It is 2021, a covid named pandemic, robots getting citizenship and animated shows for adults are all a reality. If you had told these things to a person ten years ago, they would have scoffed at you. But now, with the world making less and less sense with each passing day, animated shows for adults are back in the game. If you are someone who has no idea who Marge Simpson and Todd Chavez are then you have come to the right place.
In this article, we will be talking about some of the best-animated shows for adults that are there. So let’s get started!
Animated Shows for Adults
1. The Simpsons (1989 – Present)
IMDb:8.6/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
No. of seasons– 31
Where to watch– Disney Hotstar Premium
The show follows the Simpson family’s various members on their hilarious goings-on of everyday life. It is a satirical take on American life and has many pop culture references. This show has something for everyone, with each fully fleshed character having its arc. One of the oldest and most famous animated shows for adults. The fans swear by this show even if they cannot follow the crooked 31 seasons long timeline.
Â
2. BoJack Horseman (2014 – Present)
IMDb: 8.7/10Â Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%Â
No. of Seasons: 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Where to watch– Netflix (Original)                                         Â
 BoJack Horseman is a humanoid who was a famous sitcom star in the 90s. Fast forward to the present, he is a drunken, depressed homebody. The series follows the journey of BoJack as he tries to regain his lost fame. The show provides much-needed criticism on the gruelling and ultimately ungrateful culture of the sitcom world. The emphatic characters, the dark humour, the satirical tone of the show makes it a must-watch. It is a good place to start your anime journey and a jewel you would like to keep revisiting.
Â
3. South Park (1997 – Present)
IMDb: 8.7/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. of Seasons: 24
Where to watch– South Park Studio(Free)
 Another classic, this animated show for adults follows the adventures of four school-going boys who live in a small city of South Park. In a recent episode, they were found fighting their teacher to get the covid vaccine. Even after so many years and 24 seasons, the show has not lost its old charm. One of the best things about this show is that their voice over is still done by the same people who started it.Â
Â
4. Rick and Morty (2013 – Present)
IMDb: 9.2/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. of Seasons: 4Â
Where to watch – Netflix                                                                            Â
Working with the age-old theme of a mad scientist creating a time machine. The highly satirical show revolves around the misadventures of the Smith family. The grandfather-grandson duo (Rick and Morty) explore parallel universes in Rick’s flying car. The show inverses onto genre and can be found flouting the rules of the fantasy drama. Hands down one of the best animated shows for adults.
Â
5. Paradise PD (2018 – Present)
IMDb: 6.9/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 40%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. of seasons– 3        Â
Where to watch- Netflix
This surrealist dark comedy about crime and bad cops will have you laughing in no time. While exposing the derelict condition of the police force, it shows a host of interesting characters like Sarah Chalke and David Herman. If you want to loosen up and do not mind weird jokes, this is the series for you.
Â
Â
6. Big Mouth (2017 – Present)
IMDb: 8/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
No. of seasons- 4
Where to watch- Netflix
This series follows a group of teenage boys and girls, as they grapple with the physical and emotional changes of puberty. It covers everything from periods to masturbation to young love in a very accurate manner. If you are looking for some unabashed and honest depiction of adolescence mixed with some good laughs, this is the best animated show for you.
Â
7.Archer (2009 – Present)
IMDb: 8.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%Â Â Â
No. of seasons: 11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Where to watch- Netflix
Sterling Archer, the protagonist of the show is a narcissist, womaniser who works as a secret agent. The show follows him and his dysfunctional team of secret agents as they try to avert different crises. If you wish to take a break from serious detective fiction and have some laughs along the way, Archer is your best shot. Quite popular in the world of animated shows for adults, it has some pretty interesting R rated storylines. If you enjoy detective fiction then you must check out our post about amazing detective movies of all times.
8. Undone ( 2019)
IMDb: 8.2/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%Â Â Â
No. of Seasons- 1Â Â Â Â Â
Where to watch- Prime Video
This fantasy fiction follows a young woman who after meeting with an accident starts seeing her dead father and manipulating time. Even as it explores the much used genre of time-based science fiction, the show is a breath of fresh air. The technique of rotoscoping alone makes this show worth a watch. It is nothing like your usual animated shows for adults.
