30 Shows Like Family Guy You Should Watch Next
There is no denying that "Family Guy" has had a lasting impact on the contemporary adult animation landscape. Created by Seth MacFarlane, the show follows the Griffin family as they traverse modern life in Quahog, Rhode Island. Whether you love the series or not there is a high likelihood that you have seen at least one episode at some point. While it was far from the first animated show aimed at adult audiences, it's still one of the most prominent examples, serving as a gateway for those new to the genre.
If you've finished "Family Guy" and are looking for something else to sink your teeth into, we've got you covered. Whether it's a similarly unrestrained family sitcom or a project that pushes absurdity or social commentary there are several noteworthy gems to choose from. If you like "Family Guy," here are the adult cartoons you should watch next.
Archer
In terms of one-liners, catchphrases, and quotable back-and-forth dialogue, "Archer" ranks as one of the undisputed kings. The show is the brainchild of Adam Reed, who came up with the idea during downtime following the cancellation of "Frisky Dingo" (via The Wall Street Journal). While on vacation in Spain, Reed found himself distracted by a beautiful woman. Unable to work up the nerve to talk to her, Reed imagined a character who would have no trouble making a move. This led to the conception of the protagonist for Reed's next project. According to an interview with The A.V. Club, the series' development was also heavily influenced by the "James Bond" and "Pink Panther" films.
"Archer" follows the titular Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) as he carries out global espionage missions under the leadership of his mother, Mallory (Jessica Walters). His co-workers, including Lana Kane, Cyril Figgis, Pam Poovey, Cheryl Tunt, and Dr. Krieger, come along for the ride. The show is known for its classic comic book style animation and self aware, lively dialogue. Much like "Family Guy", it has spawned several memeworthy catchphrases and hilarious exchanges still referenced today. With "Archer" Season 13 likely arriving later in 2022, this is the perfect time to binge the earlier episodes.
American Dad
If you feel like "Family Guy" has been losing steam the last few years, you should check out Seth MacFarlane's other remaining animated entity: "American Dad." The show follows the Smith Family, led by their father Stan Smith — an overly patriotic, gun-toting CIA operative. The family consists of Stan's wife Francine, son Steve, daughter Hailey, and an alien who goes by Roger. There's also a German man named Klaus whose brain resides in a goldfish. Throughout the episodes, Stan and the others deal with a variety of comical but politically charged situations and domestic squabbles.
With its move from the Fox lineup to TBS in 2014, "American Dad" has definitely gone through some changes. New characters have joined the lineup, alongside a shift in episodic format. The show has a greater emphasis on side characters, with many receiving sympathetic development and character arcs. When you turn on a newer episode of "American Dad," you never know what you'll get, which only adds to the fun.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
If you ever fell asleep on the couch watching Cartoon Network in the 2000s, you probably woke up to this madness. Explaining "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" to a newcomer without proper context is akin to slipping someone a batch of psychotropics. At its simplest, the series follows three anthropomorphic food items — Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad — who set out on wacky adventures. But when you actually go through the series episode by episode, it's not that cut and dry.
Created by Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" serves as a spin-off for "Space Ghost Coast to Coast." Much like "Family Guy", the show garnered an immense fan base and even stirred up some real life controversy (via WGBH). In 2007, two Boston artists looked to help promote the "Aqua Teen" theatrical film with a series of LED displays. These displays, featuring the Mooninites, were mistaken for armed bombs, leading to widespread panic until a member of the Boston Police Department identified what they were. Despite these real world shenanigans, the show remains a beloved late night classic and an essential part of Adult Swim's legacy. Though it concluded in 2015, there is an "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" movie sequel on the way.
Bob's Burgers
From its endlessly quotable characters to its setting, "Bob's Burgers" is the epitome of a "feel-good" show. The series follows Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin), a restauranteur traversing life with his wife Linda and their three kids: Louise, Tina, and Gene. The family live in a humble seaside town packed with a slew of colorful characters who either help or hinder the Belchers, such as a mortician named Mort, Bob's friend Teddy, and restaurant rival Jimmy Pesto.
