While I do enjoy watching the best fantasy shows like House of the Dragon, or even some of the latest Netflix originals, The Watcher, sometimes I just need a break from live-action TV shows. This is what leads me to this article today, featuring some of the best animated TV shows that you can watch right now - most of which adults can enjoy.
In my opinion, these are some of the best shows on Netflix to binge watch, from classics like Avatar: The Last Airbender to Netflix TV shows like Big Mouth or BoJack Horseman. If you’re looking for some great animated TV series to enjoy, check out some of the best animated shows on Netflix.
BoJack Horseman
In this Netflix original series, BoJack Horseman follows the titular character, a former star in Hollywood who has since faded into obscurity. Now, he plans to make a comeback by releasing his tell-all autobiography, with the help of a ghost writer by his side.
BoJack Horseman is one of the best Netflix originals out there. Its characters are extremely compelling, from the depressing story of BoJack to the stories of his friends around him, to how he tries to accept himself for who he is. It also tackles themes of self-loathing, eating disorders, depression, alcoholism, and so much more, mixed in with some funny comedy along the way. It’s truly a show that deserved all the praise that it got in its run, and you should definitely check it out if you’ve never done so before.
Stream BoJack Horseman on Netflix.
Disenchantment
From the creator of The Simpsons, Matt Groening, this much newer cartoon is the fantasy series Disenchantment. In this Netflix original, set in the medieval European kingdom of Dreamland, we follow Bean, a rebellious, alcoholic, adventurous princess with a heart of gold, and her companion, Elfo, along her crazy adventures.
I think what I enjoy the most about Disenchantment is, honestly, the animation. With the same animation style as The Simpsons, the Netflix original takes it up a couple of levels, offering some truly beautifully animated scenes mixed in with some hilarious takes on fantasy shows and movies, often parodying them. Bean is also a great character to follow, from her selfless deeds to her adventurous acts, she absolutely will never bore you. With four seasons to watch, it’s truly a fun time.
Stream Disenchantment on Netflix.
Big Mouth
Another Netflix original, Big Mouth, created by Andrew Goldberg and Nick Kroll, centers on teens that are being raised in suburban New York, exploring puberty while embracing an openness about the human body and sex that’s not often talked about when it comes to younger teenagers.
Personally, I’ve never been the biggest fan of Big Mouth, just because the animation style isn’t my favorite. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the show is still great in many ways, from its openness about sexuality, enjoyable characters with entertaining storylines, and its star-studded cast. Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney, and many other stars voice some of the characters, creating a truly hilarious yet touching TV show, and with a seventh season on the way, now is the time to watch it.
Human Resources
In a spinoff of Big Mouth, now we take a look at Human Resources. This show actually follows the Hormone Monsters that we meet in Big Mouth, specifically in their workplace and how they learn to become the characters that we all know and love them to be in the original series.
I want you to think The Office, but animated, and way dirtier and raunchier and that’s what Human Resources is like. Many of the voice cast from Big Mouth also have parts in the spinoff, as well as new cast members such as Keke Palmer, Randall Park, Aidy Bryant and more. It’s a fun addition to the Big Mouth universe and one I think any fan of the original series should check out.
Stream Human Resources on Netflix.
Love, Death & Robots
In this animated series, Love, Death & Robots consists of several stand-alone episodes, all under 20 minutes long, produced by different casts and crews, with each episode having a thematic connection to the episode’s title.
I’m sure reading that probably made your head spin a little. It doesn't seem like there’s a plot in Love, Death & Robots, and that’s because there really isn’t one. What makes Love, Death & Robots so good is that every episode is different, and you can really tell with the different creatives that they bring in. But, each episode provides a new enriching story that will captivate you from beginning to end, having some sort of connection to the title. Will the episode be about love? Or death? Or robots? All three, or some other combination? There are so many questions - all of which will be answered.
Stream Love, Death & Robots on Netflix.
The Midnight Gospel
Created by Adventure Time creator, Duncan Trussell, The Midnight Gospel is set in a world known as the Chromatic Ribbon, with a space caster known as Clancy Gilroy who owns an unlicensed multiverse simulator. Through that, he travels into bizarre worlds on the brink of disaster, interviewing residents for his space cast.
When I was younger, Adventure Time was one of my favorite shows to enjoy. Watching The Midnight Gospel feels like that, except for older people. The interviews that Duncan uses are actually derived from interviews on his real-life podcast, called The Duncan Trussell Family Hour, and features really cool animation style with some actually insightful interviews that will surprise you by coming from an animated series.
