23 Years Ago Today, Cartoon Network Debuted Its Greatest Show: Nothing Has Come Close Since
More than 20 years after its 2002 debut, Codename: Kids Next Door still commands a fanbase most early-2000s cartoons can only envy, fueled by covert-ops swagger, ingenious 2x4 gadgets, and a kid-ruled universe that made children’s TV feel epic.
I am not shocked that Codename: Kids Next Door still hits like a sugar rush more than 20 years later. This was the rare early-2000s Cartoon Network show that built a whole miniature universe and then actually used it. And yes, people are still loudly rewatching it and arguing about it online. Let's run through why it stuck, what almost came next, and where to find it now.
- Creator: Tom Warburton
- Studios: Curious Pictures, Cartoon Network Studios
- Original run: December 6, 2002 - January 21, 2008
- Seasons: 6
- Episodes: 81 episodes (140 segments)
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Adventure
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Why this one landed differently
Warburton's pitch was simple and brilliant: a global underground organization run by kids, for kids. Every mission felt like a spy caper filtered through a backyard imagination, powered by cobbled-together 2x4 technology and anchored by those ridiculous, glorious treehouse bases. The show didn't just have lore; it had structure. There were divisions, codenames, a network that actually behaved like a network, and recurring villains who mattered from week to week.
Across six seasons, that connective tissue made the series feel lightly serialized without losing its snap. The action stayed big and bouncy, the jokes stayed fast, and the visual style was unmistakable Cartoon Network from that era: bold silhouettes, punchy staging, and a kinetic energy you recognize instantly even in a random screenshot.
The fandom never left
In 2025, you can open X and see the show trending in miniature any given week. People aren't just nostalgic; they're dramatic about it. One fan flat-out planted a flag:
"I will make the argument that Codename Kids Next Door is the greatest show of all time. Loved that damn show" — @StevyFranchise_, August 28, 2025
Others are still talking about how dense the world-building was (@babyfacexjackie, Oct 28, 2025), calling the series pure gold and sharing clips and images (@NostalgiaCity2, Feb 7, 2023), or rewatching and slotting it into their all-time top 7 kids shows (@Niyeaz, Oct 7, 2025). The tone is consistent: this thing stuck, and it stuck hard. For the generation that grew up with it, the scale, humor, and look are benchmarks.
The one that got away: Galactic Kids Next Door
The original run wrapped in 2008, but the story didn't entirely end there. Warburton developed a space-set sequel, Galactic Kids Next Door, and even put out a rough animatic-style teaser in 2015 to show what it could be. It turned heads, stirred up interest, and then... nothing. The project was never officially greenlit. Fans treated the pitch like a lost level for years and still pull it back into conversation.
In 2025, those hopes are bumping up against a shifting Cartoon Network landscape. Warner Bros. Discovery has been restructuring, and outlets like Variety have tracked how content priorities keep changing. That makes longtime viewers extra attentive to how legacy shows are handled. Officially, there's no movement on GKND. Unofficially, the idea refuses to die because it feels like unfinished business from one of Cartoon Network's most creatively bonkers periods.
Where to watch (and your turn)
Codename: Kids Next Door is available to buy or rent on Apple TV.
What stuck with you? A favorite mission, a villain you loved to hate, a gadget that would absolutely not pass a safety inspection? Drop your memories in the comments.