A couple misconceptions about animation. One: It's not a genre, it's a medium. It's a method of telling different stories in different genres, just like "live-action filmmaking." So if there are any Blockbuster Video managers reading this, first of all: How are you holding up? Second of all: Organize your animated films within their actual specific genres, please! And two: While we are appreciative of the many family-friendly, kid-focused animated TV shows, animation is not just for kids. In fact, we've all been lucky enough to be living through a golden age of adult animated television. If you're looking to dive into some imaginative, shocking, transgressive, often hilarious, and always entertaining animated TV shows for adults, look no further. Check out the best animated shows for adults streaming right now — and try not to turn into a pickle while you binge-watch.
For more recommendations, check out our lists of the best shows on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and HBO.
Editor's note: This article was updated August 2023 to include The Great North.
Netflix
Human Resources (2022-present)
Creators: Jennifer Flackett, Kelly Galuska, Andrew Goldberg, Nick Kroll
Cast: Aidy Bryant, Randall Park, Keke Palmer, Ali Wong, Pamela Adlon
Spun off from Big Mouth, the hit adult animated series about tweens going through puberty, Human Resources explores the world of Big Mouth’s monsters. Building on the intricate foundation set by the original series, Human Resources is a workplace comedy centering around the Lovebugs, Logic Rocks, Ambition Gremlins, and their cohort, more so than the Hormone Monsters featured in Big Mouth. In the first season of Human Resources, Lovebug Emmy (Aidy Bryant) is assigned to a human adult, Becca (Ali Wong), as she gets closer to giving birth to her first child. With neither of them prepared for the responsibilities in front of them, hilarious yet poignant shenanigans ensue. – Yael Tygiel Watch on Netflix
Inside Job (2021-present)
Creators: Alex Hirsch, Shion Takeuchi
Cast: Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater, Clark Duke, Tisha Campbell
With an art style and sense of humor not too dissimilar from adult science-fiction comedy Rick and Morty, Inside Job hails from the minds of Alex Hirsch (The Owl House) and Shion Takeuchi (Gravity Falls). Although the animation on Inside Job is more grounded, the premise and ridiculous humor defy gravity. Inside Job follows the employees of Deep State, whose sole responsibilities are to keep conspiracies a secret. Overflowing with clever writing and bursting with talent, Inside Job employs the voice talent of Lizzy Caplan (Fleishman Is in Trouble), Christian Slater (Mr. Robot), Clark Duke, and Tisha Campbell. – Yael Tygiel Watch on Netflix
Aggretsuko (2018-present)
Created by: Rareko
Cast: Kaolip/Erica Mendez; Komegumi Koiwasaki/Tara Platt; Maki Tsuruta/G.K. Bowes; Shingo Kato/Ben Diskin; Rareko/Jamison Boaz
Aggretsuko is a great starter show if you’re new to the world of anime and a great option for changing things up if you’re an anime fan looking for something new to watch. Of all the cartoons to really offer some solidarity when exploring the trickiness and subtle frustrations of adulthood, I never expected to peg the anime series Aggretsuko as the one to nail it perfectly. This fresh and fun anime series follows Retsuko, a shy and polite accountant who deals with the frustrations of working in an office with a terrible boss and ignorant co-workers by going to karaoke bars after working and singing death metal. Yes, that is a very real sentence I just wrote and yes, it should immediately have you running to Netflix to binge both seasons (and a perfect Christmas special!). This is an animated series which articulates how frustrating an overbearing or terrible boss can be (Retsuko’s boss is literally a pig, FYI), what it’s like to feel like you’re suffering from imposter syndrome, what it’s like to navigate anxiety or depression while trying to remain productive, or even what it feels like when you're trying to meet whatever dumb standards of successful adulthood look like and ultimately realizing every one of those standards are dumb, dumb, dumb. Retsuko is the metal singing panda hero we need right now because she gets it. Her rollercoaster initiation into adulthood is (probably) very similar to our own respective initiations into adulthood. Aggretsuko is the kind of slyly therapeutic animated series you need right now because of this, so just click “Play”, whydontcha? - Allie Gemmill Watch on Netflix
Arcane (2021-present)
Created by: Christian Linke, Alex Yee
Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Kevin Alejandro, Jason Spisak
An absolutely stunning animated steampunk series, Arcane is loosely based on the hugely popular video game. Building on the foundation of the game, Arcane’s writing team, led by newcomer Alex Lee, crafted a deep and intricate backstory. Starring Hailee Steinfeld (Pitch Perfect 3) and Kevin Alejandro (Lucifer), Arcane travels narratively across an upper city, a utopian place called Piltover, as well as the lower class underground dwellings of Zaun. Along with an abundance of canon to pull from, this surprisingly entertaining science-fiction fantasy series tackles topics like classism and crime while stuffing the first season with easter eggs for game fans. – Yael Tygiel Watch on Netflix
