Flapjack!

Steve universe:

Adventure Time:

And a classic, Animaniacs:

Captain Simian & The Space Monkeys

Hmm, leaving out anime…

• Futurama (excluding Comedy Central era)
• Avatar: The Last Airbender is styled like an anime but isn’t
• Invincible
• Bob’s Burgers
• Gargoyles
• Street Sharks
• Interstella 55555
• Heavy Metal
• Metalocalypse

I know there are more but I am sputtering just now.

Way too many. Pretty much all Adult Animation, with a few exceptions which I’ll note.

Bojack Horseman

The best description I have for Bojack Horseman is it’s a dark comedy/drama about generational trauma, depression, wrestling with one’s own demons, owning up to your mistakes, redemption, and so much more, all wrapped up in a strange colorful world that’s full of commentary, an absurd amount of witty puns, and so much more. One of my favorites of all time.

Long Story Short

Long Story Short is from the same writer as Bojack Horseman, but was released very recently. I just got done watching it. I would describe it as a montage of coming of age stories around 3 siblings. The format jumps around from different years within their lives as it depicts an American Jewish Family navigating their interpersonal relationships, explore their Jewish heritage, and grow as a family. It’s a well done comedy with some heavy drama thrown in. Well done in my opinion and worth the watch.

Hazbin Hotel

Hazbin Hotel is a Musical Comedy/Drama that takes place in an exaggerated version of Hell. Taking place in the creator’s own “Helliverse”, Hazbin Hotel stars the daughter of Lucifer Morningstar, Charlie Morningstar, who founds a Hotel with the hope that they can redeem sinners so that they might enter into Heaven. It’s a charming show with some pretty well done music, sometimes very well done animation, and an entertaining cast of characters.

Helluva Boss

Same creator, same universe as Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss stars Blitz (the “o” is silent), an Imp in Hell who founds a company IMP, which provides the service of Assassination for any in Hell who have a grievance with someone still among the living. Helluva Boss is also a musical, though admittedly has far fewer musical numbers. It is also a comedy (some of the comedy is very very raunchy), and also a drama. This one you can watch for free on youtube.

Rick and Morty

Rick and Morty is probably familiar to most at this point. Rick and Morty stars the titular Rick Sanchez and his grandson, Morty. They go on wacky sci fi adventures with some overarching drama along the way. The show is definitely a dark comedy that occasionally delves into some deep existential nihilistic moments. If you haven’t watched this on yet, get on it. It’s a solid win.

Solar Opposites

Solar Opposites stars Korvo and his family of Alien Invaders from the recently destroyed planet Schlorp. They come to Earth with their “baby” Pupa, which will eventually evolve to consume the planet and provide resources to create another planet Schlorp. The show has it’s dramatic moments here and there, but is generally a comedy. If you enjoyed Rick and Morty, it’s likely you’ll enjoy the style of humor this show has to offer. Make no mistake though, Solar Opposites is distinctively it’s own show and even has some great side stories around miniaturized humans and some intergalactic policemen.

Inside Job

Inside Job sadly only lasted two seasons. It was a comedy about Reagan Ridley, a technologist/scientist that works for The Deep State, covering up and interacting with the various classic conspiracies we’ve come to know through popular media (think the Lizard People, Illuminati, etc.). There was of course a bit a drama thrown in as well. Overall a great comedy.

Steven Universe

Steven Universe was a great show that is one of the few on this list that I wouldn’t classify as Adult Animation, but perhaps Young Adult appropriate. Steven is a young boy living on an Island with his Three Aunt Characters. As the story progresses, Steven comes to realize that he is an alien/human hybrid and his Aunts are magical space creatures called “Gems”. Together they fight monsters that come to threaten their planet, and Steven eventually comes to empathize with even his greatest foes. The show is about growing up, gender identity, empathy, and familial love. It’s a real tear jerker at times, but it also has a lot of laughs and a lot of sweet moments.

