This is a list of adult animated web series. Works in this medium could be considered adult for any number of reasons, which include the incorporation of explicit or suggestive sexual content, graphic violence, profane language, dark humour, or other thematic elements inappropriate for children. Works in this genre may explore philosophical, political, or social issues. Some productions are noted for their complex and/or experimental storytelling and animation techniques. Adult animation is typically defined as animation which skews toward adults. [1] [2] [3] [4] It is also described as something that "formative youths should stay far, far away from" [5] or has adult humor [6] [7] and comes in various styles, [8] [9] [10] [11] but especially sitcoms and comedies. [12] These animations can also "appeal to wide swaths of viewers," including those aged 18–34. [13] [14] Adweek called adult animation "animated projects aimed at grown-ups, not kids." [15]
This list does not include Japanese, Chinese, or Korean series, as it is much more common in these regions. It also does not include animated films or television series, including those on streaming video on demand platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Peacock, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Paramount+. [a]
Title | Seasons/episodes | Show creator(s) | Year | Original channel | Studio | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The God & Devil Show | 1 season, 43 episodes | Aubrey Ankrum | 1999–2001 | Mondo Media | Mondo Media | [16] |
Like News | 1 season, 11 episodes | Don Asmussen | 1999–2001 | Mondo Media | Mondo Media | [17] |
The Goddamn George Liquor Program | 1 season, 8 episodes | John Kricfalusi | 1997–98 | spumco.com | Spümcø | [18] |
Happy Tree Friends | 5 seasons, 93 episodes | Aubrey Ankrum, Rhode Montijo, Kenn Navarro | 1999–2016 | Mondo Media | Mondo Media | [19] |
Starship Regulars | 1 season, 10 | Rob LaZebnik | 1999 | icebox.com | Icebox | [20] |
Weekend Pussy Hunt | 1 season, 12 episodes | John Kricfalusi | 1999 | icebox.com | Spümcø | [21] |
Title | Seasons/episodes | Show Creator | Year | Original channel | Studio | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inspector Beaver | 1 season, 2 episodes | David Feiss | 2001 | Mondo Media | Mondo Media | |
The Adventures of Baxter and McGuire | 1 season, 8 episodes | Michael J. Weithorn and Nick Bakay | 2006 | Comedy Central | [22] | |
The Adventures of Edward the Less | 1 season, 13 episodes | Mike Dodge | 2001 | Scifi.com | [23] | |
Afterworld | 1 season, 13 episodes | Brent V. Friedman & Michael DeCourcey | February 28, 2007 | YouTube bud.tv | [24] | |
Bloody Bunny | 4 season, 51 episodes | 2spotstudio | 2008–16 | YouTube | 2spotstudio kachdoki Studio Avex Management Riff Animation | |
Hard Drinkin' Lincoln | 1 season, 16 episodes | Mike Reiss | 2000–02 | icebox.com | Icebox | [25] |
Eddsworld | 3 seasons, 39 episodes | Edd Gould | 2004-2016, 2020–present | YouTube, Newgrounds | Eddsworld TurboPunch Ltd. | [26] |
House of Cosbys | 1 season, 4 episodes | Justin Roiland | 2005 | Channel 101 | [27] | |
How It Should Have Ended | 14 seasons, 186 episodes | Daniel Baxter, Tommy Watson, Christina "Tina" Alexander | 2005–present | YouTube | HowItShouldHaveEnded.com | |
Lobo | 1 season, 14 episodes | Boyd Kirkland | 2000 | warnerbros.com | Noodle Soup Productions, Warner Bros. Animation | [28] |
Masyanya | 1 season, 130+ episodes | Oleg Kuvaev | 2001–present | NTV | Mult.ru | [29] |
