Good cartoons never get old. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, we’re exploring the finest animated series the 21st century has to offer. To be considered, the majority of a show’s episodes must have aired during this century.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Can you help me get back home?"
00:02Only if you help me first."
00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're exploring the finest animated series
00:09the 21st century has to offer.
00:12To be considered, the majority of a show's episodes
00:14must have aired during this century.
00:17Oh wait, Natalie's still Jake!
00:19Tell me about what, dude?
00:22Number 30. Total Drama
00:24Reality shows remain a staple of TV,
00:27and Total Drama translates the genre into animated form.
00:31Here's the deal.
00:3222 campers have signed up to spend eight weeks
00:35right here at this crummy old summer camp.
00:38All the familiar staples from live action are here.
00:41Egotistical hosts,
00:43interpersonal drama,
00:44teams,
00:45extreme challenges,
00:46and a revolving cast of larger-than-life personalities.
00:50Man, this is just so…
00:53Awesome?
00:54Yes! Awesome!
00:56However, given that it's a cartoon,
00:58Total Drama takes these already outrageous tropes,
01:01and turns them up to 11.
01:03Lindsay!
01:04You're on the chopping block for your terrible driving skills!
01:08And Courtney!
01:09You're on the chopping block for making Lindsay drive!
01:12Yeah, what's the matter with you?
01:14This juxtaposition has proven nothing short of engrossing for years on end,
01:19and has given Total Drama a lasting popularity,
01:22comparable to the actual reality TV.
01:25Bonus points for the ridiculously catchy theme song.
01:29I wanna be,
01:30I wanna be,
01:32I wanna be famous!
01:34Number 29.
01:35The Amazing World of Gumball.
01:37There's really nothing else like this show.
01:40What?
01:41What's the meaning of life?
01:42To understand the meaning of life,
01:44you need to better yourself by learning as much as you can.
01:46So you can answer any other question?
01:48Absolutely!
01:49Like, would you rather kiss a dog or have a baby drool in your mouth?
01:52The Amazing World of Gumball follows the eponymous blue 12-year-old cat
01:56and his family and friends on various misadventures.
02:00You know what's important in a situation like this?
02:02A map?
02:03Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
02:07Ah!
02:08No.
02:09Teamwork!
02:10While its premise as an animated sitcom with anthropomorphic characters is familiar,
02:15it's the execution where Gumball really shines.
02:19The show is willing to tackle surprisingly mature subject matter for its target audience.
02:24All of this was a trick to make you confront man's deepest,
02:27darkest fear, talking about your feelings.
02:30Additionally, the visual style is truly unique,
02:34as it frequently mixes traditional animation with other mediums,
02:37including live action and CGI, among others.
02:41Its title is apt because The Amazing World of Gumball is, well, amazing.
02:46Foo Fight!
02:47Oh no, little man.
02:49This is a food war!
02:53Number 28.
02:54Big Mouth
02:55If The Simpsons was considered jaw-dropping back in the day,
02:58then Big Mouth would have made people's jaws drop right off.
03:01Go, let's go.
03:01I'm coming, I'm coming.
03:03Not yet.
03:03That's why we gotta get to the bathroom, sweetheart.
03:06Inspired by Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg's own childhoods,
03:09this adult animated series exists somewhere between the blunt reality
03:13that middle schoolers face daily and their most inappropriate fantasies brought to life.
03:17It's a show that explores subjects like puberty and planned parenthood,
03:21but it also has hormone monsters and talking pillows.
03:24At times, the series is like a sex education course
03:27if it were taught by comedians with wild imaginations.
03:30All the flights of fancy and gross-out gags aside,
03:33the show is surprisingly relatable for anyone who's gone through puberty
03:36or is at that awkward stage in life.
03:38Plus, who doesn't love Coach Steve?
03:40Coach Steve?
03:41Welcome to Walgreens, Jesse, my friend who's a child girl.
03:45Meet Reese's Wetherspoons, my girlfriend who is things.
03:49Number 27.
03:50Invincible.
03:52Darker takes on superheroes have become increasingly popular,
03:55and Invincible is a nuanced and brutal example of this trend.
