2018 has been a fantastic year for television, especially when it comes to animation. A ton of new animated series debuts arrived over the last 12 months. There was so much new content, in fact, that we have to split up our year-end list of the best of the best into two categories: One for kids and one for adults. First up, a retrospective look at the best animated series for kids, a list that shines a spotlight on the shows you might have missed and highlights new favorites that you’ll be hoping to see more of in 2019.
Fans of animation of all ages have more places to watch fresh and original content than ever before. The old standbys like the Disney Channel and Disney Junior, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network are joined by relative newcomers like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and streaming services like VRV and their many genre channels, including Crunchyroll, Boomerang, Rooster Teeth, and more. That’s a lot of places to keep track of. That’s also why we brought you the best new animated shows that 2018 had to offer all in one place as an easy guide to sort out these incredible debuts.
2018’s best animated series for kids range from preschool standouts likeMuppet BabiesandFancy Nancy, to nostalgic throwbacks likeCraig of the CreekandHarvey Street Kids, to amped-up action-packed shows likeRise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,Marvel Rising, andStar Wars Resistance. This list also includes new classics that are appropriate for kids and adults alike, shows likeHilda,Summer Camp Island, andShe-Ra and the Princesses of Power. There’s really something here for everyone to enjoy!
The following list, presented in order from youngest to oldest audiences, sums up the best kids animated series of 2018 and includes some of your favorites and shows you might have missed.
Muppet Babies
If you’re old enough to remember the original 80s-90s animatedMuppet Babies, then you’re old enough to have kids or grandkids whose first introduction to the magical Muppet show is this new Disney show. Though the medium may have changed from traditional hand-drawn 2D animation to computer-generated 3D characters and settings, the heart of the original series is still here. The pint-sized versions ofJim Henson’s most famous characters still pal around in the playroom under the watchful eye of Miss Nanny. Their adventures continue to instill positive virtues and dole out life lessons to the little ones, all while paying homage to classic movies and TV shows from pop culture, something the adult viewers can appreciate a little better. It’s been such a success for Disney Junior that they’ve ordered a second season of the preschool series. There’s still plenty of time to check it out before Season 2 arrives, so give it a shot if you haven’t just yet.
Fancy Nancy
Another new Disney Junior show,Fancy Nancybrings to life the beloved character from the best-selling books by authorJane O’Connorand illustratorRobin Preiss Glasser. The series centers on the title character, a six-year-old girl who lives for everything fancy, from the way she speaks to the way she dresses. The animated family comedy has rubbed some viewers the wrong way, withsome parentsfocusing on the materialistic elements of the story while others appreciate the show’s celebration of uniqueness, diversity, and individuality. If you’re a fan of the books or have kiddos that are fans themselves, check outFancy Nancyto see which side you land on.
Apple & Onion
The delightful pairing ofApple & Onion, a new Cartoon Network series, brings the unique and lovely story ofGeorge Gendi’s creation to life with the equally unique and lovely voices of Gendi andRichard Ayoade. The series follows the title friends on their journey to the big city from their separate hometowns, coming together by happenstance to become best buds and roommates. The world, populated by anthropomorphic food (my favorite of which is a walking, talking container of whey protein) is full of wacky adventures and musical medleys, makingApple & Oniona pure delight to watch. It’s meant for a younger crowd, so don’t let some of the toxic elements of Cartoon Network’s viewing audience dissuade you from giving it a chance.
Big City Greens
Another tale of smalltown folk moving into a big city is Disney’sBig City Greens, an animated series that follows young Cricket and his family as they pick up stakes on their rural farm and move to a modern metropolis. This original story, which hails fromShane and Chris Houghton, pulls from the creators' childhoods and is unintentionally reminiscent of classic TV shows likeThe Beverly Hillbilliesand a sort of reverseGreen Acres. (The fantastic series even had a super-fun Halloween special that got a little spooky.) It’s a fun show packed with crazy characters who bring a little country know-how to solve their big city problems. Pay a visit to the Greens; you’ll be glad you did!
