The problem with adult animation is people hear "adult ", and their minds insrantly go to crass humor, current events, and sexual inmuendos. While im not trashing on all of Adult Cartoons (as i like a handful of them myself), they just dont have the same sense of "wonder" and heart to it. Im not surprised why so many adults feel more attached to Disney and Cartoons aimed at teens
Agreed. I find Japan has a better grasp on making interesting "adult" animation. When you've got something like Attack on Titan, with its gorgeous animation, interesting story (still chock full of things adults have to think about like war and politics), and epic battles, why would I ever settle for the U.S.'s image, aka, crass, sexual humor with flat, 2D animation? Like, that's almost all there is nowadays it feels. Sounds like there were better shows early on for adults, but at least for modern adult western animation, it's really no comparison in my opinion. I also just really appreciate "kids" animation here better like Avatar, as they are still very fun to watch years later.
I've noticed this also becoming an issue with rebooting teen/kids shows with a now-adult cast! Like for example the iCarly or Full House reboots feel like they're trying so hard to be "adult" that it's just lackluster plots with some sex references and swear words thrown in because they're "adults" now. Like I don't know about most people but I still have hobbies and interests as an adult just like I had as a teen
"Treating it like a genre rather than a medium." That's so elegantly put and something I'll remember! I can think of so many other things this applies to as well, like 80% of Broadway musicals having the "Broadway sound" rather than just being seen as a medium into which any style of music can fit. I hope more animations follows the path of Bojack Horseman, Castlevania, and the like in the future. There's so much potential in this medium we're not getting.
@Glass Makes Weird Stuff Yeah I definitely think this is the case. A lot of adult animation I feel especially now uses that status as a crutch almost, they're like "we can do all this vulgar stuff so we don't have to be clever with our jokes" making them less creative with their humor and story telling.
Kid Cosmic is better than Invincible and She-ra did actually wrote characters breaking up well better than Amber whole deal. And don't get me started about Adventure Time specials, they're great.
The problem is they don't actually tackle adult promblem. The reason I enjoyed Bojack horseman so much was because they kept talking about the stresses of adult life and also give us a good laugh as well.
Its kinda sad to see how "kid" shows are more funny and mature then adult shows, and most of the "adult" animation in the west that is well received is anime
*Sonic Boom, a childrens' cartoon:* "Anytime someone calls attention to the breaking of gender roles, it ultimately undermines the concept of gender equality by implying that this is an exception and not the status quo." *Rick & Morty, an adult cartoon:* Mr. Poopybutthole.
Personally, I think most adult animation relies too much on overusing sex and gore for humor. There is so much more to being an adult than understanding vulgar subjects, and the jokes only end up being unfunny and repetitive. It’s also really sad to see the actual animation aspect so overlooked. As someone who's passionate about the arts, it sucks when characters look like puppets reading from a script with no further aesthetic values. This video really did well in pointing out the monotonous style and lack of time for the animators. I also want to add that most adult shows seem to be more like comedy skits, with little plot, if any at all. Generally they just lack any style, since design or music is just not their focus. It’s just so rare to find a good adult cartoons anymore, but it does make shows like bojack horseman or the midnight gospel seem all the more amazing kinda went on a rant there but thought this video was a nice place to dump these thoughts :’)
That is the main reason I cannot stand South Park. Haven't for more than a decade now Even their legitimately funny episodes are absolutely ruined for me because at SOME F-CKING POINT they have to go excessive in gore or just plain disgusting. Not to mention their holier than thou mentality about nostalgia, despite being a nostalgic property themselves. And the media/public's vehement defense of South Park literally being beyond critique. You either have to love the show or you're just "a little b-tch that doesn't get it man"
@Shin Shaman LOL _Yes,_ I expect the people out in TV land to give a sh!t about what they put out, other wise you get what we have now, nobody really watching anything because it's all hot garbage or regurgated, and producers not taking chances because they are struggling to make money with the plies of safe shit they put out. Maybe instead of trying to cutting corners and making cheap family guy clones they should do there job and put things people want to watch, Quality TV. Just look at Rick and Morty when it first came on, it was a hit, because it an entertaining concept with quality execution, that's all we need, it doesn't have to be a master piece, and Rick and Morty wasn't some indie show that got picked up or a frankinstein of market research. They make these cheap unfunny family guy clones because they have no idea why people liked it in the first place, not because people actually like what they think they liked about it.
@Shin Shaman No one actually watches this sh!t, you edgy internet stereotype. I'm trying to tell you the only reason this sh!t is still happening is because producers are deadset on wanting simpsons/family guy/South park, something that can cast a wide audience and they aren't taking risk on anything else, the problem is and listen closely: *The don't know what made simpsons/family guy/South park popular.* Your argument isn't about the mainstream landscape, but the mainstream landscape is the conversation at hand, all your doing telling people to look somewhere else if they want to just find better adult animation and even if they did all that niche sh!t isn't what executives want, again, they want causal and or relatable, which was what simpsons/family guy/South park was and today rick and morty, the only difference being they were competent entertaining shows (and yes despite you living in meme world Rick and Morty at one point fit that criteria), and guess what *no one had to look for them,* so looking elsewhere's not gonna help anymore than it already has, which is very little. The actual problem is the industry isn't actually doing their job, and just cutting corners and being lazy, hoping they fall a$$ backward on to another successful causal show.
@Shin Shaman One more time. I don't watch it, what part of no one do you not understand? Family guys, Simpsons, and south parks ratings consistently fall each season and and the shamless clones don't get nearly as big as they did or last as long. *They don't actually care what we watch in this instance, other wise they would have changed a long time ago* THEY want casual shows because they want something that has the potential to draw as much as family guy/ Simpsons/southpark, that's why it's promoted. They. only. have faith. in. casual. relatable. shows. because. niche. sh!t. you. have. to. look. for. does. not. have. potential. to. draw. like. family guy. If they were really cared what we watched in this scenario anime would be part of mainstream adult animation already, but anime isn't casual enough, anime cost too much. It's not like people don't look else where, but again the discussion at hand is the landscape of *mainstream* Adult animation. The problem is more nuanced than just supply and demand.
is just a constant copy paste of the "adult animation" formula that pretty much rips off the actual good cartoons, most obvious mention being Rick & Morty, I feel like a lot of shitty adult cartoons try to be like it with the motion tween animation but tries too much to stay original with the exaggerated ugly faces and designs, overall, industries are just afraid of taking risks by being innovative and rather focus on what they believe is profitable.
It's sad when the shows that make people realize that a cartoon can be for adults are now just the templates to make episodes It's weird how Children/Teen animations have this big hype when they pull out a dark or adult moment like when Spongebob though he killed the inspector, while at the same time the Adult show is often ignored for the same joke. I think it's mostly because the adult shows tries to make every joke groundbreaking and dark while the kids shows having more limitations, gives them more room for hiding the adult moments. I wish adult media realizes that a dark joke only works if you don't expect one instead of spamming 8 of those in 10 minutes
As they say "creativity sparks in limitations". Shows for younger audicences need to jump so many hops that the creators need to be very imaginative and intelligent so it don't get boring and dull.
I'm a little irked that you didn't mention BoJack, despite having BoJack on the thumbnail. One of the best adult shows I've ever watched in recent times, it deserves a lot of praise that I feel others have already explained way better than I can.
I don't think she did, because she didn't need to. The essay was on the failure of adult animation currently. By having an animator talk about it and other series as ones they want to see more of, it provided enough info to let people know it was a well made show, but it isn't the norm.
@@493HZ What about Regular Show, Primal, Castlevania, Undone, Attack on Titan, Tuca and Bertie etc.? and would you say Bojack is a cross between classic Simpsons (as in seasons 1 to 11 before it became undead simpsons with seasons 12 to now) and Duckman? as much as Tuca and Bertie is a cross between Animaniacs, Rocko and Fritz the cat?
I just wonder how many times an animation studio is told "can you make the show more like family guy" by the higher ups before they just make family guy, but with TWO daughters!
I thought something like that when I saw on DisneyPlus/Star there was a new animated show that looked exactly like Bob's Burgers and the little boy had a hat on that looked like bear ears. Like in Bob's Burgers it was a girl and she had a rabbit ears hat. The name of the show was something with North.
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is a great example of what Western adult cartoons could look like. It’s an anime for adults, but there no sex, nudity or gruesome gore. Just pure genius, realism, philosophy and extremely emotional storytelling.
