The 140 Essential Animated TV Shows
Updated June 24, 2019
For most people, animation is our first introduction to television.
But the medium is not just kid-friendly Saturday morning cartoons. It consists of classics like The Flintstones and The Pink Panther Show as well as more modern, parental-discretion-advised series like BoJack Horseman and South Park. And in addition to differences in tone and targeted audiences, rapid technological advances mean shows from 2009 look very different than ones from 2019 (not to mention ones from 1990 or 1960 — heck, even series airing currently can look very different than when they first started).
Ranking the best series, then, is no laughing matter — though culling research for this roundup uncovered memories of so many other favorite shows from our childhoods. In compiling our ranking of the 140 essential animated TV shows you need to watch, we considered our Tomatometer data culled from critics’ reviews, consulted some reputable “best of” lists, and exercised some editorial discretion, asking ourselves which classic animated shows still hold up (and which don’t), which have been the most influential on the work of those artists who came after them, which have had major cultural impact (i.e. who your nieces and nephews are dressing up as every Halloween), and which have created lasting and beloved characters.
Don’t see your choices on this list? Sound off in the comments — because that’s not all folks! We’ll add to and adjust this list with time, new animation premieres, and suggestions from fans like you.
Synopsis: An animated look at city life through the eyes of 9-year-old Arnold, who has a football-shaped head and lives in...
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Synopsis: Teenage superheroes navigate the perils of high school together....
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Synopsis: Anime series following the story of a young man who becomes part ghoul after being attacked by one....
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Synopsis: A young boy searches for the ultimate treasure in order to become the next Pirate King....
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Synopsis: An anime series that follows the adventures of a young wizard named Lucy, who runs away from home to join...
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Synopsis: The adventures of three fabulous Superhero Drag Queens recruited to protect the LGBTQ community and spread glitter throughout the world....
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Synopsis: Two high-school students have secret alter egos as superheroes who save Paris from evil....
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Synopsis: Players trapped in a role-playing game's virtual world face real-life death as they try to escape....
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Synopsis: They're bad cops. Not bad like no nonsense. Not bad like cool. Bad like shitty. Paradise PD: They're the worst...
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Synopsis: Izuku Midoriya is an ardent fan of superheroes. He does not have any superpowers, but that does not deter him...
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Synopsis: An animated series recounting the adventures of music's most eccentric characters....
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Synopsis: Anime tales of a young warrior and his female sidekick in a magical land populated by monsters, warriors and villains....
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Synopsis: A fearless teen trains to become a ninja while battling the demon who lives inside of him. Sequel to 'Naruto,'...
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Synopsis: A villager discovers an amazing device as violence befalls his subterranean community in this anime series....
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Synopsis: An animated continuation of the live-action NBC series starring Matt Ryan....
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Synopsis: An animated prequel to "The Force Awakens," about young pilot Kazuda "Kaz" Xiono, who's recruited by the Resistance for a...
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Synopsis: Po mentors a group of panda children who have absorbed unusual chi energy, which soon proves to be his toughest...
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Synopsis: A hero becomes bored with fighting after being able to defeat every opponent with a single punch and seeks out...
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Synopsis: Love, Death & Robots is a collection of animated short stories that span the science fiction, fantasy, horror and comedy...
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Synopsis: Humans found safety behind massive walls that kept away the man-eating Titans for hundreds of years. But then their safety...
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Synopsis: Risqué cartoon about a superhero lawyer who works cases involving (and spoofing) Hanna-Barbera characters like Fred Flintstone (suspected of mob...
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Synopsis: Animated tales of a robotic boy in the 21st century....
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Synopsis: Absurdist animation about a muscle-bound narcissist who thinks he's God's gift to women, when in reality his distaff admirers consist...
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Synopsis: Three bears try to fit in and make friends with the residents surrounding their cave in this animated comedy....
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Synopsis: The comic-book hero comes to TV in a stylish, ultraviolent animated series. Todd McFarlane's creation set sales records when it...
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Synopsis: The animated adventures of a droll psychiatrist, his patients and his unemployed slacker son. Guest roles are voiced by comedians...
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Synopsis: The misadventures of two furry agents for the British Intelligence Service, Danger Mouse and his incompetent hamster sidekick, Penfold, are...
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Synopsis: The story revolves around Spiderman, Iceman and Firestar, who are college students from the Empire State Unversity. It shows how...
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Synopsis: The board game, brought to Saturday-morning TV life. Six youngsters take a roller-coaster ride into a fantasy world and must...
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Synopsis: Characters from `The Jungle Book' headlined this animated show. Baloo the Bear, now a cargo pilot in the tropical seaport...
