Animation has become a tool to break past the limitations of live action in delivering more mature content in gore, action, and comedy as well as some darker depictions of adult themes. Even on the small screen, there have been plenty of animated series that have proven that animated content can be for adults.

The best animated TV series for adults showcase the format’s potential for delivering mature storylines in creative ways, not to mention with unforgettable and often even complex characters that audiences get attached to over time. Viewers looking for must-see adult animated series will be happy to know there’s no shortage of excellent shows worth checking out, from award-winning new series to long-running irreverent comedies.

35 ‘F Is for Family’ (2015 – 2021)

Creators: Bill Burr and Michael Price

Image via Netflix

F Is for Family is an animated raunchy comedy series set in the 1970s, which follows the Murphy family’s hilarious hijinks. The must-see Netflix original mostly focuses on the struggles of Frank Murphy (voiced by Bill Burr), a gruff yet endearing airport baggage handler, as he deals with the challenges that come with work, family, and life in a tumultuous era.

With its honest and humorous portrayal of the dysfunctions of a typical American family, F Is for Family uses familiar tropes that will appeal to fans of similar adult TV series. Its brutal honesty can come off as abrasive, but fans of that type of humor will definitely enjoy it. While the series doesn’t do much to offer anything new in the adult animated space, it sticks with what works and adds a nostalgic ’70s feel to help it stand out in the genre.

Watch on Netflix

34 ‘Aggretsuko’ (2018 – 2023)

Creator: Sanrio

Image via Netflix

An unconventional animated series Netflix was quick to adapt from the original Japanese version, Aggretsuko follows the relatable yet somehow also completely wild character of Retsuko (Erica Mendez). She starts out as a seemingly mild-mannered red panda with a mundane office job, but it’s soon revealed that she copes with the repetitive daily grind by singing her heart out with death metal karaoke. It’s certainly a one-of-a-kind way to deal with workplace sexism and the frustrations that come with late stage capitalism.

The Netflix original’s unique mix of cuteness (kawaii) and the harsh nature of the modern workplace garnered it a large fanbase. It offers up an adorable slice-of-life series that soon turns into commentary about the absurdity of the quest for work-life balance. Its unique kawaii-style mixed with death metal may not appeal to most, but those who enjoy this unique mix are likely already hooked.

Watch on Netflix

33 ‘Undone’ (2019 – 2022)

Creators: Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Image via Prime Video

Prime Video’s adult animated series Undone not only provides visually stunning animation through its rotoscope aesthetic, but also an emotional character-driven story that’s relatable and relevant. Between all its mind-bending sequences that break time and reality, Undone takes viewers on a personal journey that sees its lead character Alma attempt to figure out the truth behind her father’s death that embodies ideas of self-growth and discovery.

Rosa Salazar’s performance as Alma is immensely underrated for the emotional connection she establishes with viewers and the great exploration of ideas around mental health and understanding yourself that adult viewers will easily relate to. Undone’s pacing can be a bit dizzying, but its overall story makes it worth sticking with until the end. Fans of BoJack Horseman will especially appreciate the Prime Video series’ uncompromising take on mental health.

Undone

Release Date September 13, 2019

Creator Kate Purdy, Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Watch on Amazon Prime

32 ‘Close Enough’ (2020 – 2022)

Creator: J. G. Quintel

Image via Max

J.G. Quintel has been a pivotal force in creating beloved adult cartoon series like Regular Show, and his latest animated series on Max, Close Enough, is adulting at its finest. The series follows a couple as they try to manage to transition from their twenties to their thirties while taking care of their eccentric daughter and dealing with some strange characters.

Close Enough is basically the antics of Regular Show mixed with the all too real reality of trying to stay young while getting older, and it’s amazing. It often starts with regular domestic problems before turning into strange, even absurd situations as the characters try to solve these adult problems. They aren’t the most likable bunch, but that could just be because they remind viewers too much of real-life crises. Plus, fantastic voice acting from J.G. Quintel, Gabrielle Walsh, Jessica DiCicco, and more make each moment even more appealing.

Buy on Amazon

31 ‘Hazbin Hotel’ (2019 – )

Creator: Vivienne Medrano

Image via Prime Video

The pilot for Hazbin Hotel debuted on YouTube all the way back in 2019, animated by freelance artists and financed through creator Vivienne Medrano‘s Patreon. The concept gained more popularity than Medrano could have anticipated, and soon enough, acclaimed indie studio A24 picked the show up for production of a first season that was recently released on Prime Video. It’s a dark comedy with elements of horror and musical numbers about the daughter of Lucifer, who opens a hotel for misfit demons to find redemption.

