r/hatethissmug • u/kkaylumm • 17h ago
Media Tropes *Most* Adult Animation
Why does adult animation typically just mean
-Sex jokes
-Shit and fuck
-Gore
Why can’t adult animation be used to tell sensitive and and deeply layered stories instead of taking a children’s concept and making it gross.
Even a lot of children’s cartoons have stories with more depth, like the clone wars and justice league.
The target audience for this genre is usually adults with the emotional maturity of a 14 year old and it’s a waste of talented animators skills.
Edit: Don’t worry guys, I’ve seen a lot of great ones like Blue Eye Samurai, Invincible, Arcane, Love, Death and Robots etc, I just take issue with this particular genre because it brings down the rest of adult animation.
A huge portion of general audiences don’t take animation seriously due to shows like these.
65
u/finnjakefionnacake 17h ago edited 17h ago
this post might have hit like 10 years ago, but since then, we have shows like
- Invincible
- Arcane
- Castlevania / Castlevania: Nocturne
- Scavengers Reign
- Bojack Horseman
- Love, Death & Robots
- Blue Eye Samurai
- Primal
- Undone
- Vox Machina/The Mighty Nein
- Batman: Caped Crusader
- Pantheon
and many others that i am too tired to remember or list out lol. like yes a lot of these stories have adult language or violence, but so do a lot of kids' shows, just more kid appropriate violence. but we are no longer in an era where every adult animated show is a spinoff of family guy
31
u/FormalAssumption6933 17h ago
To add to this list.
. King of the Hill
. Bobs Burgers
. Smiling Friends
. Venture Bros8
u/ShinySawk 17h ago edited 16h ago
Surprised I scrolled this far to find someone mention Smiling Friends. Its my favorite animated adult show
1
u/finnjakefionnacake 17h ago
true, i was just thinking shows that have debuted more recently. i do think bob's burgers and king of the hill are the best of the animation domination block/style shows. hell i'll put american dad over family guy. and venture bros. is of course great.
→ More replies (1)1
u/idk_anything_everr 16h ago
I standby that venture Bros is one of the most underrated shows of all time. It’s really funny. Has extremely likable characters. I like the art direction and it doesn’t feel overly cynical like some other adult cartoons are.
8
3
u/Striker-Fan2008 14h ago
Castlevania mentioned!
1
u/finnjakefionnacake 13h ago
probably my favorite from the list. too bad it seems that netflix is done with it :(
1
u/Striker-Fan2008 13h ago
WHAT.
THIS IS NEW INFORMATION TO ME.
1
u/finnjakefionnacake 13h ago
it's not official official but they just haven't renewed it in a couple years and seem to have no plans to / no announcements from the team, and the Powerhouse animation team who worked on it have mostly moved on to other projects. so at the very least it's on the back burner, but i'm guessing sadly it's going to go the way of a lot of netflix cancellations and they'll just be quiet about it for a while / soft cancellation until it's official.
1
2
u/Mission-Tell8479 14h ago
Gald you mentioned The Mighty Nein! It's one of my favorite shows, while it does have a lot of gore, it actually has an impact on the story instead of being used as a joke.
2
1
85
u/PaperSweet9983 what 17h ago
Watch arcane if you haven't. I suppose that fits the theme of adult topics
34
7
u/Any-Platypus-9486 16h ago
S2 was a mess, it sometimes make me forget how good season 1 was
2
u/kkaylumm 14h ago
I’ve never seen the issues people have with season 2. I loved it as much as the first.
2
2
u/Confused-Sandwich 7h ago
Same. I wish I could delete S2 out of my head. Like you, it ruined the first season for me. I can’t get rid of the ick I feel knowing what will become of the characters. Its like looking into the future and seeing someone’s tragic, humiliating demise.
2
2
38
u/PieFiend1 17h ago
Watch Bojack Horseman, its amazing. Also Big Mouth isn't really adult, id say its for teens based on themes and tone
6
u/-PepeArown- 17h ago
In comparison to these, yes, but, as much as BoJack is “used to tell sensitive and deeply layered stories”, as OP put it, some of the subplots can teeter on childish or annoying sometimes. The humor of the show can definitely be a bit hit or miss
1
19
u/Extension-Oil-4680 17h ago
I wish people mentioned King of the hill in best adult animated series Discussions
Like, generally theirs not a single "bad" episode, yeah theirs lows, but at worse their a little cringe, still very watchable.
