Top 25 Adult Animated Series You Need To Watch

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - May 6th 2025, 00:41 GMT+2

Cropped common side effects — Common Side Effects (2025)

*Common Side Effects* is the new kid on the adult animation block, and it’s already stirring the pot with its blend of medical satire, mental health weirdness, and surprisingly grounded emotion. Think *Scrubs* meets *Eternal Sunshine*, but animated—and then made even weirder. The show stars *Ben Schwartz* and *Zach Woods*, who bring their signature manic-sincerity and soft-spoken chaos, respectively. It's a surreal look at wellness culture, big pharma, and what it means to care about yourself and others in the most neurotic way possible. Bold, bizarre, and blisteringly funny, this show is already carving out its own niche in the adult animation landscape. | © Green Street Pictures Bandera Entertainment

Cropped Scavengers Reign — Scavengers Reign (2023)

Ever wondered what it would look like if *Studio Ghibli* took a dark turn and made a survival thriller in space? *Scavengers Reign* is exactly that—beautiful, eerie, and loaded with quiet dread. This isn't your average loud, punchline-heavy animated series; it’s meditative, haunting, and visually stunning. While it doesn’t lean on celebrity voices, its artistry and mature sci-fi themes more than fill the void. Every frame feels like a painting, every creature like it escaped from a cosmic terrarium designed by a moody botanist. It’s adult animation with atmosphere turned up to 11. | © Max / Green Street Pictures

Cropped Smiling Friends — Smiling Friends (2022)

What happens when two friends with wildly different vibes try to make people smile in a world that seems *aggressively* against smiling? You get *Smiling Friends*—a lo-fi, absurdist gem from internet legends *Zach Hadel* (PsychicPebbles) and *Michael Cusack*. This show is a whirlwind of cursed characters, offbeat punchlines, and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it background gags. And just when you think it’s all silliness, it throws in existential dread for good measure. Guest stars like *Mike Stoklasa* (of RedLetterMedia fame) and *Gilbert Gottfried* (in one of his final roles) make surprise appearances that somehow fit perfectly in the madness. It’s the Adult Swim spirit in purest, weirdest form. | © Williams Street / Adult Swim

Cropped Arcane — Arcane (2021)

*Arcane* shocked everyone by being not only a good video game adaptation—but one of the *best* animated series of the decade. Set in the richly imagined world of *League of Legends*, it tells the story of sisters Vi and Jinx, voiced masterfully by *Hailee Steinfeld* and *Ella Purnell*. Every episode is a visual spectacle, thanks to the revolutionary animation style from *Fortiche Production*. But the beauty isn’t skin-deep—the writing, voice acting, and emotional arcs all hit hard. It’s not just a show for gamers; it’s prestige TV that happens to be animated. If you’re sleeping on *Arcane*, consider this your wake-up call. | © Riot Games / Fortiche Production / Netflix

Cropped Invincible — Invincible (2021)

*Invincible* is what happens when you take the coming-of-age superhero trope and hurl it through a meat grinder—literally. What starts off feeling like a teen-friendly animated *Justice League* quickly turns into a blood-splattered, emotionally devastating saga. *Steven Yeun* leads the cast as Mark Grayson, but it’s *J.K. Simmons* as his dad Omni-Man who steals every scene with that terrifying dad energy. The cast is stacked: *Sandra Oh*, *Zazie Beetz*, *Seth Rogen* (who also produces), and more bring life to this morally complex universe. Trust us, after one episode, you’ll never look at superhero cartoons the same again. | © Skybound Entertainment / Amazon Studios

Cropped Tear Along the Dotted Line — Tear Along the Dotted Line (2021)

*Tear Along the Dotted Line* is a painfully relatable Italian animated series that asks the eternal question: “What if your inner monologue was an animated armadillo voiced by a comedian?” (Answer: surprisingly profound.) Created and voiced by *Zerocalcare*—a real-life cartoonist turned philosopher of anxiety—the series follows a fictional version of himself trying to navigate adulting, heartbreak, and existential dread in Rome. It's self-deprecating, whip-smart, and occasionally devastating. You’ll laugh, cry, then feel guilty for laughing *while* crying. It’s like therapy, but with subtitles and better pacing. | © Movimenti Production / Netflix

Cropped The Midnight Gospel — The Midnight Gospel (2020)