Â
9. Harley Quinn (2019 – Present)
IMDb: 8.5/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
No. of seasons- 2
Where to watch– HBO Max
This is an animated series dedicated to the exploits of the popular DC sidekick of Joker, Harley Quinn. This strictly for adults show displays vulgar humour as Harley tries to find her way into the Legion of the Doom. If you are a Batman fan, this is a must-watch for you as it explores the character arc of this much-beloved side character. Do check out this post if you are a DC fan.
10. Love Death + Robots (2019 – Present)
IMDb: 8.5/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
No. of seasons- 1
Where to watch- Netflix
The series is a revamped version of the 1981 animated science fiction film Heavy Metal and is various fantasy dystopian worlds. In the genre of science fiction, it is one of the best animated shows for adults. Each one of its eighteen episodes is produced by a different writer and director from various countries. This makes the show interesting from the production perspective.
Â
11. Disenchantment (2018 – Present)
 IMDb: 7.2/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. of seasons- 3
Where to watch- Netflix
This adult fantasy sitcom undoes various fairy tale tropes to create a sense of disenchantment in its fantasy world. Its elements of dark humour and historical fiction keeps you gripped as you go along with Luci the demon and Elfo the elf on this fantastical journey. It forces viewers to think about some seated notions which we have imbibed from fairy tales and would be a good addition to your list.
Â
12. Family Guy (1999 – Present)
 IMDb: 8.1/10Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
No. of Seasons- 19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Where to watch- Disney Hotstar Premium
This family-oriented cartoon by Seth MacFarlane follows the Griffin family in their search for the good old morals of the bygone days. This simply fantastic sitcom pulls the genre apart even while operating within it. Another one of the classic animated shows for adults, Family Guy is a big hit for watching with the whole family.
Â
13. Aggretsuko (2018 – Present)
IMDb: 8.3/10Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. of the Seasons– 3      Â
Where to watch- Netflix
The protagonist, Retsuko, is a shy accountant who finds new ways of dealing with his frustrating coworkers like going to Karaoke bars and singing death metal. The show talks about topics such as anxiety and depression due to a bad working environment. This adult cartoon forays into the domain of Japanese anime and is a wonderful representation of it. It is a good starting point if you are starting with anime and an even better choice for re-watching.Â
Â
14. Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000 – 2015)
 IMDb: 7.6/10      Â
No. of seasons- 11Â Â
Where to watch- HBO Max
The protagonists of this series are a milkshake, fries and a chunk of meat. Do we even need to say anything more? This surrealist drama follows these usually inanimate objects who are a kind of superheroes battling vampires and aliens. The weirdly absurd show packs a punch to the gut with its witty jokes and everyday banter.
Â
15. Cowboy Bebop (1998 – 1999)
 IMDb: 8.9/10    Â
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. of seasons- 1
Where to watch- Hulu
This is a Japanese anime science fiction. The show follows a typical tragic character Spike as he battles with serious issues such as trauma and depression along with the help of Jet Black. With only 26 episodes, it is a carefully crafted piece which leaves the audience wanting more. The soulful jazz music by Yoko Kanno is a worthwhile time investment.Â
Â
16. Daria (1997 – 2002)
 IMDb: 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. of seasons- 5Â Â Â
Where to watch- Voot
The titular character is a sarcastic, no-bulls*it teenager. Equipped with low self-esteem and some legendary one-liners delivered in a deadpan voice, Daria tries to navigate the troubles of teenage high school life. Started in the ’90s this trendsetting animated fiction for adults deserves to be on your must-watch list. Watching this will make you realise the source of some famous one-liners thrown around regularly. She should definitely be a part of inspiring movies for women because of her badass attitude.
Â
17. Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
 IMDb: 8.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
No. of seasons- 2
Where to watch- Disney Hotstar Premium
Twin siblings Mabel and Dipper are sent to the town of Gravity Falls in Oregon to spend the summer with their uncle. What they discover there is the paranormal goings-on of this city. Don’t be fooled by the simple premise of the show. It has been critically acclaimed for its writing, humour and multigenerational appeal. The fact that is has a 100% rating on rotten tomatoes is proof of its love among viewers.