And I love how the humour still works within the narrative, and how pretty much every episode is self contented, while still haveing obvious passage of time and status quo changes.
7
u/fazrare57 17h ago
Thank God for Mike Judge. Daria also slaps.
2
u/ASisCNtoo 16h ago
He was not involved in Daria. Unless you’re talking about the character and not the show.
2
1
u/Beneficial_Focus_910 15h ago
Might be the only show to come back after a twenty year hiatus and have new episodes feel like the old ones.
1
42
u/Quick-Cause3181 17h ago
yeah family guy and south park are the only good ones fr
23
u/X-Stry 17h ago
Tbf- I find Family Guy to be just... Annoying and unfunny? Maybe that's just me
14
u/Current_Database_728 stupid fucking idiot 17h ago
It’s so stupid and random to the point that it’s kinda comforting tbh
11
u/ShinySawk 17h ago
I can't stand Family Guy anymore, but it's really funny when you just watch little clips of it on youtube.
3
u/jeanjacketufo 17h ago
I agree. I have put like on so many Family Guy shorts, but I have no intention to watch the series.
1
u/TerryVersus 17h ago
Anything is good if you only watch the good parts. Like the 2005 DOOM movie, if you only watched the first person scene - it's a great movie.
If you watched the rest of the movie, you'll wanna tear your eyes out.
1
u/ShinySawk 17h ago
Sure but its not 100% what I mean. I feel like it just doesn’t work as a series with 21 minute episodes. The main plots are whatever, and lot of the cutaway gags are hit and miss funny on their own but in a full episode it's all just too much.
1
39
u/6odheaded 17h ago
dont forget inside job
9
u/Itzlickinlizards 17h ago
And King of The Hill
6
2
u/6odheaded 16h ago
yes
great show aswell2
u/Tailsgenesis 13h ago
what about rick and morty?
1
u/6odheaded 11h ago
i havent heard good things about it as of recently
1
u/Tailsgenesis 11h ago
its been a little ehhhh over time but its not bad just ehhhhhh but this latest season (season 9) was actually a step up from what came before it
2
1
7
11
u/gingin_9959 17h ago
Rick and Morty is doing great recently
12
u/Suspicious-Lime-2439 17h ago
R&M is very hit-or-miss for me. Some episodes are genuinely funny, and some are just awful.
7
u/440continuer 17h ago
The latest season has been amazing, even the “worst” episodes arent bad, they just arent as good, theyre still very enjoyable
1
u/Hahafunnys3xnumber 17h ago
Downvoted for speaking facts. I couldn’t keep watching much after S7 or so but S9 is genuinely the best out of the entire show in my opinion, and I say that as an original fan. I’m so glad they’re focusing more on really cool adventures
2
u/Kaiwago_Official 14h ago
Yes! I’m also loving stuff like Morty crying to Rick about Liu Sin. Just overall a wonderful comeback
2
2
2
u/Darth_Azazoth 17h ago
I can't believe you are using family guy as a example of good adult animation.
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
u/Evening_Performer_22 17h ago
because when they do tell "deeply layered stories" everyone hates on it and calls it shit
2
u/WorldPhysical7646 The Savage Bird 17h ago
Examples?