Hazbin Hotel is a mishmash of different genres that, on paper, shouldn’t go together. Somehow, though, the creative team behind the show makes all of its different tones and tropes work together in perfect harmony, creating a visually charming and incredibly fun tale of emotion, surprisingly deep lore, and catchy music. This is a hellish creative triumph and some of the best adult animation has to offer. – Diego Pineda Pacheco

Hazbin Hotel

Release Date October 28, 2019

Creator Vivienne Medrano

Cast Erika Henningsen , Christian Borle , Alex Brightman , Amir Talai

Seasons 2

Watch on Amazon Prime

30 ‘The Critic’ (1994 – 2001)

Creators: Al Jean, Mike Reiss, and Jon Lovitz

Image via Fox

A series that was canceled too soon, The Critic is a sitcom that’s centered on the life and experiences of the often sarcastic New York film critic Jay Sherman (Jon Lovitz). The plot follows Jay as he goes through the ups and downs of his career, from reviewing blockbuster films to obscure art-house movies. Along the way, he meets other interesting city folk, many of whom offer glimpses into their own imperfect lives.

The Critic takes an irreverent look at the world of film criticism and pop culture, with many of its episodes featuring parodies of well-known movies like Apocalypse Now, The Silence of the Lambs, The Godfather, and more. This unsurprisingly results in several clever movie references and satirical takes on Hollywood’s culture of excess, all delivered with sharp wit and rapid-fire humor. Although there aren’t many episodes to binge, it’s worth checking out today.

The Critic

Release Date January 26, 1994

Seasons 2

Watch on Tubi

29 ‘Big Mouth’ (2017 – 2024)

Creators: Andrew Goldberg, Nick Kroll, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett

Image via Netflix

Big Mouth is an adult animated coming-of-age sitcom and one of Netflix’s best original shows that explores and embraces all the weird, completely normal, and totally confusing parts of adolescence. Big Mouth is known for its raunchy and absurdist humor that perfectly complements its openness about sex and the human body. It also benefits from the comedic prowess of some of its featured voices, including John Mulaney, Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph, and Jordan Peele.

The sitcom is centered on a group of mostly awkward teenagers who have to deal with puberty, which forces some of them to face their monsters (literally). Its crass approach to humor about bodily functions may not be for everyone, but those who do enjoy it will be glad to know it doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon, leaving plenty of opportunity for it to cement itself as one of the best adult animated comedy shows.

Big Mouth

Release Date September 29, 2017

Seasons 8

Watch on Netflix

28 ‘Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law’ (2000 – 2007)

Creators: Michael Ouweleen and Erik Richter

Image via Adult Swim

An Adult Swim series and a spin-off of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law is a sitcom that focuses on the happenings within the Sebben & Sebben law firm. The firm’s staff is made up mostly of superheroes, who are classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters reimagined as legal professionals. With just 39 episodes, it’s incredibly easy to binge-watch.

Fans got to see characters like Birdman and the Galaxy Trio in a bizarre yet hilarious legal setting. Bizarre situations are commonplace on the show as cases against heroes, anti-heroes, and villains are tried in ways that aren’t at all representative of the real-life legal system. The star of the series is, of course, Harvey Birdman (voiced by Gary Cole), who now practices law and is involved in the comical proceedings of characters like Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, and even Yogi Bear.

Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law

Release Date December 30, 2000

Seasons 4

Watch on Adult Swim

27 ‘The Venture Bros.’ (2003 – 2018)

Creator: Jackson Publick

Image via Adult Swim

The Venture Bros. is a beloved Adult Swim series (and one of its longest-running original shows) that revolves around the bumbling but endearing Dr. Thaddeus “Rusty” Venture (James Urbaniak) and his two sons, Hank (Chris McCulloch) and Dean Venture (Michael Sinterniklaas). The trio finds themselves in bizarre and often dangerous situations, encountering a host of eccentric characters and villains.

The Venture Bros. is a brilliant parody of the superhero and adventure genres, often drawing inspiration from iconic characters and stories to create its gut-busting episodes. Critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase kept The Venture Bros. alive, despite several hiatuses and changes in production, with many fighting for each new season. Fans rightly became attached to its increasingly complex characters, with even the minor figures getting intricate arcs as time went on. It’s this attention to detail and an obvious attention to what viewers want that kept the series going despite its niche.

The Venture Bros.

Release Date August 7, 2004

Seasons 7

Watch on Adult Swim

26 ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force’ (2000 – 2023)

Creators: Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro

Image via Adult Swim

The longest-running Adult Swim series to date, Aqua Teen Hunger Force has created an irreplaceable spot for its brilliantly absurd misadventures centered on three anthropomorphic fast food items. The three roommates – Master Shake (Dana Snyder), Frylock (Carey Means), and Meatwad (Dave Willis) – are a dysfunctional trio who are always finding themselves in nonsensical situations. Often next to them are recurring characters like their neighbor Carl (Willis), lunar creatures known as the Mooninites Ignigknot (Willis) and Err (Matt Maiellaro), and mad scientists Dr. Weird and Steve (both voiced by C. Martin Croker).

