Late 80s/early 90s to late 90s is considered the "golden age" because of cartoons based off of toys becoming less frequent (with the few shows based on pre-existing toys or characters becoming better written) and the sudden boom of original shows, especially on Nick, Kids WB, and Fox Kids.
In the early 90s, there was The Simpsons, Batman: The Animated Series, Eek! The Cat, Animaniacs, Rocko's Modern Life, Reboot, 2 Stupid Dogs, Ren and Stimpy, Rugrats, Sonic (weekday and SAT AM) etc.
The mid 90s introduced cartoons like Pinky and the Brain, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Dexter's Lab, Johnny Bravo, KaBlam!, Arthur, Hey Arnold!, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, The Tick, Freakazoid!, etc.
The late 90s ended the era with Futurama, The Angry Beavers, Spongebob Squarepants, The Powerpuff Girls, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Recess, Ed, Edd, n' Eddy, Men in Black: The Series, The Magic School Bus, etc.
Most of these cartoons were praised for their creativity (Dexter, KaBlam!, Powerpuff Girls), wide-audience appeal (The Simpsons, Animaniacs, Spongebob, Pinky and the Brain), satirization (Johnny Bravo, The Tick, Freakazoid!), darker writing (Batman, Sonic SAT AM), at the time left-field animation techniques and art styles (Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Ren and Stimpy, Ed,Edd, n' Eddy), down to earth settings (Hey Arnold!), surreality (Rocko's Modern Life, Courage, Sonic WKD), and continuity (Arthur, Futurama). Many of the people who worked on these shows still have a career in television and have won awards for their past and current accomplishments.
