Animated television has a special kind of charm. This is a medium that allows creators to unleash their imaginations to their fullest potential, resulting in shows that aren’t just limitless in what they can depict visually, but also some of the most creative and entertaining out there. Netflix, the streaming giant, has beenat the forefront of modern animated television for children and adults alike for many years.
Naturally, though, the platform’s catalog is so large and varied that some animated shows are bound to be better than others. From sitcoms for older audiences to epic kid-friendly fantasy shows that are nevertheless thrilling for viewers of all ages, Netflix has produced some exceptional original animated series which prove that this legendary medium deserves more love.
10’F is for Family' (2015–2021)
Created by Bill Burr and Michael Price
Animated series for adultsare aplenty, especially sitcoms and comedies. In the sea of this category,F is for Familystands out among a big number of its peers. Creative, sharp in its observations on middle-class family life in ’70s America, and relentless in its dark sense of humor, it’s precisely the kind of show that anyone might expect from aBill Burrproduct.
Though nothing particularly special, the animation is strong enough that it allows the audience tofocus on what matters: The fantastic writing and witty sense of humorofF is for Family. It’s raunchy, nostalgic, and surprisingly heartfelt; and although it might not be up the alley of people who don’t love sitcoms that rely on vulgar humor, those who do are guaranteed to love it.
F Is for Family
9’Love, Death & Robots' (2019–)
Created by Tim Miller
It’s hard to get an anthology series truly right. There has to be a unifying thread—either thematic or tonal—keeping it all enjoyable for its audience, yet each episode has to feel fresh and unique. Not many shows achieve these goals quite as excellently asLove, Death & Robots, one of the best animated anthology series ever made.
Like any show of its kind,Love, Death & Robotscertainly has had its fair share of ups and downs. There are a few episodes that are pretty terrible, as well as others that are right in the middle of the road.But there are also some unbelievably great ones, and those are absolutely unforgettable mixtures of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror elements. With several different types of equally stunning animation, different tones that range from the hilarious to the deeply philosophical, and plenty ofincredibleLove, Death & Robotsepisodes, this is an outstanding Netflix original.
Love, Death & Robots
8’The Midnight Gospel' (2020)
Created by Duncan Trussell
The whole concept behindThe Midnight Gospel, by far one of the most creative shows that Netflix has ever produced, revolves aroundDuncan Trussell having real podcast interviews with several different guests while surrealistic visuals—sometimes entirely unrelated to what’s being talked about—take place in the background. It’s a space adventure unlike any other the small screen has ever seen.
Midnight Gospelwas tragically canceled after only one season, but its legacy lives on. Touching, deep, and effortlessly psychedelic without the need to ingest any foreign substance, it touches on topics like drugs, meditation, mental health, and forgiveness in all manner of powerful ways. Gleefully colorful and marvelously intelligent, it’s top-tier animated television through and through.
The Midnight Gospel
7’Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia' (2016–2018)
Created by Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Torois best known as the modern king of dark fantasy in cinema, but he isn’t just one of the most talented filmmakers to ever come out of Latin America. He’s also a champion of animation, promoting it and working on it in both the big and small screens. This includesTrollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, a kids' show distributed by DreamWorks Animation.
Ambitious and groundbreaking in the world of televisual animation,it’s a true gem with a loyal cult following spanning all ages. It was so successful that it became the first chapter in a trilogy of animated shows, which then culminated in a feature-length film—but there’s no beating the original.Trollhuntersis legendary, and its niche as one of Netflix’s most enjoyable and rewatchable animated shows will surely remain untouched.
Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia
6’Tear Along the Dotted Line' (2021)
Created by Zerocalcare
While most of Netflix’s productions are made in North America, not all of them are. Proof of this is the Italian adult animated dramedyTear Along the Dotted Line, one ofthe most underrated TV showsin the streaming giant’s library. Inspired by the actual experiences of creatorZerocalcare, it’s a depiction of anxiety and suicide as touching and poignant as it is hilarious and clever.
The show would receive a sequel series in 2023 titledThis World Can’t Tear Me Down, butwhile it’s also fantastic,Tear Along the Dotted Lineis inimitably magical. Complex, unpredictable, and profoundly emotional, it’s a mind-bending and unforgettable experience that understands that adult animation isn’t necessarily about vulgarity and raunchy humor, but about dealing with complex topics in ways that live-action could never parallel.
