10 Animated TV Shows That Are Considered Masterpieces

Over the years, there have been plenty of incredible animated television series, but only a select few would earn the distinction of being considered masterpieces. To truly be a masterpiece, a show must go further than anything else of its kind and have an undeniable quality in terms of artistry, legacy, longevity, and reception. For a TV show to be a genuine masterpiece, it should tap into something that nothing before it previously had and, whether through its art style, thematic depth, or influence on pop culture, break new ground in the world of animation.

Some of the best animated series ever made have earned this classification and become undisputed masterpieces of television. While art is subjective, and not everybody will have the same opinion, these critically acclaimed series all brought something new to the table and have endured in a way few other animated shows have. While acclaimed series like The Simpsons may have lost some credibility in the years since its glory days, other masterpieces were perfect from start to finish with no special distinctions required.

10 Gravity Falls (2012 – 2016)

2 Seasons

Gravity Falls was truly a masterclass in worldbuilding as it blended child-friendly animation with a complex mystery that had more in common with Twin Peaks than anything else on the Disney Channel. Following the adventures of Dipper Pines and his twin sister Mabel spending their summer with their great-uncle Grunkel Stan in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, they soon found themselves embroiled in a richly imagined world full of supernatural creatures. As Stan and the kids ran the local tourist trap, the Mystery Shack, an insightful, funny, and wholly satisfying narrative started to emerge.

Gravity Falls stood leagues above most other animated TV shows because its animation, characters, and story structure were all firing on all cylinders. Throughout 40 episodes, the story of Gravity Falls grew in complexity before reaching its epic three-part conclusion in “Weirdmageddon,” an apocalyptic climax that fed into everything that came before it. It’s a testament to series creator Alex Hirsch that Gravity Falls ran for just two seasons and finished on its own terms, stating (via CBR), “The show isn’t being cancelled – it’s being finished.”

9 Adventure Time (2010 – 2018)

10 Seasons

Set in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, Adventure Time followed the lives of a young boy named Finn and his adoptive brother and shapeshifting dog best friend, Jake. Taking influence from the complex fantasy and endless possibilities of games like Dungeons & Dragons and blending it with deep philosophical themes and David Lynch-style surrealism, Adventure Time pushed the boundaries of children’s animation both in an artistic and narrative sense. While the adventures of Finn and Jake may have looked simple at the outset, throughout its ten seasons, the show became a masterclass in worldbuilding.

From the sad tragedy of characters like The Ice King to its innovative blend of serialized and episodic storytelling, Adventure Time may have been enjoyable for young viewers, but no matter the age, audiences could take something vital from this story. With heartwarming music and incredibly innovative animation from series creator Pendleton Ward and the entire Adventure Time team, this Cartoon Network series truly deserves a spot among the greatest animated shows of all time.

8 Cowboy Bebop (1998)

26 Episodes

With a blend of noir, sci-fi, and Western stylings, Cowboy Bebop was an extraordinary anime series that followed the lives of a traveling bounty-hunting crew aboard a spaceship named the Bebop. As a precursor to television cult classics like Firefly or even the Star Wars TV series The Mandalorian, Cowboy Bebop explored existentialist themes around the nature of loneliness and ideas of loss and redemption with complex characters and a believable future that mixed the old with the new. The juxtaposition of dusty saloons with the futuristic depictions of space travel made Cowboy Bebop feel unique and influential.

As a stylish and beautifully crafted series, Cowboy Bebop was in stark contrast to the bubbly energy of most anime during this time and offered mature themes for adult viewers. As a true masterpiece of anime, Cowboy Bebop had a short but effective run that has influenced its legacy as one of the all-time great animated series. By bowing out when audiences were still clamoring for more, Cowboy Bebop has ensured its reputation among so many other animes that seem endless and become too daunting for new viewers to engage with.

7 Looney Tunes (1930 – Present)

A franchise including TV, movies, books, merchandise and more

It’s impossible to talk about masterful animation without mentioning Looney Tunes, a franchise that includes iconic characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. While the term originates with shorts from the 1930s, Looney Tunes has gone on to include a variety of TV series, including The Bugs Bunny Show, The Road Runner Show, and Tiny Toon Adventures. Many of the styles and sequences of Looney Tunes have laid the groundwork for the audience’s understanding of cartoons in general, as the sight gags, catchphrases, and unique aesthetics of this franchise have become shorthand for kids’ entertainment.

From Bugs Bunny’s utterance of “What’s up, doc?” to Wile E. Coyote running off a cliff and only falling once he’s noticed that there’s nothing below his feet, Looney Tunes created a stylistic language that has informed all animation since. With a mix of clever dialogue, slapstick humor, and an effective score paired with its pioneering animation techniques, Looney Tunes was truly at the cutting edge of the Golden Age of American animation throughout the 1930s and 1950s. While it may seem old-fashioned today, much modern animation owes its existence to Looney Tunes.

6 BoJack Horseman (2014 – 2020)

6 Seasons

While Netflix Originals may have first earned recognition with prestige dramas like House of Cards, it was series like BoJack Horseman that solidified their reputation as a major new voice in the world of television. At first, BoJack Horseman was difficult to differentiate from any other adult sitcom like Family Guy or more surreal Comedy Central series like Ugly Americans. However, as the series progressed, BoJack Horseman began to reveal itself as the most philosophically probing series on TV as it dissected and analyzed the psychological trauma at the heart of its troubled horse protagonist.