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Synopsis: Animated comedy about the surreal adventures of a bag of fries, a milkshake and a wad of meat....
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Synopsis: Musical shorts teach kids history, grammar, and math....
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Synopsis: Characters from the 1984 blockbuster continued to answer calls for help against all manner of paranormal nuisances. The show expanded...
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Synopsis: A hulking homeless man in a purple superhero getup protects a beautiful social worker named Julie. The 13-episode series is...
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Synopsis: Two human princes forge an unlikely bond with the elven assassin sent to kill them, embarking on an epic quest...
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Synopsis: They share the same name and pull up humour and tricks hanging around together....
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Synopsis: The adventures of Drake Mallard, who becomes a web-footed wonder when things turn foul in the town of St. Canard....
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Synopsis: The tune-filled adventures of Alvin, Simon and Theodore, an animated trio of charming chipmunks with high-pitched but adorable voices....
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Synopsis: Animated favorite about the fun-loving resident of Jellystone Park and his sidekick, Boo Boo, who try to steal picnic baskets...
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Synopsis: Growing up is more complicated than fighting crime for this high-flying teen action heroine, whose steely confidence when facing the...
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Synopsis: From Warner Bros. Animation, these teen titans are on the go! Right after they make a sandwich or play some...
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Synopsis: Female teenyboppers play pop music in feline costumes when they're not busy solving mysteries à la 'Scooby-Doo.' Two years into...
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Synopsis: Adventures of an 8-year-old boy named Mac and his imaginary friend Bloo....
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Synopsis: Earth's G-Force Squad, made up of five orphaned teens, fight enemy alien invaders from the dying planet Spectra, who are...
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Synopsis: Animation about a renowned scientist and his two sons being pursued by various villains....
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Synopsis: Disney's resourceful cartoon chipmunks solve crimes and mysteries....
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Synopsis: Hey! Hey! Hey! This award-winning cartoon was based on Bill Cosby's boyhood adventures in Philadelphia, much like his stand-up comedy....
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Synopsis: The Earth Federation and its space colonies engage in apocalyptic battle against the rebellious Principality of Seon....
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Synopsis: Five teens from Earth pilot robotic lions in an intergalactic battle against evil....
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Synopsis: Cartoon antics from Seth MacFarlane ('The Family Guy') about a gung-ho CIA agent (voice of MacFarlane), and his suburban...
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Synopsis: Outfitted with high-tech gizmos, a bumbling gumshoe clashes with the fiendish Dr. Claw. Although his zeal for justice never wavered,...
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Synopsis: The animated adventures of the legendary mouse who became a superhero....
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Synopsis: Animated mayhem about an easygoing teen who's transformed into a high-strung superhero. The cartoon, executive produced by Steven Spielberg, included...
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Synopsis: Younger versions of the famous Looney Tunes characters study at Acme Looniversity, under professors who are cartoon legends....
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Synopsis: Naruto trains to be a ninja while battling the demon within him....
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Synopsis: Animated series about a boy who finds a gadget that can turn him into 10 different alien heroes....
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Synopsis: Animation about battling armies of intergalactic robots (Autobots vs. Decepticons)....
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Synopsis: Animated action about military-squad members battling the nefarious COBRA organization. Based on the popular toy figure, this has also aired...
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Synopsis: An adventurous young girl uses her knowledge of Spanish and English as she solves mysteries and explores new sites with...
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Synopsis: The animated `reel' life of a sardonic, nebbishy film reviewer irked by a popular culture that panders to a complacent...
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Synopsis: Animated adaptation of the satirical comic-strip series....
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Synopsis: An inept alien spy poses as a grammar-school student to scout Earth for an invasion by planet Irk. ZIM's feckless...
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Synopsis: An Australian wallaby finds it difficult to adjust to life in America in this animated series. He does have help...
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Synopsis: Adventures of the web-slinger....
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Synopsis: The story of a brilliant student and part-time photographer Peter who dons his spider-man avatar....
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Synopsis: Free-spirited toucan Tuca and self-doubting song thrush Bertie are best friends -- and birds -- who guide each other through...
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Synopsis: Inspired by the video game, this medieval fantasy follows the last surviving member of the Belmont clan and his attempt...
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Synopsis: The zany, fast-paced adventures of a 10-year-old boy and his fairy godparents, who inadvertently create havoc as they grant wishes...
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Synopsis: A teen prodigy can manipulate and transform objects, but he lost his arm acquiring the abilities and seeks the Philosopher's...
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Synopsis: An adventurous boy travels the world with his scientist father in this popular animated series, which first ran in prime...
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