Tuca & Bertie (2019-2022)
Created by: Lisa Hanawalt
Cast: Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong, Steven Yeun, Reggie Watts, Nicole Byer, John Early, Lisa Hanawalt, Richard E. Grant
Hailing from BoJack Horseman producer and animator Lisa Hanawalt is Tuca & Bertie, one of the best animated shows of 2019 (and one of the most irksome cancellations on 2019). The series puts Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong in the driver’s seat as best bird friends Tuca (Haddish) and Bertie (Wong). Tuca is a toucan with a big personality, big dreams, but little in the way of proper life skills. Meanwhile, Bertie is a shy bird who lives with her sweet, supportive boyfriend, Speckles (Steven Yeun) who loves to bake and has a hard time speaking up for himself. Together, these two lady friends make a dynamic duo, their adventures over the course of Tuca & Bertie’s lone season making for a thoroughly exciting watch. But Tuca & Bertie eventually peels back its zany layers to reveal a show which readily tackles pressing issues unique to the female and/or adult experience, like healing from childhood trauma, breaking free from toxic relationships, and advocating for your needs. As the series creator, Hanawalt transfers lots of things BoJack fans love about the series — a distinct animation style, great visual gags and running bits, and a heartfelt, intense narrative at the core of the show — into Tuca & Bertie, making this a must-watch series. - Allie Gemmill Watch on Netflix
Big Mouth (2017-present)
Created by: Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett
Cast: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Jessi Klein, Jason Mantzoukas, Jenny Slate, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, Jordan Peele
Big Mouth is a fascinating mix of a show that is, on the one hand, extremely graphic, but on the other hand aimed directly at kids. This animated series is a no-holds-barred look at impending adolescence and hormones as told through the eyes of three young pre-teens, two boys and a girl. It covers everything from periods to masturbation to young love, and while it doesn’t hold back in accurately portraying the fear and shame that come with budding hormones, there’s also a sweetness throughout the whole thing. It’s graphic but never “gross” if that makes any sense. But even though it resonates strongly with young ‘uns going through these ups and downs, it should also be mighty familiar for adults who recognize their same past struggles portrayed onscreen. Oh, and it’s also absolutely hilarious. – Adam Chitwood Watch on Netflix
BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
Created by: Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Cast: Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins, Aaron Paul
“Oh look!” you say, searching for something to watch on Netflix. “A silly animated comedy about a talking horse who’s now a washed-up actor voiced by Gob from Arrested Development! Sounds fun!” Stop! Because you are half-right. But the other half… will knock you on your ass. BoJack Horseman is indeed a silly animated comedy about a talking horse who’s now a washed-up actor voiced by Will Arnett. He tries to put back his career and keep his life on track, supported by cat agent Amy Sedaris, will-they-won’t-they socially progressive love interest Alison Brie, cheerfully dumb dog actor Paul F. Tompkins, and slacker roomie Aaron Paul. And all of this is bolstered by wildly imaginative visual gags (the underwater episode? Fuhgeddaboutit) and acerbic jokes about Hollywood’s worst impulses. But BoJack Horseman is also one of the darkest, deepest, and most thorough examinations of darkness in any TV show I’ve ever seen, talking horse or not. The show dives headfirst into depression, substance abuse, sexism, racism, suicidal ideation, Alzheimers, and many more potentially triggering subjects with shocking clarity and empathetic sensitivity -- one episode, appropriately titled “That’s Too Much, Man!”, rendered me literally speechless for an hour or so after watching. If you like to chase your chai lattes with blacker-than-black coffee, BoJack Horseman is your new favorite show. - Gregory Lawrence Watch on Netflix
Cowboy Bebop (2021)
Created by: Hajime Yatate
Cast: Kōichi Yamadera/Steve Blum, Unshō Ishizuka/Beau Billingslea, Megumi Hayashibara/Wendee Lee, Aoi Tada/Melissa Fahn
Cowboy Bebop takes all of the things that are cool in the world, puts them in a cool-ass space blender, and, wouldn’t you know it, makes a show that’s beyond cool. Following the travels and travails of Spike Spiegel and an intergalactic bounty hunting crew, Cowboy Bebop feels like classic noir, contemporary cyberpunk neo-noir, melancholy 1970s case-of-the-week TV crime dramas, and Westerns -- all scored with unbelievable jazz sounds from maestro Yoko Kanno. But Cowboy Bebop ain’t just an exercise in style (though it’s very good at that). Spike’s story is fundamentally tragic, deep, and bittersweet -- and his supporting characters, especially Jet Black, get plenty of opportunities to interrogate the traumas of their past, too. At a clean and tight 26 episodes, the series knows exactly what it wants to say and says it perfectly, while giving ample time for experimental, character-driven, self-contained adventures, too. Also -- and I don’t mean to poke the sub/dub hornet’s nest -- but this is one anime I do prefer watching with the English voice cast dubbing. See you, space cowboy. - Gregory Lawrence Watch on Netflix
