Top 20 Kids Shows That Adults Love

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera are two of the biggest names in animation history, creating the timeless “Tom and Jerry” franchise in 1940. The characters originally appeared in hundreds of theatrical shorts distributed by MGM throughout the 40s and 50s. In that time, the shorts won an astounding seven Academy Awards, proving that adults appreciated the artistry that went into the production. The franchise also spawned numerous animated programs, including the original “The Tom and Jerry Show,” the Daytime Emmy-nominated “Tom & Jerry Kids,” and the modern, flash-animated “The Tom and Jerry Show.” It’s clear that adults are passing on their love of the franchise to their children, resulting in decades’ worth of great content.

The Teen Titans are a superhero team introduced in The Brave and the Bold #54 back in 1964. Nearly forty years later, Cartoon Network began airing their seminal series that has since become known as one of the greatest animated programs of all time. The series continuously received critical acclaim throughout its five-season run, with many critics and fans favorably noting its surprisingly mature themes and rich character work. “Teen Titans Go!” writer J. Torres admits that the show began as a children’s program but started to develop deeper and darker themes when the producers took note of its all-encompassing popularity. It’s a great example of showrunners catering to a wide demographic.

Do children enjoy surreal comedy? Well, if “The Amazing World of Gumball’s” six seasons and 240 episodes are anything to go by, the answer is a resounding yes. Created by Ben Bocquelet for Cartoon Network, this show centers around blue cat Gumball and his adoptive brother goldfish, Darwin. Children can enjoy the show’s eccentric humor, relatable characters, and brilliant animation, while adults may appreciate its artistic qualities. The show often cycles through animation styles, encompassing traditional hand-drawn animation, stop motion claymation, CGI, and Flash. The show also utilizes a very satirical sense of humor, ensuring that adults laugh just as often as children. It truly is a good time for all.

Hanna-Barbera struck again with “Scooby-Doo!” The first incarnation, officially titled “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!,” aired on CBS throughout 1969 and 1970. Despite initially only airing for one year, the show helped launch a bonafide media franchise that is still going strong to this day. “Mystery Incorporated” is the eleventh incarnation of the show, and it helped reinvent the Scooby wheel. It introduced long-running story arcs, incorporated personal drama between the characters, and satirized various tropes of the franchise, primarily the outlandish villain plans. It also drew on a wide range of horror inspirations, including Lovecraft, “Twin Peaks,” and even the “Saw” series. This was “Scooby-Doo” for a new, more mature generation.

“Pokémon” is a cultural institution. One only needs to look at the “Pokémon Go” craze of 2016 to realize that. It ropes in children and makes them fans for life. But it’s hard to pinpoint just what it is about “Pokémon” that makes it so universally beloved. Of course, there’s the seemingly unbound imagination of the world-building and monster creation, but there’s also something to be said about the character interactions and mature themes. Who amongst us didn’t cry when Charmander was abandoned on the rock? And who amongst us didn’t learn about maturity, empty nest syndrome, and the values of letting go from “Bye Bye Butterfree?” On the surface, “Pokémon” is a kids’ show about battling monsters. But it’s so much more than that.

Few franchises can balance demographics as well as “Star Wars.” Even from its inception in 1977, “Star Wars” has been delighting children and adults in equal measure, and that continued in 2008 with “The Clone Wars.” While the show aired on Cartoon Network and was thus primarily aimed at children, it gained a massive following from longtime fans of the series. Its strong writing, eye-popping visuals, and glorious world-building all helped ensure that “The Clone Wars” proudly secured its place in the “Star Wars” canon. In fact, some may even argue that “The Clone Wars” is the best thing to come out of the franchise in the last twenty years…

Children have been enjoying the “TMNT” franchise for generations. The original series from 1987 is obviously a classic, and “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” certainly deserves a mention. But the 2012 reboot is where it’s at. While Nickelodeon planned to reboot the franchise and market it to 6-11-year-olds, this iteration also proved wildly popular with old-time fans of the series. It’s an incredibly produced program that has won awards for its sound mixing and casting - including the voices of Jason Biggs and Sean Astin - and it’s filled with a ton of fun pop culture references that adults can enjoy. The modern animation and spectacular action sequences also help bring the franchise into the future.

“The Powerpuff Girls” is notable for being the final cartoon produced by the legendary Hanna-Barbera Productions, as the company went defunct in 2001 following Hanna’s death. But what a way to go out. “The Powerpuff Girls” received lots of attention throughout the 2000s, with critics praising the series’ adult satire and numerous pop culture references while also criticizing the overt violence. It won numerous industry awards, including two Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. It entertained children and thrilled adults through its impeccable production and clever writing. Everyone knows the names Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup - such is the legacy and reach of “The Powerpuff Girls.”

Airing on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons TV from 1996 to 2004, this show followed the football-headed Arnold as he lived his life in an inner-city neighborhood. While the city remained nameless to guarantee universality, it bears a strong resemblance to Brooklyn. The grimy setting is certainly unique, as is the series’ realistic portrayal of urban life. There are no superheroes or monsters or talking animals - just a regular fourth-grader and his motley gang of friends. Children obviously relate to the young characters, but the series’ grounded approach, everyday setting, and universal themes certainly resonate with adults as well.

“Samurai Jack” was creator’s Genndy Tartakovsky’s second big hit, following “Dexter’s Laboratory.” And it’s one of those shows that effortlessly toes the line between children and adult entertainment. Kids will obviously enjoy the exciting samurai action and story, but adults may appreciate the show’s technical and artistic qualities (as well as the storytelling, of course). For example, the show broke artistic ground in numerous ways, like its unique visual style and ten dialogue-free minutes that opened the first episode. “Samurai Jack” was showered with praise and industry awards, including eight Emmys and six Annies. It’s one of the all-time great animated programs - children’s or otherwise.

