As a 90s’ kid, I know I am connected to every other kid from that generation because of the memories we share together. From those old-school Nintendo gaming consoles to those colourful lipstick lollipops, just thinking about it is a road filled with pleasant nostalgia. If the 60s is known to have been the best time for youth years, I can easily say that the 90s were the best years to be a kid.
Sure the children now have much better technology and candy, but there’s one thing that we’ll always take pride in – the cartoons. Won’t you all agree that the 90s were truly the golden years for cartoons? From Cartoon Network to Nickelodeon to Disney, we’ve had the privilege to be entertained by the best characters and stories. None of today’s Ben 10’s and Teen Titans can be compared to Scooby Doo, Rugrats or even Duck Tales.
Sometimes I feel bad for my little cousins and neighbours who may never discover the joy of good, old cartoons. I mean, seriously, they’re watching ‘cartoons’ like Haddi Mera Buddy! Luckily all hope may not be lost; Nickelodeon just unveiled a new channel called The Splat that will be seemingly devoted to the 90s cartoons. It may be sometime before it arrives in India, but I’m sure excited to relive those old days, watching cartoons that taught me a great deal back then. For instance, lessons like…
1. Tom and Jerry taught us that size really doesn’t matter. A tiny thing like Jerry always managed to outsmart Tom, because of his wise and witty ways. An important lesson for any kid trying to survive school or the playground.
2. Being mean and bitchy will not help you in anyway. Remember Angelica from Rugrats and Helga from Hey Arnold and how they always got nowhere bullying people. It was always their victims who emerged successful at the end of the day.
3. Even if you think you’re really odd and don’t fit in, you’ll somehow end up with just the right friends eventually, like Ed, Edd and Eddy.
4. Undoubtedly, Johnny Bravo taught us that it takes more than good looks to impress a girl. PS: it also taught us how to identify douche bags.
5. Girls are just as powerful and strong as boys, remember Powerpuff Girls and Wonder Woman?
6. DIY crafts maybe a popular thing now, but Art Attack managed to teach us back then that even empty toilet rolls and ice cream sticks can be put to use to make something amazing.
7. Everybody who’s watched Scooby Doo has wished for friends like Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby. Because with good friends around, there’s no mystery or problem that you can’t solve.
8. Being positive and optimistic can have several benefits. It makes your problems seem less threatening. Plus it makes you more likable, just like Arnold from Hey Arnold.
9. Recycling, saving the environment, protecting Mother Nature was taught to us way before schools began to add it to the syllabus. Thanks to Captain Planet, we all grew up being environmentally conscious and responsible.
10. We may all disagree, argue or even fight, but I learnt that as a kid even a sworn enemy can turn out to be a friend in the end, just like Tom and Jerry.
Image Via giphy and tumblr
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