30 Best Animated Series For Adults, Ranked

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.

30 ‘F Is for Family’ (2015 – 2021)

Creators: Bill Burr and Michael Price

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

29 ‘Aggretsuko’ (2018 – 2023)

Creator: Sanrio

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

28 ‘Undone’ (2019 – 2022)

Creators: Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg

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.

Watch on Amazon Prime

27 ‘Close Enough’ (2020 – 2022)

Creator: J. G. Quintel

J.G. Quintel has been a pivotal force in creating beloved adult cartoons 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

26 ‘The Critic’ (1994 – 2001)

Creators: Al Jean, Mike Reiss, and Jon Lovitz

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.

Watch on Tubi

25 ‘Big Mouth’ (2017 – 2024)

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

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.

Watch on Netflix

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

Creators: Michael Ouweleen and Erik Richter

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.

Watch on Adult Swim

23 ‘The Venture Bros.’ (2003 – 2018)

Creator: Jackson Publick

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.

Watch on Adult Swim

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

Creators: Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro

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

21 ‘Castlevania’ (2017 – 2021)

Creator: Warren Ellis

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

20 ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022)

Creators: Rafał Jaki, Mike Pondsmith

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.

Watch on Netflix

19 ‘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

18 ‘American Dad’ (2005 – )

Creators: Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman

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.

Watch on Hulu

17 ‘King of the Hill’ (1997 – 2010)

Creators: Mike Judge, Greg Daniels

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.

Watch on Hulu

16 ‘Disenchantment’ (2018 – 2023)

Creator: Matt Groening

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

15 ‘Daria’ (1997 – 2002)

Creators: Glenn Eichler, Susie Lewis Lynn

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.

Watch on Paramount+

Creators: Brendon Small, Tommy Blacha

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.

Watch on Adult Swim

13 ‘Love, Death & Robots’ (2019 – )

Creator: Tim Miller

Netflix absolutely struck gold with their animated anthology series Love, Death & Robots in delivering some visionary animated short stories that generally resonate with a more adult audience. While there are some live-action segments and shorts, Love, Death & Robots is largely known for its ambitiously diverse animated shorts that touch on some mature subject matter and can be surprisingly gory.

For adult viewers who love stuff like Black Mirror, Love, Death, & Robots has been a great animated companion. Some of Love, Death, & Robots‘ best episodes include one from David Fincher called “Bad Travelling,” a philosophical masterpiece titled “Zima Blue,” and the iconic pilot “Sonnie’s Edge.” The narratives range from twisty sci-fi horror stories to bizarre utopias and terrifying dystopias.

Watch on Netflix

12 ‘Bob’s Burgers’ (2011 – )

Creator: Loren Bouchard

Bob’s Burgers revolves around the entertaining daily activities of the Belcher family, who own a burger restaurant. Created by Loren Bouchard, the series introduces audiences to the lovable, hilarious, and often relatable family comprised of Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin), a third-generation restaurateur, his wife Linda (John Roberts), and their three children Tina (Dan Mintz), Gene (Eugene Mirman), and Louise (Kristen Schaal).

Bob’s Burgers is well-loved in large part due to the well-written characters who learn important lessons about running a business, maintaining relationships, and getting away with wacky antics. Of course, what holds it all together are their shared love for food and unique burgers (which Bob thankfully has a knack for). It’s overall a wholesome story of a family running a burger joint together and keep running into obstacles and funny scenarios.

Watch on Hulu

11 ‘Archer’ (2009 – 2023)

Creator: Adam Reed

Archer has provided adult audiences with the animated spy adventure they didn’t know they wanted mixing in some loveably dopey comedy that comes directly from its titular spy. The show follows the antics of secret agent Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) alongside his coworkers who have become iconic in their own right. As they work for a spy agency with questionable clients, the group of bumbling characters showcase a humorous side of their profession.

Archer has continually raised the bar with each season as it delves into different eras and styles of spy films that not only makes its animation style more versatile, but also puts its hilarious cast of characters in new situations that never shy away from delivering graphic comedy and action. It’s a brilliant parody of the world of espionage, which is often portrayed as a sleek and intriguing industry – not in Archer’s case.

Watch on Hulu