Cartoons are one of those things we normally associated as being for kids. But the rise of adult-oriented animated TV shows has gone way up in the recent years. Some of these shows feature humor that is more appropriate for those late night talk show rather than the usual Saturday morning cartoon.
Some of them feature political jokes, sexually suggestive language, and adult situations that would definitely be enough to make the children's jaw drop to the floor.
Today let us take a trip down memory lane and list down the best cartoons for grown-ups that you would not want your kids to see.
"Futurama" (1999-2013)
This animated series follows the story of Philip J. Fry who is a pizza delivery boy who accidentally gets frozen in a cryogenic chamber. He later wakes up in the same place a thousand years after. "Futurama" was created by "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening but has a darker and weirder atmosphere. The animated series contains a more adult humor like self-deprecation, black humor, and satire.
"Sealab 2021" (2000-2005)
"Sealab 2021" used some of the clips from the short-lived 1970's Hanna-Barber cartoon "Sealab 2020." This animated series contains a lot of things that are really not meant for kids. Like in one episode, the character Debbie finds a crew member that she can have a baby with. Another episode shows the vegetarian Dr. Virjay eating meat from cows after renouncing his religion. Most episodes show crew members dying during the course of the episode. In one unaired episode, one character was actually seen watching porn. Basically, the whole show is weird, violent, and sometimes morally questionable. However, it was still received warmly by viewers.
"South Park" (1999-Present)
The popular American animated sitcom titled "South Park" follows the story of four boys and their adventures in Colorado. The show is known to be very violent and even has a character who gets killed as a joke. It contains foul language and kids are highly discouraged to watch it. The show is very graphic in showing violence and sexual content. But nonetheless, the show is very funny and makes fun of almost anything. They do sometimes inject some moral lessons amidst the profanity and chaos in the episode. It is currently on its 19th season and still has a lot of viewers enjoying the show.
"The Boondocks" (2005-2014)
This series was created from a comic strip during the 90's. It later became a controversial series due to its political, racial and satirical themes. It follows the story of an African-American family who lives in a white dominated area. The Freemans are a complex family with different beliefs and point of views in life. The series had several episodes get banned due to being too daring. While some do not appreciate "The Boondocks," the series has been critically acclaimed and even won a Peabody Award for an episode about the bravery of Martin Luther King.
"Rick and Morty" (2013-Present)
Created by Dan Harmon, this animated series follows the story of an alcoholic mad scientist named Rick and his not too smart grandson Morty. They go on through different dimensions and have their own dangerous, chaotic, and crazy adventures. "Rick and Morty" has heavy adult themes and has a very existentialist perspective but shown in a funnier and wittier way. The show is critically received worldwide and is slated for another season really soon.
Which among these is your favorite cartoon for a grown-up? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