"Bob's Burgers" comes courtesy of Loren Bouchard, co-creator of "Home Movies", who began developing it for Fox in 2009 (per Variety). According to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bouchard originally conceived the Belchers as cannibals — a detail Fox asked him to drop. The series landed in early 2011 with its premiere episode, "Human Flesh," earning sizable ratings. It has since evolved, both in terms of humor and animation. Sitting at 12 seasons with a feature film on the way, "Bob's Burgers" has claimed its place as a staple of modern TV animation.
The Boondocks
"The Boondocks" is the definition of lightning in a bottle, boasting a specific blend of ingredients that can never be duplicated. The show began life as a series of comic strips scribed by Aaron McGruder and released on music site Hitlist.com. Seeing the potential in his idea, McGruder looked to get the strip wider syndication and an animated series — both goals he later achieved (via The News Tribune). The TV show focuses on Riley and Huey Freeman, Black siblings who live with their granddad, Robert, in the primarily white suburb of Woodcrest.
Though popular, "The Boondocks" has sparked some controversy over the years. For example, the episode "The Return of the King," which features a fictionalized, alternate history version of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., garnered such intense backlash that even Rev. Al Sharpton vocalized his disapproval (per Today). Sony Pictures Television planned to reboot "The Boondocks" on HBO Max; however, voice actor Cedric Yarbrough revealed that the revival was no longer happening on an episode of Geekset Podcast in early 2022.
BoJack Horseman
If there's a show that will make you stare up at the ceiling and think about your life, it's Raphael Bob-Waksberg's "BoJack Horseman." After moving to Los Angeles, Bob-Waksberg worked on a few projects that never really took off. These setbacks eventually led to a pitch titled "BoJack the Depressed Talking Horse," supported by Bob-Waksberg's high school friend, illustrator Lisa Hanawalt (per The New Yorker). Though the series hit a few speed bumps, Netflix eventually picked it up and it landed on the streaming service in late 2014.
"BoJack Horseman" follows the titular main character (voiced by Will Arnett), a washed up sitcom star trying to navigate the superficial world of Hollywood. Along for the ride are his roommate Todd (Aaron Paul), his ghostwriter and friend Diane Nguyen (Allison Brie), and his agent Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris). Additionally, there is BoJack's rival, the well intentioned yet annoyingly oblivious Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins). The series boasts a unique blend of humor, psychological realism, and emotional depth. As detailed by Impact Magazine, this odd little show about a cynical talking horse was a true eye opener about mental illness for many.
Beavis & Butt-Head
A cartoon so shocking it made the news multiple times, "Beavis & Butt-Head" will forever endure as a symbol of the 1990s. Created by Mike Judge, the series started life as "Frog Baseball," a short that first saw airtime on MTV's "Liquid Television." The plot revolves around the lives and experiences of Beavis and Butt-Head (yes, those are their actual names), two teenagers who get into various shenanigans around their hometown in pursuit of television, nachos, and babes.
Often, the boys' escapades offer a critical look at the evolving pop culture landscape of the 1990s. Through its early episodes, "Beavis & Butt-Head" stirred up a fair amount of controversy among various parents and watchdog groups. On more than one occasion, the destructive actions of kids were attributed to the show's content. Judge eventually addressed those concerned with a comical warning at the start of the show. Regardless of its questionable history, "Beavis & Butt-Head" maintains a sizable fandom. Its popularity has endured to the point that another "Beavis and Butt-Head" movie is slated for release on Paramount+ in 2022.
Clone High
The '90s and 2000s saw many quality and unique animated series canned with only one season under their belts. One such example of this unfortunate trend was the animated teen sitcom "Clone High" created by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Bill Lawrence. If the first two names sound familiar, you might recognize them as the duo behind "The Lego Movie." But before they were breaking box office records, they were attacking the MTV airwaves with this cult classic.
"Clone High," as the name suggests, centers on a high school populated by clones of famous historical figures. The core characters — Abe Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Gandhi, and John F. Kennedy — all have fitting and comedic personalities. The show is, at its core, a parody of the teen dramas that were popular at the time, such as "Dawson's Creek." It also helps to go in with some historical knowledge, but it really won't affect your overall enjoyment. Though it met an untimely end after just one season, "Clone High" is due for a long-awaited reboot on HBO Max.