You simply can’t go wrong with “Looney Tunes.” Introduced way back in 1930, “Looney Tunes” brought many timeless characters into the cultural lexicon, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and Tweety & Sylvester. It’s one of those rare programs in which every character is a fan favorite thanks to a wonderful cohesion of writing, animation, direction, and vocal performance. The franchise has launched numerous timeless television programs, including “The Bugs Bunny Show,” “The Road Runner Show,” and “Tiny Toon Adventures.” It’s the type of wholesome, encompassing entertainment that transcends demographics and generations.

Creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff Marsh had been pitching the idea for “Phineas and Ferb” for nearly twenty years before it was picked up by Disney in the late 2000s. And what a catch it was. This is a surreal comedy that explores two intersecting stories - the one of Phineas, Ferb, and their overbearing sister Candace, and the b-plot involving Perry the Platypus. Its style has been compared to that of “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle,” while others have compared its self-referential humor and pop culture references to adult shows like “Family Guy” and “The Simpsons.” This clever awareness of itself has made it incredibly popular with older demographics. It’s a certified classic.

Creator Lauren Faust really hit on something with this show. Referred to by fans as the “fourth generation” of “My Little Pony,” “Friendship Is Magic” is notable for its rich characterizations that challenged stereotypical gender norms, as well as its adventurous scope. And despite being targeted at young girls, the show has reached an older, and surprisingly male, audience. Bronies have become targets for pundits and the wider internet at large, and while the culture may come across as an ironic joke, many are deeply sincere in their appreciation of the program. The producers have rewarded this sincerity in many surprising ways, like the inclusion of fan in-jokes and acknowledgment on promotional material.

Speaking of the internet, it is largely to thank for the propagation of “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Of course, the show was wildly popular before the wide and global integration of the internet, but there’s no denying that the countless memes have contributed to its devoted fan culture. At its surface (or is it depth?), “SpongeBob SquarePants” follows the life of its titular sponge as he navigates life in Bikini Bottom. But the show’s surreal style of comedy has made it popular with older audiences, and the timeless characters like Patrick and Squidward have helped see it through decades’ worth of content. Its Golden Age is over, but “SpongeBob” may just live on forever.

The “Batman” franchise has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, with most of the praise centered around its more mature traits. When it comes to superhero franchises, few are as morose as “Batman.” And despite its younger demographic, “The Animated Series” was nevertheless widely praised for its mature themes and dreary, noir-esque tone. The show’s style was a major influence on the later “Arkham” series of video games, and it launched the DC Animated Universe which would later include shows like “Justice League Unlimited.” “The Animated Series” strikes the perfect balance between comic book trappings for kids and methodical storytelling for grown-ups.

Creator Rebecca Sugar was just 26 years old when “Steven Universe” premiered in November 2013. Yet despite her young age, Sugar gave us one of the greatest animated programs of our time, perhaps even of all time. Following Steven as he protects the world from monsters and bad guys, the show has been widely acclaimed for its imaginative world-building, committing to screen one of the best fantasy worlds in recent memory. The show’s overall production, and its integration of LGBTQ themes, have also been favorably acknowledged, and the series became the first animated program to win the Outstanding Kids & Family Program GLAAD Media Award. It’s clear that “Steven Universe” is far more than just another children’s animated program.

Despite its intentionally simple title, “Regular Show” is anything but regular. Airing for eight seasons and 261 episodes, “Regular Show” follows the zany, often surreal misadventures of two working-class groundskeepers - a blue jay named Mordecai and a raccoon named Rigby. The show contains elements that will entertain a wide swath of viewers, including adults. These include a unique visual style, hilarious dialogue, an eccentric sense of humor, and a host of zany characters, all of whom are more bizarre than the last. The humor also tends to veer into the crude and inappropriate, which seems a knowing nod to the show’s more mature demographic.

The Cartoon Network struck gold with Pendleton Ward’s “Adventure Time.” This show follows the magical adventures of Finn and his shapeshifting dog Jake in the fantastical and post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo. Like “Steven Universe,” “Adventure Time” has become renowned for its imaginative world-building, and it wears its influences - primarily Dungeons & Dragons - on its sleeve. The show explores many mature themes and complex issues, characters are given surprising depth, and it explores intriguing philosophical conundrums. It has also generated academic interest thanks to its exploration of gender norms, and it enjoys an enormous fandom that regularly cosplays and participates in online communities like Reddit and Tumblr. This isn’t just a fun animated show - it’s a cultural phenomenon.

When it comes to mixing anime with traditional Western animation, there’s simply no dethroning “Avatar.” “Avatar” concerns the journey of 12-year-old Aang, the last survivor of the Air Nomads and the one responsible for restoring peace and balance to the world as the Avatar. The series has an enormous following of adults, and it’s notable for incorporating heavy concepts into the story, including themes of genocide and totalitarianism. Kids can certainly enjoy the story and gorgeous visuals, but adults better appreciate its messages. This is evident in the show’s seemingly endless list of accolades, which includes five Annies and the coveted Peabody Award. Its success gave rise to the extended “Avatar” franchise, which includes the equally sophisticated “The Legend of Korra.”

“Gravity Falls” is essentially just “Twin Peaks” rolled into Stephen King and made into a children’s animated program. And yes, it is every bit as amazing as that sounds. The show follows siblings Dipper and Mabel as they investigate supernatural goings-on in the town of Gravity Falls, Oregon. They also find time to help their Great Uncle Stan run his tourist trap shop. Kids love it, but adults really love it, having grown deeply invested in the show’s mythology and numerous mysteries. It’s one of the most original and personable animated programs to ever grace our television screens, and it has rightfully cultivated a devoted following - of which adults are most definitely included.