I honestly prefer children's cartoons if Im gonna watch them. With the exception of Bojack Horseman, nothing has ever come close to ATLA which is a kid's show. No show has made me more intrigued by a mystery than Gravity Falls yet another kid's show. A show like Recess explores very lofty sociological themes in extremely creative ways that dont feel on the nose. In short, kid's shows are just more creative on the whole.
if youd allow me to, id recommend adding Infinity Train to your list- its got a great sense of mystery and wonder as well, but it also gets pretty heavy and gut wrenching with its themes every season. it really is good stuff.
@@txrizzy3014 I much prefer older cartoons as well, but there are a few modern ones I love such as Regular Show, Over the Garden Wall, and Infinity Train.
If you want more of adult western animation you should try watch Denmarks CG classics are really good, but unfortunately not full series etc, but we have an animated show called "Pandaerne" , also "Terkel in Trouble", "Travel to Saturn", "Ronan the Barberian", "Checkered Ninja", etc. Thats outside of American animation..
I’m really surprised that there has been almost no attempts to have adult shows in the style of bad CGI. It seems like such an obvious goldmine to riff off of the animation of shit like bowling alley screens, Food Fight, Video Brinquedo, or the endless abyss of Christian direct to dvd movies. Bad CGI to me is hilarious and Xavier: Renegade Angel ironically shows how much potential there is with the medium of CGI itself, but unfortunately Xavier is the only example of deliberately bad CGI TV show that I know of, only on TH-cam have people honed in on this style like Cool 3D World or Seinfeldspitstains.
They actually tried that back in the early 2000s with "Father of the Pride" and "Tripping the rift". They didn't get far, but with today's better technology and hindsight on what could be done better there's real potential.
@@f-22raptorlandingzone30 oh yeah you’re right, though the CGI animation used on those shows are more a product of their time rather than looking intentionally cheap like Xavier. I’m curious what one could do with an adult show that has a modern decent CGI artstyle but it’s a shame it hasn’t been attempted in so long.
I always love works of art that try to outwardly be ugly and disgusting instead of just bland and moderately ugly, it's a cool style, stuff like creulty squad, Xavier renegade angel and south park really speak to me in how crude they aspire to look
funnily enough, Aggretsuko is the epitome of 'adult animation.' made by the creator of Hello Kitty, it's a heartfelt and raw tv show that all adults can relate to
Honestly, I say western animation as a whole should go more independent. Western animation for years and decades has had the stigma of being for children and is still trying to shake off, companies only see what works and refuse to do anything more ambitious than a slighter edgier version of something made for children. Part of the reason why I started watching more anime come mid 2010s was that it just offered more to me as someone who was getting older, and had more series that stretched the medium than just being another raunchy sitcom. Part of why I respect Vivziepop as a creator, is that they created exactly what they wanted with almost no major studio backing them, and because of that they created a genuine adult animated series with a style completely its own. The issue with western animation, and especially western animation aimed at adults, is the lack of variety and no room for artistic growth. Don't get me wrong, comedy and action are valuable genres that can create classics in their own right, but they can't and shouldn't be the only genre the industry tackles, and they definitely shouldn't all have the same cookie cutter designs, blatantly and soullessly aping the styles of other artists. There is also something to be said about some styles being easier to animate and having a time table however, but from what I've heard this only really puts a bandage over a gapping wound of overwork and crunch, and as a wise person once said "crunch is a failure of the management, not a triumph of the workforce". This is a worldwide issue frankly that needs to be addressed, but I digress. I love animation, I always have. But it pains me to see how little major studios want to have it truly progress like other mediums. And the only way I can see that happening is if the west embraces independent creators and those creators making what they want for the most part.
Indie is good, but imo there needs to be more middle-tier studios that can take risks and do what they want, while also having the necessary workforce to push detail and quality.
@@krunkle5136 There used to be several more back in the day, but a lot of them have either gotten bankrupt, got bought out by a bigger company, or we just have no idea what the heck happened to them.
Bojack Horseman and Tuca and Bertie, BANGERS! Definitely what I find to be the most entertaining of adult animation. It's just genius and gorgeous, and I would pay large sums of money to see more of both.
I never watched a series longer than 2 seasons because i get bored easily and Minecraft acts like a sponge to my entertainment... Well except Bojack Horseman, that show is such a masterpiece I cant even explain
Bojack isn't really my kind of show, but it having the guts to discuss mental health in a respectful way, among other topics, is something that can't and shouldn't be overlooked.
@Shin Shaman You’re objectively wrong here, bud. Bojack is critically acclaimed and loved by fans and the industry. It’s animation is brilliant and unique, and its story is unrivaled among other adult animated sitcoms. Maybe you just don’t like Bojack as a character or his shenanigans? If that’s the case, then she show was doing it’s job well. Bojack isn’t a likable character by any means, we as the audience are supposed to feel frustrated and upset by his actions. I also suppose you could just have shit taste.
interesting, i never really took the proper time to think about it but this video does address a lot of interesting points. great job getting into the algorithm too :P
Hate to admit it, but its true. When I see here adult animation, my mind immediately jumps crass, vulgar humor and harsh animation. Whats odd is, why can't we take western animation into the same direction Japanese animation is going. (yes, Im gonna be that guy). In japan theres a growing audience for adult themed shows, but not the typical ecchi moe/softcore porn stuff most people think of, but shows with realistic characters about daily life and struggling to adapt to an everchanging social landscape. Right now on netflix theres a show call Aggrestuko, and at first glance you would think its a show for little kids because the art style is reminiscent of Hello Kitty, but the storylines are all very adult and tackles real issues allot 20 and 30 something millennials are dealing with each day. You have shows like Watanoi which again is a show with adult characters in a city setting that plays out like a typical romcom you'd see on day time television here in america. You have 91 days which is a classic mafioso story that has a script that could fit in with any Scorsese movie. Why do we insist on vulgar comedy being the standard and not just a genre. This is why Bojack Horseman is such a success, sure the animation is ugly, the jokes are crude, but at its core its psychological drama. Even with older shows like Futurama, its most beloved and memorable episodes aren't the "funniest" but are episodes that make you cry, make you question your youth and mortality, and make you wanna hold your loved ones close.
Paranoia agent and other Satoshi Kon's works also fit the adult anime category in my opinion. Babylon as well as Monster. Seinen in general is a great genre and the best anime comes from there.
The whole point of animation is that it’s unlimited you can make anything from scratch. Then why is the industry limiting what the medium itself can be? I would love to have Adult Animated Sci Fi, Horror, Action, Dramas, Period pieces etc...
This video was a lot of things. You're great at supporting your statements and not just telling them but showing visually as well. With the title I expected a largely negative view of adult animation, yet I felt you stayed impartial and it was instead a bit of a nostalgic tour back through the years spent watching these shows. You've done a lot of research it seems and the conclusion was strong. All around a really great video, I hope you enjoyed making it and continue to make more!
woah thank you! that was my exact intention, so i'm really glad it came off this way. i was hoping to draw in people who are unhappy with adult animation today and offer a new perspective. glad you liked it!
Really surprised nobody’s brought this up yet, but I gotta plug Infinity Train since I’m such a big fan! It is an incredibly well written animated series, but the reason I bring it up is because I’ve always felt like it never gets talked about in the context of “adult animation.” I believe that despite the fact that it’s marketed as a kids show, it finds a way to blur the lines enough to appeal to both young and old audiences, exploring the deep constructive psychological themes within narratives told through children going through the same emotional problems that many adults can relate to as well.
Moral Orel was a good show in regards to adult animation. (In my opinion.) I felt that while the jokes ended up taking a back seat in the end, it left a lasting impression for me.
Moral Orel was a very unique show and I don't think many other animated shows are even in the same realm. It was much darker and funny in an existential way.
The distinction between mature themes and mature content has always eluded network executives. Ironically most of the extreme gore, constant grossout or crass language of these shows appeals much more to children and teenagers than it does to actual adults.
@@Johnlindsey289 Robocop actually has themes behind its gore. Director Paul Verhoven envisioned the film as an "All American" take on the resurrection of Jesus, in specific commenting on the way American culture in the 80s was very Christian, and yet accepting more and more violence, both in entertainment and in the country's military actions. Throughout the film there are subtle visual references to the Bible to drive this theme in. (Alex loses his hand with a shit to the palm, mirroring the nail driven into Jesus' palm. Theres a scene where he walks over the tide from a beach. Looking like he's walking on water, etc.) Robocop used gore and religious imagry to make a criticism about how American culture wasn't practicing what it preached. Most adult animation just used gore and other gritty themes to prove it was made for adults.
