On paper, it’s a kids’ show, but the jokes, songs, and references are clever enough to keep adults hooked, too. Every episode balances wild inventions, goofy musical numbers, and a secret agent platypus saving the world – all without ever talking down to its audience. | © Disney Channel
What looks like a simple kids’ cartoon about a family of dogs turns out to be one of the smartest and most heartfelt shows on TV. It’s funny, tender, and so true to family life that parents often end up crying right alongside their kids. Every episode feels genuine, which is why Bluey has become beloved. | © ABC
On the surface, it’s a Hollywood satire with talking animals, but underneath it’s one of the most honest shows about depression, addiction, and self-destruction. Its mix of absurd humor and heavy themes made BoJack and his world oddly relatable. Few animated series have balanced comedy and heartbreak this well. | © Netflix
For many fans, this series is still the best screen version of DC’s greatest heroes. It gave meaningful arcs not just to Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, but also to side characters like The Question and Green Arrow. | © Cartoon Network
Stranded on a hostile alien world, the survivors of a wrecked cargo ship struggle to endure while uncovering the planet’s strange mysteries. The series blends survival drama with stunning, hand-drawn visuals that often evoke an eerie, naturalistic feel. | © Max
In the late ’80s, Disney turned its chipmunks into pint-sized detectives solving cases too small for anyone else. The show’s 65 episodes quickly made Chip and Dale cartoon icons. Decades later, they even returned in a reboot movie that mixed nostalgia with sharp Hollywood satire. | © Disney Channel
The animated series provides Harley with the sharp writing and wild energy her live-action outings never quite achieved. With Kaley Cuoco voicing Harley and a cast of offbeat DC characters, it’s funny, violent, and surprisingly heartfelt. Two seasons in, it’s already one of the best modern superhero cartoons around. | © HBO
The 1969 original introduced Scooby and the Mystery Inc. gang, setting the template for decades of spooky cases and unmasked villains. It was simple, goofy fun, but the mix of laughs and light scares hit a sweet spot for kids and teens alike. | © CBS
This anime throws viewers into a brutal world where humanity fights to survive against towering giants. Its mix of shocking twists, intense action, and bleak themes made it one of the most gripping shows of the past decade. Both the story and the animation hit with a force that’s hard to forget. | © Crunchyroll
What started as a crude cut-out short turned into one of the longest-running animated comedies ever made. With foul-mouthed kids facing everything from aliens to ManBearPig, the show built its reputation on shock value and sharp satire. Decades later, it’s still stirring up controversy and laughs in equal measure. | © HBO
This Nickelodeon series blended Eastern and Western animation to follow Aang, the last Air Nomad tasked with restoring balance to the world. Across three seasons, it combined sharp humor, rich worldbuilding, and heavy themes like war and loss without ever losing its heart. | © Nickelodeon
This ten-episode miniseries drops two brothers into a strange forest called the Unknown, blending fairytale whimsy with a touch of mystery. Its hand-drawn art and haunting music give it an atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and unique. Short but unforgettable, it quickly earned its place as a modern cult classic. | © Cartoon Network
This show broke away from lighthearted superhero cartoons and gave Gotham a dark, noir edge that felt straight out of the comics. With Kevin Conroy’s Batman and Mark Hamill’s Joker, it delivered some of the most iconic voice work in animation. It didn’t just redefine Batman – it set the tone for how the character would be portrayed for decades. | © Warner Bros. Animation
A samurai thrown into a strange future, battling his way back home – it’s a simple setup, but told with style unlike anything else on TV. The show’s striking visuals, minimal dialogue, and bold action sequences made every episode feel cinematic. Years later, it’s still praised as one of the finest animated series ever created. | © Cartoon Network
In the Land of Ooo, Finn and his shapeshifting dog Jake go on adventures that are as bizarre as they are meaningful. The show mixed silly humor with big themes like love, memory, and change, creating a cartoon that grew deeper with every season. By the end, it had become one of the most imaginative and heartfelt animated series ever made. | © HBO
You don’t need to know anything about League of Legends to get hooked on Arcane. With its striking steampunk look, intense action, and emotional storytelling, it quickly set a new bar for what video game adaptations can be. Many fans even call it Netflix’s best series in years, animated or not. | © Netflix
It’s loud, it’s weird, and half the time it makes no sense – which is exactly why kids and adults can't stop watching. Since 1999, SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom crew have turned everyday nonsense into pure cartoon chaos. Even if the newer episodes don’t always hit like the classics, there’s still nothing else on TV quite like it. | © Paramount Pictures
At first, Clone Wars felt like a light Saturday morning cartoon, but as the seasons went on, it turned into something much bigger. The stories got darker, the characters more complex, and suddenly the prequel movies made a lot more sense. By the time it ended, it was clear this was some of the best Star Wars ever put on screen. | © Netflix
While it doesn’t try to reach the dark complexity of BoJack Horseman, Long Story Short shines in its own way. The show is funny, heartfelt, and refreshingly wholesome, with plenty of cultural flavor woven into the storytelling. Its first season landed strong, leaving fans eager for more episodes. | © Netflix
From the creator of The Simpsons, Futurama took viewers to a future filled with robots, aliens, and endless sci-fi gags. What kept it sharp wasn’t just the setting, but the clever writing and a cast of characters as funny as they were heartfelt. For anyone who loves comedy with a side of space travel, it’s still one of the best animated sitcoms. | © 20th Television
Originally meant to push merchandise, Cowboy Bebop ended up becoming one of the most stylish and influential anime series ever made. Its mix of space-western vibes, noir atmosphere, and unforgettable music gave it a look and feel unlike anything else at the time. With just one season, it proved how powerful and lasting a short-run anime could be. | © Anime Limited
From Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck to Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner, Looney Tunes introduced some of the most iconic cartoon characters ever created. First seen as theatrical shorts, they exploded in popularity once they hit television in the 1950s. Decades later, the classic slapstick and quick wit of those originals still feel unbeatable. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
This timeless cat-and-mouse chase has been making people laugh since Hollywood’s golden age of animation. The endless tricks, traps, and slapstick battles between Tom and Jerry remain just as funny today as when they first hit TV screens. It’s simple, chaotic, and somehow always impossible to look away from. | © Warner Bros. Animation
Few shows have shaped childhoods the way Pokémon did, turning Pikachu, Ash, and the quest to “catch ’em all” into a global obsession. Beyond the games and trading cards, the anime gave kids an entire world to get lost in week after week. Even today, with new series still being made, it keeps pulling in fresh generations of fans. | © Cartoon Network
In its first decade, The Simpsons redefined what an animated sitcom could be, mixing razor-sharp humor with cultural commentary. The so-called “golden years,” especially seasons two through eight, are often cited as some of the best television ever written. Even decades later, no other cartoon has managed to capture that same mix of wit, heart, and satire at its peak. | © 20th Television
Animation isn’t just for kids – it’s given us some of the most creative, funny, and emotional shows ever made. From timeless Saturday morning classics to modern streaming hits, these 25 animated series prove just how powerful the medium can be.
