20 Early-2000s Kids’ Shows That Are Ripe For A Reboot
After-school TV in the early 2000s felt like a daily event, packed with wild adventures, catchy theme songs, and characters that still live rent-free in our heads.
With nostalgia booming and streamers constantly chasing the next big hit, a new wave of reboots could give these beloved series the second life they’ve always deserved.
Note: This entertainment feature reflects publicly announced releases and renewals available as of January 2026, and reboot status, availability, and rights details can change.
1. Kim Possible
High school is tough enough without juggling cheerleading practice and saving the planet before dinner. This animated gem followed a teenage spy who balanced homework with thwarting villains, proving girls could lead the action in cargo pants and still make it home for family time.
A reboot could still work, but it would need a fresh angle since a live-action Disney Channel movie already released in 2019.
Imagine Kim navigating TikTok fame while stopping Dr. Drakken’s latest scheme – talk about multitasking goals!
2. The Fairly OddParents
Timmy Turner’s magical godparents granted wishes that usually backfired in hilarious ways, teaching kids that shortcuts rarely solve real problems.
Every episode blended slapstick comedy with genuine heart, showing how a lonely kid found family in the most unexpected places.
A fresh version could introduce new godkids from different backgrounds, each dealing with contemporary challenges like remote learning or blended families. The magic system remains timeless, but updated storylines would resonate with today’s young viewers facing their own unique struggles.
3. Danny Phantom
Danny Fenton functioned as a half-ghost teenager who juggled spectral battles and algebra tests in ways that made supernatural life feel surprisingly normal. This show addressed identity and responsibility without ever becoming preachy or losing its sense of fun.
Superhero fatigue hasn’t touched the ghost-hunting genre yet, so a reboot could easily explore Danny’s world with modern animation and deeper character development.
New storylines could combine epic battles rendered with today’s technology alongside themes of mental health and self-acceptance that resonate with modern audiences.
4. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Captivating audiences through stunning martial arts and rich world-building, Aang’s journey to master the elements restored balance. Within the original timeline, countless untold stories remain despite the existing sequel series.
By focusing on different avatars throughout history, a reboot could expand this beloved universe while maintaining the thoughtful storytelling fans cherish.
Across the four nations, the possibilities stretch wide as we imagine witnessing the first avatar’s origin or exploring conflicts handled by past figures we never saw.
5. Ben 10
Finding an alien watch that transforms you into ten different creatures sounds like every kid’s ultimate fantasy. Ben Tennyson lived that dream, learning that great power demands great maturity, usually the hard way, through spectacular mistakes and explosive battles.
While several reboots already exist, none captured the original’s perfect balance of action and character growth.
A fresh take could age up the protagonist, exploring young adult challenges while introducing new aliens that reflect current environmental and social themes without losing the franchise’s adventurous spirit.
6. Teen Titans
Forming a superhero squad that felt more like a dysfunctional family, five distinct teens figured out life together. This series balanced epic villain showdowns with quiet, raw explorations of loneliness and belonging.
While Teen Titans Go! returned the characters to the screen, many fans still crave the original’s dramatic storytelling and emotional depth.
By following the team as young adults, a proper continuation could tackle mature themes and complex relationships wrapped in spectacular action.
7. Totally Spies!
Moonlighting as international secret agents, three Beverly Hills high schoolers proved you could save the world and still stress about a math quiz.
Their fabulous gadgets and globe-trotting missions were anchored by an unbreakable friendship that survived every villainous scheme.
This series already returned with a new season in 2024, so the pitch becomes ‘give the revival a bigger global rollout’ or ‘push it further with modern tech-focused missions.
8. Samurai Jack
Trapped in a dystopian future by the demonic Aku, a samurai warrior spent years searching for a way home while helping oppressed communities. The show’s cinematic style, minimal dialogue, and stunning action sequences elevated children’s animation to genuine art.
Although an adult continuation wrapped up Jack’s story, prequels exploring his training or side characters’ adventures could expand this universe beautifully.
Alternatively, a spiritual successor following a new warrior in Aku’s world would honor the original’s legacy while crafting fresh mythology for modern audiences.
9. The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy
When two kids won Death himself in a limbo contest, chaos became their everyday reality. Billy’s chaotic impulsiveness and Mandy’s ice-cold confidence created comedy gold, especially when Grim reluctantly tagged along on their bizarre supernatural misadventures.
Dark humor has only grown more popular, making this twisted series ripe for resurrection.
A reboot could explore new mythologies and folklore while maintaining the original’s delightfully morbid charm – think global ghost stories meets suburban absurdity, all filtered through Billy’s wildly confident logic and Mandy’s terrifying schemes.
10. Codename: Kids Next Door
Five ten-year-olds operated from an elaborate treehouse headquarters to fight over-the-top ‘grown-up rules with 2×4 technology and unwavering determination. Their missions treated childhood injustices like confiscated toys or early bedtimes with the absolute seriousness of a high-stakes spy thriller.
The brilliance of this premise remains intact because every generation of children faces adults who fail to understand them.