Daria
Daria was first introduced as a side character in "Beavis & Butt-Head" back in the early '90s. Originally portrayed as a straight man of sorts to Beavis and Butt-Head's adolescent buffoonery, the writers saw potential in Daria's persona. This led to a spin-off, giving MTV an animated program for the female demographic (per Vice). The series landed on the channel in 1997 and ran until early 2002.
The plot follows Daria Morgendorffer (Tracy Grandstaff), a smart if not overly sardonic teenager tackling life in the suburbs. Daria, with her artistic friend Jane Lane by her side, has very little patience for the superficial nature of high school. This aversion is not helped by her status and fashion obsessed younger sister, Quinn. The series lasted for five seasons, spawning two TV movies and two specials and leaving an undeniable legacy behind.
Disenchantment
Following the conclusion of "Futurama" in 2013, creator Matt Groening could have shifted his full focus back to "The Simpsons" and called it a day. Instead, he teamed up with Netflix to create a brand new animated series (via Variety). This took the form of the 2018 release "Disenchantment," Groening's crack at the medieval fantasy genre.
"Disenchantment" follows Princess Bean (Abbi Jacobson), a rebellious princess with a drinking problem fed up with her royal existence. She encounters two new allies, a demon named Luci (Eric Andre) and the wayward half-elf Elfo (Nat Faxon). The trio find themselves embroiled in various fantastical escapades and more serious adventures revealing the truths of their land. Several "Futurama" regulars returned to voice new roles, including John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille and Maurice LaMarche. The show concluded its fourth season in early 2022, but despite a post-credits tease has yet to be green-lit for Season 5.
F is for Family
"F is for Family" looks back at family life in the 1970s as viewed through the eyes of its co-creator, comedian Bill Burr (per TVLine). If you've listened to Burr's standup, you're likely already aware that his upbringing played a major role in his material. You can also detect this influence in many of the familial situations presented in the show, mostly through the Murphy family.
Whereas Peter from "Family Guy" is the drunken animated dad, Frank Murphy is the angry animated dad –- voiced by Burr himself. The main cast consists of Frank's wife Sue (Laura Dern), eldest son Kevin (Justin Long), youngest son Bill (Haley Reinhart), and his daughter Maureen (Debi Derryberry). Over the course of the episodes, Frank and Sue deal with their often strenuous marriage, as well as the troubles of the Murphy kids. While the series is comedic, aided in no small part by the voice work, there is also a decent amount of pathos. It addresses everything from marital strife to paternal issues with a fair amount of tact and legitimate emotional resonance.
Futurama
While "The Simpsons" will likely go down as Matt Groening's biggest pop culture contribution, it's worth spotlighting its sister series, "Futurama." Its genesis was far simpler than you might expect, with Fox asking Groening for another project. The development proved far from easy, however, as Fox resisted some of Groening's ideas and wanted a larger amount of creative control (via Futurama Chronicles). Eventually, Groening got his way and received the same level of creative freedom he and his team enjoyed for "The Simpsons."
"Futurama" follows hapless delivery boy Phillip J. Fry (Billy West) who, after falling into a cryogenic tube, finds himself 1,000 years in the future. He then crosses paths with a one-eyed woman named Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal) and the foulmouthed robot Bender (John DiMaggio). The trio ends up in the employ of Fry's distant nephew, Professor Hubert Farnsworth (also Billy West), at his delivery company, Planet Express. From there the show takes off running and doesn't stop, with the Planet Express crew going on a slew of madcap adventures. It has experienced many ups and downs, including two cancellations, two revivals, four television movies and a crossover with "The Simpsons." Almost a decade after the show's final episode, "Meanwhile," aired, Hulu announced another "Futurama" revival to air in 2023.