While BoJack Horseman initially received mixed reviews, this soon changed, and the show became regarded as a true masterpiece of 21st-century animation. BoJack Horseman delved deep into the human condition through its main characters’ personal faults and addiction issues while also dismantling celebrity culture with tragic characters like Sarah Lynn. Although viewers may have initially tuned in to witness the lighthearted adventures of a talking horse, they were instead given one of the most emotionally devastating and deeply poignant series ever made.

5 Batman: The Animated Series (1992 – 1995)

2 Seasons

Batman: The Animated Series subverted the traditional lighthearted nature of superhero animated shows to produce a far darker and more thematically rich narrative. By leaning heavily into Batman’s dark mythos and going against the campy zaniness of previous depictions, such as the 1960s Adam West TV series, Batman: The Animated Series redefined what could be achieved in this genre, as it was a work that appealed equally to children and adults. With a dark, noir atmosphere, this series brought Gotham City to life in a way never previously seen outside the comics.

With iconic voice work from Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker, Batman: The Animated Series added a nuanced layer to the characters that helped define their characteristics moving forward. Even the introduction of villains like Harley Quinn, Mr. Freeze, Two-Face, and Clayface were given more emotional weight than what could be expected from the average kids’ animated series. By transcending audience expectations, this darker reimagining of Batman even laid the groundwork for Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed The Dark Knight trilogy.

4 Samurai Jack (2001 – 2004, 2017)

5 Seasons

Genndy Tartakovsky truly created something special with the dystopian action-adventure series Samurai Jack. Telling the story of a Japanese samurai unwittingly propelled into the future and his quest to defeat the evil, shapeshifting demon Aku, Samurai Jack was a complex and richly imagined series that told an ongoing story while exploring themes of perseverance and the tenacity of the human spirit. By taking the classic monomyth of the hero’s journey and pairing it with a unique and effective art style, Samurai Jack stood as one of the most impressive animated series of the modern era.

Part of the appeal of Samurai Jack’s animation was its slick, minimalist style, which effectively utilized shapes and color to give it an oddly cinematic feel. Through a blend of martial arts, sci-fi, and dystopian influences, the story of Samurai Jack was one viewers were extremely invested in. The legacy of Samurai Jack was so great that Tartakovsky returned with a fifth season in 2017, 13 years after the show first went off the air, to finally conclude the story of Jack’s epic quest to defeat Aku and return to his own time.

3 The Simpsons (1989 – Present)

The Simpsons Golden Age (Seasons 1 – 9)

As the longest-running sitcom of all time and one of the most recognizable pieces of animation on the planet, The Simpsons’ incredible influence cannot be understated. While The Simpsons was truly a masterpiece during its Golden Age, it must be admitted that in its later years, the show declined in quality, souring its once untouchable reputation. However, seasons one through nine were a masterclass in adult entertainment that impacted not just TV but worldwide pop culture. As a subversion of the all-American family ideals, The Simpsons came to represent the post-modern age in a way no other show ever has.

Without The Simpsons, there would be no Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, or even Rick and Morty, as it went from parodying popular entertainment to truly embodying it. From its incredible cast that extended beyond the Simpson family to Springfield’s entire population, the instantly recognizable yellow-skin, four-fingered characters meant viewers always knew it was The Simpsons without any other context. Although episodes like “The Principal and the Pauper” in Season 9 signaled the show jumping the shark as it undid Skinner’s backstory and kickstarted its slow decline, few shows have a legacy as impressive as The Simpsons.

2 Over The Garden Wall (2014)

10 Episodes

The ten-episode animated miniseries Over the Garden Wall was a true labor of love whose atmosphere, characterization, and richly imagined world made it a modern masterpiece. With a whimsical fairytale setting that immerses viewers into a strange and mysterious forest simply called the Unknown, Over the Garden Wall starts with a simple premise as little by little, audiences learn more about the half-brothers Wirt and Greg and the world they inhabit. As a timeless series that mixes mystery, humor, and heart, it’s no surprise that Over the Garden Wall quickly became a modern cult classic.

While the intriguing narrative of Over the Garden Wall was truly spectacular, the most engaging thing about the series was its effective art style, as each hand-drawn background was packed with impressive detail. The use of music throughout the series made the show stand out as an engrossing piece of entertainment and as a true work of art where each detail was presented with thoughtful care and attention. As a stunning fairytale and perhaps the best thing Cartoon Network has ever produced, Over the Garden Wall set a new standard for episodic animation.

1 Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 – 2008)

3 Seasons

In terms of compelling worldbuilding, probing thematic depth addressing social and political issues, and an engaging, well-imagined mythology, Avatar: The Last Airbender stands in a league of its own. As the story of Aang, the last survivor of his nation, and his quest to keep the balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads, this Nickelodeon fantasy series blended Western and Eastern animation styles to create a series that’s universal in its effectiveness. By addressing themes such as genocide, totalitarianism, and indoctrination, Avatar became one of the most complex and beautiful releases in children’s animation.

Bringing together many disparate aspects of classic fantasy stories, Avatar was a smartly written series that pulled viewers in with impressive animation, a strong sense of humor, and an undeniable heart. Throughout its three seasons, Avatar grew in complexity as Aang was forced to mature and, along with his companions Katara, Sokka, and Toph, acquire the skills and fortitude needed to carry out his destiny. With a legacy that has continued in the form of sequel series, comics, and even a Netflix live-action adaptation, Avatar: The Last Airbender was a true modern masterpiece of animation.

Source: CBR