Mundo Canibal | 1 season, 200 episodes | Ricardo Piologo, Rodrigo Piologo | 2004–2014 | mundocanibal.com, YouTube | Irmãos Piologo Produções | [30] |
Mr. Wong | 1 season, 13 episodes | Pam Brady, Kyle McCulloch | 2000 | icebox.com | Icebox Mondo Mini Shows National Lampoon | [31] |
Planet Unicorn | 1 season, 6 episodes | Mike Rose, Tyler Spiers | 2007 | Channel 101 | Channel 101 | [32] |
Red vs. Blue | 18 seasons, 330 episodes | Burnie Burns | April 1, 2003–present | Rooster Teeth | Rooster Teeth Productions | [33] |
Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy | 1 season, 50 episodes | Seth MacFarlane | 2008–09 | YouTube | Fuzzy Door Productions Main Street Pictures Media Rights Capital Fox Television Animation (uncredited) | [34] |
Waterman§ | 1 season, 9 episodes | Bryan Waterman | 2003–09 | Newgrounds | Waterman Studios | [35] |
Xiao Xiao | 1 season, 10 episodes | Zhu Zhiqiang | 2001-02 | Newgrounds | XiaoXiao Movie.com | [36] |
Zombie College | 1 season, 13 episodes | Eric Kapen | 2000–01 | icebox.com | Icebox | [37] |
Title | Seasons/Episodes | Show creator(s) | Year | Original channel | Studio | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Animatoons | 1 season, 11 episodes | Anderson Mahanski, Felipe Castanhari, Fernando Mendonça | 2015–2016 | YouTube | Combo Estúdio | |
Bravest Warriors | 4 seasons, 82 episodes | Pendleton Ward | 2012–2018 | YouTube, VRV | Frederator Studios Cartoon Hangover Nelvana | [38] |
Confinement | 1 season, 8 episodes | Lord Bung | 2017–present | YouTube | ||
Camp Camp | 4 seasons, 58 episodes | Jordan Cwierz Miles Luna | 2016–2024 | Rooster Teeth | Rooster Teeth Productions | [39] |
Camp WWE | 2 season, 10 episode | Seth Green | 2016 | WWE Network (Season 1-2) Peacork (Season 3) | WWE Stoopid Buddy Stoodios Film Roman | [40] |
The Cyanide & Happiness Show | 4 seasons, 41 episodes | Rob DenBleyker Dave McElfatrick Matt Melvin Kris Wilson | 2014–present | YouTube, Seeso | Explosm Entertainment Collective Digital Studio Studio 71 | [41] |
Death Battle | 11 seasons | Ben Singer Chad James | 2010–present | YouTube ScrewAttack | ScrewAttack Rooster Teeth | [42] |
Dick Figures | 5 seasons, 54 episodes | Ed Skudder Zack Keller | 2010–15 | YouTube | Mondo Media 6 Point Harness Remochoso | [43] |
Gentlemen Lobsters | 1 season, 8 episodes | Kevin Burrows Matt Milder | 2016 | Seeso | HotHouse Productions | [44] |
Gen:Lock | 1 season, 8 episodes | Gray Haddock | 2019–present | Rooster Teeth | Rooster Teeth Productions | [45] |
Ginger Snaps | 1 season, 10 episodes | Sono Patel | 2017–present | ABC | Bes Animation Rubber House Blue Ribbon Content | [46] |
HarmonQuest | 1 season, 10 episodes | Ryan Elder | 2016–present | Seeso | Harmonious Claptrap Starburns Industries | [47] |
Hazbin Hotel | 1 season, 1 episode [b] | Vivienne Medrano | October 28, 2019 – present | YouTube | SpindleHorse Toons | [48] |
Hellbenders | 1 season, 4 episodes | Zach Hadel Chris O'Neil | 2012–present | YouTube, Newgrounds | [49] | |
Helluva Boss | 2 seasons, 11 episodes | Vivienne Medrano | November 25, 2019 – present | YouTube | SpindleHorse Toons | [50] |
Invageddom | 1 season, 6 episodes | Frazanimation | 2012-13 | YouTube | ||
Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles | 1 season, 3 episodes | Sam Register Bruce Timm | 2015 | Machinima | DC Entertainment Warner Bros. Animation Blue Ribbon Content | [51] |
King Star King | 1 season, 6 episodes | JJ Villard, Eric Kaplan | 2014 | Adult Swim | Kurtis Titmouse, Inc. Williams Street Mirari Films (pilot) | [52] |