Gravity Falls
Alex Hirsch is a creative who has injected his work with his real life experiences, especially from childhood. This is most definitely the case for "Gravity Falls" which, as he detailed during an interview with Collider, was based heavily on his own misadventures with his sister. The plot concerns the Pines siblings, Dipper and Mabel, twins sent to live with their Grunkle (Great-Uncle) Stan for the summer. What begins as a humdrum vacation in the middle of nowhere quickly goes sideways when Dipper discovers a mysterious journal.
Over time, Gravity Falls reveals more of its supernatural secrets to the twins — some of which are related to their own bloodline. The series may be best described as "The X Files" for kids due to its monster of the week format. During two jam-packed seasons, the Pines family encounter forest gnomes, candy monsters, unicorns, and a plethora of otherworldly spooks. The show strikes the right balance of zany antics, humor, and well-paced mystery.
Harley Quinn
When DC Comics and Warner Bros. announced the "Harley Quinn" animated series back in 2017 (via Deadline), it raised many eyebrows. Given the character's live-action solo outing in 2020, it seemed like ideal timing. Upon release, the show received a wave of critical praise and online fan support — with outlets like ComicBook.com highlighting how it handled its titular character.
The plot follows Harley (Kaley Cuoco) after she dumps the Joker for good and strikes out on her own as a supervillain. She proceeds to put together her own crew consisting of Poison Ivy, Doctor Psycho (Tony Hale), King Shark, Sy Borgman, and fellow Batman rogue Clayface (Alan Tudyk). The show's appeal stems from many areas, not the least of which being its sense of humor, with gags ranging from verbal to visual. It also received acclaim for is its LGBTQ representation shown through Harley's eventual romance with Poison Ivy (per DC Comics). "Harley Quinn" Season 3 is currently in the works and slated for release on HBO Max.
Home Movies
"Home Movies" is another example of the oddities of Adult Swim that is still remembered fondly years later. If you were ever a latchkey kid or your parents were divorced, then this show will likely feel familiar. It focuses on eight-year-old amateur filmmaker Brendon Small (named after one of the creators) and his friends, Melissa Robbins and Jason Penopolis. Brendon's soccer coach, John McGuirk, serves as a quasi father figure.
During its run, "Home Movies" developed a cult fanbase that, much like "Family Guy," reportedly bolstered its DVD sales. The show has a unique vibe to it, helped by its minimal scripting and reliance on improvisation (via Ocala Star Banner). It represents a childhood experienced by many and how divorce can affect kids and the family as a whole. If you missed the show the first time around, you can find it on HBO Max or other streaming apps.
King of the Hill
The true appeal of "King of the Hill" stems from its grounded presentation and memorable cast of characters. Much like "Family Guy," it follows a unique family, The Hills, consisting of Hank, Peggy, and their son Bobby. There's also Peggy's niece Luanne and Hank's group of friends -– Dale Gribble, Bill Dauterive, and Jeff Boomhauer. Throughout the series, the conservative Hank deals with an ever-evolving world that often leaves him bewildered. The episodes sometimes tackle political topics while showcasing the characters and their interpersonal relationships. Despite some over the top moments, the show is far more down to earth than the average animated offering.
Mike Judge, the co-creator of "King of the Hill," came up with the idea while riding the wave of success spawned by "Beavis and Butt-Head" (via The New York Times). The premise was based on Judge's own experiences growing up in the suburbs of Dallas –- specifically Richardson, which served as the inspiration for the fictional Arlen setting. Though Fox cancelled "King of the Hill" in 2009, it has lived on through streaming and syndication. Judge and co-creator Greg Daniels confirmed plans to reboot the series in early 2022, though details remain scarce (per The Hollywood Reporter).
Regular Show
The 2010s were an interesting period for Cartoon Network, as the channel returned to what made it great: cartoons. Following a bizarre stint of live-action programming known as CN Real, the network bounced back with several new shows. The list included "Adventure Time," "The Amazing World of Gumball," and "Regular Show" — the latter being the creation of J.G. Quintel. The series has roots in two short films made during Quintel's time at the California Institute of the Arts, which would serve as the catalyst for the fully realized program.
