“Cartoons? Those are for kids.” BZZZT, wrong. Do NOT let kids watch these adult animated shows! But while they’re not for kids,they’re not all just full of mindless,crude jokes,adn lewd content. While some adult shows might include such,they can be so much more. Clever satire on current events, commentaries on social and political topics, relatable struggles from mundane adversities to full-blown existential crises, and, of course, absolutely hilarious cartoonish antics.After all, while sometimes life might potentially be tough, may as well not take it too seriously.
While most stereotypical adults may defer to live action shows as a more “respected”, distinguished medium for drama and realism, through colorful backdrops and distinct characters, expressing a premise through the medium of 2D animation can give a different perspective. After all, animation allows for much more exaggerated expressions, situations, and settings, giving way to some of the craziest shenanigans that just wouldn’t be able to be properly conveyed otherwise. So,if you’re looking to maybe find a series you’ve yet to discover or you’re willing to give adult cartoons a try,you might just find a new favorite here!
10) Mission Hill
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images courtesy of Warner Bros. Finding
Andy French is a 24-year-old Gen X’er who is a salesman at Waterbed World and endeavors to be a cartoonist. Living with roommates Posey Tyler and Jim Kuback, Andy spends his free time partying. But when his 17-year-old nerdy younger brother Kevin knocks on his door,Andy’s life and living situation is thrown totally out of whack,obligation thrust upon him as Kevin and the family dog,Stogie,also become roommates.
Mission hill is unavailable for streaming.
9) South Park
South Park needs no introduction. Running for over two decades, this show has become a cultural phenomenon. Following the exploits of Stan,Kyle,cartman,and Kenny in the titular small town in Colorado,South Park is known for its crude humor,satirical takes on current events,and often controversial storylines. The show’s quick turnaround time allows it to address real-world issues with remarkable speed, making it a consistently relevant and hilarious watch.
South Park is available to stream on Max.
7) Close Enough
!image courtesy of Cartoon Network
Josh and Emily are your typical couple in their early thirties just trying their best to raise their daughter Candice in a Los Angeles duplex with their divorced friends, Alex and Bridgette. With their daily lives spent trying to deal with average struggles like parenthood, nurturing their marriage, maintaining friendships, and getting older, things often tend to escalate into bizarre scenarios, sometimes involving ham theft or stripper clowns. Life may not be perfect, but it’s close enough. By the creator of Regular Show, J.G.Quintel, this surreal, absurdism adult animated comedy centers on the relatable themes within transitioning from one’s 20’s to one’s 30’s.
Close Enough is unavailable for streaming.
6) Helluva Boss
While Bojack Horseman may have been a hit in his 90’s hayday as a beloved TV sitcom star, the course of the proceeding twenty years hasn’t exactly been kind to him. Feeling as though he’s become washed-up, Bojack had as struggled with the compiling issues both in his toxic show-biz setting, in his past, and within himself. Following a pipedream of trying to stay relevant, Bojack spends his time finding distractions from his inner demons. Beneath a comedic veneer, Bojack Horseman explores serious themes like depression, mental health, toxic relationships, addiction, self-destructive behaviors, the consequences of one’s actions, impacts of toxic behind-the-scenes of show business, and the search for meaning in a superficial world.
Bojack Horseman can be streamed on Netflix.
4) Futurama
King of the Hill
Just as Hank Hill is an average middle-class American suburbanite, doesn’t mean his life is anywhere near boring-as much as he would problably prefer it to be. Living with his overly confident substitute Spanish teacher wife Peggy, well-meaning, eccentric son Bobby, and naïve niece luanne in Arlen, Texas, Hank loves nothing more than selling propane (and propane accessories), maintaining his lawn, and cracking open a cold one with the boys in the alley. despite holding typical conservative Christian views and values, Hank is often challenged to consider things that lead him to grow outside his initial rigid beliefs.
As an animated sitcom, King of the Hill distinguished itself from contemporaries like The Simpsons and family Guy with its grounded realism and relatable characters. Created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, the show debuted in 1997 and ran for 13 seasons, earning critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase. Its success lies in its ability to find humor in the everyday struggles and triumphs of ordinary people.