatory nickname stands out when remembering their interactions. What was the diss Helga made frequently about Arnold’s appearance?
Which of these was not one of the first original Nicktoons?
The beginning of the Nicktoons coming to Nickelodeon started on August 11, 1991. Three cartoons premiered on this night as Nickelodeon attempted to get their new concept going. All three shows were huge hits that helped get Nicktoons off on the right foot and created the momentum to introduce the future shows. When it comes to the history of Nickelodeon and Nicktoons, these three cartoons clearly deserve a lot of appreciation for what it all led. Which of the following four shows was not one that premiered on the first night?
Which Nicktoon was sold to Disney?
Nickelodeon kept the rights to the majority of their hit shows but managed to sell one in the mid-90s. This specific show was purchased by Disney to air on their ABC networks. Disney also created a live musical and released a movie in theaters with said property. Most fans however despise the Disney years. The Nickelodeon era of this show is what it is positively remembered for. Thankfully, Nick still has the library to their own episodes and shows the greatness on Nicktoons today along with other VOD platforms. What is it?
What is Doug Funnie's middle name?
Doug gave us one of the better shows on Nickelodeon about finding your way in the world. After moving to Bluffington, Doug starts to make new friends and discover himself. One of the funnier little tidbits about Doug throughout the series is the reference to his middle name. The odd name of Doug Funnie wasn’t enough as his parents had to add a bizarre middle name in there as well. What was the unique middle name Doug had referenced throughout the series?
What relatives does Arnold live with?
One mystery that has never been answered in the Hey Arnold! series is what happened to Arnold’s parents. An episode looked at the backstory of Arnold’s parents giving him away as they traveled away to find a cure for an illness. We never find out what happened to his parents in the long run but that is expected to be answered in a future movie planned by Nickelodeon. Who ended up claiming guardianship of Arnold to raise him when his parents leave?
What kind of animal is Spongebob's best friend?
SpongeBob SquarePants was the final Nicktoon of the 90s and ended up achieving the most success in network history. The power of SpongeBob still lives on today with new episodes, movies and all kinds of merchandise dominating the market. SpongeBob’s charming character as a sea sponge living under the sea gave Nickelodeon a hit no one could have predicted. The friendship between SpongeBob and his buddy Patrick is one of the more heartwarming aspects of the show. What kind of animal is Patrick?
What state is Sandy Cheeks from?
Sandy Cheeks is one of the more popular characters on SpongeBob SquarePants. As a squirrel, the visual of her stands out even more in the underwater environment. Sandy is both the smartest and strongest of SpongeBob’s inner circle as a great athlete and a scientist. The home of Sandy has been referred and plays a strong role in her character. Yes, a real U.S. state is referenced as the birthplace of the squirrel. Where does Sandy originally hail from before meeting SpongeBob and crew?
What cooking utensil does Spongebob use to cook?
SpongeBob SquarePants happily works at the Krusty Krab as a fry cook making the Krabby Patty sandwiches. Despite it not being the best job by any means, SpongeBob absolutely loves it and that shows his charm. SquarePants doesn’t need much to be happy and just loves life. That is the point to the show and the message of many other NickToons, to appreciate the joys. The humorous scenes of SpongeBob doing his job as a cook features him only using one utensil. What is his cooking tool of choice?
Which Nicktoon did not get its own movie in theaters?
Nickelodeon found so much success with their television shows that they started to branch out in the movie industry. Good Burger is viewed as the most memorable from the network. However, a few Nicktoons managed to get their own films into movie theaters. Kids forced their parents to take them to the theaters to witness the big stories being played out in a major way completely different from the usual thirty minute television episodes. Which of the following Nicktoons was snubbed from ever getting a movie on the big screen?
Which Nicktoon never had a video game?
Much like movies, video games became a huge part of branching out in entertainment. The 90s saw the video game industry reach new levels. Both console and handheld video games led to more titles being released than ever. Nickelodeon started to catch up by reaching deals to create video games for some of their Nicktoons. Most were viewed as disappointments, but you have to give the network credit for at least trying something new. Which show of the following did not ever have its own video game?
What animal is Ren of Ren and Stimpy?
The Ren & Stimpy Show appealed to adult audiences with the dark humor, one-liners and innuendo. It was quite popular for its time. Nickelodeon often battled with the creators when it came to editing certain things out. Both characters were equally entertaining. Ren was described as “violently psychotic” providing a lot of humor as the less stable of the two. The looks of both characters were quite confusing with viewers not being sure of the animals they were meant to be. What was Ren meant to be?
What animal is Stimpy of Ren and Stimpy?