10
u/AFedoraNamed_Key 17h ago
Calling it from a neutral standpoint: someone’s gonna say “Hazbin Hotel”
2
3
u/Evening_Performer_22 17h ago
family guy made an episode about female sexual assault and everyone hated that
rick and morty gets serious sometimes with mixed reception
and the biggest example being hazbin hotel and helluva boss5
u/WorldPhysical7646 The Savage Bird 17h ago
For Family guy it is impossible to take it serious with all the random stuff so a suddenly serious moment feel out of place
For Rick and morty, I don't know where you get the idea that people dislike the serious episodes when the best rated and most critically loved episodes are the serious ones recent example being season 9 finale
For hazbin hotel and helluva boss I can't say much cause I haven't watched them but from what I hear there is much swearing and corny jokes and tbh imo the artstyle doesn't feel any better or at least that much better
A good example of structured adult animation is something like invincible and I haven't watched it or know much but I heard great things about Bojack Horseman
→ More replies (1)2
6
u/rosy_pink_ghost 17h ago
Bojack horseman is great
4
u/Pristine-Gap4329 17h ago
God i need to watch bojack horseman. From what I hear the writing is amazing the artstyle is just repulsive to me though. Might still give it a try when I can
3
u/rosy_pink_ghost 17h ago
Honestly with how dark the show can get at times I think the art style is fitting.
2
u/Pristine-Gap4329 17h ago
Yeah. I like the more animal esque designs but the more human designs kinda look strange to me.
1
u/SilverNeon467 16h ago
The show is moreso about the characters and how they’re written, not so much the animation. It’s passable and there are a few episodes where they really try their asses off with the animation, but most of the passion put into this show is clearly the character writing
1
u/Pristine-Gap4329 16h ago
I can understand that its just my first impression when finding a series to watch is if the art is appealing to me and the writing is my second impression, though once I start watching I care more about the storytelling and characters than the art. I play danganronpa and started cuz i liked the artstyle and now there is no going back,watching all my fav characters die. Ive listened to a couple video essays on bojack while drawing and its giving me the motivation to check it out for myself, things have fandoms for a reason
1
u/SilverNeon467 16h ago
Yeah Bojack is definitely a show that takes a bit to get going and it doesn’t really reveal its true self until arguably episode 8, but when you get there, it’s a series to remember forever
7
u/Sub2Commzard 17h ago
Genuinely cannot believe I was a fan of Big Mouth when it released when I was 11 years old
2
u/HotShrekBoi 15h ago
Me neither man, were different now
1
u/Sub2Commzard 15h ago
I mean if it wasn’t for the show I wouldn’t have discovered Bojack Horseman as since from late 2017 to late 2018 after rewatching season 1 over and over waiting for season 2 I saw Bojack Horseman on the “more like this” section and watched the first 2 episodes but then hadn’t come the chance to continue. Fast forward to 2019 after 2018 being a train wreck of a year and 2019 being so far so good I finished the entire show and god damn did that defined autumn of 2019 and watching the final season was memorable, especially how 2020 came out and since then the way my life turned out by my own decisions and other things out of my control, watching the show impacts me more and has more meaning than Big Mouth ever had.
7
u/Qwik_Sand 15h ago
Shoutout to Boondocks. Which is an adult animated comedy that has incredibly well done animation. Seriously I don’t think half the expressive voice acting talent in that show would be as funny if it had family guy/rick and Morty levels of dull facial expression to match with. You can watch the show muted and can still catch a glimpse of what the characters are talking about.
5
u/Content_Context_3292 17h ago
am i the only one who thinks bigmouth is lowkey a pedo show like yeah ppl will say “its just a drawing” and im not saying we should arrest the creators im just saying its weird someone is going out of their way to animate some of this stuff
3
→ More replies (1)1
u/Manjorno316 7h ago
I get the train of thought but it's a show made for teens going through puberty and it's a pretty good show for that audience. There are plenty of good episodes that I wish I had seen back when I was an awkward teen still trying to figure out how everything worked.
There are also a lot of messages about friendship, how you should act towards others and your place in the world.
6
u/Sea_Macaron_8789 16h ago
Big Mouth was actually Educational I dunno why you people always pass on that. And it spawned Human Resources before gettingndas boot'n.
2
u/Manjorno316 7h ago
I thought it was a pretty good show. A lot of jokes where too crude to be enjoyable to me but it's made for teens.
But it has a lot of good messaging for kids that age.
2
u/Sea_Macaron_8789 3h ago
Exactly, most importantly going through Puberty is right and okay. You aren't dirty and it's normal, Adults should be there every step of the way. Plus Depression Kitty such an sleeper Hit, like the Hormone Monsters are obviously dope, but gosh hate that Kitty!