Once an obscure show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force now enjoys a growing fanbase who enjoy the series’ irreverent humor and unconventional storytelling. The bizarre characters and often surreal settings they’re in are further bettered by the show’s distinct visual style, all of which combine to create the eccentric masterpiece that is the adult series.

Watch on Adult Swim

25 ‘This World Can’t Tear Me Down’ (2023)

Creator: Zerocalcare

Image via Netflix

The follow-up to the Italian adult animated drama Tear Along the Dotted Line, This World Can’t Tear Me Down may not be quite as great as its predecessor, but it’s still more than good enough to be considered one of the best adult cartoons. In it, when an old friend returns to the neighborhood, protagonist Zerocalcare want to help him find his place back in the world.

The series has the perfect balance between dark adult humor, complex character writing, and some really hard-hitting moments of existential dread. As rebellious and stylish as its characters, the show touches on many complicated topics, such as politics and suicide, in deeply nuanced ways. For those who enjoy profound stories and great music in their adult animated shows, this is a perfect fit. – Diego Pineda Pacheco

Watch on Netflix

24 ‘Castlevania’ (2017 – 2021)

Creator: Warren Ellis

Image via Netflix

While older gaming fans have been patiently waiting for a new Castlevania game to see the light of day, Netflix’s Castlevania anime series has not only pleased longtime fans but brought in a new audience for the franchise. It follows the last living member of his clan Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage), the mysterious vampire Alucard (James Callis), and the powerful Speaker magician Sypha Belnades (Alejandra Reynoso) who fight against the terrifying Dracula (Graham McTavish).

Through its expansive story and gory action, Castlevania has given adult viewers a horror-centric action animated series that’s become one of Netflix’s most popular animated shows. Viewers don’t have to be fans of the game franchise to appreciate the Netflix series, which is surprisingly accessible despite its specific story. It hits a mature tone and level of action that’s really garnered wide attention from adult audiences, making it one of the biggest breakout adult animated series in recent times.

Watch on Netflix

23 ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022)

Creators: Rafał Jaki, Mike Pondsmith

Image via Netflix/CD Projekt RED

Based on CD Projekt Red’s AAA game, Cyberpunk 2077, Edgerunners depicts the futuristic world by telling a story centered on David Martinez (Kenn). When he encounters the netrunner Lucy (Aoi Yūki), he’s drawn into her gang and their life of crime in the unforgiving landscape of Night City. Haunted by his past, David tries to embrace the new path a bit too eagerly.

Taking elements from the video game, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners explores the dark side of cyberware, and what happens when the edgerunners take it too far. The limited series is meant for adults, as it deals with some dark subject matter like corporate greed and what people are willing to do for wealth. The show also cruelly gets viewers invested in David’s friendships and the endearing characters he meets, before suddenly taking some of them away or putting them in dangerous situations. Plus, the violence and gruesome scenes can be intense.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Release Date September 13, 2022

Cast Aoi Yuki , Kenichiro Ohashi , Kenjiro Tsuda , Kazuhiko Inoue

Seasons 1

Watch on Netflix

22 ‘The Midnight Gospel’ (2020)

Creators: Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward

Netflix’s The Midnight Gospel is an excellent mix of a thought-provoking podcast with trippy animated adventures, something that adult audiences would be super into. Each episode features audio from comedian Duncan Trussell’s podcast with a variety of guests that are played over the animated adventures of multiversal podcaster Clancy (voiced by Trussell) that take him to trippy worlds.

With the animation being directed by Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward, every episode of The Midnight Gospel is colorful and weird and the subject of Trussell’s conversations really works in giving the series a mature feel and delivering some surprisingly raw emotion. Imagine an adult version of Adventure Time, with The Midnight Gospel featuring long and winding dialogue about subjects like death, drugs, and more.

Watch on Netflix

21 ‘American Dad’ (2005 – )

Creators: Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman

Image via TBS

The weird and wonderful world of the Smith family is explored in American Dad. The long-running sitcom follows Stan Smith (voiced by Seth MacFarlane, who’s also one of the show’s creators), a CIA agent with some twisted perspectives, his wife Francine (Wendy Schaal), their two children, a talking goldfish, and an alien named Roger (also voiced by MacFarlane).

Although it took a while for the sitcom to find its own voice (after understandably being compared to MacFarlane’s other hit show), it now enjoys a fantastic reputation as an unapologetic show full of satirical humor that pokes fun at the mundane aspects and absurdities of life. American Dad is also unafraid to focus on political humor, with its storylines becoming more intricate over time, with its characters also just becoming more hilarious with each new season.