Â
18. The Venture Bros (2004 – Present)Â
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
No. of seasons- 7
Where to watch- Hulu
The series imagines superheroes as old embittered people who feel unfulfilled. It is loosely based on Fantastic Four among other similar superhero families. Pop culture references mixed with witty quips and parodies of the old forgotten superheroes. This is one of the best-animated shows for adults who enjoy DC comics.Â
Â
19. Futurama (2008- 2013)
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
No. of seasons- 7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Where to watch- Hulu
Produced by the producer of The Simpsons, this sitcom animated series too has a memorable opening scene. With a charming and unique set of characters ranging from humans to extraterrestrials, this show is set in the 31st century and uses the classic science fantasy tropes such as alien attacks and earth being destroyed. Critics believe that if you enjoyed The Simpsons you will probably like this even more. With good laughs and intriguing plot lines, the show is certainly something you can watch on your weekend binge.
20. Regular Show (2008 – 2017)
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. of seasons- 8
Where to watch- Hulu
This absurdist series is one of the best animated shows for adults which explores the pressures of regular work life but with animal protagonists. The protagonists of this show are a Racoon and a Blue Jay who try to hold down an uninteresting job while having as much as they can during work. The best thing about this series is its bite-sized eleven-minute-long episodes. You can easily watch a couple of them while commuting.
Â
21. Bob’s Burgers (2011 – Present)
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. of Seasons- 11Â Â Â
Where to watch- Fox
This sitcom is built on a simple premise of a man Bob Belcher and his eccentric family trying to run a burger restaurant in a quiet old town. The show follows the husband, wife and their three uniquely quirky kids in their day to day lives. Despite the simple and generic storyline, this show has provided some of the best laughs in the past decades and has become a favorite among children and adults alike.
Â
22. F Is For Family ( 2015 – Present)
 IMDb: 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
No. of Seasons- 4
Where to watch- Netflix
Inspired by the life of stand comedian Bill Burr this animated sitcom follows the life of an Irish American family. This one definitely falls in the category of adult shows because of raunchy language and crude jokes. Frank Murphy a disillusioned 39 year old war veteran has a passion for his family and steers this ship family ship.
Â
23. Hoops (2020 – Present)
IMDb: 6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 14%Â Â
No. of seasons- 1Â Â Â
Where to watch- Netflix
This animated show for adults produced by Ben Hoffman follows a crass and immoral coach who will push his team as far as possible to get into the big leagues. Even though this is an unpopular opinion, I feel that this series is actually worth watching, even if just once.
Â
24. King of the Hill (1997 – 2010)
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
No. of seasons- 13
Where to watch- Hulu
Inspired by The Simpsons this show definitely follows into the steps of that legendary show. Set in a small town in Texas during the 1990s, the show presents an insightful commentary on the politics of that time. The protagonist, Hank Hill is a salesman grappling to come to terms with the ideals of his time.  This show has been named among the 100 greatest shows ever in Time magazine and has won two Emmy Awards. Isn’t that reason enough to watch this?
Â
25. Tuca and Bertie (2019 – Present)
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Where to watch- Netflix
It follows two friends who are in their mid-thirties as they grapple with the various anxieties of adult life while trying to maintain their friendship. The twist in this ingeniously simple storyline is that all the characters are birds. The rotten tomatoes community of critics considers this to be even better than BoJack Horseman. It is a good show to come back home to and relax after work.Â
Â
26. American Dad (2005 – Present)
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Where to Watch: Adult Swim
American Dad is the brainchild of Seth MacFarlane who also created the Family Guy. It is among the best animated shows for adults. If you are a fan of Family Guy you are going to like this. It is the story of Stan Smith and his family. He works for the CIA and does everything to protect the USA. They also share their home with an Alien and a goldfish who has a mind of a German footballer.
American Dadd is a great sitcom with awesome political humor, punch lines, philosophical and liberal values, and some of the best moments on the TV.
So there it is folks! If you are someone who believes that animated shows are only for kids, then I challenge you to watch even five of these shows and your perception will change. Most animated shows for adults use tools such as satire and comedy to raise serious issues.
We hope you find some amazing additions to your watchlist. For the newbies who don’t watch animated shows for adults, let us know which one you will be watching first in the comments sections!
