In recent years, audiences have stopped associatinganimation, in both movies and TV shows, with children’s media. Though there are many great animated series for kids, and some grapple with serious subjects, the landscape of adult animation has been booming for a long time.Adult-oriented shows have the luxury of being able to show more graphic and intense violenceonscreen since there are no live-action limitations, as well as touching upon dark themes like loss, grief, and the emergence of dangerous new technologies. Typically blending genres like sci-fi and fantasy, there’s little that animated shows can’t do.
All thebest adult animated TV showspush themselves to take advantage of the genre, experimenting with interesting art styles and crafting intricate characters. As adult animation becomes more mainstream and tells stories that rival the best of prestige TV, it’s even more exciting when a new addition to the genre premieres, even if it’s short-lived. However,the great thing about all of these series is that they have dedicated fan baseswho have kept the momentum and love for the projects alive and will continue to do so in the future.
One of thebest vampire TV shows of all time,Castlevaniadid a lot to revitalize the genre, especially within the field of animation. Loosely based on the video game series of the same name,Castlevaniais undoubtedly a horror show, leaning into the demonic tendencies of the magic and monstersof its universe. However, one thing every character inCastlevaniahas in common is that they’re motivated by a dark and tragic backstory that pushes them far enough to either disregard their humanity or keep fighting despite the world’s despair.
Castlevaniauses an animation style similar to anime and uses these techniques within the fight sequences, making them all the more thrilling and dynamic. The series enjoys playing with the myths and legends that have followed vampires, particularly Dracula, throughout history, making us all afraid of the dark. However,Castlevaniais quick to point out that the vampires are far from the only villains in the story,with humans proving themselves capable of just as much evil.
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It’s not uncommon for a sci-fi series to be set on an alien planet,but few shows have taken advantage of this concept as effectively asScavenger’s Reign. The setting of the world where the characters have crash-landed is one ofScavenger’s Reign’s biggest strengths, as it instantly immerses the viewer in the danger and beauty of this unknown land. Each character goes on a journey throughoutScavenger’s Reignthat reflects the issues and fallibility they presented in their daily life, now heightened in this survival situation.
It’s a shame that the series was canceled after season 1. The world ofScavengers Reignis one that viewers can get lost in, even if it’s a little scary. However, the show does an amazing job of highlighting how beauty and terror always go hand-in-hand and that there are natural worlds untouched by human selfishness. Though the show doesn’t struggle to relate to real life and communicate its message about society,it never fails to fully transport you into the high stakes of its survival story.
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Widely regarded as one of the best TV shows of the 2010s,BoJack Horsemanwent through a significant evolution throughout its six-season run. Following the titular antihero, BoJack Horseman, as he attempts to rebuild his fame and is ultimately brought down by his unresolved trauma and inability to process his experiences,BoJack Horsemantackles very real issues through its slightly fantastical world.Thebest episodes ofBoJack Horsemanare typically the least comedic, fully embracing the darkness of the story.
BoJack is not a good guy, and many of his actions throughout the seasons make him go from dislikable to a true villain. However,BoJack Horsemandeftly avoids moralizing or sensationalizing its narrative, presenting all of the characters as full individuals who are equally capable of growth and failure.BoJack Horsemanholds a mirror up to the contemporary concepts of fame and success,forcing the viewer not just to grapple with BoJack’s flaws but also the structure of the society that enables him.
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The Midnight Gospelhas a unique premise. It adapts a series of podcast episodes led by one of the show’s creators, Duncan Trussell, and infuses the conversations into alternate realities that the main character travels to.Trussel voices Clancy, the space traveler who enters visually stimulating and often dangerous worldsto interview the residents of these planets. Each episode takes on a heavy topic, but one of the most memorable is the final episode, where Trussel and his mother, Deneen Fendig, discuss her illness and eventual passing.
It’s an incredibly emotional conclusion to the series, making it almost impossible not to cry in the show’s final moments.
It’s an incredibly emotional conclusion to the series, making it almost impossible not to cry in the show’s final moments. While the installment touches upon subjects like death, magic, the afterlife, and similar topics, whenThe Midnight Gospelmakes these issues personal, it invites the viewer to reflect on their own experiences. WhileThe Midnight Gospelisn’t as traditionally dark as other animated shows, it’s the most emotionally intensive, asking the audience to go on a serious journey many times over.