American Dad

Release Date February 6, 2005

Seasons 16

Watch on Hulu

20 ‘Tear Along the Dotted Line’ (2021)

Creator: Zerocalcare

Image via Netflix

It was through Tear Along the Dotted Line that famous Italian comic book creator Zerocalcare introduced the world to his signature darkly comedic, deeply existential style of adult animation. The show is about a cartoonist living in Rome with his conscience (who happens to take the form of an armadillo), as he reflects on his life path and a would-be love as he travels outside the city.

Funny yet poignant, visually simple yet incredibly charming, and admirably dedicated to all its controversial taboo themes — which it explores with intellect and humor — Tear Along the Dotted Line is unlike any other animated show currently on Netflix. – Diego Pineda Pacheco

Watch on Netflix

19 ‘King of the Hill’ (1997 – 2010)

Creators: Mike Judge, Greg Daniels

Image via Fox

King of the Hill is one of the best animated TV shows for adults that has a deceptively simple premise. It revolves around the Hill family and their friends, who all live and work in Arlen, Texas. Relationships between the everyman Hank Hill (Mike Judge) and his son Bobby (Pamela Adlon), his wife Peggy (Kathy Najimy), and his friends Bill (Stephen Root), Dale (Johnny Hardwick), and Boomhauer (Judge) are the focus of the series.

The show is known for the witty way it pokes fun at political correctness, the challenges of puberty, and even aspects of a midlife crisis, among others. Its unique brand of comedy is still appreciated today, as proven by the fact that there’s interest in a potential revival in the near future. Only time will tell if King of the Hill will find its place among modern series, as it’s easy to argue that it was a product of its time that would be challenging to replicate today.

King of the Hill

Release Date January 12, 1997

Seasons 13

Watch on Hulu

18 ‘Disenchantment’ (2018 – 2023)

Creator: Matt Groening

Image via Netflix

Matt Groening‘s Disenchantment quickly became part of the most popular animated shows for adults. Set in the medieval fantasy kingdom of Dreamland, it follows the story of the rebellious princess Bean (Abbi Jacobson), who lives with alcoholism, a dim-witted elf called Elfo (Nat Faxon), and devious “personal demon” Luci (Eric André).

There’s rightly sustained interest in the hilarious satirical sitcom, as Disenchantment mocks the overused tropes and archetypes in shows and movies within the fantasy genre, doing so with its own genuinely engrossing story about a princess who wants more. It sets itself apart from Groening’s other shows by its clear character development, with its well-written arcs being a crucial aspect of the series. Its world-building is also commendable, with the show’s distinct medieval fantasy setting being one of its main draws.

Watch on Netflix

17 ‘Daria’ (1997 – 2002)

Creators: Glenn Eichler, Susie Lewis Lynn

Image via MTV

La la la la la. Daria is a beloved ’90s classic series that’s part of many viewers’ childhoods. Revolving around the life and misadventures of Daria Morgendorffer (Tracy Grandstaff), the series follows the sarcastic and smart teen’s challenging daily life as she struggles with the problems that come with not fitting in her high school. Alongside her similarly jaded best friend Jane Lane (Wendy Hoopes), Daria sighs, rolls her eyes, and scoffs at the dim-witted people who surround them.

The clever satirization of the teen experience is made mostly effective by Daria’s iconic characterization. Her dry wit and deadpan comebacks make her oddly likable, as fans can’t help but root for the protagonist (who, perhaps, they see a bit of their own odd self in). Another show that’s a product of its time, there’s nothing quite like Daria, which is why it’s a good thing that it’s such a rewatchable series.

Daria

Release Date March 3, 1997

Cast Tracy Grandstaff , Wendy Hoopes , Marc Thompson , Geoffrey Arend , Sarah Drew , Ashley Albert

Seasons 5

Watch on Paramount+

Creators: Brendon Small, Tommy Blacha

Image via Adult Swim

Metalocalypse is a gut-busting show that focuses on the fictional band Dethklok, made up of the lead singer Nathan Explosion (Brendon Small), lead guitarist Skwisgaar Skwigelf (Small), rhythm guitarist Toki Wartooth (Tommy Blacha), bassist William Murderface (Blacha), and Pickles the Drummer (Small). Set in a world where metal music reigns supreme, the series portrays the band’s grip on the globe and the foolish decisions they make in the process of pursuing more intense music.

Undoubtedly one for more mature audiences, the Adult Swim series has no shortage of gore and violence. One of the first scenes audiences witness is a giant contraption holding the band members falling from the sky and brutally killing hundreds of their fans – a normal occurrence at a Dethklok concert. Over time, Metalocalypse becomes centered on a conspiracy to take the powerful band down, making the series a combination of mystery, dark comedy, and incredible heavy metal.

Metalocalypse

Release Date August 6, 2006

Seasons 5

Watch on Adult Swim