"Regular Show" tells the story of Mordecai and Rigby, a blue jay and a raccoon in their mid-20s working minimum wage jobs at a local park. The duo want nothing more than to goof off, but are often hindered by their boss Benson (Sam Marin) and various madcap situations. From dealing with sentient cassette tapes and eldritch horrors to the pitfalls of dating, their lives are anything but regular. They are joined by their coworkers: Muscle Man, Hi-Five Ghost, and Pops, and Skips — bizarre characters for a very bizarre series. "Regular Show" ran for an impressive eight seasons and received a feature length movie before going out with a bang in 2017.
Rick and Morty
"Rick and Morty" has become a staple of the modern pop culture landscape. The idea for the series stemmed from a web cartoon created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, a "Back to the Future" parody titled "Doc and Mharti." Harmon later retooled the concept for Adult Swim. Following a development period, the full realized series, dubbed "Rick and Morty," landed on the programming block in 2013.
The show follows scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty (both voiced by Roiland) through a sequence of off-the-wall science fiction adventures. Morty's parents, Beth (Sarah Chalke) and Jerry (Chris Parnell), and his older sister Summer (Spencer Grammer) also feature. The family deals with everything from cosmic space monsters to time traveling snakes; however, a darker story about self loathing and existence lies underneath the show's trippy exterior. As detailed by GQ, it has also developed a bit of a reputation for its passionate and sometimes toxic fan base, resulting in a fair amount of heated online discourse. The show is still a force to be reckoned with in terms of ratings and merchandise — even nearly a decade after its arrival.
Sealab 2021
"Sealab 2021" is a noteworthy show for a few reasons – the first of which being its place in the history of the Adult Swim. It served as one of the inaugural shows for the late-night lineup — airing alongside "Aqua Teen Hunger Force", "The Brak Show" and "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law." It has the most in common with the latter, as it heavily utilizes old footage from "Sealab 2020," a 1970s Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Much like "Harvey Birdman," "Sealab 2021" reinterprets these assets in a more surreal and adult-oriented way. If you love the occasional random humor of "Family Guy," then this experience will be right up your alley.
"Sealab 2021" is also noteworthy as the project that launched the careers of Adam Reed and Matt Thompson (via Morphizm.com). Following "Sealab 2021," the duo created the short-lived "Frisky Dingo" and its successful follow-up "Archer." The series' influence runs through their subsequent projects, even receiving a prominent reference in the season three finale of "Archer."
South Park
From the late '90s onward, "South Park" has been there to look polite society in the eye and flip it the bird. The series began as a short film made by Trey Parker and Matt Stone titled "The Spirit of Christmas." The short drew attention after Brian Graden, then an executive at Fox, showed it to several of his friends (per Time). Following this exposure, the Parker and Stone shopped their paper cutout cartoon to the likes of Fox and MTV before landing on Comedy Central. "South Park" debuted on the network in late 1997.
The plot concerns the quartet of Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny — four foulmouthed young boys learning about life in their small town of South Park, CO. The series has evolved from its simple beginnings, experiencing many ups and downs throughout its 25 seasons. It has lampooned everything from celebrity scandals to social trends to controversial politics, garnering both controversy and critical acclaim. If ever a show lived and died by the phrase "no one is safe," it would definitely be "South Park."
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
"Space Ghost Coast to Coast" served as the launching pad for more surreal late night animation courtesy of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. One such example is "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law," which followed in the footsteps of its predecessor and its use of Hanna-Barbera assets. However, the show did things a bit differently in terms of style, featuring original animation.
The series focuses on the titular Harvey Birdman, who works as an attorney alongside other Hanna-Barbera figures from the '60s and '70s. It offers a satirical and often mature spin on classic cartoon characters who go on trial for various comical offenses. The lineup includes Shaggy and Scooby of "Scooby-Doo" fame, who are pulled over in the Mystery Machine for driving while stoned. "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law" was so well liked that it received a TV special in 2018 and a spin-off titled "Birdgirl" in 2021.
Inside Job
Netflix has seen success in its animated ventures in the last few years, especially with adult comedies like "Big Mouth." But another series that has quickly been building momentum is "Inside Job", a high concept comedic look at an American shadow government. The show focuses mostly on Reagan Ridley (Lizzy Caplan), an overworked scientist for Cognito Inc. — a secret company dedicated to controlling and manipulating the world. Throughout the first season, Reagan and her team deal with flat Earth followers, a cyborg president, chemtrails, the moon landing, and other conspiracy theories.