Krogzilla | 1 season, 10 episodes | Cory Edwards | 2012 | Shut Up! Cartoons | Silly Master Media Green Shoe Animation | [53] |
Lloyd the Rock'n Unicorn | 1 seasons, 10 episodes | Colin Fleming | 2012-14 | Youtube | Toonocracy | |
Meta Runner | 3 seasons, 28 episodes | Kevin Lerdwichagul Luke Lerdwichagul | 2019–22 | YouTube | Glitch Productions | [54] |
Porkchop 'n Flatscreen | 1 seasons, 40 episodes | Emezie Okorafor | 2012–present | YouTube | ||
RWBY | 8 seasons, 106 episodes | Monty Oum | 2013–present | Rooster Teeth | Rooster Teeth Animation | [55] |
RWBY Chibi | 1 season, 40 episodes | Monty Oum | 2016–present | Rooster Teeth | Rooster Teeth Animation | [56] |
Super Café | 4 seasons, 17 episodes | Daniel Baxter, Tommy Watson, Christina "Tina" Alexander | 2012–present | HowItShouldHaveEnded.com | YouTube | |
Shaaark! | 1 season, 7 episodes | Phil watson | 2011 | YouTube | ||
The Shtreimels | 1 season, 2 episodes | Or Paz Tom Trager | 2011 | YouTube | Sugar Zaza | |
SuperFuckers | 1 season, 12 episodes | James Kochalka | 2012–13 | YouTube | Frederator Studios Cartoon Hangover Top Shelf Productions Bardel Entertainment Kochalka Quality | [57] |
Too Cool! Cartoons | 1 season, 11 episodes | Fred Seibert | 2013–14 | Cartoon Hangover | Frederator Studios | [58] |
Thunder McWylde | 1 season, 7 episodes | Ross Everett J.D. Maccoby Frank Chad Muniz | 2013 | YouTube | Danboe Productions, Inc. Facestrong Productions | [59] |
Transformers: Combiner Wars | 1 season, 8 episode | Eric S. Calderon George Krstic F.J. DeSanto | 2016 | go90 | Hasbro Studios Tatsunoko Production Machinima, Inc. | [60] |
Villain's Pub | 3 seasons, 14 episodes | Daniel Baxter, Tommy Watson, Christina "Tina" Alexander | 2014–present | HowItShouldHaveEnded.com | YouTube |
Title | Seasons/Episodes | Show Creator | Year | Original channel | Studio | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Walten Files | 1 season, 4 episodes | Martin Walls | 2020-present | YouTube | Martin Walls | |
Internecion Cube | 1 season, 3 episodes | Liam Vickers | 2020 | YouTube | ||
Killer Bean Web Series | 1 season, 2 episodes | Jeff Lew | 2020 | YouTube | ||
The Stockholms | 1 season, 10 episodes | Mike Salcedo | 2020–present | YouTube | Explosm Entertainment Octopie Network | [61] |
Song Machine | 1 season, 9 episodes | Gorillaz | 2020–present | YouTube | The Line | [62] |
Murder Drones | 1 season, 8 episodes | Liam Vickers | 2021-2024 | YouTube | Glitch Productions | [63] |
Studio Killers 404 | 1 season, 1 episode | Studio Killers | 2021–present | YouTube | Visible Realms | |
Lopey | 2 seasons, 17 episodes | Alexander | 2022–2024 | YouTube | Hand Studios | [64] |
The Amazing Digital Circus | 1 season, 4 episodes | Gooseworx | 2023-present | YouTube | Glitch Productions | [65] |
Gennady Borisovich "Genndy" Tartakovsky is a Soviet-born American animator, writer, producer, and director. He is best known as the creator of various animated television series on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, including Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Sym-Bionic Titan, Primal, and Unicorn: Warriors Eternal.
Adam Maxwell Burton, known professionally as Maxwell Atoms, is an American animator, screenwriter, storyboard artist, and voice actor. He is the creator of the Cartoon Network series Grim & Evil and its subsequent spin-offs, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and Evil Con Carne.
