Disney+: 10 Animated Shows You’ll Actually Enjoy Watching With The Kids

Disney+ can be bundled with ESPN+ and Hulu for just $14.99 a month. Isn’t that a deal that seems almost too good to be true? Some may also ask if Disney+ is worth buying into if the majority of its content is targeted at the young ones.

In fact, there is a great deal of content worth tuning into on Disney+ regardless of your age. The streaming platform has unlocked a vault of classic Disney cartoons for those who are looking to get nostalgic. They also have a few new animated shows worth checking out.

10 Star Wars: The Clone Wars

The Star Wars: Clone Wars began as a film in 2008 and evolved into a TV series on Cartoon Network the year after. After four years on air, Netflix rebooted the animated spin-off for a Season Six under the name “The Lost Missions”. Then, Disney+ rebooted The Clone Wars again with “The Final Season” in 2020.

Taking place in between Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, The Clone Wars follows Anikan Skywalker before he becomes Darth Vader. The animated series also sheds light on the clone troopers’ training and individual backstories to a further extent than the films. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is action-packed but not too action-packed to upset the kids.

9 Zenimation

This series is a bit niche in its approach. Zenimation attempts to create a meditative experience by using soothing sounds and music over compilations of classic animated Disney works. The “Zen” in the title stands for the Japanese form of Mahayana Buddhism, which is deeply entwined with spirituality and meditation.

Each episode is centered around one theme, such as “Flight” for Episode Four. This episode takes the viewer through the skylines of Aladdin, Big Hero 6, and The Rescuers Down Under. Other episodes include “Water”, “Night” and “Nature”. All of which should entertain the kids while parents may be able to gain some peace of mind.    

8 The Simpsons

Although The Simpsons may not be the most appropriate for every age group, it is still the greatest animated TV satire of all time. Thanks to Disney+, fans can now binge all 600 episodes of the first 30 seasons; that’s a lot of content. It is stunning to watch The Simpsons develop generation after generation. Having all of these episodes at one’s fingertips is like hopping in a time machine.

While revisiting old favorites, fans can expect to find gems they missed in the series’ astounding run of over 30 years. So crack a Duffy and enjoy some laughs with your teenager. The eight-year-old may have to wait, though.

7 Ducktales

This 1987 cartoon originally lasted for three seasons and was rebooted in 2017. Ducktales follows Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie as they go on chaotic adventures. The series also lead to the spinoffs Darkwing Duck and Quack Pack.

The show is flamboyant in color and rampant with antics. Ducktales exudes all of the best qualities of late 20th century cartoons; they just don’t make them like they used to. Parents can certainly enjoy the series’ old school animation and sense of humor.

6 Timon & Pumbaa

The Lion King is one of Disney’s most prized and celebrated works of all time. So, it only made sense to take the two characters behind the universally known jingle, “Hakuna Matata”, and give them their own show. Disney came out with Timon & Pumbaa in 1995, and the series went on for four seasons.

Not many franchises can bring families together to the extent The Lion King has. Although Timon & Pumbaa did not receive the earthquake of notoriety that its parent project earned, Lion King fans that are hungry for more should definitely tune in. Simba even makes a few appearances!

5 Pixar Sparkshorts

Pixar Sparkshorts is an exclusive series on Disney+ compiled of new Pixar short films. The series’ first project was Purl, which tells the story of a sweet ball of pink yarn that starts working in a speedy, competitive corporate office. Fans of Pixar’s older shorts like Geri’s Game and For the Birds will enjoy Pixar’s new work.

There are currently six shorts in the Sparkshorts collection. In 2020, Pixar released Loop, a summer camp story about a boy and girl on a canoe trip, and Out, which imposes a magical cat and dog on an unsuspecting couple as they pack to move. The combination of humor, warmth, irony, and jazz music makes Pixar animated shorts so special in every unique, small world they explore.

4 Goof Troop

Why is Goofy so underrated? Goof Troop is a cartoon started by Disney in 1992 that lasted two seasons. In the show, Goofy is a lovably clumsy single Dad raising his son Max in a suburban town.

The cartoon also includes Mickey Mouse’s archnemesis, Pete, whose feud with the mouse stems all the way back to his creation in 1925. In Goof Troop, viewers also meet Pete’s children, Pete Junior and Pistol Pete, as well as his wife, Peg Pete. The cartoon may be less entertaining for parents, but it should be bearable in comparison to new-school alternatives.

3 Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers reimagines the famous duo of chipmunks as detectives who solve mysteries and fight crime. The series began in 1989 and lasted three seasons. This cartoon is one of the most beloved animated shows created by Disney in the ’80s and ’90s.

The lead tandem of chipmunks is accompanied by Gadget, Monetary Jack, and Zipper as they travel through colorful landscapes and meet furry foes and friends. Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers will be a joy to watch for parents who saw the cartoon as a kid, but parents who are new to the justice-seeking Rescue Rangers will probably get a kick out of it as well.

2 Darkwing Duck

This 1991 cartoon follows Drake Mallard, a masked superhero in the form of a duck that takes the alias Darkwing Duck. Darkwing Duck protects the city of St. Canard against wacky criminals like Taurus Bulba, a muscular bull in a suit, and Negaduck, Darkwing Duck’s archnemesis and evil twin.

Darkwing Duck is like a Disney version of the Batman universe. The show also includes terrific voice actors such as Jim Cummings, who does the voices for Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, and Dan Castellaneta, who is the voice of Homer in The Simpsons. The 90s cartoon is radiantly animated, rambunctious, and full of slapstick fun.

1 Gargoyles

Gargoyles is an animated series that ran from 1994 to 1997. Going by the name of “The Manhatten Clan”, a team of ancient winged creatures is summoned to protect New York City. The series is unlike any other Disney cartoon with its darkness, creepiness, and gritty action and drama (at least for Disney standards). A young child may get scared, but an older child will love Gargoyles.

Gargoyles had a major resurgence of popularity since being included in the Disney+ library, which speaks volumes about its original cult following. Get Out director Jordan Peele even tried to pitch a Gargoyles movie to Disney in 2018, but unfortunately, he was denied. Luckily, talks of a reboot headed by Jordan Peele have reemerged because the show has been trending heavily in 2020 thanks to Disney+.