There is still this weird stigma against animation when it comes to certain viewer demographics that it’s only a medium for children. And while you could make the argument that a lot of animated films released in theaters are definitely targeted toward kids, it’s not an inherent thing. Directors like Guillermo del Toro have pushed back against this narrative—at least when it comes to films—with his dark take on Pinocchio. He’s also helming the non-animated Frankenstein, one of the sci-fi movies in 2025 you can’t afford to miss.
Television, on the other hand, has already gotten the memo that animation can appeal to anyone. Amazon Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel is a darkly funny musical series set in Hell. It’s definitely not for kids. But it’s definitely not the only show proving that animation should appeal to adults just as much as any other medium of content, if not more so.
BoJack Horseman
Watch BoJack Horseman on Netflix
Back in the ’90s, he was in a very famous TV show, but in 2014, BoJack Horseman started a run that would conclude as one of my favorite shows of all time, animated or otherwise. It may be one of those shows that starts slow, but it quickly became unforgettable. A lot of that has to do with its treatment of very serious subject matter, like trauma and abuse. It would have been very easy for BoJack Horseman to devolve into just another Family Guy clone, but it never even comes close to that.
This only escalates as the show goes on, as the series holds its eponymous character accountable for his terrible choices. There are no standalone episodes that are just forgotten about by the next episode. Unlike the famous TV show he was on, this isn’t some sitcom devoid of consequences. And that is its greatest strength.
Arcane
Watch Arcane on Netflix
I have never been a fan of League of Legends, so I was resistant to checking out Arcane for the longest time. In hindsight, that was a massive mistake on my part, because Arcane is a gorgeously realized series. The emotional depth floored me, bolstered by a stellar voice cast, with A-listers like Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, and Jason Spisak doing much of the heavy lifting.
What I really appreciate about Arcane, however, is its ability to convey its story and themes to a general audience. You don’t need any sort of League of Legends knowledge to enjoy this, though I’m sure it might help in picking up certain Easter eggs. Also, the animation is breathtaking, and the use of both 2D and 3D effects is absolutely seamless. If you’ve been sleeping on Arcane or have been resistant to start because of some preconceived notion about its source material, consider this your call to action to binge it immediately. You will not regret it.
The Legend of Vox Machina
Watch The Legend of Vox Machina on Amazon Prime Video
I’ll preface this with the admission that I am a massive fan of Critical Role, so I will absolutely sound biased when I say that The Legend of Vox Machina is one of the best pieces of epic fantasy media I have watched in years. It’s no easy feat to distill 115 episodes of a live Dungeons and Dragons campaign into 30-minute episodes of animation, but The Legend of Vox Machina pulls it off. But when you have the cast from Critical Role voicing their own characters, and writers who understand the source material, it all comes off as effortless.
The Legend of Vox Machina has epic action sequences, hilariously heartfelt moments, and even some musical numbers. And once again, if you’ve never watched an episode of Critical Role in your entire life, that’s perfectly fine. You can still enjoy this incredible piece of animation about a group of misfit, ragtag adventurers who slowly become the powerful heroes that their world needs.
Castlevania
Watch Castlevania on Netflix
Based on the long-running video game franchise of the same name, Castlevania is a brutal, dark horror fantasy show about humanity’s struggle to survive against vampires and other monsters. This is a show that doesn’t pull punches when it comes to brutality or showing the darker side of humanity. Because not everything is so black-and-white in this world. Not every vampire is an evil monster, and not every human is worthy of being saved.
That level of moral complexity is pretty common for a dark fantasy, but Castlevania pulls it off with expert aplomb. The voice cast is also excellent, but Graham McTavish’s turn as the tragic villain Dracula is what really kept me invested here. Rarely do I find such a villain that I simultaneously want to hug and that I can’t wait to see lose in equal measure. That’s a testament to good writing. Plus, the animation really leans into that dark fantasy aesthetic that the games are so well-known for. It’s the perfect adaptation.
Animation has come such a long way
While there are definitely viewers out there who will never give animated fiction a chance because of a misguided belief that it’s only for kids, I think many people nowadays recognize that it’s simply a medium for telling a story. And that story can be anything, from family-friendly to gory, dark horror. These are just some of the shows that encapsulate that so well. But if you are looking for some kid-friendly cartoons, these animated movies can be enjoyed by both you and your children.
