Top 5 Netflix Original Animated Series for Adults
Carolina
Argentinian Carolina has an extensive movie background in the cinematic universe. She is our resident TV analyst and a seasoned expert in global streaming platforms. She showcases her comprehensive knowledge through her love for Netflix 'Originals', Frozen, The Good Place, and The Dragon Prince.
When it comes to animation, the Western world still considers it as a genre and not as a medium as Japan does with anime.
So, animation in this part of the world is still seen by TV stations, movie studios, and people in general like something for kids or family entertainment.
However, there’s a niche inside the American animation whose target is an adult audience.
The Simpsons were the pioneers back in 1989, and then they were followed by other projects like King of the Hill, Family Guy, Futurama, Beavis and Butthead, etc.
Except for some animated series made by MTV back in the 1990s like Aeon Flux or The Maxx, most the of these series are comedies.
Now, Netflix has jumped into the wagon of adult animation with some original series that are worth checking out and below we’re rounded up the top 5.
1. Disenchantment
From Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons and Futurama comes this medieval tale about Bean, a rebellious and drunk princess who meets her personal demon Luci and befriends an innocent elf named Elfo.
The satirical tone of the series is the landmark of Groening’s style, where you can find a general dark humour and a lot of jokes and references to Game of Throne, Lord of the Rings and anything popular in the medieval genre.
But don’t let this fools you, because it has some drama doses as well, and the first season, comprising a total of 20 episodes, will leave you with a massive cliffhanger.
A second season has been commissioned and will see another 20 episodes air either late in 2020 or more likely in 2021.
2. BoJack Horseman
Perhaps, the most iconic Netflix animated series for adults, BoJack Horseman is an adult animated comedy-drama that won a lot of popularity.
The series is set in a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals live together.
BoJack Horseman is an actor in his 50s who was famous in the 1990s, and now he wants to come back to stardom. He struggles with alcoholism and depression.
The show is famous for addressing a lot of social issues with a realistic approach. Topics like racism, sexism, addiction, abortion have appeared through the six seasons that so far comprise the series.
Although it’s a Netflix original only available on the streaming platform, Comedy Central got the exclusive rights to broadcast the series on TV. This is the first Netflix Original to be aired on TV in the US.
3. F is for Family
In the tradition of Family Guy and King of the Hill, comes F is for Family. This is an animated sitcom about a dysfunctional suburban Irish-American family living in the 1970s.
The series was created by Bill Burr, an American stand-up comedian, who based the story on his experience of growing up in the 70s.
He provides his voice to the main character, Francis X, who is a Korean war veteran, father of three.
The voice casting is completed by Hollywood actors and actresses like Laura Dern (Jurassic Park), Justin Long (Jeeper Creepers), Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind), among others.
The show has a total of 3 seasons, and it has been renewed for a fourth one that will be coming soon in 2020.
4. Big Mouth
Big Mouth is an American adult animated sitcom made for Netflix. The four creators – Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett- come from comedy TV shows and live-action movie writing and directing.
The series follows a group of teens around their teenage years who are struggling with the typical issues of adolescence. Their primary concerns are mostly around sex, and they’re often annoyed by two hormones monsters: Maurice and Connie.
Nick Birch and Andrew Glouberman, who are best friends, are based on Kroll and Goldberg’s growing up experience in Westchester County, New York. Kroll even voiced his fictional self in the series.
Released on Netflix on September 29, 2017, a third season premiered in 2019.
5. Paradise PD
Created by Waco O’Guin and Roger Black for Netflix, Paradise PD is a police comedy about a small-town police station full of bad cops.
The series follows Kevin Crawford who is a rookie at the Paradise Police Department where his father is the chief. The whole police station is full of useless officers, creating hilarious and ridiculous situations.
The first season consists of 10 episodes, and a second season was released at the start of 2020.
Conclusion
Netflix has been investing in adult animation for a while, and so far, the results have been very good.
With most of the series, new seasons come soon, so it seems that we’ll have adult animated sitcoms to enjoy for a long time yet.
Besides these five series which are all Netflix originals, you can find other animated series aimed at adults coming from different studios on Netflix like Rick and Morty and Archer.
So, if you’re an adult looking for animation to add to your menu of sitcoms and TV series, don’t miss these five options on Netflix. You’ll have a lot of fun!
