Cartoons aren’t just for kids anymore, and some of the best TV shows of the decade were animated series. So if you’ve been sleeping on Rick and Morty or Bob’s Burgers or Steven Universe because they’re animated, then you’ve been missing out.
But don’t worry — TV Guide has got you covered with a year-by-year guide to the very best animated shows that premiered in the 2010s. Not sure where to start? We’ve included live-action references to help you figure out which of these stellar series will be your next favorite.
2010
Adventure Time
Adventure Time, 2010-18 (Cartoon Network)
Where to stream: Hulu, Cartoon Network
Why it’s great: Described by its creator as “Candyland on the surface and dark underneath,” Adventure Time is a trippy, Dungeons & Dragons-inspired tale of a brave boy and his shape-shifting dog in a magical post-apocalyptic world of princesses, demons, candy-people, and goblins. The show is whimsical and ridiculous but also surprisingly poignant, and its soundtrack is hella catchy.
Try it if you like these: Meatballs, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Star Wars: A New Hope
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Young Justice
Runner-up: Young Justice, 2010-Present (DC Universe)
Where to stream: DC Universe, Amazon (rent or buy)
Why it’s great: You might be thinking, “Wow, yet another boring teen superhero team-up,” but don’t let the fact that you’re probably familiar with all these characters dissuade you from binge-watching Young Justice. Truly one of DC’s finest offerings, Young Justice is less interested in defeating the villain of the week than it is in sketching how difficult it is to be a young adult who believes in the impossible but isn’t quite sure how to make it happen. The delicate and complex ways in which the ever-rotating cast members come together make for a brilliant portrait of what it means to choose your family, and how much farther we can go when we band together.
Try it if you like these: Doom Patrol, Arrow, The Avengers
2011
Bob’s Burgers
Bob’s Burgers, 2011-Present (Fox)
Where to stream: Hulu
Why it’s great: Bob’s Burgers is, on paper, a standard family sitcom about a man who owns a burger shop and his wacky family who help him run it. But beneath that bland synopsis lies one of the weirdest and sweetest takes on how family both defines you and challenges you to constantly rethink who you could be. Also, there’s a surrealist edge that elevates the show, making you wish you could slip from our reality into the Belchers’.
Try it if you like these: Fresh Off the Boat, black-ish, Parks and Recreation, Flight of the Conchords
2012
The Legend of Korra
The Legend of Korra, 2012-14 (Nickelodeon)
Where to stream: Amazon (rent or buy)
Why it’s great: Korra is a sequel to the acclaimed Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it stands on its own as a much darker and more adult story than its predecessor. The four-season drama is set in a steampunk world and centers on a brash and adventurous young woman who inherits incredible powers, but not necessarily the patience to hone and channel them responsibly. Luckily, she’s surrounded by a cast of loyal friends who bolster, temper, and challenge her as she comes into her own as the hero she was born to be. That Korra also features one of TV’s sweetest slow-burning romances is the icing on the cake.
Try it if you like these: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Jessica Jones, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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Gravity Falls
Runner-up: Gravity Falls, 2012-16 (Disney Channel)
Where to stream: Hulu
Why it’s great: Brother-and-sister twins Dipper and Mabel get sent to spend the summer at their great-uncle’s cabin in Gravity Falls, Oregon, where they discover a journal that helps them explore the town’s supernatural mysteries. At the heart of the series is the relationship between the siblings, whose biggest adventure is surviving the joys and agonies of growing up.
Try it if you like these: The Goonies, The X-Files, Eerie Indiana, Stranger Things
2013
Steven Universe
Steven Universe, 2013-Present (Cartoon Network)
Where to stream: Hulu, Cartoon Network
Why it’s great: This Emmy-winning gem of a show centers on a half-human, half-alien boy named Steven and his adoptive family — a lovable team of super-powered alien expats who protect the Earth from otherworldly threats. The mystery of Steven’s heritage makes for a compelling series arc, but what makes the show truly special is its stellar original music and its uplifting message. It’s a groundbreaking but gently told story that inspires you to be more courageous, forgiving, and kind to others — and to yourself.
Try it if you like these: Doctor Who, Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman, ALF
Rick and Morty
Runner-up: Rick and Morty, 2013-Present (Adult Swim)
Where to stream: Hulu
Why it’s great: Rick and Morty is one of the smartest shows on television. It’s also one of the most outrageous and offensive. If you like your buddy comedies with a heavy helping of space travel and a side of nihilism, then buckle in for a rollicking R-rated adventure. Or don’t buckle in — if you wind up splatted on the space cruiser’s windshield, there are a million more versions of you from other dimensions, and some of them are bound to be better.
Try it if you like these: Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Back to the Future, Red Dwarf, Black Mirror
2014
BoJack Horseman
BoJack Horseman, 2014-Present (Netflix)
Where to stream: Netflix
Why it’s great: The sadcom to end all sadcoms, BoJack Horseman stars Will Arnett as the voice of BoJack, a washed-up actor clinging to his last bit of clout in a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals live side-by-side. The series is a brilliant exploration of the ways in which people (horses) hurt each other, and what it really takes to be a better person (horse) than you used to be. Don’t be fooled: This isn’t a redemption story, it’s a painfully realistic, hilariously empathetic look at a man (horse) who is his own worst enemy and the people who give him a reason to try.