Infinity Train

Infinity Train deserved more seasons (it got 4 though, pretty good run). Each season is it’s own stand alone story, but the common theme is the characters explore worlds within each cart of a moving Train. The Train is a sort of magical entity that holds entire fantasy worlds inside each cart. The characters are usually trying to address some kind of interpersonal trauma they have experienced. While humorous at times, the show is closer to a dramatic epic and you can tell the creator had a unique vision for this fantastical world. I’d say this one is probably teen friendly, but not entirely for kids.

Scavenger’s Reign

Scavenger’s Reign is a science fiction story about a group of humans who become stranded on an Alien Planet and struggle to understand it’s sometimes beautiful, sometimes terrifying, sometimes bizarre, and usually dangerous ecosystem. The art style in particular is worth mentioning as it is quite beautiful and is obviously inspired in part by famed French Graphic Novel Illustrator, Mœbius. Just for the visuals alone, Scavenger’s Reign is worth a watch, but the story is also very intriguing as the alien world is unlike anything you’ve likely seen in media.

Pantheon

Pantheon was a great show that covered a lot of ground for having been only two seasons. It stars two main characters, Maddie and Caspian, who navigate a world where death is overcome through uploading of the consciousness into a digital world. Obviously inspired by various futurism thinkers as well as various other anime tropes, Pantheon starts off with a very basic premise and draws it out unto an unexpected by very satisfying conclusion. It explores the nature of consciousness, identity, immortality, and freedom. This one I highly recommend, the ending goes really really hard.

Mother. Fuckin.

SWAT KATS

Two junkyard bros who also happen to be super engineers, create this badass jet that has all kinds of awesome weapons and tactical capabilities, and they use it to become vigilantes to save the city from evil and destruction.

Fuckin AWESOME theme song

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Justice League/Justice League Unlimited

Great storytelling (imo) and action. Maybe not so much the music (aside from the theme songs).

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Young Justice

If you enjoy superheroes/DC, this is a cool show about the sidekicks splitting off and kinda doing their own thing but still working with the Justice League. They mainly focus on covert missions like going undercover to break into secret superpower smuggling rings and things like that. It does get a little bogged down in some “personal” stories and relationship stuff, but imo it’s bearable and balanced out by the action and overarching story.

Made by the Futurama and Simpson guys, a Matt Groening show. More of a fantasy show with heavy comedy than a comedy show. Very, very strong continuity between episodes. This thread reminds me there are probably a new season or two out by now I need to go watch.

I watched this in the wake of K-Pop Demon Hunters. I am not the biggest fan of its animation aesthetic, but I got used to it. What caught me off guard is that the writing is pretty solid. This is also a very strong continuity show, one long plotline. Can you tell my interest in episodic animation is dead, now?

Honestly, it has been a very long time since I’ve watched this, but I feel like it should get a special mention. I dunno if it would stand the test of time, but it was both incredibly refreshing for the time (2004) while also parodying a lot of anime and videogame stuff I loved.

A show I was obsessed with for a few years. Metalocalypse was king of media in my life for a while. I had the first two Dethklok albums on CD. One of my most recent regrets is I had tickets to see Dethklok and Babymetal together in concert and did not go because depression was eating at me, and I just didn’t want to go out. That was so fucking stupid. I want to punch my past self.

• Bromwell High
• Kevin Spencer
• Archer
• Bugs Bunny, Looney Tunes, etc…

Rocko’s Modern Life - classic 90s stuff

Omg I keep thinking of all the good ones.

Pinky and the brain

Fineas and Pherb

Ed. Edd. And eddy.

Let’s get “The last Airbender” out of the way now.

Futurama

If not anime, then Regular Show. Despite most episodes covering a new topic each episode, many references from older episodes show up in future episodes. Additionally, each season’s overarching story is really good.

Edit: added image as requested.

Cartoons as animation or cartoon strips? Do you call anime and 3d cartoons also? (That could offend so many people :D )