Let’s be real—cartoons aren’t just for kids. If you’ve ever stayed up way too late binge-watching The Boondocks or quoting Family Guy like it’s your personality, you already know that adult animation is that girl. Whether you’re here for the unhinged humor, the surprisingly deep storylines, or straight-up chaos, there’s an animated series out there waiting to be your new obsession. So, if you’re looking to add some wild, weird, and maybe even emotional (yes, cartoons can make you cry too) shows to your watchlist, N Crew’s got you covered with these picks.
1. Common Side Effects
This show follows Marshall, a rebellious scientist with a serious obsession—the Blue Angel Mushroom. But it’s not a regular mushroom—this one can cure any illness. After drawing public attention to his find, he’s on the run, dodging shady pharmaceutical execs and relentless government agents who will do anything to keep this discovery buried. And he’s not alone—his high school buddy Frances, who works for Reutical Pharmaceuticals, is also after the mushrooms to try and cure her mother’s dementia. With all the pressure, Marshall has to decide: expose the truth and risk everything, or let the world keep suffering while the cure stays hidden.
2. Oh My God… Yes! A Series of Extremely Relatable Circumstances
Oh My God… Yes! focuses on three confident, unapologetic Black women—Sunny, Tulip, and Ladi—as they explore different phases of womanhood in a wild, technology-driven world. With a short 12-minute runtime, these episodes are action-packed, delivering humor, introspection, colorful visuals, and pure Charlie’s Angels meets The Jetsons vibes.
3. Fired on Mars
Fired on Mars is about Jeff Cooper, a graphic designer living the dream on Mars—until he’s fired when his job is deemed unnecessary. Stuck in the Mars colony with no way back to Earth, he’s forced to reinvent himself with help from eccentric gurus and his attempt to escape the corporate grind. All while trying to keep his long-distance relationship with his girlfriend, Hannah, alive. It’s a hilarious, first-person look at Jeff’s struggle to find purpose in a place that really couldn’t care less.
4. Blue Eye Samurai
Imagine a fierce, half-white, half-Japanese swordswoman slicing her way through Edo-era Japan on a revenge-fueled mission. That’s Mizu (Maya Erskine)—she’s got a hit list of four white male Western traders who brought pain upon her mother, and one of them might just be her father. Tired of being discriminated against and viewed as a monster, she’s out for blood after enduring a lifetime of suffering. With the country’s borders officially closed, she disguises herself as a man to survive on her vengeful quest. Expect intense swordfights, high-stakes drama, and a journey as personal as it is deadly.
5. Scavengers Reign
Looking for a futuristic, dystopian series with a more serious tone? Scavengers Reign will come through. It follows the survivors of the damaged interstellar cargo ship, Demeter 227, who find themselves stranded on Vesta, an alien planet full of bizarre, dangerous life. At the start, the survivors are split into three squads: Azi and her robot sidekick, Levi; Sam and Ursula; and the lone Kamen, who’s got a telepathic creature named Hollow by his side. Vesta’s ecosystem is wicked, with life forms that mix plants, animals, and intelligence in ways they’ve never seen before. Over time, the survivors’ paths begin to cross as they make their way toward the wrecked Demeter, facing increasingly complex and mysterious threats along the way.
6. Primal
Created and directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, Primal brings the comic book style to life with no dialogue—just the sounds of nature. Think birds squawking, wind whistling, and occasional dinosaur roars. Following a caveman named Spear and Fang, a T. Rex, viewers witness man and beast forming an unlikely bond after losing their families to dinosaur attacks. Together, they fight to survive in a brutal, prehistoric world full of danger. Since they’re the deadliest duo, this animated series isn’t for the weak—it’s shockingly gory and violent. Plus, the sound effects are so realistic, you’ll feel like you’re right there in the wild with them.
7. Inside Job
Are you into conspiracy theories? Because Inside Job is a workplace comedy that imagines them being true. The show follows Reagan, a socially awkward tech genius, and her upbeat new partner, Brett, as they work for a top-secret organization tasked with keeping these government secrets under wraps. But it’s not easy—Reagan’s got a wild team of coworkers to manage. There’s Gigi, the office gossip queen; Glenn, an angry military vet turned human-dolphin hybrid; Myc Celium, a party-loving psychic mushroom; and Dr. Andre Lee, a free-spirited but anxious biochemist who’s way too into the narcotics he experiments with. It’s a chaotic, hilarious ride as they try to cover up the world’s biggest secrets while dealing with their own out-of-control lives.
8. Smiling Friends
Smiling Friends is another 12-minute series about a small company with a big mission: making people smile. The show follows the misadventures of its two very different reps—Charlie, the lazy, sarcastic one, and Pim, who’s more joyful and positive—as they try to help the troubled people who call their hotline. They think the requests will be simple, but they always turn out to be way messier than expected, making their job way harder than it should be. With dark, gross-out humor and a trippy aesthetic, it’s a hilarious look at trying to make the world a happier place, when everything keeps going wrong.
Now that you’ve added these animated shows to your list, prepare to be entertained. You’ll see that there’s no shortage of wild adventures and unforgettable characters to keep you locked in. Happy watching!
What's Your Reaction?
