XPost: rec.arts.tv, alt.tv.mtv

While MTV is largely known for its music-related programming, the
channel also has a few great animated series from the '90s. MTV in the
'80s gave rise to the popularity of music videos for the decades'
biggest hits, but as the craze for music videos died down the following
decade, MTV pivoted to animated series. Liquid Television, a sort of
animated variety show, ran from 1991 to 1995 and helped launch some of
the most popular animated shows on MTV, including Beavis and Butt-Head
and Aeon Flux.

MTV continued producing animated series in the 2000s, but the most
memorable series remain those from the previous decade. MTV's animated
series were beloved by audiences for their dark humor and pop culture references, which differentiated the channel from others at the time.
The aforementioned series Beavis and Butt-Head, along with Daria, are undoubtedly MTV's most successful and remembered animated TV shows, but
there are a few others from the '90s that are just as entertaining.

10 The Brothers Grunt (1994-1995)
A Despised, But Wonderfully Offbeat Comedy Series
Two of the Brothers Grunt are sitting next to one another.
The Brothers Grunt is among the most hated animated TV shows on MTV,
but is an addition to the channel's history that is unique. The series
revolves around five humanoids on a mission to find their lost brother.
The show didn't last long, but left an impact on critics and audiences,
albeit a mostly negative one. Created by Danny Antonucci ù who'd go on
to create the acclaimed animated series Ed, Edd n Eddy on Cartoon
Network ù The Brothers Grunt's characters were grotesque in their
design, defined by their signature veiny features and pale skin.

The design of the characters made critics uncomfortable and the humor
in the show didn't help. The titular brothers didn't speak much, so the majority of the series' humor relied on physical comedy that didn't
always land. The Brothers Grunt earned many comparisons to another
underrated animated TV show from the '90s, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters,
though their visual styles were different. Still, The Brothers Grunt
remains a nostalgic, strange gem from MTV that can't go unmentioned.

9 Station Zero (1999)
Teenagers Run A Fictional Show
With a comparable format to that of Beavis and Butt-Head, Station Zero
was never able to reach the same levels of success. Station Zero, based
on a comic strip from the early '90s titled A View From Da'
Unda'Ground, centered around a group of teenagers from the Bronx. The
friends ran a public-access TV show aptly called Live from the Bronx.
During their show, the teenagers would comment on various hip-hop
videos by prominent artists such as Missy Elliott, Dru Hill, and Busta
Rhymes.

In between their commentary, the teenagers would often rant and joke
with one another about various topics unrelated to the videos they were watching. The dynamic between the friends was relatable for many teens
watching the show and represented a large part of '90s culture. The
show aired daily, Monday through Friday, but only lasted for one season
due to low ratings. Since the series finale, copies of Station Zero's
episodes have become increasingly difficult to find.

8 Liquid Television (1991-1995)
Animated Showcase For Independent Artists
Liquid Television brought attention to a few notable animated series
that would see great levels of success. The program kicked off MTV's
venture into animation. Liquid Television prioritized experimental
artistry and featured a variety of short cartoons by independent
animators. As a result, a wide range of animation styles were
showcased, including claymation and computer animation. During season
1, a short computer animation test clip from Pixar was featured in an
episode.

The clip, titled Beach Chair, only lasts for 30 seconds and shows a
beach chair inching towards the ocean water, dipping in, and scooting
away. Though MTV was making a transition into animation, the channel
still recognized its musical roots and featured licensed music in each
episode ù making it difficult to track down full episodes of the series
now. Liquid Television didn't invent the crude animation and dark humor
that defined much of MTV's later animated series, but it did help
popularize it.

7 The Head (1994-1996)
Odd Humans Save The World
In 1994, Eric Fogel created his first animated series for MTV, The
Head. Fogel would also eventually create Celebrity Deathmatch and
direct many episodes of Daria. However, The Head lasted for two seasons
in the mid-90s and told the story of trade-school student Jim who wakes
up one day and sees his head has grown a colossal amount. Residing
inside his skull is a purple alien who informs Jim a dangerous alien
named Gork is threatening to take over the world.

Jim helps the alien adapt to Earth, with the banter between the two
being comical and a large part of what makes the series work. The two characters are supported by an array of uniquely designed humans with abnormalities, including someone with a blade stuck in his head and
another person with a mouth in the center of his chest. The oddity of
these characters is charming, and it's fun watching them team up to
save the world.

6 Downtown (1999)
A Group Of Teenagers Living In New York City
Earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Animated Program, MTV's
Downtown only lasted for 13 episodes. The animated series revolves
around a group of teenagers in New York City, detailing their day-to-
day lives. Downtown acts as a sort of time capsule of the era, not only
in its animation style but in its story as well. Creator Chris Prynoski
set out with a team of collaborators to interview teenagers and 20-
year-olds around Manhattan for research (via Vulture).

