With their bright colors and goofy characters,animated sitcomsmight look like kids’ shows at first glance, but youcan’t let the visuals fool you. The great thing about the medium of animation is that it doesn’t come with thesame limitations as live action.It’s a wonderful way to tell children stories of magical kingdoms and powerful heroes.
At the same time, though,with no sets to build or stunts to fake,adult animated sitcomsallow writers topush theboundaries of comedylike never before. If you believe cartoons are just for kids, these shows might make you rethink that.
Before absurd humor was all the rage,Beavis and Buttheadperfected the art of being stupid on purpose. The show followed two teenagers with zero ambition, who spent most of their days lazing around, listening to music, and making fart jokes. At first, the show comes off as downright crude with its lowbrow humor. However, if you stick around for a bit, you start to see how brilliant it is with its satirical take on everything, frompolitics to pop cultureandthe decline of critical thinking.That’s the thing withBeavis and Butthead,the show doesn’t spell things out for you. Instead, it really leans into letting its characters be as dumb and immature as possible to make a point.
Naturally, the sitcomwasn’t exactly a hit with parents, politicians,or anyone else who felt threatened by its unfiltered take on things. Critics accused the show of promoting violence and even glorifying stupidity when it was trying to do the exact opposite. All this backlashonly fueledBeavis and Butthead’scult status,though. If you think about it, the outrage feels a bit ironic, and maybe that’s why the animated sitcom remainsingrained in pop culture, even to this day.
Some people thinkAmerican Dad!is just another animated sitcom that’s pretty much identical to all the others out there. That couldn’t be further from the truth, though.American Dad!follows Stan Smith(Seth MacFarlane), a conservative Republican CIA agent who finds himselfat odds with his family’s shifting political stances. UnlikeFamily Guy,which heavily relies on absurdity and over-the-top plots for entertainment, the showfocuses heavily onexaggerated political humoras Stantries to navigate a changing world.
Some of Stan’s views are definitely questionable,but that’s the whole point of the show. Stan starts off as a stereotypical right-winger, but over the course of the show, you see him becoming more accepting of other views. Not just that, but every character inAmerican Dad!has their own storyline and quirks that are bound to get you invested from the get-go. Thesatire in the showis layered, dark, anduncomfortably honest at times,which makes it such a great watch. The show does a great job balancing absurdity with meaning and heart. Some might argue that the adult cartoon has overstayed its welcome and should have ended years ago, but the truth is thatAmerican Dad!It tries to evolve with time. In doing so, it has outgrown comparisons to any other animated sitcoms.
8‘Big Mouth’ (2017-2025)
Here’s one show that you can onlyenjoy if you go in with an open mind.Big Mouthhas an art style that not many can stomach, but trust me, braving it is going to be so worth it, because this show is one-of-a-kind. The show revolves around a group of middle schoolers in New York as they navigate puberty, and you can imagine the chaos that ensues in the middle of it all. What I love about the show is that it’s not subtle in its portrayal of the changes that the characters are going through. Instead, it uses fantastical characters like the Hormone Monster, the Shame Wizard, the Depression Kitty, and the Anxiety Mosquito toexternalize every humiliating experiencethat teenagers go through in this phase of life.
The best way to describeBig Mouthwould be an animated fever dream, because it really commits to the mostgrotesque,unsettling visuals and explicit language. Now, if a real teenager tuned into the sitcom, I’m sure they’d be traumatized for life. However, for an adult who has been through this complicated phase of life, the show is a pretty hilarious yet accurate representation of the embarrassment that comes with it. The animated show spanned eight seasons andcame to an end in May 2025,which I feel like was the perfect time for the story to come to an organic end.
7‘South Park’ (1997-Present)
South Parkhas to be one of themost iconic animated sitcomsof all time. The show might feature an innocent-looking group of kids going about their everyday shenanigans, but it’s far from that. The writers deserve a lot of credit for their unapologetic approach to mocking celebrity culture, politics, and ridiculous societal norms. In many ways,South Parkhas perfected the art of using crude,borderline offensive comedyto shed light on current events and force the viewers to really confront the absurdities of modern life.
