Random! Cartoons

Random! Cartoons gathers short animated pieces from a variety of creators and presents them as a rotating showcase on Nicktoons. Rather than following a single storyline, each episode mixes independent shorts that span slapstick comedy, mystery-tinged segments, and action geared toward younger viewers. The series gives animators room to test unusual ideas, characters, and visual styles, so some entries are frenetic and silly while others slow down for moodier, adventurous beats. Episodes are compact and idea-driven, meant to highlight fresh concepts instead of stretching one premise across many minutes. Some shorts doubled as potential pilots for longer-form ideas, keeping the lineup lively and experimental on TV.

Created by Fred Seibert, Random! Cartoons was produced by Frederator Studios with Nickelodeon Animation Studios for the Nicktoons Network, premiering on December 6, 2008, and positioning itself as a successor to the short-form showcase approach of Oh Yeah! Cartoons.

It didn't attract major industry awards like Emmys or Golden Globes, so it isn't remembered for trophy wins, but individual shorts and creators earned attention from animation blogs, niche festivals, and online fan communities that celebrated inventive design and offbeat storytelling, and at small screenings and showcases.

As a visible incubator for short-form animation, Random! Cartoons reinforced the anthology model on cable and gave aspiring animators a public platform. Fans and creators cite it as a place where playful risks were rewarded, and its format encouraged experimentation in tone, pacing, and genre within family-friendly programming.

Viewer response has been modest but positive, reflected in a 7.3/10 user score from a small sample of votes. Critics and fans noted uneven quality between shorts, but they also praised the show's variety, sense of humor, and willingness to mix mystery and action aimed at kids.