@@guyofminimalimportance7 Robocop was satire of corporations. Paul Verhoeven makes quality edgy films like Total Recall and Starship Troopers, he's one of my fave filmmakers. And Dawn of the Dead 1978 is excellent by George Romero. Not all adult animation is comedy as stereotyped! there's other examples that go into other territories of genres like Spawn, Watership Down, Heavy Metal (Despite in one of the stories there's a comical story about stoner aliens as the film is an anthology that offers variety of genres of sci-fi fantasy action horror and a comedy story), The Maxx, Fantastic Planet, Fire and Ice, Wizards, DC animation, American Pop, Chico and Rita, Primal, Undone, Waltz with Bashir, Love Death and Robots, Felidae, Pink Floyd The Wall, Plague Dogs, Aeon Flux, Invincible, Time Masters, Starchaser, Rock and Rule, Cat City, Spine of Night, Ninja Scroll, Cowboy Bebop with the movie, Golgo 13 Professional, Akira, Perfect Blue, Princess Monononoke etc. all offer variety in different genres like sci-fi, fantasy, horror, action, drama, war as that's why i like these as they take risks..
@@Johnlindsey289 Oh yeah there are better adult animations which do a better job. I'm just saying that the industry is flooded with raunchy comedies which use crass content aimlessly.
You are so good at research, it's amazing. For a 10 Minute video, on a topic I wasn't really interested in, you managed to keep me engaged all the way to the end. Amazing job!
i know i said i was going to keep my opinions FAR away from this video, but look where that lead me. if you like any of the shows that i "rag" on, tell me why! nothing wrong with having different tastes. also, comment some suggestions below! i need to binge-watch something again... EDIT: i'm sorry i didn't talk about your favorite tv shows, i just didn't have enough time. like i said, drop them below! also a couple of you have pointed out i overlooked a pretty big editing oopsie with the timeline, sorry! i got my audio files mixed up. i hope my main points still come across. i really appreciate everyone's support in the past couple days. i hope you guys liked this one :) stay safe, peace!
not a tv show, but AS SOON as you mentioned fritz the cat, i thought about felidae. it's this really cool (yet... kinda stupid in the story) adult animated film from germany which has an english dub on youtube! it's weird as hell and pretty graphic but honestly it's fun
My friend was watching hoops not too long ago and I remember seeing a few episodes, it just felt kinda bland and uninteresting. Somehow it was rick and morty but worst. Anyway beastars just dropped a secobd season so you might wanna watch that if you havent already :)
Nothing happened to adult animation they're still new adult cartoons coming out as we speak. You're just too busy being a f****** blue tuber to see these
@@dogeatdog3579 Your content is amazing!!! It’s obvious how hard you work on it, and all of your videos that I’ve seen are interesting, well-thought-out, and very cohesive. You’re incredible at what you do and I hope that you never doubt that! As far as suggestions for adult animation go, I saw the titular character in the thumbnail, but I wasn’t sure if you’d seen it; I’d absolutely recommend BoJack Horseman! The first season is a little more just establishing itself and its characters, so it can feel a tiny bit done at times, but it still does get to some very real places. However, aside from that, the series explores many real and heavy subjects like depression, infertility, deep-seated regrets, and the looming threat of Capitalist growth😉 (✨hee hee, leftie things✨). Anywho, I hope that you have an amazing day, and that you know how wonderful you and your content are! Stay safe and happy💖💖
Society: "Cartoons are for kids" The cartoons: Gravity Falls, Hilda, Steven Universe, Over the Garden Wall, OK KO!, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Star vs the Forces of Evil are very mature and talks about serious issues like lost a loved one, abandoned, heartbroken, betrayal, violence, depression and disasters. but it talks about good things like teamwork, be yourself, loving yourself and the rest, be there with each other, in love with your BFFs, etc.
Star vs the forces of evil is debatable since the ending of the show in my perspective demonstrates that it's easier to give up something that's been in the family for generations to stay with your human boyfriend. "Toffee was right." So many magical beings were wiped away because they chose the most detrimental route to defeating the Solorian warriors. They didn't even kill the person that caused all that trouble (although Moon was the one to make such a crummy deal)
I really like most of the video, bout around the 5:00 minute mark you seem to imply that The Simpsons is a descendant of south park, when it aired almost a decade before. It's much more a parody of older sitcoms like All in the Family that got political than a child of SP, plus, by the time south park aired, the Simpsons had already ended what people consider it's peak
@@Classical19821 well, the thing about all modern adult animation being so samey because studios are too cheap to do anything else is a symptom of capitalism, they're all trying to play off family guy's success, and family guy was at it best nothing more than an edgier, lazier knock off of the Simpsons.
@@Classical19821 *Late stage capitalism* is what was said, not a direct insult to capitalism itself. I figured the point was that studios would rather factory produce bland formulaic animation with the sole intent of following someone else's blueprints so only profit can be made.
I still love animation, so I like to watch shows under the radar. I recommend shows like F Is For Family, Final Space, The Dragon Prince, Glitch Techs, Kid Cosmic, and The Last Kids On Earth. I also recommend an anime called Golden Boy and Ghost Stories (I've heard the English dubs are excellent)
Primal for me its the best example of adult animation: Excellent animation, good art direction and no sex jokes, millenial edgy jokes or nihilistic messages
It’s funny because I recently was wondering why adult animation had an amateur style. Coming across this video it makes me realize that the animators don’t have enough time to invest making more aesthetically looking characters. It sucks because you have a deadline and you need to please the audience as well as the people you work for.
Thank you for this video. I've been a fan of Family Guy/The Simpsons for a long while and I felt like the quality of those shows have weaned for a while (more so on Family Guy since its downfall was noticeable by the early-mid 2010s, imo at least). This video explained the struggles of most people who worked in adult animation and I thank you for your research.
Japan is the prime example of how mature animation can be. Every Yugioh series, up until Sevens has at times been very serious. Tons of other anime as well
Final space is really underrated that including primal! Final space obviously has comedy but it’s honestly so amazing the way it tackles child abandonment, loss, love, guilt and all other crazy deep topics but without hammering them deep down! Primal is a well animated show about the prehistoric era and its way to good to pass up! Definitely my top 2 shows this last decade
I feel like adult animated shows should be more like these shows: The Midnight Gospel, Final Space, South Park, the early years of Family Guy. In other words, I personally feel like they should be funny, memorable, sometimes serious, unique, and I guess it could have an occasional dirty joke every once in a while. But how come so many animated adult shows have immense cynicism, constant dirty jokes, darkness, sometimes drugs and alcohol, and sometimes murder? I understand it's for adults, but I doubt that every older bloke can find stuff like that entertaining. If I could make a show, which I definitely want to, I'd make it like this: There's plenty of mean and cynical characters, but there's always good people there to balance them out. Violence, drugs, and alcohol exists, but it's not constantly presented or used. There's at least two or three optimists in the cast, and their innocence is never needlessly destroyed. Yes, there is mentioning of sex, but it's never shown or talked about constantly. There's also a little bit of pathos to flesh out the emotions of the characters sometimes, y'know? Don't wanna just leave 'em as undeveloped husks. What I'm saying is, I'd try to balance it all out. There's plenty of edginess and sweetness all mixed in a bowl, but there's also a secret ingredient, and that's humor. You can't make a show, especially one for adults, unless it has some humor to balance out the darkness sometimes. Now I'm no genius, I'm just thinking out loud, but if I could actually make a show, that's how I would build the show. In summary, I'd just make it something that's fun to watch. Something to make people laugh. Something to make people cry... Something to make you think, probably.
Adult Animation is much like Fast Food. It can either be really good (First 12 or so Simpsons seasons,Bojack Horseman,Beavis and Butt-Head) Or really bad (Brickleberry,Paradise PD,Modern Family guy)
Family Guy was at least amusing for the first 8 seasons I will admit after which it became shite. I just hate pointing that out and prefer to think I had no part of it. Went off FG as soon as I turned 30.
Most American adult animation looks like garbage. It's flat, doesn't really vary in camera angles/cinematography, and looks like it's animated in flash. Voice acting is what it's centered around, with the rest of the content being throwaway.
It seems more that independent groups do have a better idea about adult animation and how to properly portray adult life or mature comedy (even if it can be vulgar or crass), such examples being Vivziepop's works, Brain Dumped, and Sublo and Tangy Mustard, at when it comes to western animation.
the comedy is far superior in some of the cartoons made for teens and children. whereas adult animation go on and on about sex, drugs and general vulgarity. children cartoons can have a really witty humour, a likeable cast of characters and some deep story archs that everyone can learn from no matter the age.
