Top 10 Adult Cartoons

The following programs contain scenes of violence, coarse language and nudity intended for adult audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 adult cartoons. For this list, we’ve defined “adult cartoons” as shows that are not necessarily inappropriate, but that feature humor that’s inaccessible to kids. We’ve ranked our list based on overall impact, not current level of popularity, and have excluded shows that aren’t technically cartoons – sorry “Robot Chicken.” #10 – “Archer” (FX 2009-…) If James Bond and Don Draper’s kid was raised by Charlie Sheen, it’d be Sterling Archer. A party boy and mama’s boy, Archer won’t hesitate to tell you he’s the world’s most dangerous secret agent. An irreverent muddle of eras, references and inappropriate jokes, this FX show won 2012’s Critics’ Choice Award for Best Animated Series – so Archer will likely be treating women like crap for years. #9 – Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Adult Swim 2000-…) Who needs continuity and structured plots when you’ve got anthropomorphic fast-food items? Spun off from “Space Ghost Coast to Coast,” this show was originally planned as a crime-solving story a la Scooby Doo; but that was quickly abandoned in favor of the surreal adventures of Master Shake, Frylock and Meatwad. Random, sometimes violent and often nasty; “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” is absurd, and fans are lovin’ it. #8 – “The Boondocks” (Adult Swim 2005-…) Filled with biting statements on African-American culture, race relations and “we-can’t-believe-they-said-that” moments, this anime-inspired show follows a pair of African-American brothers as they move to a mainly white suburb. With the articulate Huey acting as a mouthpiece for the show’s creator, Aaron McGruder, this show can anger core fans but keep them coming back. It also proves that cartoons can get away with more. Just watch what you quote… #7 – “King of the Hill” (Fox 1997-2010) When he’s not mowing his lawn, peddling propane and propane accessories, or knocking back beers with his pals, Arlen, Texas resident Hank Hill is usually trying to teach his son Bobby some kind of lesson. With subtle humor aimed squarely at adults, Mike Judge’s Emmy Award-winning take on southern, Middle American family life isn’t offensive per se, but it’s definitely not for kids. #6 – “Futurama” (Fox 1999-2003, Comedy Central 2008-…) It’s Matt Groening’s Emmy Award-winning best- and worst-case scenario for the future. Darker than “The Jetsons,” more surreal and vulgar than “The Simpsons,” this cult hit show tracks Fry, a pizza delivery boy who gets cryogenically frozen and wakes up in 2999 – where celebrity heads, aliens and boozy robots live freely. Both high- and low-brow, it’s packed with references that make sci-fi nerds go nuts. #5 – “Beavis and Butt-Head” (MTV 1993-1997, 2011-…) Like “Futurama,” this show’s popularity earned it a second life. Lewd, crude, rude, and sometimes blamed for prompting criminal behavior, Beavis and Butt-Head are the moron twins of Generation X. They unite to score with chicks, eat nachos and comment on music videos, and vulgarity always ensues. Despite its idiotic veneer, this series is hailed as a haven of intelligent and subversive comedy thanks to creator Mike Judge. #4 – “The Ren & Stimpy Show” (Nickelodeon 1991-1996) Before Beavis and Butt-Head, there were Ren and Stimpy. Nickelodeon’s counter to educational programming, it was one of the first cartoons to tackle adult-oriented themes and humor – and by that we mean poop and snot jokes. The network’s standards department hated their violence, coarse language and homosexual undertones, but fans loved Ren and Stimpy’s irreverent humor – that is, until “Ren & Stimpy ‘Adult Party Cartoon’” came along… #3 – “Family Guy” (Fox 1999-…) Just ‘cause there’s a talking dog doesn’t mean it’s kid-friendly: at times racist, sexist, and any other –ist imaginable, the Griffin family makes us laugh, especially when we know we shouldn’t. It’s that combo of wit, controversy, pop culture references, cutaways and musical numbers that brought “Family Guy” back from the brink twice. With Emmys and spinoffs galore, Seth MacFarlane is the new king of off-color cartoon comedy. #2 – “South Park” (Comedy Central 1997-…) Crude animation, crude language, crude humor. Matt Stone’s and Trey Parker’s creation is one of the most universally offensive shows ever – but that’s why we love it. Nothing’s off the table: celebrities, religion, sexuality, politics, talking feces; all taboos are addressed by these wide-eyed kids. Between running gags and shocks for the sake of shocks, this show straddles the line between über-intelligent and über-stupid like no other. #1 – “The Simpsons” (Fox 1989-…) With a never-ending sea of characters, catchphrases and comedy, “The Simpsons” is a cultural touchstone for good reason. We know: you think it’s been lame for 15-years and that it’s never been adult oriented. But in the early years, everyone had friends who weren’t allowed to watch it. Witty, intelligent, entertaining and always relevant, “The Simpsons” is the longest-running American sitcom and an inescapable part of pop culture. Do you agree with our list? Which adult cartoon were you most likely to watch behind your parents’ backs? 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