Modern episodes could easily tackle helicopter parenting and screen time limits while they maintain the imaginative gadgets and sector-based dynamics that made every mission feel vital.
11. Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends
Checking into a mansion filled with bizarre creatures, imaginary friends wait for new children to love them once their original creators grow up. This sanctuary houses everything from adorable companions to strange monsters within its whimsical walls.
Endless possibilities exist for an expansion of this concept, especially by introducing new friends who reflect modern childhood anxieties.
By exploring how technology affects imagination and diverse family structures, a reboot could preserve the heartwarming message about growing up without losing one’s creative spark.
12. Invader Zim
Plotting Earth’s conquest while disguised as a human child, an incompetent alien worked alongside a robot sidekick who masqueraded poorly as a dog. The show’s dark humor and gothic aesthetic created a cult classic that traditional networks struggled to categorize.
Streaming platforms now eagerly embrace the weird, niche content that broadcast television once rejected.
A reboot could still land, but note the franchise already returned with the Netflix film Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus in 2019, so the pitch should be ‘another continuation’ rather than ‘bring it back.
13. The Proud Family
Penny Proud navigated adolescence in a loving but chaotic family that felt refreshingly real. The show tackled race, identity, and growing up with humor and heart, creating representation that resonated deeply with Black audiences while entertaining everyone.
The reboot is ongoing: Louder and Prouder premiered in 2022 and has continued with later-season renewals, so a spinoff angle fits better than a reboot pitch.
However, spin-offs focusing on other family members or exploring Penny’s parents’ younger years could further expand this universe that celebrates Black culture beautifully.
14. Jimmy Neutron
Inventing incredible gadgets in his backyard laboratory, a boy genius frequently discovered that his creations caused more problems than they solved. These adventures taught young viewers that intelligence requires wisdom, friendship, and the occasional admission that one has accidentally endangered the entire town.
Because STEM education has become increasingly important, Jimmy’s return feels perfectly timed for a modern audience.
By showcasing diverse young scientists working together, a reboot could explore ethical questions about technology while inspiring a new generation of innovators to avoid shrinking their parents.
15. The Backyardigans
Five animal friends transformed suburban backyards into elaborate fantasy worlds where they explored pirate ships and medieval castles through catchy songs. This series introduced preschoolers to sophisticated musical styles like jazz and reggae without ever talking down to its young audience.
Musical theater has exploded in popularity, which creates the perfect conditions for a successful comeback.
A reboot could introduce new genres and diverse cultural stories to reinforce the message that imagination transforms ordinary spaces – a lesson that remains vital in our screen-dominated era.
16. Lilo & Stitch: The Series
After the movie ended, Lilo and Stitch hunted down 625 genetic experiments scattered across Hawaii to find where each one truly belonged. Every episode delivered action and humor alongside heartfelt lessons about the true meaning of ‘ohana.
Powerful themes of adoption and acceptance ensure this franchise remains relevant today.
An older Lilo could pass these lessons to a new generation in a continuation that explores experiments in global locations and introduces diverse cultures.
17. Power Rangers Dino Thunder
Inside the classroom, a veteran Ranger served as a high school teacher to mentor a new generation of heroes.
Through the use of dinosaur-powered abilities, these students protected Earth while the show balanced nostalgic callbacks with fresh character arcs for everyone.
Within the massive Power Rangers franchise, the unique blend of legacy and new blood found in Dino Thunder deserves a modern revisit. Beyond the original run, a sequel could follow the team as adults who train new recruits while navigating the difficult balance between personal lives and world-saving duties.
18. Zoey 101
Life at Pacific Coast Academy changed forever when the campus went co-ed, thrusting Zoey Brooks into a world of boarding school adventures and close-knit friendships.
Although flip phones and boy band posters firmly rooted the show in the early 2000s, its exploration of growing up remains timeless. Nostalgia for the series runs deep today, especially since boarding school dramas have never gone out of style.
A ‘next generation’ angle can work, but the property already returned via the Zoey 102 film in 2023, so the sharper pitch is a series follow-up building on that update.
19. Drake & Josh
Opposite personalities defined two stepbrothers who shared a room and endless misadventures to prove that family transcends blood relations.
Drake’s cool-guy antics clashed beautifully with Josh’s lovable awkwardness, which ensured the comedy felt genuine rather than forced.
Sibling comedies remain television staples because family chaos is universally relatable to everyone. A continuation could show the pair as adults raising their own blended families to explore how those childhood dynamics evolve – especially since Josh probably still gets blamed for everything in his thirties.
20. Dora The Explorer
Preschoolers learned Spanish from this bilingual adventurer and her monkey sidekick as they solved puzzles and outsmarted a sneaky fox together.
Encouraging young viewers to participate in the journey transformed education into an active game instead of a passive lesson.
Interconnected worlds make language learning more valuable now than ever before. Modernized episodes could introduce additional languages and diverse cultural traditions while keeping the interactive format that originally compelled millions of children to shout answers at their television screens.
