The 1990s was a decade of great Disney shows from childhood, as they were engineered with ahead-of-its-time morals and storylines. While kids don't usually look for material that will benefit a changing world, they're likely to engage with the characters. Characters in children's programming must follow certain emotional and physical criteria, so younger audiences can relate.
My experience from watching shows in the early 1990s might differ, as I loved to give myself a deeper understanding of the situations unfolding, as I was observant. Disney created a world (and still does) that connects thought to the screen. The messages are synced through whether the material is focused on the English language, prejudice, environmental causes and effects, or everyday life.
Recently, I gave a rewatch of three 90s-era Disney shows that were part of my childhood. As an adult looking back, my younger emotions haven't changed, nor have they as an adult.
5 1990s Disney shows that shaped childhood and why every child should watch now
Dinosaurs
1991-1994 (ABC)
Dinosaurs was an innovative live-action dramedy that was the last idea of the Jim Henson-the man behind the Muppets. His initial vision was to create a family show that would circle in core values but with prehistoric dinosaurs in place of people. Initially, the idea was considered inconceivable, but producers changed their minds when The Simpsons premiered right after Henson's idea.
Unfortunately, Henson passed away before he saw his last big idea come to full fruition, but without him, Dinosaurs would've been extinct.
In Dinosaurs, the plot focuses on Earl Sinclair, a middle-class Megalosaurus family man. His wife, Fran, his son, Robbie, his daughter, Charlene, and his youngest son, Baby, join his family. Later, his wisecracking mother-in-law, Ethyl, would join the herd. The combination created some groundbreaking storylines and scenarios.
The themes underlying the storylines were featured on issues people still struggle with today, such as racism, economic stress, environmental activism, disability, and many more. Dinosaurs may not have been the first show to implement the themes, but they were one of the firsts of the decade to address them to younger audiences.
As a last note, Disney obtained the rights to The Simpsons in 2019, so in a way, Henson subconsciously predicted its fate.
Adventures In Wonderland
1992-1995 (Disney Channel)
I was fortunate to have the Disney Channel when it was a premium cable option before transitioning to basic in 1998. As a premium, the channel was filled with top-notch shows and immersive content that appealed to young children. Strong educational and ethical values also backed the shows, so watching was not only a fun pastime but also meaningful.
Adventures In Wonderland was one of these immersive contented shows, based on the Alice In Wonderland novels by Lewis Carroll and the 1951 Disney production. Yet, Adventures had a modernized twist and being created in the 1990s, exploded out of the box, or should I say, "mirror" with its themes.
The English Language and all of its wonderful forms, including enunciation and grammar, was the main lesson being taught. As an avid reader, editor, and journalist, I found educating kids on how to use our language properly was a fantastic attribute. Aside from that, other socialistic themes were covered, such as disabilities (Disabled actors had roles in Adventures), prejudice, addictions, nutrition, animal welfare, and a slew of other essential narratives.
Characters included all of Carroll's classics-Alice, The Red Queen, The White Rabbit, March Hare, the Mad Hatter, the Chesire Cat (in animatronic form), the caterpillar, the Duchess, the Tweedles, Dormouse, the Walrus, and even Dinah, who breathed in a new re-imagination with their costumes, dancing, and comedic timing. The results gravitated to kids and adults as well, as they watched Adventures In Wonderland with them.
Boy Meets World
1993-2000 (ABC)
Boy Meets World defined TV childhood in the 1990s for seven years and seasons. Interestingly, you began as a kid when the first season premiered, and by the series finale, you were nearly an adult or about to enter college. The same occurred to the characters on-screen, which made Boy Meets World relatable to its fanbase.
Moreover, Corey, Topanga, Shawn, and even Corey's brother, Eric, gained most of their inspiration and composition from their beloved teacher and mentor, Mr. Feeney. He was wise but up to beat with his curriculum, and everyone that I knew wanted a Mr. Feeney or Edna Krabappel from The Simpsons as their teachers. That's how important Mr. Feeney was as a character and the actor who portrayed him, William Daniels.
As for the subject matter, Boy Meets World was told through the eyes of an eleven-year-old kid growing up in Philadelphia and endured pretty much what kids went through. While some of the storylines were hard to digest, they were determined to get their points across. Amazingly, but not surprisingly, they did, and the payoffs were emotional.
Dinosaurs, Adventures In Wonderland, and Boy Meets World all can be streamed in their entirity on Disney+, taking in a new generation of fans.