Ten of the Best Cartoons of All Time Number Five The Rowdyruff Boys

One of the most difficult obstacles for writers is trying to invent worthy adversaries for extraordinarily powerful heroic characters. The Rowdyruff Boys, created by Mojo Jojo to defeat the Powerpuff Girls in an episode of the popular Cartoon Network series, represent one of the most successful efforts. After dozens of episodes where the Powerpuff Girls almost effortlessly defeat opponent after opponent, their loss in the first battle with the Rowdyruff Boys provided one of the series' most extraordinary moments of suspense.

This series is also notable for its seamless blend of parody, sarcasm and just plain great writing. Like Dexter's Laboratory, the series also features a number of anime influences.

The Powerpuff Girls began as a college animation project and became not only a successful animated series, but the anchor of a prime-time lineup of spectacularly successful franchises like Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo and Courage the Cowardly Dog that helped make Cartoon Network the number one cable network in the country.