04:00What if I can't do this?
04:06You hear it?
04:06I do.
04:07Get ready.
04:11Were you nervous?
04:12A little.
04:14But you caught it.
04:15I did.
04:16The series follows Mark Grayson, the titular Invincible,
04:20and the son of Earth's greatest hero, Omni-Man.
04:23Along with learning how to be a superhero in his own right,
04:26Mark is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about his dad
04:30and where he comes from.
04:31Why?
04:32It's complicated.
04:34Come with me and-
04:35Now why would you lie to me again?
04:40You killed thousands of people.
04:42Yes.
04:45Why would you think I'd ever want to see you again?
04:48Invincible features an excellent cast of characters
04:51and phenomenal growth from most of them.
04:53Along with the fantastic and often grisly fight scenes,
04:57the show develops its world and larger universe
04:59in entertaining and interesting ways.
05:02It may not be unbeatable, but we still admire Invincible.
05:06Sweetheart, lots of people are going to tell you how to use your powers,
05:11but it's up to you to make these decisions.
05:14You need to decide what kind of hero you want to be.
05:17Number 26.
05:18My Little Pony Friendship is Magic.
05:21A reboot of an 80s TV show designed to sell toys to girls
05:25doesn't seem like a recipe for mass appeal.
05:27Are you a rat, Sugarcube?
05:32Aww, she's so happy she's crying!
05:35However, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic defied all expectations
05:39by managing to find an audience not only among girls and women,
05:43but also boys and men.
05:45Big Mac?
05:46Yup.
05:48Will you be my very special somepony?
05:52Yup.
05:53Yes!
05:53It just goes to show that a good story can appeal to everyone,
05:57even if it's a fantasy cartoon about magical ponies.
06:00With its excellent storylines, great cast of characters,
06:04and enchanting music,
06:05the runaway success of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic
06:09is hardly surprising.
06:10Uh, Rarity?
06:12What are you wearing?
06:13My emotions, darling! Stress couture!
06:16Number 25.
06:18Ben 10 Franchise.
06:20Tons of kids dream about becoming a superhero,
06:22and Ben 10 makes those dreams a reality.
06:26Cool!
06:39Ahhhh!
06:41Ten-year-old Ben Tennyson discovers an alien watch
06:44that allows him to transform into ten different aliens,
06:47each with unique abilities.
06:49From that simple premise comes a spectacular media franchise.
06:53Hold back!
06:54For what?
06:55You're gonna burn my dinner?
06:57Fight me!
06:58You're the one who's gonna be burned!
07:00The series builds an incredibly detailed world,
07:03with dozens of recurring allies and enemies.
07:06Ben's gradual development into a full-fledged hero
07:09plays out across the multiple series and reboot,
07:12while retaining consistent continuity.
07:15Ben may not stay ten across the whole franchise,
07:18but we'd definitely give his shows a ten.
07:22Not if I can help it!
07:23It's hero time!
07:26Number 24.
07:28Robot Chicken.
07:29Stop-motion animation is a relative rarity,
07:32particularly for television.
07:34Yet this adult sketch comedy series is one of the poster children
07:38for the medium in the 21st century.
07:44Robot Chicken delivers rapid-fire laughs
07:46by lampooning hundreds of pop culture characters,
07:50particularly from fellow cartoons and various geek fandoms.
07:54Multiple episodes are devoted to spoofing Star Wars
07:57and superheroes aplenty.
08:00Sorry!
08:00Oh geez, Martian Manhunter's doing the invisible sidekick thing again.
08:05Care for a soda, Martian boy?
08:07The sheer outlandishness of many of these sketches is funny enough,
08:11but the unbridled creativity involved is what's really worthy of praise.
08:15We didn't know we wanted a Law & Order episode starring chickens until we got it.
08:20Number 23.
08:22Arcane.
08:23Animated series based on video games have enjoyed a renaissance this century,
08:28and Arcane, based on League of Legends, is by far one of the best.
08:32Hey, Pounder!
08:34Come take a look.
08:39Oh.
