Clone High

Clone High reimagines famous historical figures as suburban American teens attending the same high school. The show follows cloned versions of Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, JFK, Gandhi and others as they bicker, date, scheme and deal with typical high school problems while their larger-than-life legacies peek through. Humor comes from the weird contrast between historic reputations and petty adolescent impulses, with fast jokes, soap opera plots and pop culture references keeping each episode unpredictable and silly without giving away major twists or endings.

Premiering in 2002, Clone High was created by Phil Lord, Bill Lawrence and Christopher Miller, and it aired on MTV. The voice cast included Will Forte as Abe, Christa Miller as Cleopatra and Michael McDonald as Gandhi, delivering a distinct, irreverent animated style.

The series developed a dedicated fan base and stirred controversy for its offbeat portrayals, notably of Gandhi, which sparked public backlash at the time. That mix of shock value and satire helped the show stick in people's memories and contributed to its status as a cult favorite among animation fans.

Critics and viewers appreciated Clone High's sharp satire and rapid-fire jokes, reflected in a solid user rating around 7.5 out of 10 from online voters. The show tackles identity, celebrity culture and teenage melodrama by turning historical figures into exaggerated high school archetypes. Episodes range from sitcom-style setups to absurdist sketches, so episodes can be silly one moment and oddly insightful the next.

During its original run the series did not win major industry awards, but it left an outsized influence compared with its short episode count. Fans and later creators often cite it as an early example of subversive, self-aware animated comedy that pushed boundaries for what a cartoon for teens could be.