F Is for Family (2015-2021)
Created by: Bill Burr, Michael Price
Cast: Bill Burr, Laura Dern, Justin Long, Debi Derryberry, Sam Rockwell, Haley Reinhart, Mo Collins
F Is for Family... and it's also for Favorite, as in, this is my favorite animated series right now, edging out fellow Netflix series Big Mouth. My only beef with the show is that we don't get enough of it! It premiered nearly two years before Big Mouth, and yet there have been five fewer episodes! That said, the wait between seasons has been worth it, as the writers have done a brilliant job creating compelling storylines for the blue-collar Murphy family, led by co-creator Bill Burr as Frank, a miserable veteran with a quick temper and a foul mouth who works at the airport. Frank and his wife Sue (Laura Dern) have three kids, Kevin (Justin Long), Bill (Haley Reinhart) and Maureen (Debi Derryberry), all of whom are quite different and follow the Simpsons model of the delinquent, the sensitive one, and Daddy's harmless little princess. Burr's gruff Boston accent is well-suited for animation and serves the character of Frank quite well, given his anger issues. The title sequence alone, set to Redbone's catchy "Come and Get Your Love," does an expert job of relaying the day-to-day anxieties of middle age. Meanwhile, as of February, the cast now boasts two Oscar winners between Dern and Sam Rockwell, who plays scene-stealing womanizer Vic Reynolds. A third Oscar winner, Allison Janney, is among the many guest stars who have lent their distinctive voices to the show, including Vince Vaughn, T.J. Miller and Michael K. Williams. F is for Family may play rough from time to time -- especially given its time, the 1970s -- but there's an underlying sweetness to the show that makes us root for this dysfunctional family. F may be for Family, but it's also for Funny, and personally, I can't wait for season Four. - Jeff Sneider Watch on Netflix
Love, Death & Robots (2019-present)
Created by: Tim Miller
Executive produced by Tim Miller (Deadpool) and legendary filmmaker David Fincher, the animated anthology series Love, Death & Robots is kind of the perfect catch-all for sci-fi fans. Each episode is an animated short film that hails from a different writer and director, and the theme holding them all together is the idea of sci-fi technology. As a result you get a wide range of tone from uber-violent to romantic to hysterically funny. Some are only a few minutes long, while others are longer, offering diversity in length as well. And yes, this is a show for adults. Sex, death, and violence are recurring themes throughout, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given that the show hails from Fincher and Miller. – Adam Chitwood Watch on Netflix
One-Punch Man (2015-2019)
Created by: ONE
Cast: Makoto Furukawa/Max Mittelman, Kaito Ishikawa/Zach Aguilar
One-Punch Man is, without hyperbole, the greatest anime ever made. The series follows Saitama, a superhero who can defeat literally any foe with a single punch. Consequently, Saitama is thoroughly bored with fighting, which confounds all of the professional heroes around him. The show is absolutely hilarious - Saitama achieved his incredible power by doing a bunch of push-ups, and he does battle with ridiculous characters like Crablante, a man who became a half-crab mutant after eating too much shellfish. It’s simultaneously a parody of action anime and a solid action anime in and of itself, with gorgeously animated fight sequences featuring absurd characters like Mumen Rider, a superhero who rides a bicycle. There are currently two seasons, with a third due next year, which leaves you plenty of time to memorize the current batch of episodes before the new ones drop. - Tom Reimann Watch on Netflix
HBO Max
Velma (2023-present)
Creator: Charlie Grandy, Mindy Kaling,
Cast: Mindy Kaling, Constance Wu, Sam Richardson, Glenn Howerton
From the mind of Mindy Kaling, a former writer on The Office and co-creator of the hit HBO series The Sex Lives of College Girls, comes a new take on the classic Scooby gang. Kaling lends her voice to the titular Velma Dinkley, who takes center stage in this raunchy, violent, and often meta comedy series. She also brings a host of comedians to the booth to breathe fresh life into modernized versions of the Hannah Barbera crew, including Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians) as mean-girl Daphne Blake, Sam Richardson (Veep) as straight-edged Norville "Shaggy" Rogers, and Glenn Howerton (The Mindy Project) as spoiled man-baby Fred Jones. Watch on HBO Max
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000-2015)
Created by: Dave Willis, Matt Maiellaro
Cast: Dana Snyder, Carey Means, Dave Willis, Matt Maiellaro, George Lowe, C. Martin Croker, Andy Merrill