Elmer Earl "Butch" Hartman IV is an American animator, illustrator, writer, producer, director, and actor. He is best known for creating the animated television series The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy, and Bunsen Is a Beast for Nickelodeon. He founded the company, Billionfold Inc. in 2003, to produce the shows. Hartman was an executive producer on The Fairly OddParents for the entirety of its 16-year run.
Adult animation, also known as mature animation, and infrequently as adult-oriented animation, is any type of animated motion media that is catered specifically to adult interests and is mainly targeted and marketed towards adults and adolescents, as opposed to children or all-ages audiences.
An animated sitcom is a subgenre of a television sitcom that is animated instead of being filmed live-action, and is generally made or created for adult audiences in most cases. The Simpsons, SpongeBob SquarePants, South Park, and Family Guy are four of the longest-running animated sitcoms.
Cartoon Hangover is a Frederator-operated YouTube channel and adult animation brand that launched in February 2012 as part of the YouTube Original Channel Initiative. The channel is part of the Channel Frederator Network.
Too Cool! Cartoons is a series of adult animated shorts on the YouTube channel Cartoon Hangover. It was created by Fred Seibert and produced by Frederator Studios. The series premiered on April 4, 2013, with the short Our New Electrical Morals. It was planned to feature 39 shorts but ended up releasing only 11 shorts.
Helluva Boss is an American adult animated musical comedy web series created by Vivienne "VivziePop" Medrano. It revolves around the misadventures of the employees of I.M.P., a company in Hell that offers hitman services in the realm of the living. The pilot was released on November 25, 2019, while the first episode of the first season was released on October 31, 2020. Set in the same fictional universe as Hazbin Hotel, the show is produced by SpindleHorse Toons. The first season was released exclusively on Medrano's YouTube channel, as she has done for other animations. The second season premiered on July 30, 2022. On March 27, 2023, the show was confirmed to be renewed for a third season, in active production. On April 26, 2024, a spin-off short series of Helluva Boss titled Helluva Shorts was announced at LVLUP Expo, with the first short being released on the same day.
Hazbin Hotel is an American adult animated musical comedy television series created by Vivienne "VivziePop" Medrano. The series revolves around Charlie Morningstar, princess of Hell, on her quest to find a way for sinners to be "rehabilitated" and allowed into Heaven, via her "Hazbin Hotel", as an alternative to Heaven's annual "Extermination" of souls due to Hell's overpopulation. The series is produced by SpindleHorse Toons in collaboration with A24, Amazon Studios, and the animation studio Bento Box Entertainment.
Mechamato is a Malaysian animated series produced by Animonsta Studios, focusing on a boy named Amato and his partner robot MechaBot, who fight against bad robots. Mechamato is a part of the BoBoiBoy franchise and the series canonically takes place before BoBoiBoy and BoBoiBoy Galaxy.
Cartuna is a Brooklyn-based animation production company that has made animated TV shows for Syfy, Comedy Central and Facebook Watch. The company has producers, all of which have their own unique style.
In the United States, before the enforcement of the Hays Code, some cartoon shorts contained humor that was aimed at adult audience members rather than children. Following the introduction of the Motion Picture Association of America film rating system, independent animation producers attempted to establish an alternative to mainstream animation. Initially, few animation studios in the United States attempted to produce animation for adult audiences, but later examples of animation produced for adults would gain mainstream attention and success. Some of the most prominent animations with these mature/adult themes include Aqua Teen Hunger Force, BoJack Horseman, South Park, Family Guy, Mission Hill, and Archer, along with other adult animated television series, feature films, and animation in other forms which helped the genre expand over the years, beyond animated sitcoms.
Zach Hadel, known by his pseudonym psychicpebbles, is an American animator, writer, director, voice actor, and YouTuber. He and Michael Cusack are co-creators and co-stars of the Adult Swim animated series Smiling Friends. He is also known for his Internet animations and for being a co-host of the Let's Play web series OneyPlays.