Stream The Midnight Gospel on Netflix.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender is all about Aang, the Avatar. Once there were four nations who lived in harmony, but when one of them wants to take over the world, it’s up to the Avatar to somehow bring the world back to peace. However, Aang is young, and still needs to learn the other three elements of water, fire, and earth in order to defeat the Fire Lord from taking over the world.
Oh, Avatar. I love this show with such a deep passion. While it’s technically catered to children, adults can love this show for the values it teaches. Avatar: The Last Airbender grew even more popular in 2020 when the series came to Netflix, and more so when it was announced a new live-action of the series would come out on the platform. But, please, trust me when I say this - watch Avatar: The Last Airbender. It’s such an amazing show, from its animation style to its themes to its characters, there’s so much I love about this show, and so much you can love as well. And if you end up really liking it, be sure to check out its sequel, The Legend of Korra.
Stream Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix.
Castlevania
In this Netflix original, Castlevania follows Trevor Belmont and his allies as they defend the nation of Wallachia from Dracula and his minions, trying to protect them from a world of utter darkness.
Castlevania often reminds me of many anime series with its animation style, sort of how Avatar: The Last Airbender did it, but Castlevania is certainly more for adults. It’s a dark fantasy series with plenty of blood and violent moments, but it’s still incredibly stunning, influenced by gorgeous Japanese animation, and has a story that will entertain anyone who’s into fantasy or vampires, or both.
Stream Castlevania on Netflix.
Arcane
This show ruined me – in a good way.
Based on the popular game, League of Legends, the Netflix original series, Arcane, follows some of the most iconic champions of the original game, taking place in the land Piltover and Zaun, two very different cities, and focusing on the bond between sisters Vi and Powder, and how one moment in their younger years changes the course of their lives forever.
Arcane is one of those shows that when it first came out, it was a little under the radar, but has only continued to grow in popularity. Not only was it nominated for multiple Emmy awards (winning some of them), it’s already receiving a Season 2. You’ll be blown away by the amazing animation, the creative fight style, and the characters that you can’t help but love. Jinx has become one of my favorite animated villains ever. It’s seriously such a great show.
Don’t let the fact that it’s attached to a video game stop you – you can totally watch this without ever having played LoL. It even has a rare perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a super high audience score. That’s how you know it’s good.
Death Note
I can’t have an adult animated series list without mentioning Death Note. In this classic anime from the early 2000s, Death Note tells the story of a young man, Light, who ends up finding the titular notebook, where if you write someone’s name in it, death comes to them quite quickly. However, with that sort of power, anyone can lose themselves to madness.
Death Note is one of those anime that I think everyone has heard about at this point. If you’ve never seen anime, it’s a great show to start out on, and features a story that will truly captivate you from beginning to end. Just ignore the live-action remakes of it because those just aren’t good. Stick to the animated series because it’s outstanding.
Tuca And Bertie
If you want a classic roommate show, check out Tuca and Bertie. In this show featuring the voice talents of Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong, two bird-women are living in an apartment together in their thirties, trying to navigate both their professional and personal lives, relationships and messiness involved.
While Tuca and Bertie isn’t a new concept – as we have gotten conflicting odd couple roommate stories since the dawn of television – what really drives this series is the voice-acting of both Haddish and Wong because they truly win you over. They create some hilarious moments that have me holding my side laughing for hours on end and it’s something I need more people to see. Bird Town is a metropolis where anything is possible and these two certainly prove that.
Stream Tuca and Bertie on Netflix.
F Is For Family
Last but not least, we take a look at F is for Family. Created by Bill Burr, F is For Family follows a dysfunctional, suburban Irish-American family, set in the fictional town of Rustvale, Pennsylvania, in the 1970s.
While a lot of these other cartoons might have serious themes or beautiful stories, F is for Family is all about its comedy. It’s hilarious, and its four seasons (soon to be five) is proof of that. Bill Burr voices Frank, the patriarch of the family, alongside a great cast including Laura Dern, Justin Long, and many others. It’s seriously funny and you’ll be holding your sides from laughing so much. Give it a shot.
Stream F is for Family on Netflix.
There are so many fantastic animated TV shows to watch, so truly, you’ll never go wrong with a bad pick. If you’re looking for something awesome to stream, check out any of these. You won’t regret it.