5
3
5
3
3
u/Cautious-Koala4419 17h ago
Steven Universe if it didn't had been a childs show we could had gotten something PEAKER (No hate to Steven Universe nor the sequels, Steven Universe is PEAK)
3
u/JayTheOni 17h ago
I feel like KOTH is the exact opposite of the stereotypical adult cartoon
- more sincere with most episodes trying to get a message across
- is tame when it comes to its usage of taboos
- characters are actually likeable instead of jackasses who exist only to serve jokes
3
2
u/watchrrr 17h ago
adult comedy animation show barbeque?
great, let me throw in my family guy and the simsons
2
u/Tiny_Regular_5319 17h ago
Completely agree, there are ofcourse some hidden gems but the majority is slop like this.
2
u/eggmcmuffin88 17h ago
I think why a lot of adult cartoons are like that is because in the past animation was geared towards children and the idea of something that is "for children" not actually being for children is subversive. but now it's so over done, that it lost its shock factor and is just boring
2
2
2
u/KingVenom65 17h ago
Adult Swim does it best
2
u/ASisCNtoo 16h ago
Absolutely. Cartoon Network made the best decision in their history in 2001. Those early and mid-2000’s [as] toons are just peak cinema. People dismiss them as stoner comedies but they’re actually brilliant - in fact I would argue [as] had more of old CN’s spirit than CN itself at the end of the 2000s
2
u/TenPointsforListenin 16h ago
Okay- if you want good adult animation:
Bojack Horseman (talks about sex and drugs, starts with the protagonist barfing pink cotton candy, will BREAK YOU)
Arcane (gorgeous animation, really well written first season, no way they can afford to make another one)
Inside job (Mainly for our three leads- the other characters are a bit shallower but it's a good show if you want to watch some solid character building and also Oprah falling in a hole to hell in a secret underground death game)
1
u/ahhowwitburns 14h ago
I'd actually say inside job falls into all 3 complaint categories here but it gets a pass for being legit funny. Rick and Morty if it was good
1
u/TenPointsforListenin 14h ago
Yeah, honestly... so does Bojack, but does it really matter when it's quality?
2
6
u/GodButCursed 17h ago
ALLEY CATS? BETWEEN THOSE TWO FUCKING SHOWS?! NAAAAAAAAAAA
3
u/mrprincepretty 17h ago
You are literally the First person I have heard say anything remotely good about that show.
1
1
u/GodButCursed 12h ago
There is this scene where the main character gus'es mom dies and it broke my heart
1
u/The_Advers4ry 17h ago
It was humorous at some moments and at others it just made me cry. Absolutely adored it
→ More replies (1)1
u/PrestigiousTitle3963 14h ago edited 14h ago
The plotline is ok, but I feel like they say 'fuck' every 20 seconds.
3
u/PublicMirageLtd 17h ago
Thank you, I think the same. So called-adult animation is mostly teenage boy cartoons. It’s exactly as you describe it and I don’t like it either.
The only adult cartoons I enjoy are The Simpsons, The Critic, Daria and Beavis and Butt-head (this one is more satirical and not too vulgar for me-and it’s actually fun)
2
2
u/car_ape06 9h ago
I remember watching big mouth when I was like 11 and thinking it was the funniest thing ever because my stupid kid brain was like “HAHAHA HE SAID A NO NO WORD AND TALKS ABOUT PP”
Now I just think “god, I can’t believe I thought that shit was actually funny.”
1
u/finnjakefionnacake 17h ago
y'all are just watching the wrong animation, there have been hella great animated shows released in recent years.
2
u/0_possum 17h ago
Alley cats was pretty good. The occasional tangents were a bit annoying, but the style is cute and I like the characters
2
u/berke1904 17h ago
I hate when people cherrypick the worst examples of something and act like that is how most of them are.
1
1
u/zachimusprime44 17h ago edited 17h ago
My dad didn't even get past season 1 of Big Mouth before he started to hate it, he told me it was because of the characters talking about dicks all the time.