Similar to Ren, the drawing of Stimpy was also confusing to the viewer at first until discovering what animal he was meant to be. The creators intentionally did this and didn’t want the typical animated series with the most basic looking animal characters. Stimpy was the opposite of Ren as a good intentioned and silly voice to create a perfect mix for the two. The legacy of the show still lives on today thanks to the excellence of the writing for both. Do you know what animal Stimpy is supposed to be?
Which Nicktoon was censored to ban references to religion, politics, and alcohol?
Most of the Nicktoons were made to target the young children that watched television. However, there was a handful that pushed the envelope and would be viewed as more adult orientated. The style of jokes and stories told in these shows merged both audiences and is remembered fondly for it today. Nickelodeon actually stepped in on a couple of occasions to censor content they considered going too far. One show received edits for their references to religion, politics and alcohol. What was it?
What fruits do Arnold and Gerald play in Helga's play?
The first episode of Hey Arnold! features Arnold and best friend Gerald dressed as fruits for the school play run by Helga. All of the children in the school have to play different fruits but Arnold and Gerald clearly stood out with their choices. They ended up ditching the play to run around town at night leading to hijinks. It set the perfect tone for what the show was all about. Do you remember what fruits Arnold and Gerald were dressed as in this specific episode?
What is the name of Chuckie's step-sister?
Two major characters are introduced through the various seasons of Rugrats. One is Tommy’s younger brother Dil Pickles being born and joining the gang. The other is Chuckie’s step-sister. Chuckie’s father meets his wife in Paris and the two get married right away. The new step-mother of Chuckie also has a child from a prior marriage that becomes his sibling. She becomes a part of the crew and is an important part of the final few seasons. What is her name?
What is the name of Angelica's doll?
Angelica Pickles is the devious cousin of Tommy that is older than the babies and uses her ability to talk to adults to her advantage. Many of the stories in Rugrats feature the babies plotting against the bullying ways of Angelica. The one weakness of Angelica is her doll. Any time the babies take, hide or lose this doll, Angelica flips her lid. No cartoon character was more “savage AF” in the 90s than Angelina, but this doll was her kryptonite. What was the name of her doll?
What is the name of Doug and Skeeter's favorite band?
Music was a big part of Doug. Along with his friends, Doug started a band at one point. However, there was one band on the show that all the kids idolized. This specific band was meant to be a parody of a legendary rock band. Doug and his pals jammed out to the hit song “Killer Tofu.” The fictitious band became popular enough for fans to make t-shirts for them in real life today. What was the name of the musical geniuses on Doug?
What was the original concept of Doug before it was a TV show?
The original idea of Doug was not intended to be a television series. Creator Jim Jinkins had a different idea when thinking of the Doug Funnie character. His plans did not work out until Nickelodeon stepped in to buy the idea for a television series. The rest is history with Doug becoming an instant hit and creating a legacy as an all-time great cartoon. It all worked out in the end for Jinkins. What was the original idea for Doug?
What was the name of Ren and Stimpy's spin off?
As discussed, the adult content on The Ren & Stimpy caused it to get into trouble with Nickelodeon. A few years ago after it stopped airing on Nick, a spin-off was created to appeal to the older fans that enjoyed it. This was meant to be the same show but no longer having to hold back to appease networks. Spike TV hoped to build around adult-oriented cartoons. Sadly, the show only lasted one season and was canceled after just a month. What was the name of it?
What is Twister's real name on Rocket Power?
Nickelodeon tried to get in on the extreme sports phase towards the late 90s with the creation of Rocket Power. Four best friends spend their free time playing various sports from surfing to skateboarding to hockey. Twister is one of the four buds and is the best friend of lead character Otto Rocket. The silliness of Twister sees him as comedic relief with many foolish comments. Twister is what he is always referred to but just a nickname. What was his real name?
What kind of animal was Rocko in Rocko's Modern Life?
Rocko's Modern Life could be argued as the most influential of all the Nicktoons. Similar to The Ren & Stimpy Show, it had more adult content and was ahead of its time. Viewers still loved it in the early 90s for the social commentary and just respecting the intelligence of the audience. The main character Rocko is an immigrant animal that runs into everyday problems and issues with his fellow animal friends. Naturally, the basic stories become more fun with the one liners and satire. Do you remember what kind of animal Rocko actually was?
What is the name of the town Rocko's Modern Life takes place in?
The location of Rocko's Modern Life was set in a fictitious town. We only know that it was meant to be in the United States and near the Great Lakes. The anthropomorphic animals all lived together in town having normal lives like humans. We have seen many other cartoons in the years following trying to find success off the adult style of comedy involving animals living everyday life. Rocko's Modern Life is clearly the standard there. The scenery helped it stand out in a major way. What was the name of the town?
