Nickelodeon vs. Disney: The Ultimate '90s Showdown
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2013-07-30 11:30:31 UTC
Mac vs. PC? iPhone vs. Android? Democrat vs. Republican? These are big decisions, people.
But for a '90s kid, there was no decision more crucial than pledging allegiance to Nickelodeon or Disney Channel.
Nickelodeon aired dozens of beloved series throughout the '90s, including Rugrats, Hey Arnold, Rocket Power, All That, The Amanda Show and Clarissa Explains It All.
Disney's roster, though smaller, featured a strong rotation of Mickey Mouse Club, Flash Forward, Bug Juice, Off the Wall and The Baby-Sitters Club. Some might argue Disney's strongest shows actually extended outside of the Disney Channel, airing on networks like ABC or PBS. The channel was also famous for its original movies.
Which channel ultimately came out on top? We turn to GIFs from our favorite '90s shows to help us decide.
Nickelodeon aired 76 different shows over the course of the decade.
Image: PandaWhale
Disney aired 20 series during the same time period, including the uber-popular Mickey Mouse Club, where Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling and Christina Aguilera got their starts.
Image: britneyspearsgifs.blogspot.com
Some of Disney's biggest hits weren't originally by Disney: Boy Meets World was from ABC, Smart Guy was from WB, Bill Nye the Science Guy was from PBS and The New Adventures of Doug was based on the original Doug series from Nick.
Image: Tumblr, everytimeicomeinthekitchen
Nick's shows were original, and aired on one network.
Image: Tumblr, Kids in the '90s
Nick's programming was always light and fun, if totally bizarre.
Image: Tumblr, clarissa-sxe
Disney focused more strongly on relatable themes, like family, friendship and growing up.
Image: YouTube, BenW783a
Nick shows like Rugrats, Hey Arnold, and Rocket Power glorified being a kid, especially if you didn't have strong parental supervision.
Image: Tumblr, r4reland
But Disney shows dealt with more mature storylines that made growing up seem like the coolest thing ever.
Image: YouTube, hillybillyprofane
Even if you weren't quite ready to grow up just yet.
Image: Tumblr, joeyxparmenter
Both channels imparted crucial lessons about growing up. Clarissa Darling from Nick's Clarissa Explains It All was the big sister every '90s kid wished they had.
Image: Tumblr, peteneems
While Kristy, Mary-Anne, Claudia, Stacey, and Dawn set you straight on Disney's The Baby-Sitters Club.
Image: Tumblr, absurd noise
Nick's lineup in the afternoons featured mostly cartoons.
Image: Tumblr, itsheartacheeverymoment
Most of Disney's cartoons were based off of films and eventually syndicated onto other networks.
Image: Tumblr, bustygirlcomics
Every Nick fan's ultimate fantasy was to be a contestant on Figure It Out and get slimed.
Image: Nick
And Disney fans wanted to compete in "The Head-to-Head Challenge" on Off the Wall.
Image: YouTube, gameshowkid
Even though both channels aimed to be somewhat educational...
Image: Tumblr, fuckyeahbillnye
Disney's Bill Nye beat Nick's All That's "Everyday French with Pierre Escargot" every time.
Image: Tumblr, catpacks
Disney Channel Original Movies sparked a love of great film for all 90s kids-turned-film studies majors. They simply cannot be beat.
Image: Tumblr, frickyeah1990s
Of all the outrageous Disney Channel Original Movie plots, The Thirteenth Year, featuring a 13-year-old boy who transforms into a merman, was the coolest.
Image: YouTube, DisneyCzech
By contrast, Nick made an original movie called Cry Baby Lane about a pair of conjoined twins who get sawed in half and buried. It was considered too disturbing for children and only aired once. Not cool, guys.
Image: Tumblr, bbqdip
Kids of the early '90s grew up with the original Doug on Nick.
Image: Tumblr, Elora Borealis
After the show went off-air, Disney purchased the rights and re-aired it on both Disney and ABC throughout the late '90s.
Image: Tumblr, northgang
Nick's off-beat sense of humor was parent-friendly.
Image: Tumblr, the90swere-allthat
But few parents could make it through an overly-dramatic episode of So Weird.
Image: YouTube, WintersAngel6302
All in all, Nick ruled the '90s.
Image: Tumblr, m.j.t.
But don't sweat it Disney fans, you totally ruled the '00s.
Image: Tumblr, My Life Through Lizzie McGuire
Homepage image: Mashable composite: Flickr, osca_vb; Joel
Topics: 90s, disney channel, GIFs, nickelodeon, the 90s, Television, Watercooler
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