10 Nostalgic Episodes of Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends To Watch Before The Reboot

With the recent announcement of the Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends reboot with the original creator Craig McCracken, the new series by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe will introduce new characters in a pre-school version of the show (via Variety). While fans still have questions about whether the original characters will make a return, the best way to prepare for the reboot is to rewatch the series considered one of the best-animated series of all time winning 5 Annie Awards and 7 Emmy Awards.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Cartoon Network has made a plethora of hits since, but the original series following the various hijinks of Mac and his imaginary friend Bloo was considered a Cartoon Network classic that warranted its reboot. Over thirteen years since the series ended, fans can still revisit these classic episodes that commemorate the series’s best moments as they await the reboot. All episodes are currently streaming on HBOMax.

Challenge of the Super Friends (Season 3 Episode 14)

In the season 3 finale, Nemesis, an imaginary friend, starts to attack the city until Imaginary Man stops her and saves the city. Mac becomes obsessed with him and even becomes Imaginary Friend’s sidekick, forgetting about spending time with Bloo.

RELATED: 10 Best Non-Marvel Or DC Superhero Cartoons

At first, Bloo attempts to become a superhero himself but when he fails, Bloo enlists himself as Nemesis’s sidekick and the two must fight it out in retaliation. This episode emphasizes that despite Bloo’s often selfish ways, he still cares about Mac and the friendship that the series centers itself on.

Frankie My Dear (Season 2 Episode 5)

In one of the funniest episodes of the show, when Frankie is upset she has to work on a Friday night instead of spending time with her friends, Mac offers to help her and she calls him “the best” and even kisses him on the cheek. Mac starts to develop a crush on Frankie, and so does Bloo, leading them on a wild chase around town following Frankie and attempting to foil each man she interacts with.

When they follow Frankie on a date with the “man of her dreams”, Bloo and Mac, not known for being the smartest cartoon characters, disguise themselves as “Orlando Bloo” leading to one of the most hilarious moments of the series. This episode highlights the hysterical hijinks that Bloo and Mac always find themselves in as well as being a standout episode.

Nightmare on Wilson Way (Season 5 Episode 10)

Considered one of the best Halloween episodes on Cartoon Network, Mac who gets uncharacteristically energetic when he gets on a sugar rush, is tied to Bloo’s bed on Halloween so that he cannot find any candy. Bloo, in the meantime, attempts to pull off the biggest Halloween prank which involves a zombie entering the home.

This episode, in both 2D and 3D animation, highlights every character’s unique characteristic as they attempt to get through the night such as Wilt’s kindness, Eduardo’s aloofness, and Boo’s mischiefs. Filled with hilarious moments, it reminds audiences that it will always work out for them, despite the absurd decisions that they make.

Busted (Season 1 Episode 6)

Most of the series follows Bloo who gets into trouble repeatedly, but in “Busted” Mr. Merriman, Madame Foster’s imaginary friend tells Bloo that he will expel him from the house if Bloo gets caught causing more trouble. Bloo promises to himself to be on his best behavior but his stress causes him to break Madame Foster’s bust.

Bloo and the gang get together and try to fix the bust before Mr. Merriman discovers and kicks Bloo out. Despite Bloo’s repeated selfishness, the rest of the gang still gets together to help Bloo out reminding audiences that they will always help each other out at the end of the day.

Sweet Stench of Success (Season 2 Episode 10)

When Eduardo and other imaginary friends up for adoption are put on local television, Bloo’s jealousy gets him on television and he soon becomes a major television star. When his agent Kip Snip contractually prevents him from spending any time with Mac, Bloo realizes that being famous means that he will not be able to see his friends anymore.

The episode showcases the negative side of fame when Bloo is not allowed to eat or rest. The heartwarming episode solidifies that despite Bloo’s often troublemaking schemes, he still cares for Mac and leaves his long-awaited fame in order to return to his first best friend.

House of Bloo’s (Season 1 Episodes 1-3)

Any rewatch of Foster’s should include the pilot episodes that brought the team together, also presented as a television movie. When Mac gives up Bloo to Foster’s after his mother says he is too old for imaginary friends, Mac discovers that Bloo will be adopted by another child unless Mac visits him every day. Mac’s older brother and the Duchess, an antagonistic imaginary friend, team up together to get rid of Bloo forever and it is up to Mac and his new friends to rescue him.

RELATED: Best Cartoon Network Movies Ranked According to IMDb

In these episodes, audiences meet the characters as they go on a mission to save their new friend. Fans also get to witness Bloo and Mac’s loyalty to one another which guides the rest of the series. The episodes were well-received by fans and critics alike for their adventurous and creative story and received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation in 2005.

Mac Daddy (Season 2 Episode 7)

Introducing one of the most absurd yet hilarious characters of the series, in “Mac Daddy”, Mac conjures up a new imaginary friend named Cheese whose dim-wittedness gets him caught in trouble. Alongside Bloo’s jealousy and Cheese’s inability to live on his own, Mac must figure out what to do with Cheese.

Cheese is one of the most memorable characters of the series for his ability to make children at the time laugh at his silliness. It is currently one of the highest-rated episodes of the series on IMDb and still gets adults and children laughing.

A Lost Claus (Season 3 Episode 10)

One of the most well-known episodes includes the Christmas special where Bloo attempts to scare Mr. Merriman by disguising himself as the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future to get more presents. Meanwhile, Mac spends the episode attempting to prove that Santa is real after discovering several fake ones.

RELATED: 10 Best Cartoon Network Holiday Episodes Ranked

The heart-warming and uplifting episode was played every holiday season on Cartoon Network with references to A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Christmas Carol as well. The gang is then reminded of what makes the holidays special and Bloo receives coal after being so naughty during the holiday season.

Good Wilt Hunting (Season 4 Episodes 12-13)

Premiering on Thanksgiving Day and considered some of the best episodes of the series, this episode is a necessary must-watch. When Madame Foster organizes the five-year creator picnic where creators reunite with their imaginary friends, Wilt is saddened when his owner has never come and goes on a cross-country search to find them.

Wilt has always been one of the kindest characters in the series and fans felt that Wilt’s backstory was as heartwarming as it was heartbreaking. The episode looks back at how Wilt got his unusual features and also fans get to learn the backstories of many of the characters and their creators. This episode also highlights the gang as they do everything in their power to find their friend and help him out. Its themes of abandonment and growing up made it one of the best Cartoon Network shows of all time.

Destination Imagination (Season 6 Episodes 6-7)

The first episodes to receive the PG rating rather than the typical TV-Y7 rating, the two-episode special followed Frankie after she feels devalued at the home and finds herself trapped in a magical world. Mac and the rest of the gang must then rescue her, meeting villainous foes and perils along the way.

The episodes were highly acclaimed for their edgier tone and adventure-filled storyline. They received praise from fans and critics alike and won Outstanding Animated Program at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards. The special brought the gang together in an epic story to emphasize the hilarious hijinks and neverending loyalty of the characters before the series finale a few episodes later.

NEXT: 20 Best Cartoon Network Shows From the 2000s Ranked by IMDb