Tear Along the Dotted Line
5’Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' (2022)
Created by Rafal Jaki
Anime series throughout the 2020s have been top-notch, but some have obviously been better than others. One of the best is Netflix’sCyberpunk: Edgerunners, a visually dazzling miniseries based on the famous action RPGCyberpunk 2077. Every bit as phenomenal as the game (but without the rocky start), it’s an incredibly stylish spectacle with some excellent world-building.
The pacing is fantastic, the hyperviolent and colorful animation is jaw-dropping, and the story and characters are surprisingly compelling, making this one of thebest action anime shows of the decade so far. No level of familiarization with the source material is necessary to enjoyEdgerunners; entirely by itself, it’s a remarkably hard-hitting roller coaster ride that’s perfect for fans of adult animation.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
4’Castlevania' (2017–2021)
Created by Warren Ellis
TheCastlevaniaseries is one of the greatest action-adventure platformer franchises in the history of video games,deserving of at least half of the credit for originating the Metroidvania genre. Such an exceptional video game series is worthy of only the best of the best as far as adaptations go, and the animated Netflix series is precisely that.
Castlevaniais one ofthe best vampire shows in history, originally planned as a film and stuck in development hell for a long time. At long last, 2017 finally saw its release, and fans couldn’t possibly have been happier. Although its later two seasons aren’t quite as strong as the first two, the whole thing is an exhilarating dark fantasy masterclass, with some amazing animation and top-tier voice acting. Thoughtfully written and incredibly potent in its visual and emotional impact, it’s one of the best video game adaptations that the small screen has ever been graced with.
Castlevania
3’Blue Eye Samurai' (2023–)
Created by Michael Green and Amber Noizumi
Blue Eye Samuraitook the world by storm when it came out with its perfectbalance between unbelievably great visuals, thoughtful and meaningful character development, and show-stopping action. Bloody, visceral, emotional, and gorgeously original in every way that matters, it’s a delightful twist on several genres that works like a charm.
Oftentimes, it’s difficult for action series to tell a masterful story without neglecting its action sequences. That isn’t the case forBlue Eye Samurai, which tells a powerful story reminiscent of the great classics of Japanese cinema, without ever forgetting to dive deep into some irresistibly exciting action scenes. Overall, it’s one ofNetflix’s highest-rated original series on IMDb.
Blue Eye Samurai
2’Arcane' (2021–2024)
Created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee
No one could have expected a television adaptation of the iconicMassively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG)League of Legendsto be an exceptional show, let alone one of the best of the 2020s so far. Then again,Arcanealways defied expectations throughout its two-season run. It’s not just one of Netflix’s best animated shows, but one of their best shows in general.Arcaneis one ofthe greatest fantasy shows of the 2020s, an unparalleled achievement whichhas revolutionized the medium of animated television in ways no one could have seen coming. The animation is groundbreaking, some truly jaw-dropping stuff. The action is exhilarating throughout, with some awesome visuals and a perfect pairing with a killer score and soundtrack. And yet, somehow, the story is the best part of it all. Emotional, epic, with some excellent character writing, and with deeply atmospheric world-building, it’s one of the most compelling stories that have been told on TV throughout the past decade.
1’BoJack Horseman' (2014–2020)
Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg
BoJack Horsemanis many people’s favorite animated TV show of all time. As such, it’s no surprise that it’s often referred to as not only Netflix’s best animated show, but one of their top series in general, too. It can be an absolutely hilarious and delightfully creative sitcom when the situation calls for it, but what makes it so iconic and beloved is how good it is at also being a drama show.
Indeed,BoJackis one of the greatest, most thoughtful, and most powerful depictions of themes of depression, addiction, and aging that television has ever seen. It’s one ofthe saddest drama shows everjust as often as it is one of the most amusing comedies,a balance whose flawlessness cannot go understated. Nuanced, layered, funny, depressing, and incredibly hard-hitting throughout, it’s proof that animation isn’t just for kids. Otherwise, how could it have been home to one of the most psychologically complex and mature TV dramedies in history?
