cartoonson.net
This is a massively widespread misconception that cartoons are only meant for children. This is not the case at all. Just because a show or a series happens to be animated, it does not mean that only children can enjoy it. Sure, this is generally the case with certain animated shows. However, I have no interest personally in watching, say, something like Peppa Pig or Caillou - but that is only because those are examples of cartoons that are, in fact, made specifically for children and I do not have any nostalgic relationship with them.
If I had grown up watching Peppa Pig or Caillou as a child, perhaps I would be marginally interested in watching an episode here and there, just for old time's sake. Sure, these shows do not fully captivate me now that I am a grown man, but they can be fun to revisit once in a while.
Cartoons for adults have become an extremely popular genre among adults, and many of the shows are so mature that I would never dream of letting my own little ones catch a glimpse of them. Some of my favorite shows happen to be animated - I'm talking shows like Family Guy, South Park, The Simpsons, Bojack Horseman, American Dad, Rick and Morty, Bob's Burgers, and Archer. This type of animation allows for a great deal of absurdist surrealism and outrageously over the top scenarios that live-action shows can't quite match.
The other reason that I sometimes watch cartoons these days is that I have children now. There are not many greater feelings than being able to share the shows of my childhood with my son. Seeing his face light up or watching him become overtaken with laughter by one of my own animated childhood heroes is such a gift. It is one of those wonderful things, to be able to bridge the generational gap between us and pass down cultural pastimes from father to son. And the link of animation makes this easy - there is a somewhat timeless quality to a good cartoon.
This is why I am constantly on the hunt for solid free cartoon streaming sites - especially ones that offer a good blend of both new and older series. This has been a surprisingly difficult balance to strike, though, finding a site that has age-appropriate content for my son, as well as shows that I can enjoy once I put him down for his nap.
After much deliberation, I have found a contender in the free animated streaming site, Cartoons On. Its broad range of content and diversity in types of entertainment make it an excellent resource for cartoon fans. I encourage you to check it out and see if it meets your needs as well.
History
Unfortunately, little information is available online about the history of Cartoons On. However, I can tell you that the site has been around for at least the past six years and its trademark was filed in 2014-2020.
Design
I think that the site, as a whole, has a sharp look about it. A lot of cartoon streaming sites often look overly childish in their attempts to emulate the kind of content they specialize in. This is thankfully not the case with Cartoons On. It has a fresh, sparse, and minimalistic look to it. Much like the range of content that Cartoons On provides, their web design also strikes the perfect balance, being easy enough for a child to navigate but also sophisticated and professional looking enough to appeal to adults.
A simple white background is highlighted with the occasional burst of vivid blue. This makes certain elements of the site pop right off the page, highlighting the site's organizational system. A convenient site menu bar makes browsing the site's huge catalog of cartoons as easy as it should be. Search Cartoons On by clicking on either Home, browsing By Studio, Characters, Shows, Contact, or Blog.
Or you can use the site's search bar to quickly type in a specific show that you have in mind. Or you can just scroll down the home page and check out some of Cartoons On?s recently featured shows. As far as free streaming sites are concerned, it doesn't get much better than this, design-wise.
Content
I enjoyed exploring the extensive content on this website. There is something for everyone, including shows like Ben 10, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Duck Tales, and Scooby-Doo for children, and shows like Family Guy, Rick and Morty, Archer, and American Dad for adults. Additionally, Cartoons On offers a great way to revisit memories by providing plenty of original Tom and Jerry episodes, The Flinstones, and Bugs Bunny episodes.
Cartoons On hosts a variety of animated content, including TV series and movies. If it's animated and Cartoons On has been able to find a reputable third-party site that is hosting it for free, you'll be able to find it here. They are always adding new content, so be sure to check back in often.
Desktop and Mobile Experience
Personally, I think that Cartoons On is a site that will be best enjoyed on your computer. A tablet might work just fine, too, but in terms of getting the most out of the site, I would recommend using a laptop computer plugged into your TV with an HMDI cable. Or just throw it on your desktop computer and let the family gather round. Whatever works for you. My main point is that the mobile version of the site is not great. There are lots of ads to contend with which is true of the desktop version too - the difference lies in how much easier it is to get around pesky ads using a traditional computer versus a smartphone.
The site is plagued by popunders and ads, either way you try to view something. Almost every click results in an annoying ad or a new tab. This isn't what you want, but it's free so it's to be expected.
Pricing and Plans
Cartoons On provides videos for free without any ads.
Suggestions that I have for Cartoons On
Ads on the internet can be quite invasive and annoying. I think it would be much less intrusive and annoying if ads were made to be less intrusive and annoying.