08:40It's nice getting above it all, huh?
08:42Yeah, it's nice getting above it all.
08:44It's nice getting above it all.
08:45It's nice getting above it all.
08:46It's nice getting above it all.
08:47It's nice getting above it all.
08:48It's nice getting above it all.
08:50The series follows two sisters who become involved in a brutal class struggle,
08:54powered by rapidly devolving steampunk magical weaponry.
08:58Look, I made her for the enforcers.
09:00These are smoke bombs, and those two are full of nails.
09:04The animation is jaw-droppingly gorgeous,
09:07with practically every background worthy of exhibition at an art gallery.
09:11Meanwhile, the only thing more intense than the action scenes
09:15are the gripping and gut-wrenching twists and outstanding character development.
09:20Arcane fires on all cylinders like it's powered by Hextech.
09:25It's complete and utter magic.
09:27Are we still sisters?
09:32Nothing is ever going to change that.
09:39I always knew you'd come back.
09:41Number 22.
09:42Bluey
09:43An Australian cartoon aimed at preschoolers
09:46may not seem like it would take the world by storm,
09:48and yet, Bluey has done exactly that.
09:53On fees.
09:54Thanks, Bingo!
09:56The charming series follows the titular blue dog,
09:59her parents, and her sister Bingo.
10:01The wholesome and hilarious script has proven both entertaining
10:04and relatable for kids and adults alike, particularly parents.
10:09Oh, babe, today I asked Bingo to tidy her beads away,
10:12and she said,
10:13I'm not interesting in that.
10:16Do you tell stories about us when we're asleep?
10:19Get back to bed!
10:21Bluey never talks down to its target audience,
10:24and also has plenty of jokes that go over younger viewers' heads,
10:28further cementing its appeal.
10:30With its bright style and adorable characters,
10:32not to mention its impressive voice acting,
10:35Bluey is undeniably up there with the greats of children's animation.
10:40No more stops until the museum,
10:42and then you're all getting off!
10:43You have to tell him now, dearie,
10:45you're running out of time!
10:47Oh, where's Boobsy gone?
10:50I can't.
10:51I'll do it tomorrow.
10:52Oh, today is better than tomorrow.
10:58While it begins as an affectionate send-up of everything
11:01from classic adventure cartoons to superhero comics,
11:04The Venture Bros becomes so much more than its origins.
11:07Where are we?
11:08You're supposed to be the super sleuth, you figure it out.
11:12We're in the belly of the lair of the monarch's hideout!
11:15Correct, clever boy.
11:17The adventures of Hank and Dean Venture are just the tip of the iceberg,
11:21as the series quickly creates an expansive supporting cast,
11:25including everyone from the brothers' immediate family
11:28to supposedly disposable henchmen.
11:30I'm Scott Hall.
11:31My name is Scott Hall, okay?
11:34Nope, won't help.
11:35Now it's just pathos.
11:36So you're dying in my lap and I'm all,
11:38Scott! Scott, don't you quit on us! Don't you dare!
11:42You just made your unavoidable death.
11:44We're pathetic.
11:45It crafts an intricate lore all its own,
11:48while also dropping plenty of knowing winks and references
11:51to obscure bits of pop culture.
11:53Given how deftly it balances clever humor, action,
11:56and emotional storytelling,
11:58it's baffling why The Venture Bros is somehow still so underrated.
12:03If you want a job done right, I have to do it.
12:06Number 20
12:07Teen Titans
12:09When there's trouble, we know who to call.
12:11Based on the 80s comics,
12:13this team of young superheroes was brilliantly adapted for the screen.
12:16Listen up team, I have a plan.
12:22The series portrays not only the titular team of teens battling against bad guys,
12:27but also focuses on their interpersonal dynamics,
12:30and the humor that results from their friendships and other kinds of ships.
12:34Starfire?
12:36On such occasions, I believe it is customary to wear a dead plant.
12:41Additionally, while the stories are often episodic,
12:44every episode focuses on a broader arc woven in tandem with the briefer narratives.