"Inside Job" boasts not only detailed and vibrant animation but a punchy sense of humor. It has a lot in common with "Gravity Falls" in terms of tone, definitely helped by Alex Hirsch serving as a producer. "Inside Job" is also noteworthy for being the first adult animated project produced in-house at Netflix and the first to be helmed by Shion Takeuchi. The first 10 episodes were fairly well-received, leaving fans clamoring for "Inside Job" Season 1, Part 2.
The Simpsons
It's worth noting that "Family Guy," as well as countless other adult animated series, were influenced by "The Simpsons." In fact, as illustrated by CNN, a sizable amount of modern television and animated comedies may not have come into existence if not for Matt Groening's creation. According to "The Simpsons: America's First Family," the show began as a sequence of shorts on "The Tracey Ullman Show." Enough people took interest in the concept that it was developed into a full series for Fox, debuting via the 1989 Christmas special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire."
"The Simpsons" has continued to evolve over its 33-season run, changing its animation style and adding new writers along the way. Eventually, it hit on its now legendary fast-paced humor, witty dialogue, and physical comedy. To say the series exploded would be a gross understatement, as it became a ratings and merchandising juggernaut. It surpassed 700 episodes in 2021 and remains a celebrated pop culture presence. Though some have criticized the show for a perceived decline in quality, others like Josh Kupp of UPROXX argue that it is still worth watching all these years later.
Robot Chicken
If the cutaway gags on "Family Guy" are the highlight for you, then "Robot Chicken" is definitely worth your time. Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, the series grew from humble beginnings as a photo comic-strip known as "Twisted ToyFare Theatre" (per ComicBook.com). After a long and tenuous process of submissions and rejections, "Robot Chicken" finally found a home on Adult Swim. This came at the suggestion of "Family Guy" creator Seth McFarlane. The show debuted in 2005, establishing its identity as an eclectic stop motion sketch comedy.
The humor in "Robot Chicken" stems mostly from parodies of various facets of pop culture, including famous movies, kids' shows, and toy lines. Most major entertainment franchises have been lampooned on "Robot Chicken" at one time or another. Its success grew to the point that it produced parodies officially sanctioned by their sources, such as "Star Wars" and DC Comics. "Robot Chicken" is still going strong today, proudly maintaining its distinction as Adult Swim's longest running series.
Smiling Friends
When its pilot dropped in 2020, "Smiling Friends" became a highly-anticipated animated project for Adult Swim. The series was created by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, two web animators with successful track records on YouTube and Newgrounds. Cusack had previous experience with Adult Swim via "YOLO: Crystal Fantasy," however, the network passed on Hadel's own pitch for the webseries "Hellbenders." Eventually, the pair struck gold with the pilot episode for "Smiling Friends" which, according to Animation World Network, garnered acclaim and high traffic for Adult Swim's website.
The series follows the titular Smiling Friends, a charity with the simple goal of helping others. Employees Pim and Charlie –- voiced by Cusack and Hadel respectively — take center stage, often finding themselves caught up in wacky adventures due to their jobs. It's a clear product of modern internet culture, boasting a healthy mix of fast-paced jokes and improvisational dialogue. It also helps if you've seen a fair share of Hadel and Cusack's content, especially "OneyPlays," which they mined a few gags from. "Smiling Friends" has already been green-lit for a second season (via Collider), opening the door for more eclectic animated madness.
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
As strange as it might sound, "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" remains an important part of entertainment history. Not only did it lead to multiple Adult Swim spin-offs, but it served as an influence for various creators. Three of Adult Swim's first major programs — "Aqua Teen Hunger Force", "The Brak Show," and "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law" — spawned from it. Actor and comedian Eric Andre also cited "Space Ghost" as a major inspiration for his live-action talk show.
