It wasn’t long ago that animation was considered a medium that only children could enjoy, but in the last few decades, we have entered agolden age of adult animation. And sure, any anime fan reading this is probably breaking their keyboard in half as they scream about animation being a broad medium for people of all ages. FromStudio Ghiblito the heady concepts of theGhost in the Shellfranchise, Japan has been taking advantage of the vast potential of animation since the 1970s. But Americans have finally caught up, opening their minds to all the amazing and artful ways that animation can represent the human imagination without the shackles of physical sets and fragile human bodies.
So, here are the best adult animated shows on Netflix that showcase the tremendous possibilities of animated storytelling. For more recommendations, check out our list of thebest shows on Netflixacross all genres or thebest adult cartoons streamingon every platform.
‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.6/10
Scavengers Reign
Listen, I’m gonna break the fourth wall really quick to say thatScavengers Reignis one of the mostvisually stunning and imaginativeshows on this list, and if you watch nothing else from this article, please do yourself a favor and immediately consume thisonce-in-a-generation passion project— you’ll be better for it. That said, you should know a bit about it. The show is the brainchild of creatorsJoseph BennettandCharles Huettner,who took the concept of a space crew stranded on an alien planet who must adapt to the harsh environment from their viral short in 2016 and expanded the story and world-building to create mind-bending biomes and environments for the diverse crew to navigate and overcome. The series doesn’t pull any punches as it takes its time exploring the lengths humans will go to survive.
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‘Arcane’ (2021 - 2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 9.0/10
This Emmy-winning animated series based on characters from the hit battle arena gameLeague of Legendsis a juggernaut of animation with adistinct style, rich themes, and amazing world-building.Arcanefollows two estranged sisters, Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), on opposite sides in a struggle between the rich upper class of Piltover and the underclass getting left behind in the decaying city of Zaun. A huge aspect of the conflict and the primary contributor to the show’s unique take on the steampunk aesthetic is the use of intricate arcanotech that combines magic and technology in interesting ways. But an even bigger draw is that viewers can go into the series with absolutely zero knowledge of the game and enjoy every frame of the story through the impeccable acting of Steinfeld and Purnell.
‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014 - 2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 8.8/10
BoJack Horseman
BoJack Horseman, created byRaphael Bob-Waksberg, is one of the rawest depictions of living with mental illness andworking through traumawhile simultaneously being one of the most cleverly written comedies of the last decade. Taking the reins of the titular horseman in a world with humans and anthropomorphic animal people isWill Arnett(Arrested Development), who gives the performance of his lifetime playing a formerly famous ’90s sitcom star constantly attempting to restart his career while being his own biggest obstacle. But Arnett isn’t alone, as the series features an all-star cast along with a full roster of comedic cameos —Alison Brie(Community),Amy Sedaris(The Mandalorian),Aaron Paul(Breaking Bad), andPaul F. Tompkins(Star Trek: Lower Decks) are just a few of the regulars, not to mention appearances fromPatton Oswalt,Stanley Tucci, andLin-Manuel Miranda.
‘Big Mouth’ (2017 - 2025)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.8/10
With itsfinal season upon us, now is the perfect time to catch up on the raunchiest animated series on Netflix. ComedianNick Kroll(The League) co-created and stars inBig Mouth, which is an outlandish and heightened version of his adolescence, alongside his long-time comedy buddiesJohn Mulaney(Saturday Night Live),Jessi Klein(Kroll Show), andJason Mantzoukas(Star Trek: Prodigy). While many teen-focused shows tend to shy away from the grosser and more awkward parts of puberty, typically glossing over it with an expectation-ruining sheen, this show dives head first and tackles the many insecurities, anxieties, and uncomfortable horniness that comes with growing into an adult. The show is a great balance of absurdity and genuine exploration of the inner world of an average teenager that manages to be as relatable as it is hilarious.
‘Blue Eye Samurai’ (2023 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.7/10
Blue Eye Samurai
Created by wife-and-husband teamAmber NoizumiandMichael Green(Logan),Blue Eye Samuraiis a revenge tale about a half-Japanese samurai set in Feudal Japan.Maya Erskine(Mr. & Mrs. Smith) brings the titular blue-eyed samurai to life in a performance that stands in stark contrast to her comedy roots — and she nails it, infusing the role with gravitas and nuance while tapping into her own experiences growing up as a half-white, half-Japanese woman herself. Though the series is lauded for itsbombastic action and stunning animation, the core of the story dives into themes of racial oppression and belonging, power dynamics, and gender roles in a feudal society.