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Invincibleis aTV show that’s impossible not to get hooked on, quickly becoming a crossover hit with viewers who weren’t familiar with the original comic book series. However, for those who’ve read the graphic novels, the borderline-shocking level of gore that’s a key feature ofInvincibledidn’t come as a surprise.A bloody and compelling twist on the superhero genre,Invinciblelets its characters have it,pushing them to the brink of death and emotional devastation every season.
While all the characters experience this,the audience is particularly invested in Mark’s story, as he is hit the hardest by the harsh realitiesof the world ofInvincible. The series’s tone is set instantly, with unflinching, prolonged battle scenes and some of the rawest dialogue heard in any TV show, animated or not. WatchingInvinciblebefore you’re ready will change the way you look at animation forever. Mark’s emotional journey onInvinciblewill be remembered for years to come.
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The sci-fi thriller seriesPantheonis one of the most underrated animated shows of the 2020s,as it grapples with the intersection of humanity and technology. As the innovation of the future starts progressing too quickly to control, the young protagonist, Maddie, becomes the epicenter of the fallout. Set in a world where people’s consciousness can be uploaded to a cloud, and this is happening to individuals without their consent, it doesn’t take long for the implications ofPantheonto get scary.
As the twisting plot grows more complex and high-concept,Pantheonbecomes a TV show that you have to sit up and pay attention to.
Pantheonisn’t just engaging because of its story, but also because of how its themes so clearly reflect the dangerous era of surveillance and the loss of digital agency that draws closer every day. Additionally, Maddie is a great lead character because she has a personal connection to the narrative, which interweaves with her experience of grieving the loss of her father. As the twisting plot grows more complex and high-concept,Pantheonbecomes a TV show that you have to sit up and pay attention to.
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Children might love dinosaurs, butthe prehistoric creatures inPrimalare not the friendly lizards found in typical kids' media.What initially setPrimalapart from other adult animated series was the fact that there was no dialogue in season 1, with the Neanderthal protagonist, Spear, who joins forces with the T-Rex, Fang. Though the gore and action ofPrimalare often what critics and audiences discuss the most, it’s the tragic inciting events that define the show most of all.
Fang and Spear lose their families in the first episode, and the grief and rage they feel in the aftermath color all of their actions as the series progresses. However,Primalshines a light on how the characters learn to grapple with these big feelings, even asthey fight their way through the ancient, untamed landscape.The series revels in the beauty of chaos and the lack of civilization, engaging with these themes further in season 2, when Fang and Spear come into contact with a larger world that doesn’t share their sensibilities.
Often drawing comparisons to the live-action seriesBlack Mirror,Love, Death & Robotsis a dystopian anthology series that showcases how well-suited animation is to this format.Even if audiences don’t connect with one episode ofLove, Death & Robots, the next installment will have an entirely new art style and storyline, creating something for everyone. However, one thing that every part of the series has in common is the terrifying and electrifying version of reality they portray.
Whether it’s a technologically advanced future, a mythological past, or a terrifying alternate reality that hits a little too close to home,there’s always a deeper message to be found within the world ofLove, Death & Robots.Since it airs on Netflix, the show doesn’t have to hold back in terms of graphic violence or sex, infusing both into many episodes. Animation allows the characters and stories to go further than they typically do in live-action, andLove, Death & Robotstakes full advantage of this.
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Netflix’s critically acclaimed series based on the world ofLeague of Legends,Arcane, is one of thebest TV shows based on video games.Brilliantly blending the look and feel of the action-packed gameswith an emotionally resonant and nuanced story,Arcanecovered a lot of ground in its short two-season run, gaining favor with an audience base who will never forget the project. Full of gory violence and tragic loss,Arcaneisn’t just meant for adult viewers because of its visuals, but also because of its intense stories.
Arcaneis a story about grief and loss, never shying away from the sacrifices the characters maketo fight for a better future. It’s not always easy to watchArcane, as the beloved characters the viewer gets to know suffer through unimaginable pain. Of course, there is a silver lining inArcane. Glimmers of hope are built into the story, so it’s not non-stop pain. However, older audiences will fully understand the weight of the events onscreen.
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