Created by *Pendleton Ward* (yes, the brain behind *Adventure Time*) and *Duncan Trussell* (stand-up comic and podcast philosopher extraordinaire), *The Midnight Gospel* is like watching a spiritual acid trip narrated by a stoned Carl Sagan. Each episode is built around real podcast interviews that dive into death, meditation, addiction, and... prison yoga? Meanwhile, the visuals are an entirely separate—but somehow harmonious—parallel narrative of Clancy, a spacecaster, hopping between doomed planets. Guests like *Damien Echols* and *Anne Lamott* lend real-world weight to the surreal journey. It’s deep, it’s weird, and yes, you’ll probably need a second watch just to process it all. | © Titmouse, Inc. / Netflix

Cropped Close Enough — Close Enough (2020)

If you've ever been in your 30s, had a weird roommate, or stayed up all night overthinking a text message, *Close Enough* is your cartoon soulmate. Created by *J.G. Quintel* (of *Regular Show* fame), it follows a married millennial couple and their oddball friends as they stumble through adult responsibilities, parenting, and reality-bending nonsense. Think: grocery shopping turns into a cyberpunk heist, or a date night turns into a dystopian adventure. With voice work from *Jason Mantzoukas*, *Gabrielle Walsh*, and Quintel himself, the cast nails the chaotic-but-relatable tone. It’s comfort food with an existential twist. | © Cartoon Network Studios / Netflix

Cropped Love Death Robots — Love, Death & Robots (2019)

This one’s not just a series—it’s a full-on animated anthology buffet. *Love, Death & Robots* offers up bite-sized sci-fi, horror, and fantasy tales, each with wildly different styles and moods. One episode might make you laugh, another might scar you for life (looking at you, yogurt uprising and rat exterminator nightmares). Executive produced by *David Fincher* and *Tim Miller*, the series also features top-tier voice talent like *Topher Grace*, *Mary Elizabeth Winstead*, and *Michael B. Jordan*. It’s an animation playground where adult themes meet cinematic ambition—and you never know what kind of wild trip each episode will be. | © Blur Studio / Netflix

Cropped Undone — Undone (2019)

Blending rotoscope animation with psychological drama, *Undone* is one of the most unique shows on this list—and that’s saying something. It stars *Rosa Salazar* as Alma, a woman who discovers she can manipulate time after a near-fatal accident, possibly guided by the ghost of her father, voiced by *Bob Odenkirk*. Yeah. It’s as weird and wonderful as it sounds. The visuals are dreamlike, the narrative is part mystery, part mind-bender, and the performances are absolutely grounded despite the sci-fi premise. *Undone* doesn’t just mess with timelines—it messes with your expectations. | © Tornante Company / Amazon Studios

Cropped Primal — Primal (2019)

No dialogue. No jokes. No mercy. *Primal* is *Genndy Tartakovsky*’s wordless masterwork about a caveman and a dinosaur forming an unlikely friendship in a world that's all tooth and claw. It’s brutal, emotional, and weirdly poetic—all conveyed through stunning animation and guttural growls. There are no celebrity cameos here, just pure visual storytelling that punches you in the heart and the face at the same time. Somehow, it’s both deeply human and totally prehistoric. If *Looney Tunes* grew up, got ripped, and went feral, it would look something like this. | © Cartoon Network Studios / Adult Swim

Cropped Bojack Horseman — BoJack Horseman (2014)

What started as a washed-up horse with a drinking problem turned into one of the most profound meditations on depression, addiction, and redemption ever put on screen—animated or live action. *BoJack Horseman* stars *Will Arnett* as the titular horse, with *Aaron Paul*, *Amy Sedaris*, and *Alison Brie* rounding out a cast that's equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. The show masterfully juggles absurd gags (yes, the spaghetti strainer woman is canon) with gut-wrenching introspection. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and then you’ll question your life choices—all in 25 minutes. *Raphael Bob-Waksberg*, you magnificent emotional saboteur. | © Tornante Company / Netflix

Cropped Rick And Morty — Rick and Morty (2013)

At this point, *Rick and Morty* is less a show and more a multiversal meme machine. But back when it launched, it was a fresh, twisted take on sci-fi and family dysfunction. *Justin Roiland* (originally voicing both Rick and Morty) and *Dan Harmon* infused each episode with nihilism, dark humor, and uncomfortable truth bombs hidden between burps. Guest stars? Oh, it’s stacked—*Susan Sarandon*, *Werner Herzog*, *Taika Waititi*, even *Elon Musk* (as Elon Tusk). It’s clever, chaotic, and somehow still manages to make you care about a depressed scientist and his perpetually confused grandson. Wubba lubba dub-dub. | © Williams Street / Adult Swim

