Since Disney+ launched in November of 2019, there has been a lot of appeal for its current hot properties of Star Wars and Marvel, as well as their recent films. But another big selling point of the service has been the nostalgic appeal of classic content from the studio. And we’re not just talking about the obvious examples of Disney animated classics. No, we’re referring to that rather interesting period of the 1990s and 2000s when Disney had programs spanning from ABC to the Disney Channel. Whether they were sitcoms of the Disney Channel or staples of the Disney Afternoons (as well as Disney’s One Saturday Morning), here are some nostalgic shows that will have any 30-something remembering a simpler time.
1. Kim Possible
Kim Possible may seem like an average teenager and cheerleader of her high school, but she also leads a double life as a secret agent stopping bad guys from taking over the world from such villains as Dr. Drakken, Shego and numerous others. Teaming up with her best friend Ron Stoppable and his naked mole rat pal Rufus, as well as the expert computer mastermind Wade, she engages in action-packed adventure as well as rapid-fire witty dialogue. Designed with a sharp angular style, Kim Possible is as engaging a spy adventure series as it is a brilliantly hilarious show with perfect comedic timing with quirky characters.
2. Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff) is your average 13-year-old just trying to navigate her way through middle school, often breaking the fourth wall with her animated counterpart. With her best friends Miranda and Gordo by her side, she may be able to survive her chaotic teenage years, made all the more difficult by her pesky little brother and her snooping mother. Winner of two Emmy awards, Lizzie McGuire was one of the earliest teen sitcom hits of the Disney channel that helped launched the career of Hilary Duff to higher heights, including with a Lizzie McGuire theatrical movie. She will be returning soon in a sequel series due to hit Disney+.
3. Recess
Recess was a fast-paced and uniquely allegorical series of stories from around the schoolyard. During recess, the elementary school playground turns into an exaggerated society of class and caste, centering around sixth fourth-graders of clashing ideals. The quirky kids include the bold Theodore Jasper “T.J.” Detweiler (Ross Malinger, Andrew Lawrence), the fit Vince LaSalle (Rickey D’Shon Collins), the rough Spinelli (Pamela Adlon), the gentle Mikey Blumberg (Jason Davis), the intelligent Gretchen Grundler (Ashley Johnson), and shy boy Gus Griswald (Courtland Mead). Recess was such an engaging series for its youth audience that it lasted for six seasons and a theatrical movie, Recess: School’s Out (2001).
4. Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Zack and Cody Martin (Dylan and Cole Sprouse) are the luckiest identical twins ever considering their mother, Carey Martin (Kim Rhodes), has just landed a cushy job as a lounge singer at the five-star Tipton Hotel in Boston. A big perk of the job is that Zack and Cody now get to reside with her in the top-class suite of the hotel. With a fancy new place to stay, the brothers turn the hotel upside down as they get into all sorts of wild antics, with Zack being girl-crazy and Cody being an intellectual trying to outsmart the snooty heiress London Tipton (Brenda Song).
5. Even Stevens
Long before Shia LaBeouf became the hero of the Transformers movie or the abusive father of the critically-acclaimed Honey Boy, he was a mere boy of the Stevenses family in this Disney Channel sitcom of the 2000s. Set in Sacramento, California, Shia plays Louis, living alongside his sister Ray, played by Disney Channel familiar Christy Carlson Romano (Kim Possible). The boys find themselves getting into all sorts of wacky trouble as they learn what it means to grow up in their eccentric Jewish family. The show was successful enough to last for 65 episodes as well as a movie finale, The Even Stevens Movie.
6. DuckTales
Though Disney+ does offer up the modern remake, the classic DuckTales is certainly worthy of a return viewing as the series that launched the Disney Afternoons block of the 1990s. Based on the clever Disney comic book, the animated series follows the exploits of wealthy businessman Scrooge McDuck who finds himself on adventures with his nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie. They ward off numerous villains seeking to pilfer Scrooge’s vaults of gold coins. With some surprisingly astute writing of adventure and mystery, it was one of the few Disney animated series to be strong enough to garner a film with 1990s’ DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp.
7. Boy Meets World
Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) lives an average life in the suburbs. Well, about as average as a kid’s life can be when he lives next to his teacher, George Feeny (William Daniels), giving out advice for whenever he may need it. His life is fairly typical with his eccentric friend Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong), his troublesome brother Eric (Will Friedle) and his school crush of Topanga (Danielle Fishel). Cory grows up on screen, learning valuable life lessons along the way about growing up, lasting all the way up to his going off to college after seven seasons of comedic and heartwarming sitcom situations. The show would also see a more recent spin-off of Girl Meets World, a torch-passing sequel series.
8. TaleSpin
Talespin was a spin-off (pardon the pun) of sorts to Disney’s The Jungle Book but not in the way one might assume. Rather than continue the adventure of Baloo the Bear in the jungle, the bear is now a pilot in a world of other anthropomorphic characters. Taking place in the harbor city of Cape Suzette, Baloo finds himself going on all sorts of high-flying adventures with his sidekicks of the determined Rebecca Cunningham and plucky young Kit Cloudkicker. Venturing around the globe in a Conwing L-16, they make deliveries and evade the capture of the air pirate Don Karnage, as well as the evil banker Shere Khan.
9. Wizards of Waverly Place
In this fantastical teen sitcom that won an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program, the Russo family of the Waverly Sub Station in Manhattan seems to be ready for the children of Alex, Justin and Max (Selena Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin) to receive with their training as wizards. Though they have come from a long line of wizards, they must soon master their powers at a rather early age or risk losing them forever. The sitcom features a mixture of relatable teen situations while also stirring up magical adventures as three teens learn what it takes to be a wizard in the modern world.
10. The Emperor’s New School
As a prequel series to Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove, this animated series follows the school days of the soon-to-be emperor Kuzco and his cocky personality. While he navigates his way through school, his former advisor, Yzma, plots the downfall of the emperor long before the events of the film, along with her dumb-muscle sidekick Kronk. The show retains that witty and fast-paced comedy as well as the angular design of the settings in the ancient Inca Empire. Though the series doesn’t feature the return of David Spade to the lead role, it does boast the more notably hilarious voice cast of Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton reprising their roles of Yzma and Kronk.
11. That’s so Raven
After being the darling supporting character of such sitcoms as The Cosby Show and Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, Raven-Symoné finally takes center stage in this trippy teen sitcom all her own. She plays Raven Baxter, an average high schooler with a not-so-average ability. She possesses psychic powers that allows her to experience future events before they will occur. Armed with this knowledge of foresight, she gets into all sorts of hilarious situations trying to prepare herself for what she can see coming down the path of time in her many visions. The show not only lasted for 100 episodes, but also inspired two spin-off series, Cory in the House and Raven’s Home.
12. Darkwing Duck
Though initially appearing as a parody of such noir-based heroes as The Shadow and The Spirit, Darkwing Duck became a superhero satire all its own and another iconic addition to the Disney Afternoon block of the 1990s. The series follows Drake Mallard, a mild-mannered mallard by day who becomes the caped-crusader Darkwing Duck by nightfall. Teaming up with his tech duck Launchpad McQuack, he’ll defend his city from such villains as Megavolt, Quackerjack, Reginald Bushroot and Taurus Bulba. With a catchy theme song and a voice cast that includes the likes of Jim Cummings and Tim Curry, the show has a charm for the inept Darkwing and his slapstick antics. It has also been theorized this show was a spin-off to Ducktales, though never proven until the recent comic book and modern remake of Ducktales.