Short answers, pulled from the story.
Crusader Rabbit was the first animated television series produced in 1950. It aired from 1950 to 1959 and established the very first animated television series before animation existed only in movie theaters.
The Flintstones premiered in 1960 and became the first animated sitcom to air on prime time television. It ran until 1966 and introduced a family of stone-age humans who lived in a modern suburban setting.
The Simpsons began in 1989 and became a cultural phenomenon during the 1980s and 1990s. This era saw the rise of shows like The Simpsons and South Park which debuted in 1997.
Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion introduced complex science fiction and drama to international audiences. These shows often featured longer story arcs and more intricate character development than their American counterparts.
Web series such as Happy Tree Friends emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These shows often featured shorter episodes lasting only five minutes and were designed to be consumed quickly and shared easily among online communities.