The world of animation has typically been reserved for younger viewers in the Western world, but the last decade has ushered in a big change with more and more adult cartoons. From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, animation was largely a performative technique used by directors like Georges Méliès to achieve effects that were not normally possible in live action films. As time passed, entirely animated programs were made featuring characters like Felix the Cat, but things did not truly explode for animation until Disney entered the space in 1928 with the viral success of Steamboat Willie.
With Disney holding a firm market share for some time, their style of family-friendly and simplistic stories became more and more popular with children, and led to other animation production companies creating content for a similar audience. However, in recent years, this has shifted in a big way with more and more adult-oriented animation on TV. Whether the topics addressed are more mature, the shows feature blood and gore, or content of a sexual nature, new animated shows are making it clear that animation is not just for kids.
The first example of a popular adult animated show listed here is Hazbin Hotel. The series first aired on YouTube after the creator VivziePop, aka Vivienne Medrano, funded the project primarily through her Patreon with a small independent animation team. However, the show gained massive attention online and was picked up for a fully produced and funded release through Amazon Prime Video. After a long wait of nearly five years, the first season was released and garnered rave reviews.
The show is an adult animated musical comedy about residents of Hell and the daughter of Lucifer, Charlie Morningstar. It is unique, engaging, and vibrant with a brilliant cast of characters who come together to create something incredible. The show is also strictly for adults and mature audiences, as the show features plenty of expletives, sexual references and violence, but the music is sensational, and the animation is spectacular throughout.
Despite shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy appearing much earlier and beginning to shift the idea of animation for more mature audiences, Rick & Morty took things to a whole new level when it came out in 2013. The show features a similar animation style, with human characters that have unique profiles and silhouettes, but the content is where it stands out. Rick and Morty drew inspiration from Marty McFly and Doc Brown from the Back to the Future films, but parodied them in a much more adult way.
Rick is a genius inventor who travels with his somewhat dimwitted grandson, Morty. The pair go on wild adventures throughout space and the multiverse, with many of the storylines taking them to incredibly weird and often disgusting places. The themes are mature, and there are numerous sexual references, but the show’s wit and charm makes every second a pure delight to watch. The series is pure unadulterated imagination which creates a wide array of characters and concepts to make something great.
From a show that is loosely inspired by a popular IP to one that is a further extension of one of the most beloved sci-fi shows of all time, Star Trek: Lower Decks was always going to have a dedicated fanbase considering its heritage. The show is technically the second animated series in the franchise, and the first which is primarily a comedy. Rather than following the exciting and engaging lives of the commanding officers within Starfleet, Lower Decks follows the lives of the support crew that is rarely seen in other parts of the franchise.
Star Trek typically focuses on heroic acts of bravery, communication and diplomacy with alien races, and deep space exploration, but Lower Decks shifts the focus. The series is fun and exciting as these characters are still impacted by the dangerous missions being played out, but they are forced to watch from the sidelines, and try to put out fires as they come under attack. It’s a fun reimagining of the show with a style that matches its quirky nature to great effect.
As superhero shows have become increasingly popular, the way that superpowers are viewed has begun to see a change in the media. Many shows tend to steer away from the traditional narrative of superheroes who sweep in and selflessly save the world from danger, opting instead to explore how flawed human nature can affect people with powers. As a result, shows like Invincible reveal a much darker side to the world of heroes and villains.
Invincible is a superhero show, complete with costumes, super teams, and a wide variety of heroes and villains, but the show also explores the human nature of heroes with their own problems. Rather than simply taking up the mantle of great responsibility that accompanies their powers, these people make mistakes and bad choices along the way. The complex theme, and the intense violence and brutality make this an adult show, but it is also incredibly rich and thought-provoking throughout its run.
Arcane is intended for more mature audiences, but it certainly blurs the lines between mature and adult content as the series based on a video game delivers compelling and exciting storylines. Arcane is a series set in the expanded League of Legends universe which builds on the lore of the original game. The show features a beautiful artistic style of animation which resembles the game and helps to tie it in with the pre-established universe.
However, the game and show are enjoyed by many teenagers and young adults, so the story has to walk a line between mature and adult. The series explores the origins of two of the primary characters from the game, Vi and Jinx, and tends to push the limits when it comes to showcasing violence and gore. While it avoids many other mature elements in general, it is still not a show which is intended for children.
Blade Runner is one of the best sci-fi films to come out of the 80s, and the legacy continues to live on with modern sequels, comic books, and expanded stories. However, one other part of this expanded universe is the spin-off series Blade Runner: Black Lotus, which takes place between the original movie and the sequel, Blade Runner 2049. The limited series only features 13 episodes, but it plays on the nostalgia of a beloved classic film.
The series revolves around a replicant named Elle who was created in secret. It also features familiar characters from the franchise and helps to connect the dots between the movies by bridging some of the story of what happens in the interceding decades between films. As a result, the series is also aimed at a similar target audience of more mature viewers and adults. Despite the short runtime, it is a clever and well-designed series well worth watching.
The MCU has been a huge success since the first movie under its umbrella was released in 2008. Now, the franchise has expanded to the point that it includes movies, TV and animated series which all expand the universe. One of the most popular original shows to come out of the animated branch of the MCU is X-Men ’97, a continuation of the classic animated series from the 90s. The series has evolved to match the audience that would have enjoyed it more than 20 years earlier, and so it is intended for more mature audiences.
However, the themes and exploration of division and distrust among different groups of people remains firmly intact just as it always has with the X-Men comics. If anything, the series has leaned more heavily into the mission statement of advocating for unity and kindness, as the evolved humans seek to fight the forces of evil and prove their worth to distrustful humans. The show is brilliantly crafted and features exceptional animation that feels reminiscent of the original, while also bringing the comics to life.
Big Mouth is one of the longest running original shows on Netflix with a total of eight seasons. The show is a coming of age comedy series which focuses primarily on puberty and learning about sexuality as a rapidly changing teenager. With huge stars like Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisan and many more rounding out the cast, the series is absolutely hilarious from start to finish.
The show revolves around a small group of young people in high school who struggle to accept the changes in their bodies, and come to terms with what they mean for their future. Further complicating their struggles, they are joined by hormone monsters that vocalize their deepest thoughts and offer insightful, but frequently confusing advice. The series leans heavily into comedy and drama and, thanks to the animation, voice acting, and clever script, it is incredibly compelling.
Another super powered show, but this time exploring the lives of the villains from DC, Harley Quinn is a twisted dark comedy with plenty of romance and adventure thrown in. The series follows the titular villain after she breaks up with the Joker, and begins to establish her own life without her infamous boyfriend by her side. Building on the rich foundation of DC villains and IP, there are a lot of great elements that appear in the show, and they tie together to become something brilliant.
In addition, the animation and voice acting is perfect, with an incredible cast and crew behind the show. The series continues to be incredibly popular after four seasons which got rave reviews, and the show is heading into its fifth season. It is also squarely aimed at older audiences, as sexual references, violence and profanity are prevalent throughout the show.