The introduction of The Disney Channel in 1983 saw the expansion of the Disney empire to an even wider audience, producing movies, TV series and animated shows that would be hugely popular with younger viewers. Disney Channel became a phenomenon for young people and spawned endless successful franchises that would become inescapable in pop culture. Disney already dominated most areas of pop culture and media, and modern kids’ TV would prove to be no exception.
Pre-Disney Channel, Disney has dominated the world of animation since their first full-length animated film Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937 and revolutionized the animation world. It’s no surprise that this success continued through Disney’s future projects and had huge success with the implementation of modern animated series.
Updated September 13, 2022:If you can’t get enough of all things Disney, you’ll be happy to hear that we’ve updated this list with additional content and shows.
The 2000s saw a huge growth in success for animated series, with animated shows such as Kim Possible and The proud family become huge successes and become part of the weekly routines for children around the world. Now, with the huge popularity of Disney+, all their shows have been immortalized. Let’s take a look at the best Disney animated series of the 2000s, ranked.
7 Brandy & Mr. Whiskers
After the misadventures of the eponymous offbeat pair, the underrated but entertaining series Brandy & Mr. Whiskers focuses on the spoiled doggy and tense rabbit as they are stranded in the Amazon rainforest and forced to depend on each other for survival.
Created by sitcom writer Russell Marcus, the playful program debuted in 2004 and ran for two successful seasons and featured the vocal talents of Kaley Cuoco and Charlie Adler as the mismatched duo. Despite being less well known than the other shows on the list, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers still holds a place in the hearts of Disney Channel fans and it is even won a Daytime Emmy Award for “Individual Achievement in Animation” in 2005.
6 The Emperor’s New School
A format that was popularized by the Disney channel in the 00s was the continuation of famous animated films in the form of a TV series. An example of this was: The Emperor’s New Schoolcreated by Mark Dindal and serves as a sequel to the highly successful animated film The Emperor’s New Groove. The series focused on the title character, Kuzco, who followed his journey through Kuzco Academy, a task he must complete to become the emperor of the new Kuzconian Empire that serves as the backdrop for the series. The series proved hugely popular with audiences and ran for two series.
The ratings were very high, with 1.3 million kids aged six to 11 and 12 million tweens (aged nine to 11) tuning in, while consistently achieving high ratings in reruns after the first two seasons . The Emperor’s New School saw most of the original voice actors return, offering a slapstick and confident comedy style that stood out from others on the air.
5 American Dragon: Jake Long
Another classic Disney Channel animation from the 2000s was American Dragon: Jake Long, created by Jeff Goode. The series is set in Manhattan and follows teenager and protagonist Jake Long. Jake has the ability to turn into a dragon and must balance this with the daily pressures of a teenager in America.
This makes for a lot of comedic moments as he fights against forces of evil, while discovering his identity and generally making the awkward blunders that teenagers do. American Dragon: Jake Long feels more mature than its competitors in the Disney sphere and was very successful in attracting audiences throughout its two-season run and through reruns on Disney Channel.
4 Lilo and Stitch: The Series
Following the same formula that proved popular by turning an already popular movie franchise into a series, Lilo and Stitch: The Series was founded in 2002 by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBois. The series ran for two seasons and had several crossover episodes with other successful Disney animations such as Kim Possible and American Dragon: Jake Long. Lilo and Stitch: The Series was very popular and existed as a welcome and enjoyable addition to the Lilo and Stitch franchise created by the original film.
3 Phineas and Ferbo
Towards the end of the 2000s, Disney found success in Phineas and Ferbo, which began in 2007 and ran until 2015. The show was created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff Marsh, following the antics of stepbrothers Phineas (voiced by Vincent Martella) and Ferb (voiced by Thomas Sangster). The show also enlisted the voice of Disney star Ashley Tisdale, who played their suspicious older sister Candace. Phineas and Ferbo was hugely popular, winning a multitude of awards, including Daytime Emmy Awards, and a spin-off film based around Candice was brought to Disney+.
Phineas and Ferbo was extremely well produced and distinguished from other series of its time, proving popular with adults and younger audiences alike. Fans of Phineas and Ferbo can enjoy the new project from the creator of the show: Hamster and Gretel which will debut next year.
2 Kim Possible
Kim Possible was one of the most recognizable Disney animated series of recent times. The show follows Kim, a high school student who also serves as a secret agent, and tells of her many adventures as she battles evil while trying to survive as a teenager. The series was created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle and will run for five seasons from 2002 to 2007.
Kim Possible was a great success, so much so that there has been discussions about a possible reboot. Kim Possible has proven to be extremely culturally significant, with Kim’s signature look appearing year after year as a Halloween costume around the world. The show was eventually adapted into a live-action reboot starring Sadie Stanley and remains a much-loved Disney animation show from the 00s.
1 The proud family
The proud family was an iconic addition to the Disney universe, which ran from 2001 to 2005. Bruce W. Smith was the creator of the hilarious series that followed the Proud Family, centered on the lead character Penny and her quirky relatives. In 2020, news of a revival was announced for Disney+. Later, stars like Lizzo and Lil Nas X were confirmed to be part of the project, which will make its highly anticipated debut in 2022. The proud family has an enduring appeal and remains socially relevant, making it the most beloved Disney animated series of the 00s on this list.