I definitely agree that adult animation is at it's most unique right now. A good example of this is Final Space, one of my personal favorite adult cartoons. It has a very interesting overarching story, compelling characters and relationships, good comedy (by my standards at least), and amazing animation (simple artstyle, but the character movement is very fluid and expressive, and the backgrounds are gorgeous). Not to mention that Final Space takes advantage of it's TV-14 rating by making it feel like that there's an actual sense of danger and risk to the characters' lives, something that children's cartoons normally can't do. Final Space isn't perfect, and I certainly have critiques, but I still love it! Highly recommend!
Close Enough is one of the best adult animation who talks about being an adult. It's basically Regular Show but from with adult pov. (While RG was more a pov of an teenager/young adult)
I feel like this could be said in not only adult animation but also western *adult* media in general. Most of these “adult related” medias only see the “sex drugs alcohol” in adult themes, while there are so much more than that. I’ve seen a lot of ppl that i know tend to gravitate towards Eastern medias like k-dramas and anime bc the themes are way more diverse, more creative and they could cover actual adult themes western adult media couldn’t
I mean, they are. Over the last few years we’ve had shows like Blood of Zeus, Onyx Equinox, DOTA: Dragon’s Blood, Arcane, Seis Manos, Primal, Trese, etc. Warner Bros even un-canceled Young Justice and geared it more towards adults.
I'm currently enjoying Helluva Boss and excited for Hazbin Hotel (both series created by Vivienne Medrano). Though these shows follow the stereotype that gore/sexual innuendos make something "adult", I think they're pushing the bar by using a not-so-typical animation style, incorporating musical aspects, diversity and representation, as well as experimenting with a new business and production model. Overall it's super creative compared to other adult shows and I hope to see more like it.
It is creative, but the problem with Helluva Boss is that it further feeds into the stereotype that all adult shows are all just sexual and crass humor when the reality is that animation can go beyond that.
@@Meimoons I wouldn't say that's a problem with the show. Yes, it would be good to get more adult shows that are not necessarily sexual or crass, but I don't think it should be ALL shows. Like I said, Helluva Boss is doing something different in many aspects, but I don't think it needs be completely different in every single way posible. There should still be a place for sexual and crass humor in adult animation (I personally enjoy it when it's done well)... and if I'm gonna consume that type of content, I think it's so cool to find a show that's so colorful, gay and musical... while also being sexual and crass. I don't know, I really don't think a show being like this is the problem, I think the general lack of diversity in the medium of adult animation is the actual problem.
This perfectly sums the status of animations geared towards adults. I wish you went over more of the adult swim shows like the shivering truth, superjail, or even king of the hill.
I really love American Dad. Yes, for the first few seasons it was a Simpsons/Family Guy clone but the show really has unique qualities to it now. The move from Fox to TBS has given the writers a lot more freedom and now it's wacky, but still grounded in reality when it needs to be.
I think another thing that helps is a lot of the writing staff for American Dad consists of the same people who worked on the original Family Guy pre-cancellation seasons
I think the things I look for in adult shows is exploration of mature and sometimes difficult and relatable themes we can take from them. Shows like Tuca and Bertie, Harley Quinn and Invincible explore serious and everyday issues like mental illness, toxicity in relationships, abuse or post traumatic stress disorder while also showing how having healthy and supportive relationships can help people work through these obstacles. It also helps when there's a level of sincerity to these stories. As for the humor, instead of relying heavily on shock value and being offensive, the humor is primarily based around character dynamics and is also relatable, though some vulgar humor here and there isn't a problem.
I didn’t expect this video to actually cover the deadlines and bad pay. Canada is a service animation industry, we don’t get to aspire for Disney quality work or what ever. We do what we can with the time we’re give . We know it sucks but sadly that’s life and that’s why all Canadian animation talent moves to the USA where they can actually be paid well and make good work under union
it's honestly depressing because the reason late stage capitalism and big streaming companies (who don't really care about the quality of these shows) have been able to take advantage of animators is because of the advances in technology in the last 20 years. like, it'd been insane to ask a season of the simpsons to be made in 8 months back in the 90's, but because digital animation is (supposedly) easier and quicker, these companies have no shame in asking that of their employees. the way i see it, most animators are stuck in the same boat as most game devs; you either take a gamble and go work on a project that you genuinely think is good in which you're treated like a person and risk not seeing any major success from it or you go work for a big company that'll mistreat you but deliver a steady income. you're right that unionization is key here, as it's also been pushed as the solution in game development, but the bleak reality is that if one of the best animated shows ever, bojack horseman, can get cut short because of (allegedly) the animation studio unionizing... what hope is there really other than adult swim still being an institution?
To be fair, it's not like kids' cartoons are paragons of originality. Bean-mouthed characters in pastel marshmallow universes, with such tough-hard hitting lessons as "it's okay to cry".
Bojack horseman is not only one of the best animated shows I've ever seen, but simply one of the best shows I've ever watched. It has a unique and charming art style, the struggles are relatable, its brilliantly written, its witty and completely heartbreaking at times. It's a masterpiece.
you wanna know why there are more independent projects out there? because almost all of the Large name products suck ass. I'm glad we got stuff like Helluva and Hazbin to keep us from losing our minds.
4:18 It is pronounced as Grain-ing, or at leasyhow he says it in DVD audio commentaries. However, in Simpsons games, where Matt plays himself, he would be asked, "are you sure?", and reply with, "no", as a joke.
The animation business is hell when I was a kid I thought though being an artist is easy and stuff but now I realize that there's a lot more to it and it's honestly stressful hard to say the least I honestly have the highest respect for artists now. Aside that this was a very well made, edited and researched video I hope you make more videos like this one but I hope you continue to make videos in general
I'm surprised no one brought up Invincible. It feels like one of those early to mid-2000s action shows that I grew up on with an emphasis on the more brutal aspects of superhero-ing. It doesn't feel as abrasively cynical as the main lineup of adult animated shows currently on, there's some heart to it that so many shows are missing.
At least there are a few adult animated shows that will change adult animation forever. There a a few recent adult animated shows that are good. Like for example, Final Space, Primal, Invincible, Harley Quinn, Tuca & Bertie, Castlevania, Love Death + Robots, Seis Manos, Hazbin Hotel, Blood of Zues, Bless The Harts, Duncanville, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K., The Great North, Helluva Boss, Solar Opposites, Central Park and HouseBroken. Some of these shows have storytelling elements and some of these shows have clever humor and reveal some heart towards the viewers.
People always forget that the majority of any medium is garbage and we only remember the classics so it seems like we have more garbage coming out nowadays when we really are just able to see it more clearly with the internet.
I grew up watching The Simpsons and Family Guy with my brother and parents. In fact, I grew up on CN and AS so King of the Hill also holds a close place in my heart. My family and I quit watching most new adult cartoons after Brian was killed. The only somewhat recent adult animation show my family still watches it Bob’s Burgers and of course King of the Hill when it’s on.
One of my favorite adult shows as of recent is a show called Final Space. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s about a guy named Gary who encounters an alien which he names Mooncake. Mooncake is being hunted down by a dictator named Lord Commander, and Gary swears to protect him at all costs. I like this show because it feels (to me at least) like a balance between both an adult and kid cartoon. Adult because it has some dirty jokes and swearing at times but it doesn’t throw them at you constantly like Family Guy or South Park. It also feels like a kids show because of the plot and surroundings. The characters are constantly jumping to different locations and meeting new people. it makes me feel nostalgic as I watched a lot of shows like that as a kid (Adventure Time, Pokemon, Regular Show, etc.) it gives you the sense of wonder as you feel like your traveling all over the Galaxy to achieve your goals. The show has its bright and colorful moments but also tackles serious subjects, like death for example. Gary’s father is killed during one of his missions before the events of the show. Throughout the first season Gary makes it his mission to finish what his father didn’t get to complete. Other characters go through development and must tackle their own problems. A few other main characters go through similar struggles, such as understanding who they are and what their purpose is, or learning to change their life for the better. It’s easily become one of my favorite shows of all time and I recommend it to everyone, especially those who like Sci-fi, as it’s very heavy on that. I hope all of you love it as much as me :) It’s on HBO Max if your interested
Adult animation means something totally different than back in the 90s. Anime has inspired western animation so much that it caused this natural evolution both in kid's and adult animation of becoming much more experimental, deep and dark. It's not inspired by South Park and The Simpsons anymore, it's inspired by works like Death Note, FMA:B, or Mob Psycho
Personally, I just find out the “animated sitcom” formula that most Adult Animation goes for these days only really appeals to an older (or Conservative) cohort. I’ve noticed quite a few in my generation (Millennials) tend to resent the fact that a barely employable asshole and a stay-at-home Mom can enjoy a Middle Class lifestyle, where we’re working multiple jobs and can barely even afford Rent, nevermind a home. Though in the broader scheme of “Adult Animation”, Rick and Morty’s Decoy episode put it best. “You see, Ricks, they get lazy. There’s always a shitty Decoy near the end. but those decoys made decoys too, and got lazy themselves. Far enough down the line….there be Monsters.” It’s really easy to re-contextualize this quote for adult animation.