Cropped Bobs Burgers — Bob’s Burgers (2011)

*Bob’s Burgers* is the cozy sweater of adult animation: warm, awkward, and constantly interrupted by a musical number. With *H. Jon Benjamin* as the ever-sighing Bob and *Kristen Schaal*, *Dan Mintz*, and *Eugene Mirman* voicing the wonderfully weird Belcher kids, this show has carved out a space in our hearts—and our lunch menus. It’s a sitcom about failure and love, about trying your best while covered in grease and surrounded by chaos. And somehow, it still finds new ways to be both hilarious and touching. Also, Tina. Just... Tina. | © Bento Box Entertainment / 20th Television Animation

Cropped The Boondocks — The Boondocks (2005)

Before *Get Out*, before *Atlanta*, *The Boondocks* was already pushing cultural buttons and making people uncomfortable in all the right ways. Created by *Aaron McGruder*, it blended anime-inspired visuals with sharp, fearless satire. *Regina King* absolutely kills it voicing both Huey and Riley Freeman, while *John Witherspoon* as Granddad brought legendary comedic timing. The show skewers everything from politics to pop culture to race relations in America—and it rarely pulls punches. It was ahead of its time, controversial, and utterly unforgettable. A comedy that dares to be dangerous. | © Sony Pictures Television / Adult Swim

Cropped Robot Chicken — Robot Chicken (2005)

If your action figures had unresolved trauma, questionable morals, and a flair for sketch comedy, they’d probably be in *Robot Chicken*. Created by *Seth Green* and *Matthew Senreich*, this stop-motion fever dream has lampooned pop culture with reckless abandon for nearly two decades. It's rapid-fire, absurd, and occasionally horrifying—just the way Adult Swim likes it. The voice cast is a who's who of nerd royalty: *Seth MacFarlane*, *Breckin Meyer*, *Sarah Michelle Gellar*, *Macaulay Culkin*, even *Mark Hamill* shows up to roast himself. No one is safe. No reference too obscure. Just pure, caffeinated chaos in 11-minute bursts. | © Stoopid Buddy Stoodios / Adult Swim

Cropped The Venture Bros — The Venture Bros. (2004)

Equal parts superhero parody, existential drama, and retro sci-fi love letter, *The Venture Bros.* isn’t just a show—it’s a cult. Created by *Jackson Publick* and *Doc Hammer*, it started as a goofy riff on *Jonny Quest* but evolved into one of the smartest, most layered animated series ever made. *James Urbaniak* as Dr. Venture and *Patrick Warburton* as the unflinchingly stoic Brock Samson anchor a voice cast that also includes *Seth Green*, *Stephen Colbert*, and *Clancy Brown*. It’s a show where emotional baggage is just as important as jetpacks. Miss it, and you’re missing one of Adult Swim’s crown jewels. | © Titmouse, Inc. / Adult Swim

Cropped aqua teen hunger force — Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000)

A milkshake, a meatball, and a box of fries live together in suburban New Jersey. That’s not a joke setup—that’s *Aqua Teen Hunger Force*. One of Adult Swim’s original weirdos, this show embraced absurdity before it was cool. It’s surreal, anarchic, and proudly low-budget, featuring characters like the Mooninites and Carl, the world's most tragically relatable neighbor. *Dana Snyder* voices the narcissistic Master Shake with greasy brilliance, and guest stars like *T-Pain*, *David Cross*, and *Zach Galifianakis* pop in to add extra strangeness. It makes no sense—and that’s the point. | © Williams Street / Adult Swim

Cropped Futurama — Futurama (1999)

Before “revival” became the norm, *Futurama* had already mastered the art of dying and coming back better than ever. Created by *Matt Groening*, this sci-fi satire follows Fry, a frozen pizza boy thawed out in the 31st century, alongside a cast of robot misfits and cyclops crushes. *Billy West*, *John DiMaggio*, and *Katey Sagal* bring the Planet Express crew to life with so much heart, even the robot gets tearjerkers (yes, we’re still crying over *Jurassic Bark*). It’s sharp, sweet, and surprisingly emotional for a show with so many decapitations. Also: *Al Gore* as himself. Iconic. | © 20th Television Animation / The Curiosity Company

Cropped family guy — Family Guy (1999)