The recorded responses from these interviews inspired Downtown's
characters and storylines. Downtown's characters are made up of diverse backgrounds and represent '90s youth with both their interests and
daily experiences living in New York. In addition to its relevant
storytelling, the animation in Downtown must be appreciated as well.
The series moves back and forth between surreal, dreamlike visuals as
the characters tell stories to one another.

5 The Maxx (1995)
Adapted From A Comic Book Series
Based on a comic book series of the same name, The Maxx is an animated superhero show that follows its titular character's adventures in two
worlds. In real life, The Maxx is a wandering homeless person, but in
an alternate reality known as the Outback, he is a heroic protector.
The animated series only ran for one season and didn't get to fully
dive into the lore of The Maxx's characters as established in the
comics.

Still, the show provides an introspective look at the hero that
differentiates it from others in the genre. The Maxx's characters are
layered and easy to empathize with, especially its title hero who is
working to piece together who he really is. Additionally, The Maxx
employed a mix of visual styles, including CGI and live-action, to
signify a shift in perspective, making for a consistently entertaining
watch.

4 Celebrity Deathmatch (1998-2002)
Animated Versions Of Pop Culture Figures Wrestle One Another
Celebrity Deathmatch had a unique premise that's been attempted in
various revivals and reboots over the years, none of which hold up to
the original series from the '90s. A stop-motion claymation series,
Celebrity Deathmatch centered on a wrestling show hosted by
commentators Johnny Gomez and Nick Diamond. However, the people
involved in the wrestling matches were various celebrities. A few
notable matches include Adam Sandler versus Chris Rock, Neve Campbell
versus Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Spike Lee versus Quentin Tarantino.

Aside from the who's who of '90s celebrities, Celebrity Deathmatch is
also remembered for its cartoonish and over-the-top amounts of
violence. The attacks in the wrestling ring were extremely brutal, with
the celebrities using various weapons and exaggerated physical
abilities to take their opponents out. However, the absurdity of the
violence is just strong enough to ensure audiences aren't ever too
grossed out.

3 Aeon Flux (1991-1995)
An Avant-Garde Sci-Fi Story
Starting as a six-part serial on Liquid Television, Aeon Flux is set in
the future and details the conflict between the feuding city-states
Monica and Bregna. Aeon Flux is a rare adult-animated series as it's predominately a drama rather than a comedy. The reason being Aeon Flux regularly introduced thought-provoking themes throughout episodes. The
titular character in Aeon Flux is an agent from Monica, where freedom
among its population is prioritized most.

Aeon faces a few different opponents throughout the series, but her
primary enemy is Trevor Goodchild, the dictator of Bregna, a police
state with constant surveillance. The two are sworn enemies as a result
of their widely opposing beliefs, but there is a bit of romantic
chemistry between them that adds a gripping forbidden love element to
the series. The story in Aeon Flux doesn't always connect, but the
angular animation style and experimental narrative make the show
memorable.

2 Beavis And Butt-Head (1993-1997)
The Day-To-Day Lives Of Two Iconic Teenagers
Mike Judge, who would eventually create King of the Hill, created and
voiced the titular characters in Beavis and Butt-Head, which first
premiered on Liquid Television as shorts. The characters of Beavis and Butt-Head are defined as slackers with a love for heavy metal music and
crass humor. Beavis and Butt-Head depicted the two's daily
misadventures as well as their calmer moments spent watching music
videos and providing commentary.

The humor and character designs in Beavis and Butt-Head are simple, but
that's what makes the show work so well. Beavis and Butt-Head's lowbrow
humor was paired neatly with clever social commentary that critics and audiences could appreciate. Beavis and Butt-Head quickly became a
defining TV show for '90s youth and has since been rebooted and
received two films based on the series' characters.

1 Daria (1997-2002)
A Pessimistic Teenager Moves Through Suburban Life
First appearing in a recurring role in Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria
received her own eponymous animated series in the late '90s. Daria sees
its cynical protagonist at odds with the values of her suburban town
and its population. The suburban life portrayed in the show is
exaggerated for comedic purposes, and it also helps single out the
title character, making her contrasting personality increasingly bold.

Daria's overt nihilism could have easily turned audiences away,
allowing the show to fade into obscurity. Yet, Daria was never
portrayed as a stereotype. Instead, the character, and show as a whole
were written with sincerity and an apparent care for '90s youth. While
she may not be the most likable Daria character, Daria's values,
headstrong characteristics, and sharp wit have turned her into an
iconic '90s TV character.

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