Cartoons with gore anyone?
Sometimes, searching for a new TV show to obsess over can take ages. Even carving out free time is difficult enough, so why should finding the right show be equally as challenging? If you are new to the world of adult animation, here are a few binge-worthy recommendations to explore. With cleverly written plots, gripping narratives and mind-bending concepts hidden behind a style of visual storytelling commonly associated with kids’ entertainment, these animated TV shows might surprise you. You might even stumble upon several familiar voices behind these animated characters.
Here’s a list of animated adult TV shows for your next watch:
Undone (2019-2022)
Life is getting repetitive and boring for Alma Winograd-Diaz (Rosa Salazar). When she nearly dies in a car accident, the 28-year-old wakes up in her hospital bed to find her deceased father sitting across from her. Soon, she discovers her ability to manipulate time and reality. Throughout the series, Alma is trained by her dad (Bob Odenkirk) to hone her new ability and uncover the truths behind her dad’s murder. Trippy and visually compelling, this sci-fi drama is recognised for its rotoscope animation and explores themes surrounding mental illness, and trauma.
Invincible (2021-present)
Voiced by Netflix’s Beef star Steven Yuen, Mark Grayson is your average teen with a normal life, except for the part where his father is Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons)—the most powerful superhero on Earth. On the surface, the skin-tight suits and identity-concealing masks make it seem like a regular ‘save-the-day’ superhero show. However, Invincible dives deeper into the complexities of being a hero, uncovering thought-provoking themes and characters. Based on the eponymous comic book series, the show is filled with witty remarks and gruesome fight scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat. Expect to hear Sandra Oh and Walton Goggins voice acting in the series.
Arcane (2021-2024)
One of the most anticipated follow-up seasons on Netflix this year, Arcane is based on the video game League of Legends. It tells the origin story of two main characters—Vi and Jinx, who both also happen to be sisters. The show reflects the game’s stunning artistic style where 3D characters and objects blend with 2D backgrounds in intricate brush strokes. Exploring ideas about class struggles and societal issues, the carefully woven narratives of each character and remarkable pacing are what gained the show such wide traction, not forgetting a notable soundtrack. The main characters are voiced by Ella Purnell and Hailee Steinfeld.
Blue Eye Samurai (2023-present)
“I have no interest in being happy. Only satisfied,”“ declares Mizu, a skilled samurai hellbent on seeking revenge. Set in Edo-era Japan, Mizu’s blue eyes marked her as “impure” and “a monster”, forcing her to live a childhood of confinement and ruthless bullying from the local children. So she makes an oath to kill the only four white men in Japan who could’ve brought this curse upon her. Blue Eye Samurai is packed with meticulously choreographed and suspenseful fight scenes with visually striking sceneries. Maya Erskine as Mizu is joined by Masi Oka, Kenneth Branagh, George Takei, Randall Park and Brenda Song to bring each character to life.
Pantheon (2022-2023)
Bullied teenager Maddie Kim, voiced by Katie Chang, is struggling to adjust to life after her father’s death. When she opens her emails after school, she receives a mysterious message from an anonymous user who claims to be her recently deceased father, David. Pantheon is a sci-fi drama which explores the concept of ‘Uploaded Intelligence’. The series is based on short stories written by Ken Liu and created by Craig Silverstein and features the voices of Daniel Dae Kim and the late William Hurt.