Love it or side-eye it, *Family Guy* has been a pop culture juggernaut since the Clinton era. *Seth MacFarlane* voices half the cast—Peter, Stewie, and Brian among them—and brings his signature cocktail of slapstick, satire, and cutaway gags to every single episode. With guest appearances from *Carrie Fisher*, *Liam Neeson*, and even *James Woods* (often poking fun at himself), the show doubles as a Hollywood bingo card. It’s crude, it’s clever (sometimes), and it refuses to die—kind of like Peter Griffin himself. Whether you're in it for the jokes or the meta madness, it earns its place on this list. | © 20th Television Animation / Fuzzy Door Productions

Cropped South Park — South Park (1997)

*South Park* is the animated equivalent of that one friend who always says the wrong thing—but somehow, they’re still brilliant. Created by *Trey Parker* and *Matt Stone*, who also voice pretty much the entire cast, this show has been satirizing everything from politics to Pokémon for over two decades. With its cutout animation style and unapologetically offensive humor, it walks the tightrope between genius social commentary and total chaos. Everyone from *Elon Musk* to *George Clooney* has guest-starred—Clooney even voiced a dog. Yes, seriously. Love it or cancel it, *South Park* isn’t going anywhere. | © Comedy Central / South Park Studios

Cropped King of the Hill — King of the Hill (1997)

You’d think a show about a propane salesman in Texas wouldn’t have much to say—but *King of the Hill* proved otherwise. Created by *Mike Judge* and *Greg Daniels*, this slice-of-life gem finds brilliance in the boring, empathy in the everyday. *Hank Hill* (voiced by Judge himself) is a lovable stick-in-the-mud surrounded by an oddball cast including *Bobby Hill* (voiced hilariously by *Pamela Adlon*). The show even attracted guests like *Johnny Depp* and *Willie Nelson*, subtly dropped into Arlen's universe. It’s the animated equivalent of sweet tea on a porch—simple, dry, and oddly comforting. | © 20th Television Animation / Deedle-Dee Productions

Cropped Daria — Daria (1997)

If you survived high school with a permanent eye-roll and a killer sarcasm game, then *Daria* was your spirit guide. A spin-off from *Beavis and Butt-Head*, this MTV classic offered razor-sharp commentary on teen angst, conformity, and the absurdity of suburbia. Voiced by *Tracy Grandstaff*, Daria Morgendorffer is the queen of monotone brilliance—and somehow made apathy cool. The show featured clever voice cameos, including *Bif Naked* and *Lisa Loeb*, and its grunge-laced soundtrack was a Gen-X treasure trove. It’s like your smartest friend’s diary—animated, biting, and just a little too real. | © MTV Animation / MTV Networks

Cropped Duckman — Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man (1994)

Before adult animation went mainstream, there was *Duckman*—a foul-mouthed, noir-ish fever dream with feathers. Voiced by *Jason Alexander* (yes, *George Costanza* himself), Duckman is a sleazy, self-absorbed private investigator who somehow still manages to be oddly sympathetic. The show blended slapstick, social satire, and philosophical angst into a stew of glorious dysfunction. It also boasted a killer supporting cast, including *Tim Curry*, *Nancy Travis*, and *Dweezil Zappa*. Ahead of its time and weird in the best way, *Duckman* deserves more retro love. | © Klasky Csupo / Paramount Domestic Television

Cropped The Simpsons — The Simpsons (1989)

The grandfather of all adult animated series, *The Simpsons* changed TV forever—and it’s still doing it, 30+ seasons later. Created by *Matt Groening*, the show turned Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie into cultural icons. The voice cast, including *Dan Castellaneta*, *Julie Kavner*, *Nancy Cartwright*, and *Yeardley Smith*, has become legendary. And the guest stars? Literally everyone: *Michael Jackson*, *Lady Gaga*, *Paul McCartney*, *Stephen Hawking*, and *Meryl Streep*, to name a *few*. Whether you're a fan of the golden era or still watching new episodes out of habit, *The Simpsons* is animation royalty. | © 20th Television Animation / Gracie Films

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Animated shows aren't just for kids anymore—and they haven’t been for a long time. From biting satire and surreal comedy to mature storytelling and dark drama, adult animated series have carved out a bold space in television. Whether you’re into irreverent humor like Rick and Morty or deep, character-driven narratives like BoJack Horseman, there’s something on this list for every type of viewer.

In this curated ranking of the top 25 adult animated series, we spotlight the most iconic, innovative, and culturally impactful shows in the genre. One quick note: while anime is a powerhouse in the world of adult animation, we've chosen to exclude it here—otherwise, it could easily dominate the entire list. These aren’t just cartoons—they’re genre-defying, boundary-pushing experiences that keep audiences coming back for more. Ready to find your next binge-worthy obsession? Let’s dive in.