Obviously, with this kind of subject matter, it’s a given that the show is meant to be enjoyed by adults, given that they don’t easily take offense to its unfiltered humor. That’s not all, though, becauseSouth Parkis one of the very few animated sitcoms that has made an active effort to evolve with time. While the early seasons of the show are relatively surface-level and light-hearted,South Parkis now known for its much deeper,nuanced take on cultural issues. Every episode of the sitcom feels relevant to today’s world, and that has allowedSouth Parkto retain its audience over two decades after its premiere.
6‘Bob’s Burgers’ (2011-Present)
If you’re tired of hearing aboutfamily-based animated sitcoms, hear me out, becauseBob’s Burgersis unlike any other. The series follows Bob Belcher(H. Jon Benjamin), an unlucky burger joint owner who’s trying his best to keep his business afloat while also raising three extremely eccentric kids with his wife, Linda(John Roberts). The premise sounds pretty wholesome, but like most adult cartoons, you’d expectBob’s Burgersto be controversial andborderline crass with its humor.You’ll be happy to know that isn’t the case at all. What I really love about this sitcom is how it leans on character-driven comedy to create bizarre yet still relatable family moments. Don’t get me wrong,Bob’s Burgerswill definitely leave you in splits, but it does sowithout ever punching downor being mean-spirited.
The Belcher family’sawkward dynamic is genuinely endearing,and what’s great is that they are not dysfunctional at all. In fact, I think they might be one of the most functional families in adult animation. Bob and Linda are truly in love, their kids are good siblings and there’s genuine heart accompanying all the humor. At the same time, though, brace yourself for agood share of innuendos, satire and occasional fart jokes,because the show is still true to its genre.
5‘Rick and Morty’ (2013-Present)
you’re able to’t talk about adult animated sitcoms and not mentionRick and Morty.Back when the show premiered, it completely changed the landscape of not just cartoons, but TV in general. The story revolves around thiscynical, alcoholic genius scientistnamed Rick and his awkward grandson Morty, as they travel across infinite universes. Both the characters are voiced byJustin Roiland, but even then,they are so distinct as peoplethat the clashes between them are where the show really shines.
Aside from the chaotic technology, freaky aliens andmind-bending plot twists, the show has a layer of emotional complexity that makes it stand out.Rick and Morty’shyper-meta,fourth-wall-breaking humorand sharp writing are as clever as it gets. Sure, the show features tons of gore, adult humor, and disturbing moments, but it does so without ever taking anything too seriously. While many other shows tried to copy the show’s satirical take on pop culture and social issues, none of them could ever come close to its genius. Even side characters like Summer(Spencer Grammar), Beth(Sarah Chalke), and Jerry(Chris Parnell)are layered and are given their own moments to shine. All in all,Rick and Mortymight be one of the most ambitious adult animated series out there, where every episode willmake you question your existencewhile you laugh your heart out.
4‘BoJack Horseman’ (2012-2020)
If fart jokes and sexual humor aren’t your cup of tea,BoJack Horsemanmight just be theperfect show to binge-watch. I know the show is based ona bunch of anthropomorphic animals,but don’t give it a pass just because you think it’s a weird idea. The Netflix series revolves around BoJack(Will Arnett), a washed-up sitcom star from the 90s who is trying to navigate the world after his fame has slowly faded into oblivion. The best way to describe the animated sitcom would be a character study. The narrative ofBojack Horsemanmakes it evident that the antagonist is not a good person. If anything, BoJack might just be one of the most self-destructive, hurtful cartoon characters of all time, and the best part is that theshow doesn’t excuse any of that.
Unlike most adult animated shows,BoJack Horsemanis pretty serialized, which means that its episodes aren’t self-contained. If BoJack does something bad, it carries on to the next episode, where he has to face the consequences. In many ways, the show is a satire on Hollywood and celebrity culture that willleave you feeling deeply unsettled at times. Aside from its cynical humor, the show deals withthemes like childhood trauma, sexual misconduct, miscarriage, abortion, and even depression.BoJack Horsemanwill make you laugh out loud and then deliver a moment of gut-wrenching truth within the span of one episode, and the show does it so brilliantly that you can’t help but follow along. Every character is layered and complex, and the showbuilds a world that is so immersive, it stays with you long after the finale.