One of the defining shows of the Adult Swim style of bizarre, absurdist humor, Aqua Teen Hunger Force demonstrated that a cartoon show can be about absolutely nothing and still be great. Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad live together in a shitty suburban house in New Jersey under the paper-thin pretense of running a private detective agency, a premise the show completely abandons within the first few episodes. The sentient fast food items encounter everything from vampires to aliens to Glenn Danzig in a series of off-the-wall storylines that come out of nowhere and wind up in the exact same place. The main characters frequently die, the world ends several times, and everything is completely reset in the very next episode. It’s impossible to overstate the impact Aqua Teen has had on the past two decades of comedy - it’s fast, it’s sharp, and absolutely anything can happen at any time. I love this show. - Tom Reimann Watch on HBO Max
Harley Quinn (2019-present)
Created by: Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, Dean Lorey
Cast: Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Ron Funches, Alan Tudyk, Matt Oberg, Tony Hale, Diedrich Bader, Christopher Meloni, J.B Smoove
Harley Quinn is one of the best-animated shows on TV right now and easily one of the greatest to come out of the DC universe. This series follows the titular villain as she breaks up with The Joker and tries to make a name for herself among the villains of Gotham City. Harley (Kaley Cuoco) gets to discover who she is and what she wants outside of her toxic relationship - just as the character does in the film Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. Where the series outshines the film, however, is how absolutely unhinged it can be. Between a drunk and hilariously incompetent Jim Gordon (Christopher Meloni), Harley using a flamethrower to carve female anatomy into a block of ice, and a Tom Hardy-esque Bane (James Adomian) who blows up a smoothie shop after an employee makes fun of him, Harley Quinn is definitely not for kids.
This series excels at subverting expectations of familiar DC Comics characters in both bizarre and surprisingly compelling ways. Season One sees Harley create her own crew of baddies to impress the Legion of Doom and prove to The Joker (Alan Tudyk) that she’s better off without him. Her team consists of lovable cinnamon roll King Shark (Ron Funches), trained thespian Clayface (Alan Tudyk), misogynist telepath Doctor Psycho (Tony Hale), and occasionally Poison Ivy (Lake Bell). Even though Ivy typically prefers plants to people, she respects and admires Harley’s determination and wants to see her succeed. Harley and Ivy’s friendship provides an emotional balance to the raunchy humor, and quickly becomes the backbone of the series. I could go on and on about every little thing that makes Harley Quinn worth the watch, so please indulge this nerdy writer and give it a chance. You won’t regret it. — Brynna Arens Watch on HBO Max
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (2000-2007)
Created by: Michael Ouweleen, Erik Richter
Cast: Thomas Allen, Stephen Colbert, Gary Cole, Chris Edgerly, Paget Brewster, John Michael Higgins, Maurice LaMarche, Peter MacNicol
Back in the formative years of Adult Swim, when taking a library Hanna-Barbera character and putting them in a new job or context was a good enough premise to generate hilarity, Michael Ouweleen and Erik Richter made superhero Birdman his last name, threw him in a suit, gave him a law practice, and caused my guts to hurt from laughter. Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is not just a fast-paced skewering of legal procedural dramas, but a cleverly postmodern imagination of all the traumas and ringers our favorite (and obscure) childhood cartoon characters have gone through. Gary Cole gives Harvey Birdman the perfect amount of schmooziness, “lawyer salesmanship,” and pathetic desperation. And his supporting voice cast? Hoo-wee, what a roster: John Michael Higgins as Judge Mentok the Mind-taker (ooooohhooooo!), Stephen Colbert as the constantly laughing Phil Ken Sebben, Paget Brewster as the more sincere Birdgirl (getting her own spin-off, too, thank goodness) -- all of these talented folks and more are clearly having the most fun ever bringing this zaniness to life. Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law hits me right in the sweet spot of tradition and inventiveness, and I hope it does for you, too. - Gregory Lawrence Watch on HBO Max
South Park (1997-present)
Created by: Trey Parker, Matt Stone
Cast: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, Isaac Hayes, Eliza Schneider, Mona Marshall, April Stewart
It’s insane that not only has South Park been on the air since 1997, but that Trey Parker and Matt Stone have been the creative voices in charge of the series ever since. Usually a creator will leave for greener pastures, and the show becomes a shell of its former self (see: Family Guy, The Simpsons), but not with South Park. As a result, this Comedy Central series’ signature brand of off-color humor and social commentary has continued to evolve over the years, tackling various major issues, trends, and presidencies. Some episodes succeed more than others, but what’s most admirable about South Park is how Parker and Stone have continued to grow up along with the show. It’s not a coincidence that as both entered middle age, the character of Randy became far more of a protagonist than the kids. – Adam Chitwood Watch on HBO Max
Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994-2001)
Created by: Mike Lazzo
Cast: George Lowe, C. Martin Croker, Andy Merrill, Don Kennedy
Without Space Ghost Coast to Coast, a good 80% of the shows on this list do not exist. The absurdist piece of deadpan surrealism originally aired in 1994, but its bone-dry, postmodern, askew look at traditional comedy structures and “celebrity interview culture” feel like they were produced yesterday. In fact, some of the shit in SGC2C’s run is so raw and weird and experimental, I don’t see it getting produced let alone airing on television today (case in point: “Fire Ant,” in which our lead character spends the entire running time on his knees silently following an ant). Space Ghost (George Lowe), the first “Hanna-Barbera library character turned ironic comedy icon,” has transitioned from being a superhero to being a talk show host. His former arch-villains now work for him: Zorak (C. Martin Croker) is his bandleader/sidekick, and Moltar (also Croker) is his control room operator. The trio (oft joined by breakout sensation Brak, voiced by Andy Merrill) bicker and banter with each other before being joined by a disembodied, live-action celebrity guest, obviously disoriented and uncomfortable with what’s happening. It all results in genuinely transgressive-feeling television and random humor that isn’t “random humor.” Comedy nerds: Study your Bibles, now. - Gregory Lawrence Watch on HBO Max
Home Movies (1999-2004)
Created by: Brendon Small, Loren Bouchard
Cast: Brendon Small, Jon Benjamin, Melissa Bardin Galsky, Janine Ditullio, Paula Poundstone
If you’ve ever had any creative inclinations, Home Movies is required viewing. The endearing, hand-crafted (long live SquiggleVision!), and somehow nearly entirely improvised comedy series stars co-creator Brendon Small alongside his best friends Melissa Bardin Galsky and H. Jon Benjamin as eight-year-old aspiring filmmakers in an average American town. Their hopes and dreams often collide with the realities of low budgets, adults who don’t understand (especially Benjamin’s dual role as Coach McGuirk, one of the all-time best animated characters), and the burgeoning complexities of being eight friggin’ years old. The cast’s improvised antics were all recorded in the same room, resulting in some of the easiest chemistry and most spontaneous pleasures ever yielded in an animated series, particularly for a medium typically denoted by rigid production schedules and creative control. And if you’re into Small’s later, music-infused work, you’ll love the musical odysseys popping up in Home Movies. Sing it with me: He is Franz Kafka! Franz Kafka! Watch on HBO Max
Metalocalypse (2006-2013)
Created by: Brendon Small, Tommy Blacha
Cast: Brendon Small, Tommy Blacha, Mark Hamill, Victor Brandt, Malcolm McDowell
Metalocalypse, the show about a metal band so popular that it has its own economy, is brilliant in every definition of the word. The ultra-violent horror comedy satirizes metal culture as much as it embraces it - the five members of Dethklok are goofy, jaded millionaires, and their fans are insufferable geeks, but it provides creator Brenden Small with an excuse to create hours of amazing music. Seriously, all of the Dethklok songs are great, which is probably why Small has released three albums of their music, including a fourth that’s a full-blown rock opera (which serves as the de facto series finale, unless by some wonderful happenstance we get more episodes sometime in the future). The show itself revolves around Dethklok generally being huge idiots trying to navigate their way through comical hurdles, like shopping for their own groceries, getting in shape, and staging a Christmas special on live TV. They’re kept in very loose order by their put-upon manager Charles, who might be my favorite character if Dr. Rockso, the rock-n-roll clown, didn’t exist. Rockso is a straight-up indictment of David Lee Roth - a cheeseball hair metal rocker who behaves like a literal clown. As the series progresses, the mythology starts to become a bit dense, placing the five guys of Dethklok in the middle of some ancient prophecy, but it never stops being absolutely hilarious. - Tom Reimann Watch on HBO Max
Rick and Morty (2013-present)
Created by: Justin Roiland, Dan Harmon
Cast: Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke
You wouldn’t necessarily expect an animated Adult Swim series to be home to some of the best hard sci-fi on TV, but Rick and Morty is one of those shows that proves that the rules of genre are only set by the imagination of those creating it. While you’ve probably heard no end of praise for Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s insane, brilliant series by this point, Rick and Morty seemed to come out of nowhere at first, thriving on that rampant word of mouth and blossoming into one of the most beloved animated series on TV.
