The 7 Best Cartoon Channels for Adults and Kids Alike:

And Where to find them

Devisadaria Duchine-Khauli

10 July 2025

The 7 Best Cartoon Channels for Adults and Kids Alike

Whether you're a lifelong animation fan; like myself, a parent, or just looking for something fun to watch, there’s never been a better time to tune into cartoons. From educational classics to outrageous late-night animation, these seven channels serve up something for everyone, kids, adults, and in between.

7. Nickelodeon & Noggin

Nickelodeon has been a cornerstone of children’s television for decades. Known for iconic hits like SpongeBob SquarePants, Rugrats, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, it blends entertainment with the kind of humor kids love and adults secretly enjoy too.

Nickelodeon also co-owns Noggin, a streaming platform focused on preschool content. It’s a great choice for families who want something playful and age-appropriate for their youngest viewers.

Where to watch:

Nickelodeon: Available on most cable packages (like Xfinity, DirecTV, Spectrum)
Streaming: Philo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV
Noggin: Available as a standalone app ($7.99/month), or as a Prime Video Channel add-on
Cost: Varies. You can get Nickelodeon through live TV streaming bundles (starting around $25–$70/month). Noggin is separate and subscription-based.

6. PBS Kids

If you’re after cartoons that teach while they entertain, PBS Kids is hard to beat. Shows like Arthur, Wild Kratts, and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood have earned loyal followings thanks to their focus on social-emotional

learning, science, and literacy. PBS Kids may not offer flashy animations, but its programming delivers real value — especially for early learners.

Where to watch:

Over-the-air with an antenna (check your local PBS station)
Streaming for free at pbskids.org and through the PBS Kids Video App
Cost: Free

5. Boomerang

Boomerang is a love letter to classic cartoons. It’s the place to find old-school gems like The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry, and Looney Tunes. Perfect for anyone craving Saturday morning style nostalgia cartoon viewing, Boomerang is your channel.

friendly while also appealing to adults who grew up on these characters. It’s a comfy throwback channel that still holds up.

Where to watch:

Available via Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and certain cable packages
Standalone Boomerang App: $5.99/month or $49.99/year
Cost: Free with some cable packages; $5.99/month for streaming-only app

4. Disney XD

Disney XD mixes action-packed animation with a splash of sci-fi and superhero flair. It’s geared toward older kids and tweens, with hits like Phineas and Ferb, Star Wars Rebels, Moon Girl

And Devil Dinosaur, and DuckTales (2017). While some titles are exclusive to Disney+, Disney XD still offers a strong lineup for fans of imaginative, fast-paced storytelling.

Where to watch:

Available via cable providers like Comcast, DirecTV, and Spectrum
Streaming through Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, Sling TV
Some content is also on Disney+
Cost: Included with cable or live TV bundles; Disney+ starts at $7.99/month

3. Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the go-to platform for anime fans. From classics like Naruto and Lupin, the Third to recent hits like Gachiakuta and Toilet-bound Hanako-kun. While its shows aren’t usually geared toward young children, older teens and adults will find a rich selection of Japanese animation old and new; from shonen battle series like

My Hero Academia to more mature dramas like Attack on Titan. It’s not just a streaming service; it’s a global anime community.

Where to watch:

Streaming at crunchyroll.com or through the Crunchyroll app
Cost: Free with ads; Premium plans start at $7.99/month for ad-free viewing and early access to new episodes

2. Adult Swim / Cartoon Network

By day, it’s Cartoon Network, which runs family-friendly cartoons during the day with hits like Teen Titans Go!, Craig of the Creek, and The Amazing World of Gumball. But come nightfall, it becomes Adult Swim, where edgy, surreal

comedies like Rick and Morty, Smiling Friends, and Bob's Burgers rule the screen. It’s one of the few channels that deliberately caters to both kids and adults, just not at the same time.

Where to watch:

Included with most cable/satellite packages
Streaming via Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and HBO Max (some Adult Swim shows)
Cost: Included with cable or streaming bundles; Max (formerly HBO Max) starts at $9.99/month

1. 🌟MeTV Toons

Hands down, topping the list is MeTV Toons. MeTV Toons is a channel that spans generations with its library of classic and forgotten animated treasures. MeTV Toons is a little over a year old, making its debut on 25 June 2024. It is a spin-off from the MeTV network.

MeTV Toons is a free (in some areas), 24-hour American broadcast television network dedicated to classic animation, owned by Weigel Broadcasting in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. The network's programming includes content from Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbera, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Television, WildBrain, and Shout! Studios.

It offers a a wide range of animated series from the 1930s to the 2010s; from Woody Woodpecker and Betty Boop to ‘90s and 2000s favorites like Freakazoid. This channel is the ultimate nostalgia trip. It’s the kind of place where you stumble upon a cartoon you haven’t seen since childhood and immediately feel transported. Whether you’re watching with your grandparents, your kids, or just enjoying a solo throwback binge, MeTV Toons delivers a timeless animated experience.

Among my personal favorites: Speed Racer (1967 - 1978), Challenge of the Super Friends (1978 - 1980), Yogi Bear (1961-1962), The Flintstones (1960 - 1966), The Huckleberry Hound Show (1958 - 1961), and Cartoon All-Stars, which features cartoons from the 1930s thru the 1970s, such as Toom & Jerry, Looney Tunes, Mr. Magoo, Woody Woodpecker, Gerald McBoing-Boing, and Fleischer Cartoons, just to name a few. This channel almost has it all.

Where to watch:

Free over-the-air with an antenna in select cities
Available through Philo, DirecTV, and Spectrum subscriptions
Check local listings or visit metvtoons.com for availability
Cost: Free over-the-air; also available with streaming/cable packages like Philo ($28/month)

Cartoons aren’t just for kids. They’re cultural touchstones, comedic goldmines, and sometimes surprisingly insightful. Whether you're laughing at slapstick antics or getting swept up in a sci-fi anime arc, these channels prove that animation is for everyone. So go ahead... tune in, kick back, and enjoy.