Great video! Given how memed to hell Family Guy it's very difficult to talk about it objectively, but I'm glad you did. For better or worse it was a widely popular show and had a lasting impact on the animation industry. The unfortunate truth is that there's still a lot of stigma around animation to where unless its a children's show or a vessel for adult gags and satire, people are not really drawn to it. Several shows like Bojack Horseman and Moral Orel have shown you can have profound storytelling comparable to any 'Golden Age' live-action drama while utilizing the unique abilities afforded by animation. Not to say that all animated shows should become depressing dramas about serious issues, but these were very artist-driven and while these shows have gotten fans and a share of critical praise, general audiences I think are still averse to it. Your comments about quick turnarounds and crunch time are also super relevant when talking about this. While everyone in the industry wants to make art that has lasting impacts on people, we also need to pay rent and maintain a career and will weather working on shows we don't feel passionate about that are more lucrative in order to stay in the industry. I'm hopeful that with the "Streaming Wars" companies will keep investing in niche, artist-driven shows to allow for more creative and groundbreaking adult animation. At any rate, animators should be treated better and we gotta fight the stigma around animation as an art form.
I'm glad you said all of this. Most of those "Family Guy" carbon copies you mentioned drive me up the wall. Same character archetypes, run of the mill jokes, same crappy lazy design, unwarranted crudeness that seems to crave on one upping other shows like "How far can go with this without getting borderline banned?" or "You think THIS show is crude? Well, check THIS out!!" (I'm excluding American Dad because as much as a Family Guy clone it is, it's actually a good show.) EDIT: (and Bob's Burgers, because that, too, is a great show, and it's the farthest from a Family Guy clone) Rick and Morty and Castlevania are my top recent adult animated series favorites. When it comes to older shows, I LOVE Metalocalypse.
Big mouth is “adult animtion” but it came out when i was about 12 or 13 watching it made me feel better about what i was going through and made up for the sex education i never got due to only abstinence being taught, it deals with mental health, learning disorders, sexuality ,racism ect ect. Its an amazing show in my opinion and didn’t deserve hate , yes the animation style is wacky but they arent doing this to be another carbon copy.
People have the problem with execution, just because a story has good themes doesn't mean the execution is good. It's too reliant on Gross and random humour to the point that it becomes annoying and the characters are obnoxiously unlikable. The themes of going through puberty are actually interesting but how it was handled it's pretty shallow in and it leaves ALOT to be desired in my opinion. I'm not saying that the story should have gone full serious, But there are massive flaws with how it went
Dude, I found you through your morditwi video but I’ve subscribed because all your videos are awesome! Lookin forward to whatever you make next- im sure whatever it is you can make it interesting :)
Great video, and you make a great point. If producers want to make quality animation, they need to give the animation team the time and money they deserve. At least we have Rick and Morty.
Sometimes good animation can't save a bad story like Eight Crazy Nights for example may look pretty but the story stinks, sometimes you can save cheap animation wth a good story like Daria for example. Tezuka once said you can save poor animation with a good story but you can't save good animation with a poor story". Beauty an the Beast taught us "do not be decieved by apparances for bauty is found within" And Aladdin did said "do not be fooled by it's commonplace appearance, it is no what is on the outide but what is on the inside that counts"
cartoons for children can often be as shallow and superficial (aka for money) as "adult" animation. I think animation can be a great way to convey really challenging and real problems in a more creative and metaphorical way. Bee and Puppycat is a great example of cartoons for adults in my opinion. Nourishing, funny, creative, and relatable. "Adult" media in western society often means devoid of heartfelt looks into what life is like, and sharing that art with people to inspire them. and it is truthfully disheartening to me. Idk im just spouting here but anyway: Im really enjoying your videos and the effort you put into them is admirable. Thank you for sharing.
You are absoltely hilarious and this was a topic I never thought that deep into but this video was fascinating! Also you sound like someone I could totally be pals with!
The problem with adult animation is people hear "adult ", and their minds insrantly go to crass humor, current events, and sexual inmuendos. While im not trashing on all of Adult Cartoons (as i like a handful of them myself), they just dont have the same sense of "wonder" and heart to it.
Im not surprised why so many adults feel more attached to Disney and Cartoons aimed at teens
@Shin Shaman lmao you good bro?
@Shin Shaman its almost as if we're talking about modern adult animation. pay attention dude.
@@noesarmiento4621 dont mind him. He's a TH-camr who's known for saying things like this. Just ignore him and he'll go away.
Agreed. I find Japan has a better grasp on making interesting "adult" animation. When you've got something like Attack on Titan, with its gorgeous animation, interesting story (still chock full of things adults have to think about like war and politics), and epic battles, why would I ever settle for the U.S.'s image, aka, crass, sexual humor with flat, 2D animation? Like, that's almost all there is nowadays it feels. Sounds like there were better shows early on for adults, but at least for modern adult western animation, it's really no comparison in my opinion. I also just really appreciate "kids" animation here better like Avatar, as they are still very fun to watch years later.
I've noticed this also becoming an issue with rebooting teen/kids shows with a now-adult cast! Like for example the iCarly or Full House reboots feel like they're trying so hard to be "adult" that it's just lackluster plots with some sex references and swear words thrown in because they're "adults" now. Like I don't know about most people but I still have hobbies and interests as an adult just like I had as a teen
"Treating it like a genre rather than a medium." That's so elegantly put and something I'll remember! I can think of so many other things this applies to as well, like 80% of Broadway musicals having the "Broadway sound" rather than just being seen as a medium into which any style of music can fit.
I hope more animations follows the path of Bojack Horseman, Castlevania, and the like in the future. There's so much potential in this medium we're not getting.
@Logan Roof
Don't feed the trolls, kids.
@@evanrivet5532
I don’t understand how the internet can make these people feel so powerful laughing at someone else’s tragedies.
It's a real shame that modern children's animation is more mature than most adult animation.
@Glass Makes Weird Stuff Ed Edd n Eddy was Child's Play compared to the Adult Swim shows for adults
@Glass Makes Weird Stuff Yeah I definitely think this is the case. A lot of adult animation I feel especially now uses that status as a crutch almost, they're like "we can do all this vulgar stuff so we don't have to be clever with our jokes" making them less creative with their humor and story telling.
You might regret saying children cartoons more mature then adult cartoons.
Are ya felling it now Mr. Krabs? The episode were SpongeBob and patrick and Mr. Krabs were panty raiding in Mr krab's moms house got banned.
Kid Cosmic is better than Invincible and She-ra did actually wrote characters breaking up well better than Amber whole deal. And don't get me started about Adventure Time specials, they're great.
Close Enough by J.G Quintel is a nice adult show that deserves more recognition, and actually tackles problems adults go through.
I loved Regular Show but was sure he'd fall back on adult animation's overuse of sex ... but it avoided it
I agree! That was a great show I am very excited to see more of it.
@@Melanie-yz2pxwell this aged like milk🥛
The problem is they don't actually tackle adult promblem. The reason I enjoyed Bojack horseman so much was because they kept talking about the stresses of adult life and also give us a good laugh as well.
promblem?
@Shin Shaman the fact that you've come back to this video a second time, just to post more bait about how BoJack is bad, is pretty sad.
@Shin Shaman why
@Shin Shaman
It's excellent and on par with classic Simpsons (Seasons 1 to 11 and better than the rotten corpse that is Zombie Simpsons)
@Shin Shaman You really like playing the contrarian, huh.
Its kinda sad to see how "kid" shows are more funny and mature then adult shows, and most of the "adult" animation in the west that is well received is anime
@God Slayer that's why I put " around adult when calling anime adult animation
Honestly a lot of the more popular anime are very childish
*Sonic Boom, a childrens' cartoon:* "Anytime someone calls attention to the breaking of gender roles, it ultimately undermines the concept of gender equality by implying that this is an exception and not the status quo."