Following the title duo – a vulgar and alcoholic but equally brilliant scientist and his unassuming young grandson, the series follows them on adventures through time, space, and parallel dimensions, each excursion more bonkers and imaginative than the next. Veering between graphic raunchy humor, sometimes horrifyingly dark existential meditations on humanity, and an awe-inspiring imagination for science fiction concepts, Rick and Morty somehow never loses the thread, tying it all up into a one-of-a-kind emotional, visual, and intellectual experience unlike anything else on TV. – Haleigh Foutch Watch on HBO Max
Samurai Jack (2001-2017)
Created by: Genndy Tartakovsky
Cast: Phil LaMarr, Mako Iwamatsu, Greg Baldwin
“Gotta get back, back to the past, Samurai Jack.” Whenever I heard these words, rapped (by will.i.am!) over a deliciously swung funk-hip-hop beat, I knew I was in for a treat. I grew up watching Samurai Jack on Cartoon Network, and fell in love swiftly. The Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) show told a simple story of a Samurai (Phil LaMarr) against an evil overlord (Mako Iwamatsu for seasons 1-4, Greg Baldwin in the final season) using incredible, experimental animation techniques and uncommonly mature themes. In direct dialogue with classic samurai films, Hollywood remixes like Kung Fu, and the casual, freaky, wild postmodernism burgeoning in the late ’90s and early 2000s, Samurai Jack is a breath of fresh air, an animated extension of auteur theory that delves into pure darkness, daffy digressions, and “case-of-the-week” episodes that rival the best of them. While the 2017-produced Adult Swim season might traffic a little too much in “being adult for being adult’s sake,” it still sticks the landing in a remarkably emotional way. - Gregory Lawrence Watch on HBO Max
Hulu
The Great North (2021-present)
Creator: Minty Lewis, Wendy Molyneux, Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin
Cast: Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Dulce Sloan, Will Forte
The creative team behind the beloved animated family sitcom Bob’s Burgers delivers another wholesome and humorous banger, this time set in the northernmost state of the United States: Alaska! With a cast list stacked higher than a moose’s back, the series follows the Tobin family and their misadventures in the fictional small town of Lone Moose. Lending their voices to the boisterous family members are Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) as the patriarch of the family alongside Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth), Jenny Slate (Big Mouth), Paul Rust (Love), and Aparna Nancherla (Mythic Quest) as his four kids. – Tauri Miller Watch on Hulu
Little Demon (2022-present)
Creators: Darcy Fowler, Seth Kirschner, Kieran Valla
Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Lucy DeVito, Danny DeVito, Seth Kirschner
Little Demon is a twisted comedy animated series from creators Darcy Fowler, Seth Kirschner, and Kieran Valla. Launching from a delightfully ridiculous premise, Little Demon follows a reluctant mother, whose daughter is the literal spawn of Satan, as she attempts to provide her family with a normal life in Delaware. Little Demon stars Aubrey Plaza’s voice as the woman impregnated by the Devil, with Danny DeVito (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) voicing the fallen angel and his real-life daughter Lucy DeVito playing his Antichrist offspring. Guided by playfully ludicrous dialogue, Little Demon blends comedy, horror, and supernatural action for an original and entertaining adult series. – Yael Tygiel Watch on Hulu
Archer (2009-present)
Created by: Adam Reed
Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Adam Reed, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Lucky Yates
Through countless spy plots that earnestly grip, abrupt season-long time period and genre shifts, and some of the sharpest writing ever unleashed, Archer has and continues to be a powerhouse of thrilling, comedic television. Adam Reed’s creation comes from an obvious love of the spy-thriller genre, and an obvious need to dissect, explore, and absolutely eviscerate every single trope of said genre. H. Jon Benjamin, as the title role, is instantly iconic (this man has so much range just using his speaking voice), and his antiquated, problematically macho, all-American Bond is surrounded by an absolute murderer’s row of voice acting talent, from Aisha Tyler as his partner/on-again-off-again love interest, Jessica Walter as his prickly mother, Chris Parnell as the spy organization’s resident “sad/angry nice boi,” and especially Amber Nash as Pam, the unchecked, unbridled id of the show. The show’s prickly joke-writing can feel a little mean or insensitive for those not ready for their vibes, but the overall arc of “Archer learning, little by little, to be a better person” softens the blow -- and the sterling craft on display will rock you regardless, techniques like “end of one scene begins the next one” worming their way into television’s lexicon as if they’ve always existed. Plus -- some of the spy shit on this show is, like, really suspenseful and intense, especially a great season three two-parter featuring Bryan Cranston. - Gregory Lawrence Watch on Hulu
Bob's Burgers (2011-present)
Created by: Loren Bouchard, Jim Dauterive
Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Larry Murphy, David Herman
