Adult animation

Adult animation, also known as adult cartoons, is animation that is for grown-ups and sometimes teenagers but is not for children. Some famous examples of adult animation are Ralph Bakshi’s cartoons from the 1970s and since then, tons of other television shows have been American adult animation. The first cartoon feature film to get an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America film rating system meaning that people less than 17 shouldn’t see it unless there’s an adult with them was the South Park movie. The first CGI animated movie to be R-rated was Sausage Party.

 Australian adult cartoon(s) 
  (C.E.2012 — 2019)
  (June 22, C.E.2017)
  (C.E.2001 — 2002)
  (January 9, C.E.2023)
  (C.E.2016 – 2017)
  (C.E.2020 – present)

 Canadian adult cartoon(s) 
 2 Nuts and a Richard! (C.E.2015 – 2017)
 Happy Tree Friends
 The Bizarre Stories of Professor Zarbi (C.E.2019 – 2022)
 Bob & Doug McKenzies (C.E.2009 – 2011)
 Bob and Margaret (C.E.1998 – 2001)
 Bravest Warriors (C.E.2012 – 2018)
 By the Rapids (C.E. 2008 – 2012.)
 Cartoon Sushi (C.E.1997 – 1998)
 Clone High (TV broadcasting: C.E.2002 – 2003; Max C.E.2023 – 2024)
 Corner Gas Animated (C.E.2018 – 2021)
  (C.E.2011 — 2013)
  (September 2 – December 23, C.E.2002)
 Doomsday Brothers (C.E.2020 – C.E.2021)
  (Adult Swim/: C.E.2012 – 2016 / YouTube: October 25, 2024 – present)
 John Callahan's Quads! (C.E.2001 – 2002)
 Kevin Spencer (TV series) (C.E.1998 – 2005)
 Knuckleheads (January 12, C.E.2012)
 Mother Up! (C.E.2013 – 2014)
 Odd Job Jack (C.E.2003 – 2007)
 Producing Parker (C.E.2009 – 2011)
 Psi Cops (June 5 – August 28, C.E.2023)
 Punch! (January 11, C.E.2008)
 Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World (C.E.2007 – 2009)
 Sausage Party: Foodtopia (July 11, C.E.2024 – present)
 Sons of Butcher (C.E.2005 – C.E.2007)
 Spaceballs: The Animated Series (C.E.2008 – 2009)
 Station X (C.E.2005)
 Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series (C.E.2019 – C.E.2020)
 Tripping the Rift (C.E.2004 – 2007)
 Undergrads (April 22 — August 12, C.E.2001)
 What It's Like Being Alone (June 26 – September 18, C.E.2006)
 The Wrong Coast (C.E.2003 – 2004)

 Chinese adult cartoon(s) 
  (: April 30, C.E.2021  –  present)
  (April 25, C.E.2018  –  present)
  (: April 6, C.E.2025 – present)
  (newgrounds: April 19, C.E.2001  —  February 23, C.E.2002)

Colombian adult cartoon(s)
  (October 29, C.E.1997  -  September 1, C.E.2000; November 15, C.E.2019 (Special))

 French adult cartoon(s) 
  (Summer C.E.2009)
  (C.E.2020 – 2021)
  (C.E.2004 – 2005)
  (C.E.2009 – 2010)
  (C.E.2018 – 2021)

 Israeli adult cartoon(s) 
  (: January 20, C.E.2009)
  (: March 21, C.E.2004 – C.E.2004)

 Italian adult cartoon(s) 
 (January 21 – December 5, C.E.2019)
  (Netflix: November 19, C.E.2021)
  (Netflix: June 9, C.E.2023)

 Korean adult cartoon(s) 
 Aachi & Ssipak (June 28, C.E.2006)
 Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning (June 13, C.E.2024 (Annecy); February 21, C.E.2025 (South Korea))
 The King of Pigs (October 8, C.E.2011)
 Padak (movie) (C.E.2012)
 Seoul Station (movie) (August 18, C.E.2016 (South Korea))
 Sky Blue (movie) (July 17, C.E.2003)
 The Valley (2027 movie)  (C.E.2027)
 The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (February 11, C.E.2025)

 Mexican adult cartoon(s) 
  (Brinca Animation Studio/Shine Global: C.E.2022)
  (YouTube: October 31, C.E.2008; /: May 5, C.E.2013 – December 16, C.E.2018)
  (Peyote Films/ November 30, C.E.2012)

 New Zealand adult cartoon(s) 
  (May 23, C.E.2013 – August 30, C.E.2019)
  (: September 22, C.E.2004 – May 24, C.E.2009)
 Russian adult cartoon(s) 
  (Adobe Flash: C.E.2001)
  (:Mr. Freeman at 2x2tv.ru September 21, C.E.2009 – August 16, C.E.2019)

 Turkish adult cartoon(s) 
 Bad Cat (: February 5, C.E.2016)
  (NOW/: August 22, C.E.2010)

 U.K. adult cartoon(s) 
 Aaagh! It's the Mr. Hell Show! (Canale 5: C.E.2001 — 2002)
 Tear Along the Dotted Line (Netflix: November 19, C.E.2021)
 Angry Kid (Netflix: C.E.1998 – 2025)
 Bob and Margaret (C.E.1998 – 2001)
 The Booo Krooo (C.E. 2002 – 2004)
 Bromwell High (C.E.2005 — 2006)
 Crapston Villas (C.E.1995 – 1998)
 https://www.facebook.com/fullenglishtvshow/posts/492348354147052  (November 12 – December 17, C.E.2012)
 Monkey Dust (C.E.2003 – 2005)
 Pond Life (TV series) (C.E.1996 – 2000)
  (C.E.2005 – 2006)
 Wicked Willies (C.E.1990)

