There are plenty of children’s cartoons that adults can enjoy, but today I want to talk about animated TV shows meant just for grown-ups. Cartoons can be just as engaging as live-action shows, and the format allows them to do things other shows can’t. Most are comedies, but even those can include strong character development and ongoing story lines that beg to be binge watched.

Here are a few of my current favorites:

 

Venture Brothers – Dr. Rusty Venture is a not-so-successful scientist trying to live up to the legacy of his father’s famous name. The Monarch, a member of the Guild of Calamitous Intent, has it out for Dr. Venture and his family. With his army of henchmen dressed as butterflies, he flies around in a hovering cocoon, battling the Ventures and his own insecurities. The show takes irreverent jabs at classic cartoons like Scooby Doo and Johnny Quest.

Archer – Sterling Archer is a great spy, but not a particularly good person. So he’s right at home in a spy agency run by his constantly-drinking mother, along with a cast of misfits who are just as morally gray as he is. This show isn’t afraid of running jokes that involve people being shot, dating a virtual anime character and tormenting their butlers. It may sound a bit crass, but Archer is packed with smart jokes and witty wordplay. This is an intelligent person’s raunchy comedy.

Bob’s Burgers – Bob and his family run a restaurant in a beach town full of colorful characters. They all seem like they should be outcasts, except that everyone around them is just as strange. In my opinion, the youngest daughter, Louise, steals the show. Wearing a pink bunny-ear hat at all times, she loves to stir up trouble. Her older siblings readily join in on her schemes, like (unsuccessfully) looting the town during a hurricane. Bonus: Bob is played by H. Jon Benjamin, who is also the voice of Archer.

Rick and Morty – Rick may be a genius, but when it comes to human interaction, things get iffy. After abandoning his family, he returns to his daughter’s life and takes on his grandson, Morty, as an assistant. Rick’s run-down ship and portal gun take them through space and alternate dimensions, where they encounter bizarre creatures and places, as well as their alternate selves. His motives may be unclear, but one thing is certain: he’s “the Rickest Rick” there is.

-Megan B.

Megan is a Children’s Library Assistant at CLP – East Liberty. When she isn’t reading fantasy, magical realism and/or pretty much any children’s book, she enjoys gaming, watching movies and writing fiction, some of which has been published.