Craig of the Creek
2018 has been a fantastic year for animated series that revisit childhoods and let older viewers (like myself) relive that feeling of nostalgia. From co-creatorsBen LevinandMatt BurnettcomesCraig of the Creek, a new Cartoon Network series that follows young Craig and his pals Kelsey and JP in their adventures in the local creek. Whether you grew up playing in the creek or simply wish you had, this throwback to simpler times will make you long for the experience once more. This particular creek is totally controlled by the neighborhood kids who have rigged up their own transportation and defense systems, and have developed their own peculiar economy. It’s a fun-filled adventure story that harkens back to newer classic cartoons likeHey Arnold!andEd, Edd n Eddy. Take a trip to the creek with Craig and his pals today!
Harvey Street Kids
Another throwback cartoon, courtesy of DreamWorks Animation and Netflix, isHarvey Street Kids, a modern adaptation of the mid-20th century’s Harvey Comics. ProducersBrendan HayandAliki Theofilopouloshad the tough but enviable task of bringing these 40s and 50s-era characters into contemporary times. They did so by delivering a core of three unique and lovable girls, hometown heroes who get into wild adventures with their friends all along Harvey Street. With stories that center on treehouse battles, all-night block parties, and zombified sleepovers, there’s always a wild and wacky tale waiting for viewers to enjoy. And it looks like we’ll be getting a second season on Netflix next year, so if you haven’t gotten to know the many and varied characters ofHarvey Street Kids, now’s as good a time as any!
Mega Man: Fully Charged
Man of Action, the incredibly successful and talented team behind the likes ofBen 10,Generator Rex, andBig Hero 6, delivers their take on the Capcom classic video game character Mega Man in the Cartoon Network seriesMega Man: Fully Charged. This 3D animated series centers on Aki Light, a young boy with the ability to transform into the powerful Mega Man to save the citizens of Silicon City from the evil intent of Sgt Night and his Robot Masters. It’s definitely a younger-skewing version of the title hero, so folks who may have been expecting a grittier take might be disappointed, but for kiddos, this is a great introduction to the character. The show even works in old school 16-bit sprites and animation as transition scenes or introductions for heroes and villains arriving on scene. Go into this one expecting to have some robot-action fun and you won’t be disappointed.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Here’s another contemporary take on a kids cartoon classic, this time from Nickelodeon.Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlestakes a new approach to a nearly 35-year-old property by reinventing the title team and the overall look of the series itself. It’s kinetic, hypercolored, and relentlessly paced. It’s as funny as it is action-packed with both jokes and villainous attacks coming out of left field throughout each episode. I particularly like the redesigns of the heroes in a half-shell since they’re now based on actual turtles in the real world; it gives each of the reptilian crime-fighters their own distinct look, attitude, and style, doing more to distinguish them than a simple color scheme or weapon type. (Oh and I love the new weapons in this series!)Risealso introduces a new take on Master Splinter that’s downright delightful, along with the franchise’s first African-American April O’Neil, who’s as much a butt-kicker as her turtle pals. The villains in this new take are just as bonkers as they were in the 80s series, all while injecting some fresh energy and material into the often-adapted title. This one’s for trueTMNTfans.
The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants
Another animated adaptation that’s made its way online this year isThe Epic Tales of Captain Underpants, an impressive series version ofDav Pilkey’s smash-hit story.Peter Hastingsadapted the best-selling books for Netflix and the result is a wildly fun story that follows best buds and budding comic book creators George and Harold. I actually prefer this animated series version to the feature-length film, not just for its ambitious approach to animated storytelling but because of its humor, heart, and values of friendship and creativity. (The animation really is the standout here; there are so many wild swings from one medium to the next throughout the tale that the story never loses steam and keeps you laughing from one moment to the next.) It’s clear that Pilkey has tapped into something special withCaptain Underpants, and this series has managed to do the franchise justice and then some.
Rooster Teeth, best known for the machinima seriesRed vs. Blueand the worldwide anime phenomenon that isRWBY, continues to reinvent itself and push the studio’s boundaries of animation year after year. WithNomad of Nowhere, created byGeorden Whitman, Rooster Teeth has gone for a kind of throwback story that brings together the Wild West, a cartoonish sort of magic, and a nod to classic cartoons of the mid-20th century. The title character, one of this world’s last known magic wielders, is a mute, opting to communicate through sign language and magic tricks. That’s certainly a unique approach to a title character but it often gets the Nomad into as much trouble as it gets him out of. It’s a magical, adventurous tale that features a very silly collection of characters who come into the Nomad’s sphere of influence through fate or happenstance. It’s also a short watch, so check this one out if you’re looking for something that’s just a bit different from the rest.