What was the original idea for Rocko's Modern Life before it was made into a TV show?
Similar to a few other Nicktoons, the original intent of Rocko's Modern Life when created was not for it to be a television show. Joe Murray created the concept in the 80s with hopes of another route that would never come to fruition. The thought of it being a Nickelodeon cartoon was not what Murray originally wanted but ended up making a great decision when selling it. Do you know what Rocko's Modern Life was actually meant to be in the vision of Murray?
What is Sam's nickname on Rocket Power?
Twister is not the only nickname frequently used on Rocket Power. Sam joins the trio of best friends when he moves to Ocean Shores. They quickly embrace him and he becomes a member of the gang. As the nerdy member of the group, Sam is the worst at all of the sports they but manages to be a great goalie in hockey. Otto, Reggie and Twister refer to him with a memorable nickname meant to signify him as the new one in town. What is this name?
Which star athlete voiced himself on Rocket Power?
Despite being mostly about the extreme sports you would see in the X-Games, Rocket Power featured the gang playing just about every sport. Nickelodeon wanted it to influence children to want to play outside and get more exercise in a fun manner. One huge superstar athlete appeared on the show in animated form and voiced himself for the episode. This was a huge get for Rocket Power and was a cool appearance for the celebrity. Who is the athlete in question?
What is the name of Eliza's pet on The Wild Thornberrys?
The Wild Thornberrys featured a family traveling the world and embarking on various journeys together. It added a unique feel to the Nicktoons world with surroundings and stories different from anything else on Nickelodeon. Eliza was the main character of the show with a gift of being able to communicate with animals. The gift must remain secret from other humans or it will be lost. Eliza’s pet chimpanzee is her closest confidant as she figures it all out. What is the chimp’s name?
What kind of documentaries do the Thornberrys travel the world to film?
As mentioned, the main plot of the show is the Thornberry family traveling the world together for work. Nigel Archibald Thornberry films footage and makes documentaries that require the family to relocate to new surroundings. The show achieved a great deal of success and was one of the last Nicktoons to get a movie in theaters. Young fans enjoyed the dynamic of the family traveling and encountering many new things. What kind of documentaries did the Thornberry family film on Nigel’s trips?
What is the name of the monster hunter in Aaahh!!! Real Monsters?
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters was one of the first Nicktoons in the early 90s. It was very “out there” in the world of imagination as the monsters try to learn how to frighten humans. Ickis, Oblina and Krumm are the main three monsters recognized for their unique looks. The creators did a great job creating characters that stood out visually. Their biggest enemy is a “monster hunter” trying to prove they exist and get rid of them altogether. Jim Belushi voiced this character. What was the name of the monster hunter?
What city does Aaahh!!! Real Monsters take place in?
The visuals in Aaahh!!! Real Monsters helped set it apart from the other cartoons of the time. It only made sense that it was set in a real life city with cool visuals that depicted this. The monsters lived a city dump as they learned their skills to frighten the humans above ground. Many of the Nicktoons existed in fictitious places or never confirmed their location. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters was one of the rare exceptions. Where did the show take place?
Which of CatDog is described as cunning and manipulative?
CatDog was everything you would expect it to be based off the picture. A dog and cat twin hybrid shared the same body and was forced to live everyday life together. The show debuted in 1998 and lasted four seasons. CatDog often took stories from The Odd Couple but reinvented it in a way to target children in the cartoon form. Which of the characters, if any, was the cunning and manipulative one always trying to create plots for personal benefit?
What is the name of the gang that picks on CatDog?
Despite their differences, Cat and Dog were forced to work together as their experiences were shared in one body. Cliff, Shriek and Lube made up the group of tough dogs that often bullied CatDog for their odd existence. They were among the more memorable villains on the show finding their way into trouble against CatDog. Cat was the bigger target considering they had more respect for their fellow dog. Do you remember what the name of this gang was on CatDog?
Who is the love of Norbert's life?
Both Angry Beavers brothers were polar opposites. Dag was the beaver that frequently found his way into trouble due to being hyperactive. Norb was the laid back beaver that manipulated his brother in entertaining fashion using his wit to his advantage. The one weakness of Norb was a female beaver in the forest they now resided in. Unlike Norb, she was hard working and often forced him to change his ways to impress her. Do you remember the name of the love interest of Norb?
What fictional town does Angry Beavers take place in?
The Angry Beavers was among the wave of Nicktoons created towards the end of the 90s. It achieved enough success to last four seasons on Nickelodeon. The story of two beaver brothers trying to start their own lives after leaving their family went all-in on the comedy. Dag and Norb Beaver had drastically different approaches to life which made for the hilarious situations. The Angry Beavers was located in a forest near a town with a humorous name. What was this town called?