If you were a kid in the '90s or early '00s, chances are you watched animated television shows on the Disney Channel at one point or another. Disney succeeded in translating its blockbuster films into engaging TV series that added to the narratives of some of the brand's most beloved characters.
Not all of Disney's most popular shows came from pre-existing silver screen stories though. The popularity of many completely original series throughout the years indicates that it isn't just the Mouse and his gang that keeps kids watching. Whether magical, whimsical, or just plain relatable, the characters keep viewers young and old coming back for more.
10 DuckTales
No Disney animated TV list would be complete without this iconic entry. Remade in recent years, the original version, which aired from 1987 to 1990, followed the wealthy Scrooge McDuck and his three grand-nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, on various quests and escapades.
From the international, Indiana Jones-esque search for treasure, to the banter between the three brothers, DuckTales is a cherished piece of the Disney television pantheon for a reason.
9 House of Mouse
Aired between 2001 and 2003, this gem is often overlooked in favor of fare featuring ducks and chipmunks. However, this show cleverly intertwined the many characters of the Disney universe by making them regular audience members at a nightclub run by Mickey Mouse himself.
Best of all, the "performances" that Mickey and friends put on pulls from the vast archives of older Disney cartoons. The Halloween episode, with its focus placed squarely on some of the most iconic Disney bad guys, is a particular standout of this short-lived, but fun series.
8 The Little Mermaid
Capitalizing on the massive success of the 1989 film, the television version of The Little Mermaid essentially serves as a prequel to Ariel's epic romance with Prince Eric.
Following the teenage Ariel on a variety of underwater adventures, the series introduced new characters and, occasionally, pretty good songs. Ursula appears as a baddie (remember, this is before she gets stabbed with the prow of a ship), and Ariel's array of sisters get some interesting backstories too.
7 Gravity Falls
Definitely one of the stranger Disney Channel shows, Gravity Falls follows siblings Dipper and Mabel Pines who are forced to spend their summer in the mysterious namesake town.
An array of supernatural creatures and phenomena assail the duo along with their stern, but kooky Grunkle Stan. Other recurring residents and camp goers give the series a very Twin Peaks-vibe.
6 The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
One of the (many) series focused on the bear with very little brain, this 1988 to 1991 show stood out for its colorful animation and heartfelt stories.
Encapsulating the classic stories written by A.A. Milne, the New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh features plenty of the titular bear along with his friends Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, and Rabbit. Fans of the 1977 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will adore this follow-up.
5 Darkwing Duck
This beloved series introduces Drake Mallard, the Bruce Wayne to his Batman-esque alter ego, Darkwing Duck. A little further on in his crime-fighting career than Robert Pattinson's portrayal of the caped crusader in The Batman, Drake balances crime-fighting with raising his adopted daughter, Gosalyn.
Darkwing Duck represents a highly entertaining satire of superhero stories long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe blasted onto the scene.
4 Kim Possible
Call her, beep her, if you want to reach her. Although younger viewers may not even know what a beeper is, Kim Possible still holds up as an empowering, female-centered show with a heroine that kicks serious butt.
As sort of the animated version of Buffy (sans supernatural vampires), Kim Possible travels the world as a secret agent while also navigating the hormone-infested hallways of high school. Aired from 2002 to 2007, Kim Possible helped usher in a new kind of tough girl who conducted high-stakes espionage missions while still looking good for prom
3 Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers
Chip and Dale's animated detective agency show combined elements of mystery, adventure, and humor when it debuted in 1989. Up to this point, the two chipmunk heroes were best known for annoying Pluto and Donald Duck in a series of Mickey Mouse cartoons.
In this series, though, Chip and Dale join forces with tech-savvy Gadget, the lumbering Monterey Jack, and the littlest fly of the agency, Zipper. This show was also one of the rare Disney television series that got its own theme ride at Disneyland: Gadget's Go Coaster.
2 TaleSpin
TaleSpin was a unique take on the beloved Disney classic The Jungle Book. Airing in 1990, TaleSpin followed the antics of Baloo the bear in his new role as bush pilot for a small cargo freight business.
Set in the 1930s, Baloo works with Rebecca, an entrepreneur who owns the "Higher for Hire" delivery service, and her young daughter Molly. King Louie, the "I wanna be like you" antagonist to the original film's Mowgli, also shows up as the suave and swinging owner of a night club.
1 Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb is another oddball entry to the animated Disney television show list. Stepbrothers Phineas Flynn and boy-of-few-words Ferb Fletcher spend their summer vacation engaging in grand and imaginative projects (the episode where they build a roller coaster is a particularly entertaining one).
In a nod to Jennifer Grey's Jeanie character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Phineas and Ferb's sister, Candace, is always one step too late in getting her crafty brothers caught by their indulgent mother, Linda. Bonus points for Ashley Tisdale's (hey Sharpay from High School Musical!) role as Candace.
Although Disney is best known for its theme parks and silver screen features, the animated shows that served as staples for its TV channel deserve their turn in the limelight too. Even in the streaming and CGI era, these classics continue to hold up and manage to bring just a little bit of extra Disney pixie dust into viewers' living rooms.