Adult Animation has expanded beyond the worlds of The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bob's Burgers, and because of that, we have even more humor to laugh at, as it chronicles everyday situations and themes. It's not an easy job to go out and "adult" as it can create stress, anxiety, and even that tinge of annoyance.
After you have binged watch each and every episode of the above, why not check out some of these adult animation suggestions?
The 6 adult animated shows you should watch
Aggretsuko (2018-2023)
Aggretsuko (meaning Rage or Agressive Girl in Japanese) is an anime based on the Sanrio character. Retsko is a 25-year-old Red Panda office worker who releases stress by performing karaoke heavy metal and watching the cherry blossoms bloom in her native Japan.
But don't be fooled into thinking that Aggretsuko is suitable for kids. Retsko is cute and comes from the maker of Hello Kitty. The animation has plenty of adult-themed content, such as stalking, drinking, and even violence. Retsko also wants marriage and a family; she gets that with her coworker. Haida has been in love with her for years.
Aggretsuko has additionally found a place within today's young workers, as perfection, time, and stress can take on a heavy load, leading to mental detachment and emotional spiraling.
Where to watch: Netflix
American Dad (2005-present)
Another creation by Seth MacFarlane, American Dad is similar to Family Guy with its family themes and content. The animated sitcom follows Stan Smith, a US-government agent working for the CIA, and his family, which includes a talking alien named Roger with a Paul Lynde-inspired voice and a fashion passion.
Stan's not the great as a CIA agent, but he's pretty great at being a dad.
American Dad ran for ten seasons on Fox before its migration to the basic cable channel, TBS in 2014.
Where to watch: Hulu
The Critic (1994-2001)
A show that ended too soon, The Critic's narrative was that of Jay Sherman, a movie critic living in Manhattan. He has a family who are central to the show but just as eccentric as Jay is. What's more, The Critic was created by The Simpsons co-showrunner Al Jean and writer Mike Reiss, so you'll find lots of similarities between the two sitcoms.
Jay's famous catchphrase is "It stinks!" following watching a movie he didn't like. Which was pretty much all of them. Oh, and Jon Lovitz also voiced him, who voices Artie Ziff and Mr. Largo on The Simpsons.
In 1995, The Simpsons season 6 episode, " A Star Is Burns," has Jay visiting Springfield for the Springfield Film Festival, and he meets the Simpsons, singing "If I Were An Oscar Meyer Wiener," and delivering his comedic chops at the film ceremony. "A Star Is Burns" Is one of the few crossover episodes.
The Critic was aired first on ABC for its first season, then on Fox for its second. It was later revived as a webseries in 2001.
Where to watch: Tubi (the first two seasons)
Daria (1997-2002)
Daria was a favorite of mine in my mid-teen years, as it depicted a high school student named Daria who preferred the non-conformist perception and style rather than following the cult of cool prevalent in the 1990s and early 2000s. At the time, and perhaps today, Daria hits a familiarity with youth, seeing how she's a teen with cynicism and uses sarcasm to get her points across.
Daria is a spinoff of another popular MTV show, Beavis and Butthead, which also aired in the 1990s.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Futurama (1999-present)
Created by Matt Groening of The Simpsons, Futurama is ahead of its time in terms of its comedy and technology. Set in the year 3,000, its main protagonist is Fry, who cryogenically went a thousand years into the future. He's best friends with Bender the Robot, has a crush on Leela the Cyclops, and works for his elderly nephew as a delivery man
Fry and his friends have plenty of adventures, with Futurama jet-setting around themes like LGBTQA, animal rights, and women's rights. It was first broadcast on Fox, then moved to Comedy Central, and now has landed on Hulu.
Where to watch: Hulu
King of the Hill (1997-2010)
King of the Hill is iconic in several respects for its storytelling, characters, and unusual Texas setting. The sitcom centers around blue-collared propane assistant manager Hank Hill, his family, and an eccentric group of neighbors. While a Republican, Hank cares about humanity and his son, Bobby, who may not "be right," a descriptor frequently quoted when he does questionable things.
The show has only grown in popularity, and a revival was in discussion to revisit the Hills. However, with the deaths of Brittany Murphy, Tom Petty, and Johnny Hardwick, it'll feel different than the original since they voiced core characters Luann, Lucky, and Dale Gribble, respectively.