12:49Often taking cues from anime with its tone and style,
12:53Teen Titans was a breath of fresh air upon its debut,
12:56and it continues to hold up wonderfully today.
12:59I thought we might want to keep in touch.
13:02So Cyborg and I designed these.
13:06Made them out of my own circuits.
13:07When there's trouble, you know who to call.
13:10Number 19
13:11The Boondocks
13:12Fat Albert and the Cosby kids, this is not.
13:15Before she was an Oscar winner,
13:16Regina King voiced Huey and Riley Freeman,
13:19two opinionated African American children living in a white suburb.
13:23I know about white people too.
13:25Like when they talk, they say the whole word like this.
13:32When you're 10 and 8 years old, you're more inclined to voice your thoughts,
13:35no matter how much they might trigger others.
13:38That's exactly what The Boondocks did on a regular basis.
13:41Touching upon race relations, politics, and taboo subjects
13:44you definitely wouldn't see on a live-action sitcom,
13:47the show didn't just push people's buttons.
13:49It ripped their buttons clean off and refused to apologize.
13:53You are such an articulate young ma'am.
13:56I'm trying to explain to you that Ronald Reagan was the devil.
13:59Its unfiltered commentary made The Boondocks
14:02not only one of the most controversial cartoons ever to hit airwaves,
14:05but also one of the most hilarious and provocative.
14:08Say you love America right now. Say it.
14:10The party's basic philosophy is...
14:13Say it!
14:14Number 18
14:15Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
14:17You'd think with two long-running cartoon shows already under their belt,
14:20the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise would be officially exhausted.
14:24This is about self-improvement, Raphael.
14:26It is not about winning and losing.
14:28Yet the new Nickelodeon reboot has taken all the best parts of previous incarnations
14:33to fashion what may be the franchise's most impressive outing ever.
14:37You are right.
14:38The showrunners have worked in a number of their own inspired signatures too,
14:41including some Beauty and the Beast-style romance,
14:44ongoing parodies,
14:45morals that never feel forced,
14:46brilliant twists,
14:47and unique animation.
14:49Not to mention the catchiest rendition of the classic theme song you will ever hear.
14:58Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
15:02Number 17
15:03Justice League
15:05From Teen Titans to Young Justice,
15:07DC has given us some of the century's best superhero ensemble pieces.
15:11This is a league mission.
15:12You're not trained.
15:13Since when?
15:14I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team.
15:16Yet it's hard to imagine anything topping Justice League or its equally ambitious sequel series,
15:21Justice League Unlimited.
15:23What? Like a bunch of super friends?
15:26More like a Justice League.
15:28Taking place in the same continuity as Batman and Superman The Animated Series,
15:32this series expanded upon the DC animated universe with more heroes and villains.
15:37I'm going to enjoy this.
15:39While a dream come true for comic book fans,
15:41the show was also a great introduction for those not as familiar with the DC brand.
15:45You don't need to read the source material to get sucked in by its stellar action,
15:49refreshing humor,
15:50and epic storytelling.
15:51Forget about that silly Snyder Cut.
15:53This is the best version of Justice League out there.
15:56Mission accomplished.
15:57Number 16.
15:58Regular Show.
16:00Any slacker who's ever held a boring job will likely appreciate the off-the-wall lunacy of
16:04Regular Show.
16:05You think he wants me to put the hurt on him?
16:07Yes, I do.
16:14Centered on a blue jay named Mordecai and a raccoon named Rigby,
16:18Regular Show always starts off with an everyday work-related scenario.
16:22Yeah, we rule at setting up the chairs.
16:25Whether Mordecai and Rigby are setting up chairs or making hot dogs,
16:28they somehow always end up on wild misadventures involving mystical settings and beings.
16:33Why were you following me in that taxi suit?
16:36My boss made me wear this.
16:38I'm from the video store.
16:40Your rental is overdue.
16:42Funny and bizarre,
16:43the series demonstrates that excitement can be found at even the most tedious of jobs,
16:47especially if you have a good friend by your side.
16:50Living without rules is awesome!
16:52Yeah, it is.
16:55Number 15.
