At first glance, animated television shows are meant for kids. Think of all the great Saturday morning cartoons you remember from your childhood.
That’s not to say animation is strictly for kids. Some of the greatest television shows are animated and manage to deal with incredibly mature themes.
With that in mind, let’s list some of the best animated TV shows that are definitely not for kids.
King of the Hill
Mike Judge’s animated sitcom aired for 13 incredible seasons on Fox. A 14th season will air later this year on Hulu.
The show offers commentary on the conservative Hill family of fictional Arlen, Texas, as patriarch Hank Hill comes to terms with raising a son in an ever-changing world.
Beavis & Butt-Head
While Judge’s King of the Hill does an excellent job portraying good-standing Americans as the main cast, Beavis & Butt-Head is nothing like it.
Instead, crude and juvenile humor is on full display here, going for full shock value and ready to terrorize parents whenever their children went behind their backs to watch it on MTV.
Bojack Horseman
Netflix’s Bojack Horseman is an incredible achievement in animation.
It delivers an unflinching take on a down-on-his-luck 1990s TV star as he deals with addiction, depression, and how his actions affect the lives of those close to him. It’s one of the few shows that doubles as an excellent comedy and a heartwrenching drama.
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Invincible
There’s been a recent trend in the popularity of television portraying superheroes in a negative light. Ironically, two excellent examples are airing on Amazon Prime Video: The Boys and Invincible.
The animation style allows its over-the-top, gratuitous violence and action to shine as the narrative deals with themes far more complex than you would ever expect from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
South Park
While South Park‘s main cast consists of fourth graders, the show is in no way targeted at children.
It doubles as an excellent satire of pop culture and the political environment. It still features the shock value style of humor that dominated its earlier seasons, but it has leaned more into its commentary lately.
Family Guy
While The Simpsons provides humor that fans of all ages can appreciate, Seth MacFarlane took an entirely different approach with Family Guy.
It’s an excellent combination of old-school sitcoms like All in the Family and a more modern approach to humor. It doesn’t push the envelope as much as South Park, but it’s still targeted towards adults rather than a younger audience.
Attack on Titan
Anime has recently broken into the mainstream in a big way, and one modern series responsible for this is Attack on Titan.
While the premise is enough to entice curious viewers, there are a lot of mature themes at play here that prove the series does an excellent job of combining its impressive visuals with a deeper meaning.
Cowboy Bebop
Before Attack on Titan, though, there was Cowboy Bebop.
One of the most influential anime series of all time, the series has influenced even the most influential modern filmmakers. It’s a wonderful combination of style, narrative, and writing that often puts even the most accomplished live-action shows to shame.
The Boondocks
Based on Aaron McGruder’s comic strip, the Adult Swim series isn’t afraid to tackle race relations, class differences, and social commentary.
This isn’t your typical Black comedy. Yes, a lot of the show’s episodes and storylines are focused on African American culture, but it’s also never afraid to cross the line and tackle issues you’d assume would be taboo for any show, never mind an animated series.
Smiling Friends
The newest Adult Swim hit is a perfect example of surreal humor firing on all cylinders.
Many episodes can be best described as a drug trip, but Smiling Friends‘ success comes from how well written each episode is. The characters are exactly what you expect from an animated comedy, and the show knows exactly how to lean into it.
The Venture Bros.
A love letter to the days of the Hardy Boys and Johnny Quest, The Venture Bros. is one of the most intelligent animated shows of all time.
Yes, there are some mature themes and adult jokes here, but in reality, to fully appreciate Venture Bros., you have to understand the source material. If you have fond memories from the Saturday Morning shows of the past, then you’ll love The Venture Bros.
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