*Rick & Morty, an adult cartoon:* Mr. Poopybutthole.
@@horaciosi yea, a lot of "kids" shows have a lot of deeper meaning than adult shows
2010 sucks
Personally, I think most adult animation relies too much on overusing sex and gore for humor. There is so much more to being an adult than understanding vulgar subjects, and the jokes only end up being unfunny and repetitive.
It’s also really sad to see the actual animation aspect so overlooked. As someone who's passionate about the arts, it sucks when characters look like puppets reading from a script with no further aesthetic values. This video really did well in pointing out the monotonous style and lack of time for the animators.
I also want to add that most adult shows seem to be more like comedy skits, with little plot, if any at all. Generally they just lack any style, since design or music is just not their focus. It’s just so rare to find a good adult cartoons anymore, but it does make shows like bojack horseman or the midnight gospel seem all the more amazing
kinda went on a rant there but thought this video was a nice place to dump these thoughts :’)
@Shin Shaman We shouldn't have to *look,* that's the problem.
That is the main reason I cannot stand South Park. Haven't for more than a decade now
Even their legitimately funny episodes are absolutely ruined for me because at SOME F-CKING POINT they have to go excessive in gore or just plain disgusting.
Not to mention their holier than thou mentality about nostalgia, despite being a nostalgic property themselves. And the media/public's vehement defense of South Park literally being beyond critique. You either have to love the show or you're just "a little b-tch that doesn't get it man"
@Shin Shaman LOL _Yes,_ I expect the people out in TV land to give a sh!t about what they put out, other wise you get what we have now, nobody really watching anything because it's all hot garbage or regurgated, and producers not taking chances because they are struggling to make money with the plies of safe shit they put out.
Maybe instead of trying to cutting corners and making cheap family guy clones they should do there job and put things people want to watch, Quality TV. Just look at Rick and Morty when it first came on, it was a hit, because it an entertaining concept with quality execution, that's all we need, it doesn't have to be a master piece, and Rick and Morty wasn't some indie show that got picked up or a frankinstein of market research. They make these cheap unfunny family guy clones because they have no idea why people liked it in the first place, not because people actually like what they think they liked about it.
@Shin Shaman No one actually watches this sh!t, you edgy internet stereotype. I'm trying to tell you the only reason this sh!t is still happening is because producers are deadset on wanting simpsons/family guy/South park, something that can cast a wide audience and they aren't taking risk on anything else, the problem is and listen closely: *The don't know what made simpsons/family guy/South park popular.*
Your argument isn't about the mainstream landscape, but the mainstream landscape is the conversation at hand, all your doing telling people to look somewhere else if they want to just find better adult animation and even if they did all that niche sh!t isn't what executives want, again, they want causal and or relatable, which was what simpsons/family guy/South park was and today rick and morty, the only difference being they were competent entertaining shows (and yes despite you living in meme world Rick and Morty at one point fit that criteria), and guess what *no one had to look for them,* so looking elsewhere's not gonna help anymore than it already has, which is very little. The actual problem is the industry isn't actually doing their job, and just cutting corners and being lazy, hoping they fall a$$ backward on to another successful causal show.
@Shin Shaman One more time. I don't watch it, what part of no one do you not understand? Family guys, Simpsons, and south parks ratings consistently fall each season and and the shamless clones don't get nearly as big as they did or last as long. *They don't actually care what we watch in this instance, other wise they would have changed a long time ago* THEY want casual shows because they want something that has the potential to draw as much as family guy/ Simpsons/southpark, that's why it's promoted. They. only. have faith. in. casual. relatable. shows. because. niche. sh!t. you. have. to. look. for. does. not. have. potential. to. draw. like. family guy.
If they were really cared what we watched in this scenario anime would be part of mainstream adult animation already, but anime isn't casual enough, anime cost too much.
It's not like people don't look else where, but again the discussion at hand is the landscape of *mainstream* Adult animation. The problem is more nuanced than just supply and demand.
is just a constant copy paste of the "adult animation" formula that pretty much rips off the actual good cartoons, most obvious mention being Rick & Morty, I feel like a lot of shitty adult cartoons try to be like it with the motion tween animation but tries too much to stay original with the exaggerated ugly faces and designs, overall, industries are just afraid of taking risks by being innovative and rather focus on what they believe is profitable.
@Logan Roof lol get off the internet you attention-deprived fetus
Rick and Morty isn't good.
@@thestrongprevail3039 Yeah, it is good
@Logan Roof you again.
@Logan Roof tiktok milk 😔
It's sad when the shows that make people realize that a cartoon can be for adults are now just the templates to make episodes
It's weird how Children/Teen animations have this big hype when they pull out a dark or adult moment like when Spongebob though he killed the inspector, while at the same time the Adult show is often ignored for the same joke. I think it's mostly because the adult shows tries to make every joke groundbreaking and dark while the kids shows having more limitations, gives them more room for hiding the adult moments. I wish adult media realizes that a dark joke only works if you don't expect one instead of spamming 8 of those in 10 minutes
Think of it like a wink, once or twice is pleasing but too much makes it look like you have a problem
@Logan Roof ok zionist
As they say "creativity sparks in limitations".
Shows for younger audicences need to jump so many hops that the creators need to be very imaginative and intelligent so it don't get boring and dull.
I'm a little irked that you didn't mention BoJack, despite having BoJack on the thumbnail. One of the best adult shows I've ever watched in recent times, it deserves a lot of praise that I feel others have already explained way better than I can.
Agreed. I was waiting for her to discuss Bojack, but oh well...
I don't think she did, because she didn't need to. The essay was on the failure of adult animation currently. By having an animator talk about it and other series as ones they want to see more of, it provided enough info to let people know it was a well made show, but it isn't the norm.
Well written show
Bojack is the best adult cartoon of this generation imo. Writing is super good and doesn't just rely on absurdism for laughs
@@493HZ
What about Regular Show, Primal, Castlevania, Undone, Attack on Titan, Tuca and Bertie etc.? and would you say Bojack is a cross between classic Simpsons (as in seasons 1 to 11 before it became undead simpsons with seasons 12 to now) and Duckman? as much as Tuca and Bertie is a cross between Animaniacs, Rocko and Fritz the cat?
I just wonder how many times an animation studio is told "can you make the show more like family guy" by the higher ups before they just make family guy, but with TWO daughters!
@Logan Roof not funny, didn't laugh
@Logan Roof Sorry. Can't find the funny
I thought something like that when I saw on DisneyPlus/Star there was a new animated show that looked exactly like Bob's Burgers and the little boy had a hat on that looked like bear ears. Like in Bob's Burgers it was a girl and she had a rabbit ears hat. The name of the show was something with North.
@@hairyasstruman2163 to be fair, think it was the same creators cause it's most definitely the same art style
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is a great example of what Western adult cartoons could look like. It’s an anime for adults, but there no sex, nudity or gruesome gore. Just pure genius, realism, philosophy and extremely emotional storytelling.
What about ninja scroll?
I honestly prefer children's cartoons if Im gonna watch them. With the exception of Bojack Horseman, nothing has ever come close to ATLA which is a kid's show. No show has made me more intrigued by a mystery than Gravity Falls yet another kid's show. A show like Recess explores very lofty sociological themes in extremely creative ways that dont feel on the nose. In short, kid's shows are just more creative on the whole.
if youd allow me to, id recommend adding Infinity Train to your list- its got a great sense of mystery and wonder as well, but it also gets pretty heavy and gut wrenching with its themes every season. it really is good stuff.
@@txrizzy3014 I much prefer older cartoons as well, but there are a few modern ones I love such as Regular Show, Over the Garden Wall, and Infinity Train.
If you want more of adult western animation you should try watch Denmarks CG classics are really good, but unfortunately not full series etc, but we have an animated show called "Pandaerne" , also "Terkel in Trouble", "Travel to Saturn", "Ronan the Barberian", "Checkered Ninja", etc. Thats outside of American animation..
Justice League/Justice League Unlimited are in my opinion some of the most emotionally complex stories ever told
The Dragon prince comes close if you have Netflix. The creator was the Head writer on ATLA, the only issue I have is that the first season is janky.