Try it if you like these: Entourage, Extras, Episodes, You’re the Worst
2015
We Bare Bears
We Bare Bears, 2015-Present (Cartoon Network)
Where to stream: Hulu, Netflix, Cartoon Network
Why it’s great: This Annie Award-winning toon is as relatable as it is adorable. Griz, Panda, and Ice Bear are roomies and best buds, trying their best to fit in in a modern-day, human-majority San Francisco. The show keeps things light, sweet, and funny, but it will hit home for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.
Try it if you like these: Master of None, Fresh Off the Boat, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Star vs. the Forces of Evil
Runner-up: Star vs. the Forces of Evil, 2015-19 (Disney Channel)
Where to stream: Hulu, Disney Now
Why it’s great: Star vs. the Forces of Evil is the epitome of bubblegum goth. The titular fearsome princess from an otherworldly dimension is sent to live with the very human Diaz family on Earth after proving to her parents that she’s not quite responsible enough to handle magic yet. Star’s punishment turns into an eye-opening adventure that’s a delightfully sweet culture clash. And of course, there are also those forces of evil and the absolutely epic battle royales facing Star and her human best friend, Marco.
Try it if you like these: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lucifer, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
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2016
Animals.
Animals., 2016-18 (HBO)
Where to stream: HBO Now
Why it’s great: Animals. is one of the darkest entries on this list. In fact, it would be fair to call it a pitch-black comedy. Venturing into the wilds of one of the most inhospitable places on earth — New York City — the show spends each episode with a different NYC native, from pigeons who are questioning their gender presentation to bed bugs wondering if they’re living up to their potential to rats who let their chance at love pass them by. Animals. examines the existential woes that plague city-dwellers all over the world, sparing no one and nothing. We’re all just rats in a cringe-worthy race.
Try it if you like these: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Louie
Runner-up: Voltron: Legendary Defender, 2016-18 (Netflix)
Where to stream: Netflix
Why it’s great: A continuation of one of the greatest mecha adventures of our time, Voltron Legendary Defender follows a battle-hungry group of teens who discover a once-lost mecha, giving Earth the chance it needs to stave off an oppressive empire. But the appeal of Voltron extends well beyond its classic subgenre of anime; the show has garnered a rabid fandom for its queer text (and subtext). Unfortunately for fans, the creators fumbled in terms of its queer characters in the last season of the show, but Tumblr has defined Voltron as one of the greatest love stories of our generation.
Try it if you like these: Pacific Rim, Power Rangers
2017
Big Mouth
Big Mouth, 2017-Present (Netflix)
Where to stream: Netflix
Why it’s great: There is nothing more foul, perverted, or sickeningly heartwarming on TV than Big Mouth. From the baffling mind of Nick Kroll, this semi-autobiographical series follows young Nick and his middle school friends as they move through the absolutely horrific experience of puberty. Aided by hormone monsters — yes, these are literal monsters voiced by legends like Maya Rudolph — these formerly sweet, gentle children navigate perpetual horniness, masturbation, fluid sexuality, and the most terrifying teen experience of them all: having a crush.
Try it if you like these: The Edge of Seventeen, Sex Education, Superbad, Good Boys, Booksmart
2018
Aggretsuko
Aggretsuko, 2018-Present (Netflix)
Where to stream: Netflix
Why it’s great: A red panda walks into a mind-numbing desk job and walks out a heavy metal star. OK, maybe the second half of that sentence happens only in her fantasies, but this delightful snack of a show is perfect for anyone who is just punching the clock every day. The monotony of adult life is perfectly parodied in this escapist, bite-sized comedy.
Try it if you like these: Office Space, The IT Crowd, Getting On, Corporate
Disenchantment
Runner-up: Disenchantment, 2018-Present (Netflix)
Where to stream: Netflix
Why it’s great: From the creator of Futurama and The Simpsons, Matt Groening, comes a feminist fantasy adventure series about a princess who would rather drink and fight than learn the graces more becoming of a young royal. A must-watch for any D&D nerd who constantly picked fights with their mom.
Try it if you like these: Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Game of Thrones, Xena: Warrior Princess
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2019
Undone
Undone, 2019 (Amazon)
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
Why it’s great: This gorgeously rotoscoped drama packs an intense story into only six addictive 25-minute episodes. Starring Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) and Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel), the show focuses on a woman who survives a catastrophic car accident and discovers upon waking up that she possesses the ability to manipulate time, and might be able to prevent her father’s death more than a decade ago… or is it all in her head?
Try it if you like these: Safety Not Guaranteed, Donnie Darko, Russian Doll, A Scanner Darkly
Tuca & Bertie
Runner-up: Tuca & Bertie, 2019 (Netflix)
Where to stream: Netflix
Why it’s great: Tuca & Bertie is the hangout comedy stoner girls have been waiting for their entire lives. The raunchy, surrealist comedy about a toucan (Tiffany Haddish) and a songbird (Ali Wong) who are best friends tackles everything from mental health to sobriety to the #MeToo movement to the devastating heartbreaks that female friendships often serve up. But most importantly of all, Tuca & Bertie manages to do all this with its tiddies out (literally) and is guaranteed to leave you crying in a haze of laughter.
Try it if you like these: Broad City, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Friday, The Great British Bake Off