The Belcher family of Bob’s Burgers are, to put it plainly, American icons. If I have to exist in this timeline, I’m glad there is at least Bob’s Burgers to get me through it because this show is fantastic. From creators Loren Bouchard and Jim Dauterive, Bob’s Burgers follows burger joint owner Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin, also of Archer fame) and his family through the highs and lows of trying to run a restaurant in a working-class seaside town. Over the course of 10 seasons (an 11th season and a feature film are on the way!), fans have been able to delight in the hilarious misadventures of Bob, a genuinely gifted burger craftsman and somewhat bumbling but mostly lovable family man, his wife Linda (John Roberts), and children Tina (Dan Mintz), Gene (Eugene Mirman), and Louise (Kristen Schaal). There are hijinks a-plenty as the family finds themselves into the center of a new adventure every week, with the zany cranked up to 11 and the jokes coming in hot and fresh. Unlike other Fox comedies, Bob’s Burgers finds mass appeal without having to lock into a more crass or crude comedic sensibility. Instead, you can just sink into the world of Bob’s Burgers and really only risk getting hella hungry for a good burger as you watch. - Allie Gemmill Watch on Hulu
Futurama (1999-2013)
Created by: Matt Groening
Cast: Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Phil LaMarr, Lauren Tom, David Herman, Frank Welker
While it came after The Simpsons and is somewhat underrated, Futurama remains one of the best animated TV shows of all time. Matt Groening’s vision of the future—as told through the eyes of a pizza delivery man from the year 2000 who is frozen and wakes up in the year 3000—has much to say about the society we live in, and how humanity is prone to repeating the same mistakes over and over again. But it’s also just a tremendously fun show with incredible storytelling. Viewers are transported to different worlds, meet new characters, and explore fascinating sci-fi ideas and themes in each episode. And what makes Futurama endure is the strength of its core characters, and the writers’ penchant for getting emotional when appropriate makes the show all the more engaging. - Adam Chitwood Watch on Hulu
King of the Hill (1997-2010)
Created by: Mike Judge, Greg Daniels
Cast: Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon, Brittany Murphy, Johnny Hardwick, Stephen Root, Toby Huss, Tom Petty
Much of the medium of animation is a delightful playground of visual inventiveness, an excuse to manipulate physical realities in ways you never could with live-action footage. And then there’s shows like King of the Hill. Mike Judge and Greg Daniels’ ode to and dissection of good ol’ Texas living is quiet, contained, gentle, warm, and lacking the fast pace and visual trickery of many of its peers -- all for the better. Judge plays Hank Hill, a well-meaning propane salesman who’s trying to give his family a nice life while sipping beers with his friends. And throughout the show, his often-limited worldview is routinely challenged in the best, most ahead-of-its-time inclusive ways, bolstered by A+ performances from folks like Kathy Najimy, Brittany Murphy, Stephen Root, and of course, Pamela Adlon as Bobby Hill, one of our great television characters. Bobby’s explorations and discoveries of concepts like playing with gender and disavowing the idea of “work” as the end-all-be-all of American existence are both hilarious thorns in Hank’s side (“That boy ain’t right” is stuck in my brain forever) and, especially upon contemporary eyes, the kind of curiously empathetic poking of “conservative values” that need to be taking place more and more. King of the Hill, perhaps more than any other animated series produced during this time, keeps on appreciating in value. - Gregory Lawrence Watch on Hulu
The Simpsons (1989-present)
Created by: Matt Groening
Cast: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer
Whenever I see those cartoon clouds part, and those cheesily angelic voices sing the title of the family’s name, I immediately feel my heart rate lower. The Simpsons, that long-running cartoon sitcom currently streaming on Hulu, is so embedded into my DNA that watching a familiar favorite or newly discovered gem feels like slipping into the warmest, softest bed ever produced. Whether you prefer the softer, sweeter heart-on-their-sleeve early seasons, the wilder, wackier joke-a-second middle seasons, or cling to the “The Simpsons are still good” branch with all four fingers, there’s something for everyone in the series. From smart, inadvertently educational pop culture parodies to incisive examinations of the contemporary American family landscape, The Simpsons does it all, and makes me absolutely cry laughing doing so. Now, for the last time: Are you here to solve my ketchup problem? - Gregory Lawrence Watch on Hulu
Paramount+
Daria (1997-2002)
Created by: Glenn Eichler, Susie Lewis Lynn
Cast: Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, Julián Rebolledo, Marc Thompson, Alvaro J. Gonzalez
The word “icon” get throws around a lot, but Daria Morgendorffer is as legit as it gets. A seminal series of the late ‘90s, MTV’s Daria encapsulated the teen malaise and distinctly dry humor of a generation: “I’m not miserable, I’m just not like then.” A veritable factory of pithy one-liners and occasionally devastating bouts of human insight, all delivered in that signature deadpan, Daria holds up stunningly well considering how much the world has evolved around the series. But some truths about teenage life never go out of style. The series’ striking geometric animation style and endlessly clever writing brought each standout character to life, from Daria’s BFF Jane Lane to her cheerleader sister Quinn and every 90s teen’s #1 animated crush Trent, etching an enduring legacy in the realm of animated content aimed at a more mature audience. – Haleigh Foutch Watch on Paramount+
Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-present)
Created by: Mike McMahan
Cast: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, Dawnn Lewis, Jerry O'Connell
The Star Trek franchise is no stranger to animated fare, but Star Trek: Lower Decks still manages to be a revelation in every episode. The show is at once irreverent and an homage to the beloved franchise, which is a feat in itself. Set aboard the USS Cerritos, the Starfleet ship in charge of the less prestigious ‘second contact’ missions, the show follows four crewmembers stationed in the lower decks and the many antics they get up to. The crew meet the deadliest and weirdest aliens and become embroiled in unfathomable situations. Because the show is animated, the writers and artists can go as wild as they want to with the storylines. The voice cast is stupendous and their enjoyment of playing these characters is obvious in every scene. Despite the vastly different tone and style of the show, Star Trek: Lower Decks proves itself to be the Trekiest Trek that ever Treked. – Monita Mohan Watch on Paramount+
Prime Video
Invincible (2021-present)
Creator: Robert Kirkman
Cast: Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells, Zazie Beets, Mark Hamill
We’ve gotten our fair share of subversive, violent superhero shows like Watchmen, The Boys, and Legion over the past few years, and Invincible may be the most brutal of them all. You’re not going to mistake the adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s superhero story for a Saturday morning cartoon, but the dark series does have a coming-of-age element that adolescent viewers might be able to relate to. Invincible focuses on the high school student Mike Grayson (Steven Yeun), who lives in the shadow of his famous superhero father Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). He struggles to find his identity as a hero as he learns disturbing secrets about his family history. — Liam Gaughan Watch on Prime Video
The Legend of Vox Machina (2022-present)
Created by: Critical Role Productions
Cast: Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Liam O'Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel and Travis Willingham
Describing The Legend of Vox Machina can be difficult. Adapted from Critical Role’s first campaign and funded through a Kickstarter fundraiser, The Legend of Vox Machina adapts The Briarwood arc from the campaign and tells the story of the mercenary group Vox Machina who get pulled into saving the realm of Exandria from dark forces. Gory and R-Rated for more than one reason, The Legend of Vox Machina provides laughs and screams from start to finish. Fans of the original campaign get the adaptation they always wanted while newcomers discover a raunchy show like no other before. — Arianne Binette Watch on Prime Video
Undone (2019-present)
Created by: Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Kate Purdy
Cast: Rosa Salazar, Angelique Cabral, Constance Marie, Siddharth Dhananjay, Daveed Diggs, Bob Odenkirk
I love rotoscoping, the animation technique of drawing over filmed live action. Sometimes it's used as an effect, like the original lightsabers in the original Star Wars. And sometimes it's used as a medium unto itself, like Richard Linklater’s Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly. In Undone, Prime Video’s criminally slept on show from the producers of BoJack Horseman, it’s the latter, resulting in a visually splendorous rendering of a gripping, surreal, surprisingly funny tale. Alma (Rosa Salazar, killing it with the “partially animated lead performances” lately) gets into a horrific car accident. But when she emerges, she discovers something screwy about herself: Time, already admittedly a construct, becomes something altogether more fluid. Using her newfound gift/curse/superpower/hindrance, Alma bends reality and consciousness to try and discover the truth about her dead father (Bob Odenkirk, who is able to appear from the grave and help Alma on this quest). Raphael Bob-Waksberg and Kate Purdy’s storytelling is engrossing yet chill, playing quite a bit like a Linklater or even a Coen Brother or two. And director Hisko Hulsing’s visuals are simply unmatched. Undone will have you undone by its first season wrap-up, and you’ll thank it for the pleasure. - Gregory Lawrence Watch on Prime Video
Apple TV+
Central Park (2020-present)
Created By: Josh Gad & Loren Bouchard
Cast: Josh Gad, Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Stanley, Tucci, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Kristen Bell
A quirky animated comedy about the life and times of park manager, Owen (Leslie Odom Jr.) and his family who reside in a historic castle in the middle of New York’s Central Park. Josh Gad serves as Birdie who is the (sometimes unreliable) narrator as we watch Owen and his family try and save the park from being sold to billionaire Bitsy Brandenham (Stanley Tucci) who wants to develop it for real estate. Owen’s wife, Paige (Kathryn Hahn) is an investigative reporter who is determined to reveal Bitsy’s plan to the world. Owen’s daughter Molly (Voiced by Kristen Bell in Season 1 and Emmy Raver-Lampman in Season 2) uses her talent for drawing comics as a release for the stress of being in middle school while her younger brother Cole (Tituss Burgess) is full of energy and is madly in love with Bitsy’s dog, Champagne. It is a tale told through song with numerous musical numbers per episode. The show has two full seasons under its belt, but no plans have been announced for a third just yet. — Jennifer McHugh Watch on Apple TV+