Pokémon

Watching Pokémon was never just watching another cartoon. You picked your favorites, argued over battles, memorized creatures, traded cards—and somehow Team Rocket was back tomorrow with another terrible plan. Ash and Pikachu gave the show its heart, but the world around them made the obsession feel endless. Put Pokémon against Rugrats and you have two completely different childhood giants. Against X-Men, it’s team battles of a very different kind. Was Pokémon the best cartoon of the 90s, or the biggest obsession that happened to have a cartoon?