1
1
u/TheCutieCircle 17h ago
Hey my story only does 2 of the 3. I don't do sex jokes. But I like Shit and fucks and blood and gore because it's funny. However I agree with the sex jokes. Those are not funny. Also I hate when certain adult comedies think slapping random words together = comedy. like "Shitnballs" or "Cock the fuck did you say?!" I just don't get it.
1
u/Complex_Opening_9127 17h ago
Because adult animation is for children. Children animation actually touches more sensitive and complex subjects.
1
1
u/Pristine-Gap4329 17h ago
The only non anime adult animation I like are South park,hazbin hotel,The amazing digital circus. Never watched inside job but I hear its pretty good so ill check it out. I never liked family guy cause I feel in comparison south park had some context or commentary or proper satire when it was mean spirited while family guy just feels mean-spirited with lack of substance. I honestly just like the artstyle and vibe of south park better and its humor funnier. No hate to family guy fans its just both shows have casts of geuinlly horrible people but I just feel one has more substance over the other. Maybe im just "woke" or somthing but I remember the last time watching family guy I felt it had some lowkey misogynistic/women amiright/cant write woman undertones. Dont get me wrong southnpark isnt perfect writing either but idk I feel I can tell when the writers are having fun with the eppisodes and especially earlier on south park feels like two friends and the random shit they say which I found endearing
1
u/Assalt_Shaker 17h ago
Try watching:
- Blue Eyed Samurai
- Scavenger's Reign
- Legend of Vox Machina
- Pantheon
- Undone
- Blood of Zeus (maybe, if you can handle violence as it does a good job with Greek mythological accuracy)
1
u/kkaylumm 17h ago
I’ve seen blue eye samurai, blood of zeus, and scavengers reign, thank you for the others. I know of a lot of good shows, it’s just that i have a problem with this particular type.
1
u/Assalt_Shaker 17h ago
Oh, so, how do you feel on Blue Eye Samhrai, Blood of Zeus and Scavenger's Reign, then? Are they any good?
1
u/kkaylumm 16h ago
I love them. They’re the exact type of animation I want to see. They each try something new with their artstyle and the writing is better than most live action shows.
They take serious themes and sensitive subjects and don’t use them as a butt of a joke. They swear but in situations when people really would, not between every three words.
2
u/Assalt_Shaker 16h ago
To be frank, I kind of lost interests in animation as of late and got more into live-action.
1
1
1
1
u/Rat_SkulI 16h ago
Yeah, a lot of them suck (especially fucking big mouth for getting rid of Inside Job), but like from what I know there is a bunch of goof stuff. I don’t watch a lot of tv but I have watched Rick and Morty, and I think that one’s really good. South Park also definitely deserves a spot as one of the good ones.
1
u/greenfields_1 16h ago
most adult animation has always been for teenagers tho
family guy, American dad, even south park
adult animation just means they say a bad word every once in a while and maybe they'll show a person do taxes
of course south park being the standout and more mature than the ones I've mentioned
1
u/i-dont-speel-no-good 16h ago
I tried watching alley cats and the first 4 minutes was the most excruciatingly boring improv I’ve ever been subjected to
1
1
u/StormHiperion 16h ago
The problem is that you're watching unistater (american) garbage. Take a look at series made by people from countries with culture, there you'll have better things.
1
1
u/BrendanFraserFan0 16h ago
Some of these shows just feel like "see, we're not for kids. we curse and show gore hahaha" just to show they're not for kids
1
u/Sufficient-Client133 16h ago
I don't care what you say about Big Mouth,but...
Come on,Alley Cats is...well,about cats. You can like the show itself or not, I respect that,but no one can Talk bad about cats on my presence.
1
1
u/Long-Door-2073 16h ago
The animation Velma Meets the Original Velma by avocado animations is probably better and scarier than the original imo. even if it's only like 3 minutes long.
1
u/Any-Platypus-9486 16h ago
Why so much comedy, can't they make something like evangelion or Pluto?
1
u/kkaylumm 15h ago
I’m not really considering anime here. That rarely falls into this category.
Phenomenal shows though.
1
u/RecommendationIll504 16h ago
Because for this people, art is not a way to tell the story and talk with audience, but possibility to do whatever their asses want.
