Animated comedies have become increasingly popular throughout the previous decade. Many shows have been inspired by ’90s staples such as The Simpsons and South Park, and continue to hold a satirical mirror to its audience that pushes the boundaries of comedy and animation.
Animation may have previously been seen as something aimed entirely at children, but modern shows such as Rick And Morty and BoJack Horseman have evolved the genre. Animated shows are now commonly as socially relevant as they are hilarious. Here are the ten best-animated comedy series’ of the decade.
Final Space
Final Space premiered in February 2018 on Adult Swim and is also currently available to stream on Netflix. A second season was released in June 2019 and a third season has also been announced.
The show follows the adventures of astronaut Gary Goodspeed and his friends, including the alien Mooncake, fellow human Quinn and former enemy Avocato, as they travel through the cosmos learning about the titular ‘final space.’ It is similar to Rick And Morty as both shows have a strong sci-fi setting.
Paradise PD
Paradise PD is an animated comedy series currently available on Netflix that combines slapstick comedy with gross humor. It premiered in August 2018 and a scheduled second season was announced in October 2018.
Paradise PD follows a defective and flawed police force in a small town as they attempt to uncover a drug empire. Bullet the drug-addicted police dog is one of the show’s highlights, along with the love-hate relationship between the main character Kevin and his police chief father.
One-Punch Man
One-Punch Man is a Japanese animated satirical comedy that is based on a superhero webcomic. It first aired between October and December in 2015 and the first season is currently available to watch on Netflix.
The show follows the story of Saitama, a ridiculously overpowered superhero who possesses the ability to defeat any enemy with a single punch. Saitama spends most of the series longing for real competition, which he rarely finds. Despite seeing him do it so often, it remains satisfying to watch the protagonist defeat seemingly unstoppable bad guys with a solo blow.
Adventure Time
Unlike the other entries on this list, Adventure Time is not specifically an adult animated comedy series. However, despite the show being aimed at a younger target audience, it is also popular with adults and a big hit in popular culture.
Adventure Time follows the adventures of Jake the dog and Finn the human in the fictional and post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo. It is light-hearted and funny yet also relatable and thought-provoking. Each episode is highly quotable, with the characters reciting simplistic philosophies that put many things into perspective.
American Dad
American Dad, like Family Guy, was created by Seth MacFarlane and first aired in February 2005. It has a similar premise and follows the adventures of the Smiths, a dysfunctional family headed by CIA staff and patriarch Stan.
American Dad is slightly less episodic than Family Guy and each episode has a more consistent arc that connects the characters’ storylines. Roger, the flamboyant alien who lives in the attic, is the biggest highlight of the show.
The Boondocks
The Boondocks first aired in 2005 on Adult Swim and ended in June 2014 after four seasons. It follows the story of Huey and Riley Freeman, who move to a predominately white suburban area with their grandfather to begin a new life.
Much of the humor in The Boondocks stems from its satirical depictions of culture, stereotypes, racialized identities, and social classes. The jokes are unashamed and there is an anime-like style to the show’s animation that makes it unique.
F is for Family
F is for Family is another comedy series that is currently available on Netflix, with its fourth season scheduled to debut in 2020. It focuses on the struggles of the dysfunctional Murphy family and is an honest and hilarious analysis of the traditional nuclear family.
The show is set in the 1970s and, like other shows such as Stranger Things, harbors a nostalgic vibe that many viewers will love. Its premise is similar to Family Guy but goes into much more depth with the characters.
Big Mouth
Big Mouth is another animated comedy to stream on Netflix. The show focuses on the struggles of puberty and growing older, with some stomach-turning scenes and oddly relatable dialogue, as well as an unabashed and unashamed narrative that dissects the sometimes unpleasant reality of adolescence.
Each character has their opportunity to shine in Big Mouth, which is impressive considering how many characters are featured on the show. Big Mouth excels with fair representation and addresses taboo subjects that other shows have avoided with humor and respect.
Rick And Morty
Rick And Morty is a popular animated comedy series that is famous for popularizing social satire and existentialism, whilst also being hilarious and downright brave. The series is mostly episodic, but there is a continuous narrative that connects each season which sets it apart from other shows such as Family Guy and The Simpsons.
Rick Sanchez has become an iconic character in popular culture due to his cynical and outrageous characterization. Rick And Morty make the most of its animated sci-fi setting with visuals that are impressive and, at times, sickening.
BoJack Horseman
BoJack Horseman makes the most of its animation and most of the humor stems from the anthropomorphized characters, with subtle visual quips in puns in the background of every episode.
BoJack is not just a funny show. It addresses impactful and hard-hitting issues such as addiction and mental illness and every character has issues that are explored in-depth throughout the series. Even with its darker moments, however, BoJack is still a delight to watch.