16:56The Fairly Oddparents
16:58Butch Hartman's breakout series has one of the most inspired premises we've seen in any cartoon.
17:03A 10-year-old boy receives fairy godparents who grant him his wishes,
17:06which usually come with an ironic twist.
17:09Wow, a time stream!
17:10We're traveling 30 years into the past!
17:13Well, you know, you could have just wished yourself 10 minutes into the past
17:17and stopped yourself from melting the trophy in the first place!
17:20The setup made leeway for a ton of creative scenarios,
17:23taking Timmy Turner back in time, around the world, and even across the realm of television.
17:28Along the way, the show dropped numerous in-jokes and references
17:31that made Timmy's adventures just as fun for adults as they were for kids.
17:35Pie!
17:38And a ring!
17:41Amazing!
17:42Well done, son!
17:43While The Fairly Oddparents did go on much longer than it should have,
17:46those early years remain among Nickelodeon's finest.
17:49If you're looking for a Butch Hartman series that'll have you pleading for even more,
17:53there's always the widely underrated Danny Phantom.
17:56The only thing that has an expiration date here is you!
18:04Whoops!
18:04I didn't mean to do that.
18:06Number 14.
18:07Phineas and Ferb
18:09Growing up, every kid likely dreamed of spending their summer vacations
18:12building roller coasters in their backyards and traveling around the world.
18:19Look at me, I'm talking to a manatee!
18:22Chances are that you just ended up staying inside watching TV, though.
18:25Phineas and Ferb takes all of our summer daydreams and turns them into reality,
18:29encouraging kids everywhere to make the most of their free time through the tool of imagination.
18:34It does so with appealing candy colors, joyous music, and timeless characters.
18:38Oh, and there's also a mad scientist and a secret agent platypus, which are both awesome.
18:44So, if we're enemies again, does that mean-
18:48Number 13.
18:49Bob's Burgers
18:50An animated sitcom about a traditional family was nothing new when Bob's Burgers premiered.
18:56If anything, it sounded incredibly run-of-the-mill, especially for Fox's animation block.
19:11The show almost immediately won over audiences, however, with its character-driven comedy,
19:16not to mention the characters themselves.
19:18It's hard to single out a favorite in the Belcher clan, all of whom are so eccentric,
19:22but feel all too real.
19:24The series was developed by Lauren Bouchard of Home Movies and Jim Dautreve of King of the Hill.
19:35You can definitely see their signatures here, with working-class parents and rambunctious kids.
19:40While the show certainly isn't without its wackier moments,
19:43the setting and scenarios give it a slice of life quality,
19:46or perhaps we should say slider of life.
19:58Number 12.
19:59Star Wars The Clone Wars
20:01There are a lot of Star Wars TV shows now,
20:04but Star Wars The Clone Wars remains one of the most celebrated, and for good reason.
20:16The series details various events during the eponymous conflict.
20:19Along with sporadic one-off episodes, The Clone Wars is broken into numerous arcs that
20:24tell a complete story across several episodes, while also building on each other.
20:36The series introduces several original characters,
20:39such as Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex, who have become fan favorites.
20:44Its animation is refined to a truly stunning degree over time.
20:52Meanwhile, the epic fight scenes and the mature, in-depth examination of the costs of war
20:59help make Star Wars The Clone Wars among the finest Star Wars ever produced, in any medium.
21:05A great leap forward often requires first taking two steps back,
21:09and sometimes all it requires is the will to jump.
21:13Number 11.
21:14Samurai Jack
21:15Genndy Tartakovsky created Samurai Jack partially in response to the action shows
21:20he watched growing up, feeling that they were too exposition and dialogue heavy.
21:30Samurai Jack thus kept things simple,
21:32letting the eye-popping visuals do a majority of the talking.
21:35Just because its premise and characters were simple, though,
21:38doesn't mean that the show was lacking in depth.
21:46On the contrary, Tartakovsky demonstrated how a single facial expression can tell us
21:50so much more than a monologue.
21:52Tartakovsky would use the same approach for Star Wars The Clone Wars and Primal.
21:57Samurai Jack remains his crowning achievement, however.