3‘King of the Hill’ (1997-Present)
Even if you haven’t watchedKing of the Hill, there’s no way you aren’t familiar with the show’s catchy theme song byThe Refreshments. The show revolves around Hank Hill(Mike Judge), apropane salesman who lives a simple lifeand believes in hard work. At first,King of the Hillalso comes off as a typical animated sitcom about theaverage American family. Hank lives with his wife Peggy(Kathy Najimy)and their awkward son Bobby(Pamela Adlon), as they deal with their quirky neighbours andtypical small-town shenanigans.What makesKing of the Hillspecial, though, is the show’s straightforward approach to storytelling. Each episode follows a conflict rooted in everyday life, such as going to church, trying to reconnect with your family, or coming to terms with changing social norms.
Similar toBoJack Horseman, King of the Hilldoesn’t hit reset after every episode, which means the characters actually grow and change with time. For example, in the show’s early seasons, Hank is borderline mad at Bobby’s lack of traditional masculinity. However, down the line, he learns to accept his son for who he is, and that is what gives the show a kind of emotional complexity that is missing from a lot of animated sitcoms. My favorite part, though, is thatKing of the Hilltacklesissues like addiction, racism, and gender inequalitywithout ever being too preachy about it. The show is definitely not filled with profanity or explicit content, but with its complex narrative, it can only be enjoyed by someone with a fully developed frontal lobe.
2‘Family Guy’ (1999-Present)
I have to admit that the animated sitcom genre simply can’t exist withoutFamily Guy. The fact that the show isstill going strong after 23 seasonsshows the impact it has had on pop culture, because fans are still tuning in with the same kind of excitement. Set in the fictional town of Quahog,Family Guyfollows the hilariously dysfunctional Griffin family, whose members often find themselves in the middle of some pretty unexpected situations. The show’s narrative is plain chaotic, andthat’s exactly what you have to embrace.Family Guyis a sitcom that doesn’t take itself too seriously, so it doesn’t expect the viewers to do so either. Every episode moves back and forth among three storylines as the show’s infamous cutaway gags completely derail the plot.
I know it sounds like a nightmare if you’re into consistent storytelling, but trust me, that’s part of the fun.Family Guyhas a way ofthrowing in random, oftencontroversial, and dark referencesin the middle of every episode that keeps you wanting more. The show really isn’t afraid to take risks and is unapologetically offensive. You really have to commend the writers for keeping things unpredictable, even years down the line.Family Guyhas always beenextremely self-aware in its storytelling,and that’s what really helps it break every sitcom rule in the book. If an episode is using a lazy plot device, you don’t have to worry, because one of the characters will probably call it out themselves. This level of meta-humor remains unmatched in the sitcom world.
1‘The Simpsons’ (1989-Present)
The Simpsonshas to be one of themost iconic animated sitcomsof all time.Since its premiere, this unusual show about a yellow-colored family has gone on to become the blueprint for the genre, and it’s really easy to see why. The odd yet still lovable Simpson familyquickly became a cultural iconbecause of how well they reflect American society. At this point,The Simpsonshas addressed every theme under the sun, from politics to religion, technology and even climate change.
The show’s greatest strength is that itdisguises itself as a light-hearted cartoon,but in reality, it’s one of the best satirical sitcoms ever created. On the surface, Homer(Dan Castellaneta)may be a lazy, borderline toxic partner, but his flaws are used to critique the veryidea of toxic masculinity. The show attempts to hold a mirror to real life issues, and it does so without ever dumbing things down.The Simpsonshas delivered some of thesmartest comedy televisionhas ever seen, and it’s all because of its timeless writing. With all its subtext, pop culture references and genuinely touching moments of vulnerability, it’s no surprise that the showcontinues to be a ratings success for FOX, even in Season 36.