‘Love, Death + Robots’ (2019 - Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 8.4/10
Love, Death & Robots
Created by directorTim Miller(Deadpool) in collaboration withDavid Fincher(Mindhunter),Love, Death + Robotsis an innovative,award-winning anthology seriesrevolving around short stories exploring science fiction concepts across many different genres. The show features a myriad of different animation styles from studios all across the world and continues to find new angles to examine the relationship between society and technology — whether it be the mundane lives ofrobots after the fall of humanity, a botched intergalactic warp gate trip that hides a dark secret, or an artist’s journey from simplicity to stardom and back again. Personally, I would recommend the series to anyone looking to dip their toes into different kinds of sci-fi to figure out what speaks to them most.
‘Castlevania’ (2017 - 2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 8.3/10
Castlevania
Renowned comic book writerWarren Ellis(Marvel Anime) adapts the popularvampire hunter game franchiseinto an anime-style gothic epic following a misfit trio taking on the lord of the night himself, Dracula.Castlevaniais an action-packed thrill ride filled with blood, vengeance, and pathos that elevates the story of the side-scroller by combining elements of different media from across the decades of the franchise’s run. Ellis weaves together a narrative that fleshes out the backstories of the three main characters — brought to life byRichard Armitage(Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft),James Callis(Battlestar Galactica), andAlejandra Reynoso(Pokémon Horizons: The Series) — that not only makes their motivations relatable but also manages to humanize Dracula in the process. Missing this breakout hit would really… suck? Eh? (Yeah, you get it.)
‘Archer’ (2009 - 2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 8.6/10
Parodying mid-20th century spy thrillers likeTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spyand theJames Bondfranchise,Archeris a delightfully quick-witted meta-comedy following a bumbling American intelligence agency. Prolific voice actorH. Jon Benjamin(Bob’s Burgers) takes on the role of the titular Archer, a womanizing alcoholic with a boner for extrajudicial murder that is a direct commentary on the Bond-type spies that have come to dominate the public perception of what spycraft looks like. Joining Benjamin is a motley crew of agency members voiced by comedy greats likeAisha Tyler(Criminal Minds),Jessica Walter(Arrested Development), andChris Parnell(Rick and Morty), who each bring a great new flavor to this hilarious cocktail of absurdity. And with 14 seasons, you can rest assured that creatorAdam Reed(Sealab 2021) keeps it fresh byintroducing new settingsin the latter half of the series.
‘Tuca & Bertie’ (2019 - 2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 7.4/10
Tuca & Bertie
Tiffany Haddish(Solar Opposites) andAli Wong(Big Mouth) lead this outlandish animated sitcom following two anthropomorphic birds in aworld of animal and plant peopleas they go about their messy lives trying to figure out who they want to be — and who they want to be with. Like the series this is most compared to,BoJack Horseman,Tuca & Bertiealso features a dynamite voice cast that includesSteven Yeun(Invincible),Reggie Watts(The Great North), andNicole Byer(Big City Greens) but doesn’t take its stories nearly as seriously. Anyone in their mid-20s to early 30s can relate to thestruggles of these two bird ladies, from trying to get sober to trying to excel at your job while getting zero recognition. It’s a good time from start to finish that will keep you laughing the whole time.
‘Aggretsuko’ (2018 - 2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 8/10
Aggretsuko
Set in Sanrio’s Hello Kitty universe,Aggretsukoeschews the cutesy mascot aesthetic the brand is known for and chooses instead to wade into the depths of repressed aggression that many millennials and Gen Z feel as they exist incorporate structuresthat demand they conform. The series follows a red panda named Retsuko in her mid-20s, who is constantly badgered by her coworkers and has to suppress her true feelings. That is until she can make it to the karaoke bar at night, where she vents all her rage and frustrations through heavy metal songs. Though the series operates within the Japanese corporate environment, the demands and contentious relationship with demanding supervisors are highly relatable for Americans working in any industry.
