• Cartoon Network is bringing back three classic shows to salvage some of Warner Bros’ reputation.
  • Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Gumball are iconic and defined Cartoon Network’s 2010s era.
  • These revived shows put pressure on their comebacks to maintain nostalgia and quality for long-term fans.

Cartoon Network has been the home to some of the most iconic children’s shows of all time, but after struggling to create many recent hits, the channel is bringing back three classics. After its incredible launch in the 1990s, Cartoon Network delivered some of the best kids shows ever made in the following decade and built an excellent reputation as one of the best cartoon channels around. Although it didn’t manage to repeat the same success in the 2010s, the channel did have three massive series that have helped define Cartoon Network, and they are all making a surprise return.

According to VarietyCartoon Network is developing several projects based on some of their classic IPs, which include three era-defining cartoons. These projects look set to bring some memorable characters back onto screens while potentially salvaging some of Warner Bros’ reputation in the process. Warner Bros’ recent decisions have led to the studio’s image taking some damage, but the announcement of these projects will likely excite some long-term Cartoon Network fans. The nostalgia and quality of these returning cartoons make them among Cartoon Network’s best of all time; however, this also puts more pressure on their comebacks.

Adventure Time Is Getting A Movie & 2 New Shows

The Adventure Time Franchise Is Finding New Life With Its Upcoming Projects

Finn looking sad
BMO, Finn, and Jake Hugging
Finn, Jake and Lady Rainicorn in Adventure Time
Adventure Time season 7

Adventure Time is one of Cartoon Network’s most recognizable shows and the franchise is returning with a bang. Fionna and Cake already provided a more explicit Adventure Time story when it debuted last year, but with two new shows and a movie in the works, the franchise seems to be having a complete resurgence. The series ran from 2010-2018 and quickly defined that era of Cartoon Network, becoming the channel’s flagship show for the majority of the decade. The vibrant, playful, and often emotional story of Finn and Jake captured audiences and this made Adventure Time a mainstream hit.

While it is unclear if the Adventure Time movie will get a cinematic release, the film is described as containing Finn and Jake’s greatest adventure yet, proving the franchise still has a lot of life despite the main series ending six years ago. Alongside this, Adventure Time: Side Quests will allow the protagonists to have more fun stories and act as a throwback for fans who loved the duo’s chaotic quests. Adventure Time: Heyo BMO is the final project announced that looks like it will target a younger audience, proving that Adventure Time is creating new content for multiple demographics.

A New Regular Show Is Happening

Some Classic Regular Show Characters Are Returning After 7 Years

Mordecai and Rigby looking shocked in Regular Show
regular show episode terror tales of the park
regular show terror tales of the park 5 V the gang with wishmaker machine

Mordecai and Rigby’s bizarre encounters helped Regular Show develop a similar cult following to Adventure Time and become one of Cartoon Network’s big three throughout the 2010s.

Regular Show‘s quirky and unorthodox humor made it one of the most unique shows on TV, but it was also a massive hit for Cartoon Network and a new series has been confirmed. Mordecai and Rigby’s bizarre encounters helped Regular Show develop a similar cult following to Adventure Time and become one of Cartoon Network’s big three throughout the 2010s. It debuted in the same year as Adventure Time and while it may have been a little less popular, it still ran for eight seasons and cemented a remarkable legacy, making this major announcement a massive shock.

After Regular Show‘s huge viewership numbers on Netflix, it’s clear the series still has a big following, hence why a new series is such big news. The new project doesn’t have an official title and while some characters will return, it seems like not everyone will be back. Details are still limited on what this new show will be about and which characters will show up, but with yet another classic Cartoon Network series being revived, the channel looks determined to bring back older audiences; however, making Regular Show appeal to new and older viewers will be a significant challenge.

Considering the cartoon still has a strong audience seven years after it ended, there is a lot of potential for the new series, but the creators will have to make sure it captures the magic of the original show while also catering to a newer demographic. Regular Show had a perfect sendoff, so the new show must also be careful with how it approaches this revival to avoid hurting the franchise’s reputation. Despite the potential pitfalls the project faces, the new Regular Show project is undoubtedly exciting, and it will hopefully live up to the large expectations.

The Amazing World Of Gumball’s New Season & Movie Are Happening

Cartoon Network Will Complete Its Revivals With The Amazing World Of Gumball

Two characters yelling at each other in The Amazing World of Gumball
Gumball and Darwin in amazing world of gumball

Unlike Adventure Time and Regular ShowThe Amazing World of Gumball‘s new season will continue where the previous season left off, and the franchise is also getting a movie. While Cartoon Network’s other hit shows are being revived with entirely new projects, The Amazing World of Gumball is finally getting a seventh season which will answer the show’s biggest question. The last season of the show aired in 2019, meaning the mystery of the void has lingered for five whole years, but The Amazing World of Gumball‘s season 7 update confirms the intriguing story will continue.

In addition, an Amazing World of Gumball movie is also in development, and while it is unclear how it will coincide with the show, this confirmation proves the franchise is once again a priority for Cartoon Network. Although it debuted a year after Adventure Time and Regular Show, it received a similar amount of popularity and joined these shows in carrying Cartoon Network’s 2010s era. With the confirmation of a new season and film, it’s clear the channel values The Amazing World of Gumball just as much as its other hit shows, and its return will complete this nostalgic revival.

Why Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Gumball Were So Important For CN

The Three Shows Were An Iconic Part Of Cartoon Network’s Post-Noughties Era

Jake smiling next to Finn happy in Adventure Time
Mordecai pushes Rigby on a lawnmower in Regular Show
The Wattersons in the car in The Amazing World of Gumball

Adventure TimeRegular Show, and The Amazing World of Gumball were all crucial for Cartoon Network’s transition into a new era. Throughout the late 90s and early noughties, Cartoon Network produced a plethora of classic shows that are among the best cartoons ever made. This made them one of the best kids channels around, but as the 2010s approached, the channel had to alter its comedy and humor to a brand-new audience. While there were numerous failures during this time, these three shows stood out and proved to be some of the most popular cartoons during this period.

The consistency and quality of these projects gave them impressive longevity, making them all-time greats. Rather than simply being shows of their time, all three became legendary Cartoon Network series and are clearly still relevant halfway through the 2020s. These popular IPs proved that Cartoon Network was still capable of producing high-quality cartoons that could compete with even their most iconic shows. Without these projects, Cartoon Network would have had very few memorable hits during the 2010s and lost its appeal, indicating just how crucial they were for the channel’s legacy.

Source: Variety