 U.S. adult cartoon(s) 
  (C.E.2002 – 2003)
  (Adult Swim: C.E.2005 – 2006; C.E.2020)
 Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake (C.E.2023 – present)
  (C.E.2006)
  (C.E.2006)
  (C.E.1991 – 1995)
  (FOX: Autumn C.E.2011)
 American Dad (FOX: C.E.2005 – present)
 Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Adult Swim: C.E.2001 – 2015; C.E.2023)
 Archer (FX: C.E.2009 – 2016; FXX: C.E.2017 – 2023)
  (Hulu: August 1, C.E.2013 – November 3, C.E.2015)
  (FOX: July 21 – November 30, C.E.2013; FXX: April 16 – June 25, C.E.2015)
 Beavis and Butt-Head (MTV: C.E.1993 – 1997; C.E.2011; Paramount+: C.E.2022 – 2023; Comedy Central: 2025 – tba)
 Big Mouth (American TV series) (Netflix: C.E.2017 – 2025)
 Bob's Burgers (FOX: C.E.2011 – present)
 BoJack Horseman (Netflix: C.E.2014 – 2020)
 The Boondocks (TV series) (Adult Swim: C.E.2009 – 2014)
 The Brak Show (Adult Swim: C.E.2001 – 2003)
  (Comedy Central: September 25, C.E.2012 – April 14, C.E.2015)
 The Brothers Grunt (MTV: C.E.1994 – 1995)
 The Cleveland Show (FOX: C.E.2009 – 2013)
 The Critic (C.E.1994 – 1995)
 Daria (MTV: C.E.1997 – 2002)
 Downtown (1999 TV series) (MTV: C.E.1999)
 Drawn Together (Comedy Central: C.E.2004 – 2007)
 Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (Comedy Central: C.E.1995 – 2002)
 Duckman (C.E.1994 – 1997)
 Duncanville (TV series) (FOX: February 16, C.E.2020 – June 26, C.E.2022; Hulu: October 18, C.E.2022)
 The Eric Andre Show: (Adult Swim: C.E.2012 – 2023)
 Family Guy (Fox: C.E.1999  – 2002; C.E.2005 — present)
 Father of the Pride (NBC: C.E.2004 – 2005)
 Fatherhood (TV series) (Nick at Nite: C.E.2004 – 2005)
 Final Space (TBS /Adult Swim : February 26, C.E.2018 – June 14, C.E.2021)
 Futurama (FOX: 1999 – 2003; Comedy Central: 2008 – 2013; Hulu: C.E.2023 – present)
 Gary the Rat (Spike TV: June 26 – December 11, C.E.2003)
 The Great North: (Fox Broadcasting Company: January 3, C.E.2021 – present)
 Grimsburg: (FOX: January 7, C.E.2024 – present)
 Harley Quinn (TV series) (DC Universe: November 29, 2019 – June 26, 2020; HBO max: C.E.2022 – present)
 Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law (Adult Swim: C.E.2001 – 2007; October 12, C.E.2018)
  (FOX: May 31, C.E.2021 – August 6, C.E.2023)
 Infomercials (TV specials) (Adult Swim: November 3, C.E.2009 – present)
 Kid Notorious (Comedy Central: October 22 – December 17, C.E.2003)
 King of the Hill (FOX: C.E.1997 – 2009; First-run syndication: May 3 – 6, C.E.2010)
 Kite Man: Hell Yeah! (HBO Max: July 18, C.E.2024 – present)
  (Adult Swim: October 14, C.E.2014 – February 16, C.E.2020)
 Metalocalypse (Adult Swim: C.E.2006 – 2013)
 Mission Hill (TV series) (The WB: September 21, C.E.1999 – July 16, C.E.2000; Adult Swim: May 26, C.E.2002 – August 11, C.E.2002)
 Mr. Birchum (DailyWire+: May 12, C.E.2024 – present)
 Napoleon Dynamite (TV series) (January 15 – March 4, C.E.2012)
  (X (formerly Twitter): June 25, C.E.2024 – present)
 The Oblongs (C.E.2001 – 2002)
 The PJs (FOX: C.E.1999 – 2000; The WB: C.E.2000 – 2001)
 Regular Show (Cartoon Network/Nickelodeon: C.E.2009 – 2017)
 Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" (TNN/Spike TV: June 26 – July 24, C.E.2003)
 Rick and Morty (Adult Swim: December 2, C.E.2013 – present)
 Robot Chicken (Adult Swim: February 20, C.E.2005 – present)
 Royal Crackers (Adult Swim: April 2, C.E.2023 – May 2, C.E.2024)
 The Simpsons (FOX: C.E.1989 – present)
 South Park (Comedy Central/Paramount+: August 13, C.E.1997 – present)
  (Adult Swim: C.E.2022 – present)
  (Hulu: May 8, C.E.2020 – present)
 Space Ghost Coast to Coast (C.E.1994 – 2008)
 Spy Groove (MTV: C.E.2000 – 2001)
 Stripperella (Spike TV: C.E.2003 – 2004)
 Tim & Eric's Bedtime Stories (Adult Swim: C.E.2013; C.E.2014 – 2017)
 The Venture Bros. (Adult Swim: C.E.2003 – 2018)
 VH1 ILL-ustrated (C.E.2003 – 2004)
 Wonder Showzen (C.E.2005 – 2006)
 YOLO (Adult Swim: August 10, C.E.2020 – present)

Related pages
 Late night television

Notes

References

Other websites

The Brief History of Adult Animation on The A.V. Club
Life drawing: why is adult animation bigger than ever? - article at The Guardian

Category:Adult animation
Category:Television genres
Category:Movie genres