Another Top 10 Cartoon Shows For Adults
There’s more animation for adults than people realize. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for Another Top 10 Cartoon Shows for Adults.
For this list, we’ll be counting even more cartoons made specifically for adult audiences. So, we’ll be excluding cartoons that are targeted at children, but which adults can still enjoy, like “Gravity Falls.” Also, if you feel something’s missing from our list, be sure to check out our previous one.
#10: “Duckman” (1994-97)
From the makers of “Rugrats,” this show is kind of the opposite of that. Following the life of the namesake Eric Duckman, an abrasive and sarcastic duck private eye, as well as the lives of his family and friends, “Duckman” is a show filled to the brim with dark and risqué humor couched in a colorful and occasionally unsettling package. Duckman himself is an entertainingly sleazy character and the supporting cast is strong too. It may be one of the older shows on our list, but “Duckman” is still worth a look.
#9: “Black Dynamite” (2012-15)
Based on the live-action film of the same name, “Black Dynamite” continues its cinematic forebear’s focus on the title character, an over-the-top Blaxploitation hero, as well as his friends, continuing in their adventures battling “the Man” and other 1970s inspired foes. Featuring lots of sex, violence, mature language, and racism, “Black Dynamite” is a hilarious parody of the Blaxploitation film genre, with some great fight scenes and many bizarre celebrity cameos to boot. Bottom-line: if you crave adult cartoon satisfaction, then dig this funky action.
#8: “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law” (2000-07, 2018)
Although other shows, like “Space Ghost Coast to Coast” and “Sealab 2021,” also took old Hanna-Barbera cartoons and put a new spin on them, “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law” may be the pinnacle of the practice. After retiring from being a superhero, Harvey Birdman takes up the law, working with some of his former friends and allies representing other Hanna-Barbera characters in court cases and suffering through the bizarre antics of everyone around him. Full of non-sequiturs and rapid-fire dialogue and jokes, “Harvey Birdman” should be a legally binding necessity for any fan of adult animation.
#7: “Metalocalypse” (2006-13)
If you ever wondered what it would be like if a dimwitted band ruled the world, look no further! “Metalocalypse” follows the fictional/real metal band Dethklok, whose moronic members are as successful as they are surrounded by death. Prone to lowbrow humor and extreme violence, the series also has legitimately excellent music and an engaging, if downplayed, plot about Dethklok’s connection to an apocalyptic prophecy. Whether you’re already a metalhead or are interested in the genre and want some laughs, be sure to steel your stomach and check “Metalocalypse” out.
#6: “Daria” (1997-2002)
Named for its protagonist, “Daria” follows the eponymous, misanthropic teenaged girl and her life in high school and at home with her family. Although not as graphic or violent as many of our other entries, “Daria” manages to sharply satirize suburban life, usually by presenting its heroine as the voice of reason and showing how ridiculous the people around her behave while adhering to what’s “normal.” Still as bitingly funny now as it was twenty years ago, Daria herself may not think you’re worth her time, but she and her show definitely are.
#5: “Robot Chicken” (2005-)
A stop-motion animated series, “Robot Chicken” depicts a variety of short sketches on various subjects, almost always related to popular culture and frequently targeting nostalgic cartoons, toys, or films. The show often takes child-friendly or beloved properties and puts a darker spin on them, introducing sex, ultra-violence, or mature themes, or else exaggerating those things already present in them, which makes for effective and rather hilarious parody… so long as you don’t take the things you loved during your childhood too seriously.
#4: “The Venture Bros.” (2004-)
If we were ranking our entries based on the intricacy of their lore, this would easily be number one. Primarily centered around the title brothers, their failed scientist father, and several bodyguards and their conflicts with villains, creatures, and their own failings, “The Venture Bros.” features a massive expanded cast and a dozen ongoing subplots. Taking cues from everything from comic books to “Johnny Quest,” “The Venture Bros.” beautifully sends up many of their tropes while also celebrating pop culture and exploring themes of family and failure; often intertwining them.
#3: “Bob’s Burgers” (2011-)
An animated adult sitcom about the Belcher family, who run the titular restaurant, “Bob’s Burgers” bears some similarity to other adult cartoon sitcoms, but distinguishes itself by having more of an emphasis on character based comedy. The characters are often quirky, yet also relatable and they remain relatively consistent in their characterization, unlike some other shows we could mention. Still, that isn’t to say the show doesn’t get crazy or outlandish, because it certainly delves into strange and risqué territory. Overall, though, “Bob’s Burgers” serves up a belly full of laughs, while also occasionally tugging at your heartstrings.
#2: “Rick and Morty” (2013-)
One of the darkest and most outlandish comedies in recent years, “Rick and Morty” depicts the adventures of a brilliant, if amoral, scientist and his nervous grandson and the rest of their family across dimensions and space. The series’ bleak and bizarre humor, combined with its inventive sci-fi concepts, which are often mashups of existing properties, as well as its unexpectedly heart-wrenching emotional moments have made it a runaway hit in recent years. We never know quite what to expect with this show, which is what makes it so fun to watch.
Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“F Is for Family” (2015-)
“Final Space” (2018-)
“American Dad!” (2005-)
#1: “BoJack Horseman” (2014-)
This adult cartoon dramedy follows the title character, a washed-up horse actor, who attempts to make his comeback while fighting his own self-destructive tendencies, as well as his fellow anthropomorphic and human friends and acquaintances in Hollywoo. Along with having a dark, cynical humor throughout, the show does an excellent job satirizing show business, politics, and other current events. “BoJack Horseman” also delivers some surprisingly affecting dramatic moments too and doesn’t shy away from its protagonist’s addictions and depression. The show will make you laugh, cry, and think about life. What more can you ask for?