22:00While the first four seasons treated its audience like adults,
22:03the fifth and final officially saw the series grow up,
22:06finishing Jack's journey on a deeply satisfying note.
22:10Number 10.
22:11Steven Universe
22:12Creator Rebecca Sugar challenged animation norms with Steven Universe,
22:16addressing sexuality, gender roles, and other coming-of-age themes that most
22:20kid-friendly shows wouldn't or couldn't speak of in the past.
22:30Steven Universe tackles these subjects in a way that's easy for children to understand,
22:34but also sophisticated enough to resonate with older audiences.
22:45At its core, the series is about the importance of individuality,
22:49speaking out against those who force their ideals on others.
22:52What many view as perfection is often more flawed than we're led to believe.
22:56After all, if every pork chop were perfect, we wouldn't have hot dogs.
23:00As heavy as its morals are, Steven Universe is balanced out with a colorful visual style
23:05and a lovable protagonist whose wisdom lies in his innocence.
23:09It means if you try to make this empire perfect,
23:12if you just wipe away everything you see as flawed,
23:15you lose all the things that make you happy, like hot dogs.
23:19Number 9.
23:20Gravity Falls
23:23Let's pretend this never made WatchMojo's top 10 hated Disney animated shows list,
23:28and appreciate Gravity Falls for the revelation in creativity it is.
23:32Earning comparisons to shows like Lost, Twin Peaks, and The Twilight Zone,
23:36creator Alex Hirsch has fashioned one of the funniest and most addictive paranormal shows
23:41of all time, as well as one of the best stories ever told about a brother and sister.
23:50With numerous jokes and foreshadowing clues hidden in every frame,
23:54you'll want to watch each Gravity Falls episode multiple times to catch them all.
24:02Number 8.
24:03Futurama
24:04While he may be best known for giving us the resonance of Springfield,
24:07Matt Groening has since taken us to the 31st century in Futurama,
24:11and the realm of fantasy in Disenchantment.
24:18Futurama in particular saw Groening and co-creator David X. Cohen grow as storytellers.
24:30While the series was mostly episodic,
24:32all the characters showed significant growth throughout the seasons,
24:35never succumbing to Flanderization.
24:37Fry and Leela's ongoing relationship notably kept fans invested for over a decade.
24:43As humorous and inventive as the show could be, it's the emotional episodes that we remember best.
24:56Between Fry's lucky clover and his dog Seymour, the episodes ran the gamut from
25:01bittersweet to devastating. Not bad for a cartoon with a robot whose catchphrase is...
25:08Number 7.
25:09SpongeBob SquarePants
25:11Although Nickelodeon produced a slew of successful cartoons during the 90s,
25:15SpongeBob SquarePants reached unprecedented levels of popularity for the network.
25:26This yellow sponge remains Nick's unofficial mascot, standing out as the brand's Mickey Mouse.
25:31SpongeBob encompasses much of the surreal, occasionally risqué humor you'd find in
25:35Ren and Stimpy or Rocko's Modern Life. At the same time, the series possesses a sincere optimism more
25:45akin to Rugrats or Hey Arnold. This unlikely combo has made SpongeBob a favorite among children,
25:50parents, and even college students. The series was admittedly never quite the same after Season 3,
25:55when creator Steven Hillenburg left. If SpongeBob has taught us anything, though,
26:00it's that even a downhearted day can evolve into the best day ever.
26:11Number 6.
26:12South Park
26:13Most shows tend to peak sometime during their final couple seasons. With South Park, we'd argue
26:18that the show found its voice as the 90s came to a close and the new century ushered us into a brave
26:23world. South Park has seen us through some especially trying times. Even during the
26:37darkest hours, South Park has been there to provide a unique perspective and a laugh.
26:42While some of the best episodes are simply about the boys just being boys,
26:55others are like time capsules that capture the zeitgeist to a tee. Even after surpassing its
27:0020th season, South Park remains more experimental and thought-provoking than most long-running
27:05cartoons.
27:18Number 5.