I’m really surprised that there has been almost no attempts to have adult shows in the style of bad CGI. It seems like such an obvious goldmine to riff off of the animation of shit like bowling alley screens, Food Fight, Video Brinquedo, or the endless abyss of Christian direct to dvd movies. Bad CGI to me is hilarious and Xavier: Renegade Angel ironically shows how much potential there is with the medium of CGI itself, but unfortunately Xavier is the only example of deliberately bad CGI TV show that I know of, only on TH-cam have people honed in on this style like Cool 3D World or Seinfeldspitstains.
They actually tried that back in the early 2000s with "Father of the Pride" and "Tripping the rift". They didn't get far, but with today's better technology and hindsight on what could be done better there's real potential.
@@f-22raptorlandingzone30 oh yeah you’re right, though the CGI animation used on those shows are more a product of their time rather than looking intentionally cheap like Xavier. I’m curious what one could do with an adult show that has a modern decent CGI artstyle but it’s a shame it hasn’t been attempted in so long.
@Logan Roof god fucking damn it do I have to deal with this shit for every marginally popular video
especially in our current meme climate, another Xavier Renegade could take the internet by storm with the right cards
I always love works of art that try to outwardly be ugly and disgusting instead of just bland and moderately ugly, it's a cool style, stuff like creulty squad, Xavier renegade angel and south park really speak to me in how crude they aspire to look
huge fan, keep it up
yoooo is that famous youtube celebrity Kirsten runquist
*karen runquist my bad
Heyoo!
Hey I know that guy
@@dogeatdog3579 blocked reported and tires slashed
funnily enough, Aggretsuko is the epitome of 'adult animation.' made by the creator of Hello Kitty, it's a heartfelt and raw tv show that all adults can relate to
Honestly, I say western animation as a whole should go more independent. Western animation for years and decades has had the stigma of being for children and is still trying to shake off, companies only see what works and refuse to do anything more ambitious than a slighter edgier version of something made for children. Part of the reason why I started watching more anime come mid 2010s was that it just offered more to me as someone who was getting older, and had more series that stretched the medium than just being another raunchy sitcom. Part of why I respect Vivziepop as a creator, is that they created exactly what they wanted with almost no major studio backing them, and because of that they created a genuine adult animated series with a style completely its own.
The issue with western animation, and especially western animation aimed at adults, is the lack of variety and no room for artistic growth. Don't get me wrong, comedy and action are valuable genres that can create classics in their own right, but they can't and shouldn't be the only genre the industry tackles, and they definitely shouldn't all have the same cookie cutter designs, blatantly and soullessly aping the styles of other artists.
There is also something to be said about some styles being easier to animate and having a time table however, but from what I've heard this only really puts a bandage over a gapping wound of overwork and crunch, and as a wise person once said "crunch is a failure of the management, not a triumph of the workforce". This is a worldwide issue frankly that needs to be addressed, but I digress.
I love animation, I always have. But it pains me to see how little major studios want to have it truly progress like other mediums. And the only way I can see that happening is if the west embraces independent creators and those creators making what they want for the most part.
Indie is good, but imo there needs to be more middle-tier studios that can take risks and do what they want, while also having the necessary workforce to push detail and quality.
@@krunkle5136 I agree, but those are sadly very few. The only real notable mid-size studio that does exactly that I can think of, is Cartoon Saloon
RIP Venture Bros
@@krunkle5136 There used to be several more back in the day, but a lot of them have either gotten bankrupt, got bought out by a bigger company, or we just have no idea what the heck happened to them.
Glad Alpha Betas and Helluva Boss are doing that now.
Bojack Horseman and Tuca and Bertie, BANGERS! Definitely what I find to be the most entertaining of adult animation. It's just genius and gorgeous, and I would pay large sums of money to see more of both.
I never watched a series longer than 2 seasons because i get bored easily and Minecraft acts like a sponge to my entertainment... Well except Bojack Horseman, that show is such a masterpiece I cant even explain
I also got obsessed with midnight gospel for like 2 months, so good too!
Bojack isn't really my kind of show, but it having the guts to discuss mental health in a respectful way, among other topics, is something that can't and shouldn't be overlooked.
@Shin Shaman If you didn’t liked the show and the writting yeah i can accept that but saying people who actualy enjoy it are stupid damn...
@Shin Shaman You’re objectively wrong here, bud. Bojack is critically acclaimed and loved by fans and the industry. It’s animation is brilliant and unique, and its story is unrivaled among other adult animated sitcoms. Maybe you just don’t like Bojack as a character or his shenanigans? If that’s the case, then she show was doing it’s job well. Bojack isn’t a likable character by any means, we as the audience are supposed to feel frustrated and upset by his actions. I also suppose you could just have shit taste.
bojack horseman is an absolute masterpiece. everytime ive sat down to watch it, i've ended up finishing the season.
interesting, i never really took the proper time to think about it but this video does address a lot of interesting points. great job getting into the algorithm too :P
Yeah
I’ve never heard of dog eat dog until their video came into my recommended
New subscriber here 👍
Hate to admit it, but its true. When I see here adult animation, my mind immediately jumps crass, vulgar humor and harsh animation. Whats odd is, why can't we take western animation into the same direction Japanese animation is going. (yes, Im gonna be that guy). In japan theres a growing audience for adult themed shows, but not the typical ecchi moe/softcore porn stuff most people think of, but shows with realistic characters about daily life and struggling to adapt to an everchanging social landscape. Right now on netflix theres a show call Aggrestuko, and at first glance you would think its a show for little kids because the art style is reminiscent of Hello Kitty, but the storylines are all very adult and tackles real issues allot 20 and 30 something millennials are dealing with each day. You have shows like Watanoi which again is a show with adult characters in a city setting that plays out like a typical romcom you'd see on day time television here in america. You have 91 days which is a classic mafioso story that has a script that could fit in with any Scorsese movie.
Why do we insist on vulgar comedy being the standard and not just a genre. This is why Bojack Horseman is such a success, sure the animation is ugly, the jokes are crude, but at its core its psychological drama. Even with older shows like Futurama, its most beloved and memorable episodes aren't the "funniest" but are episodes that make you cry, make you question your youth and mortality, and make you wanna hold your loved ones close.
Paranoia agent and other Satoshi Kon's works also fit the adult anime category in my opinion. Babylon as well as Monster. Seinen in general is a great genre and the best anime comes from there.
"The animation is ugly" take it back you monster Bojack is the most visually stunning show on Netflix
"the art style is reminiscent of Hello Kitty" Same company. Sanrio made both
@@zyaicob
Is Duckman no different on animation?
@ayy lmao just because YOU don’t like slice of life doesn’t mean the anime market is “train market”🙄🙄🙄
The whole point of animation is that it’s unlimited you can make anything from scratch. Then why is the industry limiting what the medium itself can be?
I would love to have Adult Animated Sci Fi, Horror, Action, Dramas, Period pieces etc...
The reason is probably money, like always.
you just described Final Space
Sounds like the Venture Bros. to me
More animated horror please!
@@ijustlikebees just watch shiki or any horror anime
This video was a lot of things. You're great at supporting your statements and not just telling them but showing visually as well. With the title I expected a largely negative view of adult animation, yet I felt you stayed impartial and it was instead a bit of a nostalgic tour back through the years spent watching these shows. You've done a lot of research it seems and the conclusion was strong. All around a really great video, I hope you enjoyed making it and continue to make more!
woah thank you! that was my exact intention, so i'm really glad it came off this way. i was hoping to draw in people who are unhappy with adult animation today and offer a new perspective. glad you liked it!
@Logan Roof
Godless creature
Really surprised nobody’s brought this up yet, but I gotta plug Infinity Train since I’m such a big fan! It is an incredibly well written animated series, but the reason I bring it up is because I’ve always felt like it never gets talked about in the context of “adult animation.” I believe that despite the fact that it’s marketed as a kids show, it finds a way to blur the lines enough to appeal to both young and old audiences, exploring the deep constructive psychological themes within narratives told through children going through the same emotional problems that many adults can relate to as well.
same!!! i'm absolutely obsessed with infinity train
The show's cancelled tho 😔
@@dogeatdog3579 that settles it im subscribing 🤝
Stuff like PRIMAL, Bojack, castlevania, blood of Zeus are good tho with excellent art styles, it’s just that they are over shadowed by carbon copies
Primal is dope. I can't wait for more episodes.
@@justanotherguyful twas pretty good imo
Carbon copies like.....
Like actually give me direct examples of each.
What about Undone, Invisible, Attack on Titan etc.?
Family-Guy.
Family-Guy is what happened to Adult-Animation.
In my opinion I feel like even if modern south park episodes aren't as good as before they are still miles better than modern family guy/Simpsons.