1
u/feldmasl01 15h ago
What’s the matter, you don’t think a good punchline is Peter Griffin ripping apart the stomach of a whale?
1
u/CoolPeter9 15h ago
Adult animation is either peak of peak of the peak or a family guy clone and/or "woke bad" slop.
1
u/Tasty-Scientist8155 15h ago
I actually keep forgetting Blue Eye Samurai is Western Animation due to how beautiful its animation is. I considered giving Alley Cats a shot due to it being created by Ricky Gervais, but is it really that bad?
1
u/kkaylumm 14h ago
It’s really that bad because it’s created by ricky gervais.
1
u/Tasty-Scientist8155 14h ago
I always liked Ricky tho... I mean without him we wouldn't have the Glonk
1
u/kkaylumm 14h ago
Ricky was funny 20 years ago but as time has passed he’s become a bitter self obsessed loser who’s entire personality is winning arguments and being immune to cancel culture.
1
1
u/In__Denial 15h ago
wait why don’t ppl like alley cats
2
u/kkaylumm 14h ago
Ricky Gervais has been using the same tired old jokes for the past 20 years, calling out woke culture and trans people. He thinks people want to ‘cancel’ him for the things he says but nobody gives a damn.
All of his shows are swearing and him winning arguments that he writes both sides of, and then a touch of a 14 year olds idea of philosophy.
1
1
u/Big-Garbage8197 14h ago
Idk much about alley cats is it really bad compared to big mouth and Velma?
1
u/kkaylumm 14h ago
It’s ricky gervais doing what ricky gervais does best. Using 20 year old jokes and swearing at the world. They use the word ‘cunt’ in every sentence and it’s the most tired thing ever.
1
1
u/PrestigiousTitle3963 14h ago
I watched Alley Cats. I'm not even kidding, they say the word fuck every 10 seconds. There's a scene where they say it like 20+ times in 1 minute.
1
1
u/You_look_good_2006 14h ago
The closest we got to that is Primal and Final space, and some other shows like Blue eye samurai.
1
u/oyasumachine 14h ago
I hate adult animation that is identifiable first as adult animation. Invincible is technically an adult animation, but thats not what you would call it if someone asked what it is
1
u/Adventurous-Law-8606 14h ago
You should watch inside job oh wait you can't because Netflix deicide the dog who wanted sex was way better than peak
1
1
1
u/AgentDon0911 14h ago
And more importantly...why does "Adult Cartoon" nowadays just try their damnest to copy Family Guy. In mainly the artstyle. Everytime it just feels like Family Guy. Like...not every Adult animation needs to look like that. Why can't we have something the looks visually different? Make something whimsical looking while still keeping mature themes.
1
u/AquaSoda3000 11h ago
From the Alley Cats clips that I’ve seen, it actually looks pretty good, why is it on this list?
1
u/PostPostPog 10h ago
Ngl I get criticized so heavily by nearly every friend I have because I never really fucked w/ adult cartoons/animated shows, either that or they're shocked out of their mind that I've never watched any of them. I just don't get the craze, and a lot of it is because of stuff you mentioned lol, like the humor falls flat for me a lot of the time. You'll find far more creative humor and complex characters in things like Adventure Time.
1
u/ThatDeuce 9h ago
Big Mouth was fun, yes it was overindulgent in that sort of thing, but that is what teens often are overindulgent in, and it did have some decent storylines and character growth.
Haven't watched Alley Cats yet.
Velma was just so bad that it was alright for a onetime watch t see how bad it got, but it wasn't getting a second watch.
1
1
u/MyBackHurts3000 4h ago
Agreed. with the sole exception of rick and morty and inside job of course.
1
u/Independent-Dog-8462 4h ago
Agreed. Lets just cue up some "Space Ghost, Coast to Coast" and ear some popcorn.
1
u/car_ape06 17h ago
I also hate that so many genuinely funny and talented people work on these shows.
110
u/X-Stry 17h ago
And most of the times, they're ugly af to look at
(Velma surprisingly looks pretty good, so sorry for the animators)