27:19Family Guy
27:20It's rare that a show is revived by a passionate cult following, but it's even rarer when a show
27:25comes roaring back more popular than ever. Family Guy demonstrated the power of fandom,
27:34but that's not the only reason Seth MacFarlane's adult cartoon spoke to a generation of viewers.
27:39Nowadays, we're used to seeing send-ups of obscure, nostalgic properties everywhere. Family
27:44Guy was ahead of the curve, however, with many of its cutaway gags poking fun at random facets of
27:49pop culture. Every moment tries to make you laugh, and at its height, Family Guy hit its target like
28:00a fistful of chicken feathers. The show would dip in quality somewhere down the line, but that's
28:05where American Dad started picking up the slack. Number 4. BoJack Horseman
28:18The past two decades have given us a lot of animated shows that crept up on audiences with
28:23their dramatic impact, but none hit harder than BoJack Horseman. What started as a silly satire of
28:33Hollywood – we mean Hollywoo – matured into a character study about television's most complex
28:38soul this side of Don Draper. Even before Me Too and Time's Up were trending, BoJack was already
28:51commenting on the toxic behavior that goes on behind the scenes of celebrity culture.
28:55It might be about a talking horse, but few shows are as brutally honest. Although it could feel
29:00like a Tennessee Williams play at times, BoJack also managed to tackle a wide range of different
29:05comedy styles, effortlessly transitioning between tragicomedy and lighthearted puns.
29:16Number 3. Rick and Morty
29:18If you took the inventiveness of Doctor Who, the characters of Back to the Future,
29:22and the meta-humor of Community, you'd get Rick and Morty. Although the series is still young,
29:37Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland have created a universe where the possibilities are limitless,
29:42both in terms of sci-fi and comedy. The belching Rick
29:48and neurotic Morty's adventures can take them anywhere, from foreign planets,
29:52to inside dreams, to the multiverse's countless different realities.
29:56Wherever they go, we can't wait to go along for another ride.
30:07Number 2. Adventure Time
30:09After several seasons on the air, most shows eventually settle into a predictable groove.
30:14With Adventure Time, however, people never know what to expect whenever they tune in.
30:18Will we get a surreal episode, a laugh-out-loud funny episode, an emotional episode,
30:29an epic episode, or an episode that changes everything we know about the characters we've
30:33come to adore? Whatever Adventure Time aspires to do, it almost always hits a bullseye with
30:46its one-of-a-kind animation style, ingenious plotting, and endless creativity, transcending
30:51all the standard storytelling conventions we're used to seeing. Before we unveil our top pick,
31:05here are a few honorable mentions.
31:07Clone High
31:08Putting historical figures in high school is never boring.
31:16Over the Garden Wall
31:22A miniseries whose autumn aesthetic can't be beat.
31:33Kim Possible
31:34The sitch is that this show is so much better than you remember.
31:44The Spectacular Spider-Man
31:46You know what else is spectacular? The quality of this show.
32:00The Owl House
32:01A beautifully crafted story full of magic and the macabre.
32:05You! You're going to help me regain my throne! I mean, if that's okay with you, right?
32:15Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about
32:20our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
32:26If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
32:32Avatar The Last Airbender
32:34Coming out at a time when most animated shows either went past their expiration date or ended
32:39abruptly with no closure, Avatar was something of an anomaly. The series started incredibly strong
32:53and somehow ended even more strongly, delivering everything the creators set out to accomplish
32:57over the course of three epic seasons. It's hard to think of another show, animated or live-action,
33:08that so flawlessly balanced action, comedy, romance, drama, and serialized storytelling,
33:14always knowing exactly how much to give its viewers. The show's style, themes, and world
33:19building would inspire a sequel series with The Legend of Korra, as well as a spiritual successor
33:24of sorts with The Dragon Prince. Yet Avatar remains the gold standard for what's been a golden
33:29age of animated programming. I thought firebending was destruction. Since I heard Katara, I've been
33:36too afraid and hesitant. But now I know what it really is. It's energy and life.
33:42What's your favorite cartoon of all time? Let us know in the comments.
33:54Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from WatchMojo,
33:58and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.