"Space Ghost Coast to Coast" emerged after Ted Turner asked creator Mike Lazzo to put together a late-night cartoon targeting the adult demographic. The premise of the show is laughably simple: Space Ghost hosts a talk show during which he interviews live-action celebrities. The animation segments are composed of repurposed assets from the original Hanna-Barbera offering "Space Ghost." What makes the show so funny is its surreal, often awkward interactions, especially between Space Ghost and his guests. Despite its inherent strangeness, it has an infectious energy. It's no surprise that it kicked off a renaissance of late night animated weirdness.
Ugly Americans
"Ugly Americans" was a true gem of the early 2010s. The series follows Mark Lilly, a Manhattan-dwelling social worker who deals with a plethora of demons, monsters, and various inhuman entities. He navigates life in the big city with the help of his roommate, a zombie named Randall, and his coworker, a wizard named Leonard. Mark's love life is just as vibrant — caught in a complex relationship with his demon boss Callie.
The series boasts a bizarre but extremely punchy sense of humor, aided in no small part by the voice acting. Additionally, the animation is very unique, perhaps best described as a breathing comic book with very detailed settings and visual gags. "Ugly Americans" only lasted two seasons with a total of 31 episodes. Though it divided critics during its brief run, it serves as a memorable oddity of 2010s animation.
Tuca & Bertie
Due to its animation and art style, "Tuca & Bertie" might seem like simply the female version of "BoJack Horseman." Despite sharing some similarities, the two projects are very different from each other. The series was created by cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt, who served as one of the creative forces behind "BoJack Horseman." Tuca actually began as a web comic character created by Hanawalt in 2013. The show, which premiered on Netflix in 2019, centers on Tuca Toucan (Tiffany Haddish) and Roberta "Bertie" Songthrush (Ali Wong), two friends taking on the challenges of their 30s. There's also Bertie's often oblivious but emotionally supportive boyfriend, an architect named Speckle (Steven Yeun).
The trio contend with complicated interpersonal connections and the hardships of adulthood in a quirky and surreal way. Unlike "BoJack," which grounds itself in mild realism (talking animals aside), "Tuca & Bertie" thrives off its often surreal and eclectic visuals. In terms of demographics, the show is definitely geared more towards women, but much like "Bojack Horseman," can appeal to just about anyone. Netflix cancelled "Tuca & Bertie," however, Adult Swim kept the show going by greenlighting its second season.
Love, Death & Robots
If you want a roulette wheel of style and presentation, look no further than "Love, Death & Robots." The hit Netflix science fiction animation anthology series actually began to take shape long ago as a much different project. In the 2000s, David Fincher ("Seven", "Gone Girl") and Tim Miller ("Deadpool") hit upon the idea to remake the 1981 cult classic "Heavy Metal"' (via IGN). Though the project attracted studio interest, the duo struggled to gather the necessary funding. According to an interview with Observer, the pair decided to shop their idea (under a new name) to Netflix following Miller's success with "Deadpool." Netflix gave them the green light and "Love, Death & Robots" was born.
Much like its '80s predecessor, the show is a barrage of science fiction narratives told through radically different styles. The true draw of the series is the wide variety of animation on display, which changes from episode to episode. One short shows a trio of robots comedically traversing an apocalyptic world while another follows a hyper intelligent yogurt. A third season of "Love, Death & Robots" is slated to arrive at some point in 2022.
The Venture Bros.
You'd certainly be hard pressed to find an animated fandom as loyal and vocal as that of "The Venture Bros." Created by Jackson Publick, the series follows a "Jonny Quest" inspired family known as the Ventures and their various escapades. The group consists of Dr. Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture and his two sons, Hank and Dean, along with their bodyguard Brock Samson. The cast mainly contends with The Monarch, a supervillain with an affinity for butterfly-themed gadgetry. While the series is primarily an adventure-comedy, it builds an engaging ongoing story with plenty of significant character development.
Over the course of its multi-year run, "The Venture Bros." not only satirized "Jonny Quest" but classic silver age comic books. Adult Swim cancelled the show in 2020 following its seventh season, much to the dismay of hardcore fans. The company later announced that the story of the Venture family will conclude in a direct-to-video feature film (via The Hollywood Reporter).