@mocha you mean the recent bobs burgers
@Logan Roof LMFAOOOOO
@mocha remember when bob wasn't just there and they had plot, now they have become a musical joke
@mocha south park is older than family guy
Simpsons and family guy should die
Moral Orel was a good show in regards to adult animation. (In my opinion.) I felt that while the jokes ended up taking a back seat in the end, it left a lasting impression for me.
Moral Orel was a very unique show and I don't think many other animated shows are even in the same realm. It was much darker and funny in an existential way.
@@Aster_Risk And then it gets canceled for being too dark for an adult show when their other shows that have done much worse 😑
@@dewolf123 people are weird sometimes, especially network execs
@@imonly1man_ No doubt
“alone” was the best episode of the entire series. you can’t tell me otherwise
thanks again for commissioning me!! Ending card looks great and the video is top notch as usual :)
thank YOU! i absolutely adore it
The distinction between mature themes and mature content has always eluded network executives. Ironically most of the extreme gore, constant grossout or crass language of these shows appeals much more to children and teenagers than it does to actual adults.
What makes an r rated live action film like Robocop no different?
@@Johnlindsey289 Robocop actually has themes behind its gore. Director Paul Verhoven envisioned the film as an "All American" take on the resurrection of Jesus, in specific commenting on the way American culture in the 80s was very Christian, and yet accepting more and more violence, both in entertainment and in the country's military actions.
Throughout the film there are subtle visual references to the Bible to drive this theme in. (Alex loses his hand with a shit to the palm, mirroring the nail driven into Jesus' palm. Theres a scene where he walks over the tide from a beach. Looking like he's walking on water, etc.) Robocop used gore and religious imagry to make a criticism about how American culture wasn't practicing what it preached. Most adult animation just used gore and other gritty themes to prove it was made for adults.
@@guyofminimalimportance7
Robocop was satire of corporations. Paul Verhoeven makes quality edgy films like Total Recall and Starship Troopers, he's one of my fave filmmakers. And Dawn of the Dead 1978 is excellent by George Romero.
Not all adult animation is comedy as stereotyped! there's other examples that go into other territories of genres like Spawn, Watership Down, Heavy Metal (Despite in one of the stories there's a comical story about stoner aliens as the film is an anthology that offers variety of genres of sci-fi fantasy action horror and a comedy story), The Maxx, Fantastic Planet, Fire and Ice, Wizards, DC animation, American Pop, Chico and Rita, Primal, Undone, Waltz with Bashir, Love Death and Robots, Felidae, Pink Floyd The Wall, Plague Dogs, Aeon Flux, Invincible, Time Masters, Starchaser, Rock and Rule, Cat City, Spine of Night, Ninja Scroll, Cowboy Bebop with the movie, Golgo 13 Professional, Akira, Perfect Blue, Princess Monononoke etc. all offer variety in different genres like sci-fi, fantasy, horror, action, drama, war as that's why i like these as they take risks..
@@Johnlindsey289 Oh yeah there are better adult animations which do a better job. I'm just saying that the industry is flooded with raunchy comedies which use crass content aimlessly.
You are so good at research, it's amazing. For a 10 Minute video, on a topic I wasn't really interested in, you managed to keep me engaged all the way to the end. Amazing job!
yooo thank you :D
*i'm sad because bojack horseman raised my expectations for adult animated shows so bad, and then i watched other adult shows. uh, yeah.*
i know i said i was going to keep my opinions FAR away from this video, but look where that lead me. if you like any of the shows that i "rag" on, tell me why! nothing wrong with having different tastes. also, comment some suggestions below! i need to binge-watch something again...
EDIT: i'm sorry i didn't talk about your favorite tv shows, i just didn't have enough time. like i said, drop them below! also a couple of you have pointed out i overlooked a pretty big editing oopsie with the timeline, sorry! i got my audio files mixed up. i hope my main points still come across.
i really appreciate everyone's support in the past couple days. i hope you guys liked this one :) stay safe, peace!
not a tv show, but AS SOON as you mentioned fritz the cat, i thought about felidae. it's this really cool (yet... kinda stupid in the story) adult animated film from germany which has an english dub on youtube! it's weird as hell and pretty graphic but honestly it's fun
My friend was watching hoops not too long ago and I remember seeing a few episodes, it just felt kinda bland and uninteresting. Somehow it was rick and morty but worst.
Anyway beastars just dropped a secobd season so you might wanna watch that if you havent already :)
Nothing happened to adult animation they're still new adult cartoons coming out as we speak. You're just too busy being a f****** blue tuber to see these
@@layceelay5382 did you watch the end of the video?
@@dogeatdog3579 Your content is amazing!!! It’s obvious how hard you work on it, and all of your videos that I’ve seen are interesting, well-thought-out, and very cohesive. You’re incredible at what you do and I hope that you never doubt that! As far as suggestions for adult animation go, I saw the titular character in the thumbnail, but I wasn’t sure if you’d seen it; I’d absolutely recommend BoJack Horseman! The first season is a little more just establishing itself and its characters, so it can feel a tiny bit done at times, but it still does get to some very real places. However, aside from that, the series explores many real and heavy subjects like depression, infertility, deep-seated regrets, and the looming threat of Capitalist growth😉 (✨hee hee, leftie things✨). Anywho, I hope that you have an amazing day, and that you know how wonderful you and your content are! Stay safe and happy💖💖
this was such an amazing video essay
thank you! :)
You deserve way more subscribers. Your content is so high quality and needs more attention.
aye thanks man
@@dogeatdog3579 No problem! I'm very excited for more of your content :)
and then theres helluva boss, with smooth animation, no "nuclear family" and epic plot
And haphazardly saying every vulgar thing they can think of with no weight, rhythm, purpose, or cause, because it's a terrible terrible show
@@orlandogarcia7084agreed, not to also mention their fan base…
I think Lackadaisy is a better example of how to do adult animation, we're tired of sit-coms in general
Society: "Cartoons are for kids"
The cartoons: Gravity Falls, Hilda, Steven Universe, Over the Garden Wall, OK KO!, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Star vs the Forces of Evil are very mature and talks about serious issues like lost a loved one, abandoned, heartbroken, betrayal, violence, depression and disasters. but it talks about good things like teamwork, be yourself, loving yourself and the rest, be there with each other, in love with your BFFs, etc.
Those are still kids shows in that they can't show too much or appear boring in order to stay in line with a general audience.
Well... We do live in a society.
Star vs the forces of evil is debatable since the ending of the show in my perspective demonstrates that it's easier to give up something that's been in the family for generations to stay with your human boyfriend. "Toffee was right." So many magical beings were wiped away because they chose the most detrimental route to defeating the Solorian warriors. They didn't even kill the person that caused all that trouble (although Moon was the one to make such a crummy deal)
Don’t forget Infinity Train !
Although some of them like Steven Universe, Star vs and adventure time suffer from seasonal rot and poor writing
I really like most of the video, bout around the 5:00 minute mark you seem to imply that The Simpsons is a descendant of south park, when it aired almost a decade before. It's much more a parody of older sitcoms like All in the Family that got political than a child of SP, plus, by the time south park aired, the Simpsons had already ended what people consider it's peak
How could she get that so wrong? Almost like she has no idea what she is talking about and wants to just blame things on capitalism.
Or she’s saying that they both are similar and it has nothing to do with capitalism
@@Classical19821 well, the thing about all modern adult animation being so samey because studios are too cheap to do anything else is a symptom of capitalism, they're all trying to play off family guy's success, and family guy was at it best nothing more than an edgier, lazier knock off of the Simpsons.
@@Classical19821 the funny thing is, we are in late stage capitalism. note that while capitalism might be bad, it's still the BEST system.
@@Classical19821 *Late stage capitalism* is what was said, not a direct insult to capitalism itself. I figured the point was that studios would rather factory produce bland formulaic animation with the sole intent of following someone else's blueprints so only profit can be made.
I still love animation, so I like to watch shows under the radar. I recommend shows like F Is For Family, Final Space, The Dragon Prince, Glitch Techs, Kid Cosmic, and The Last Kids On Earth.
I also recommend an anime called Golden Boy and Ghost Stories (I've heard the English dubs are excellent)
hahaha the ghost stories dub is insane. thanks for the recs!
@@dogeatdog3579 ur welcome
Golden Boy was entertaining as fuck
F Is for Family was great. Still a Family Guy clone, but decent enough.
@Logan Roof Okay spammer.
I swear that adult animation is going SO downhill that even STEVEN UNIVERSE handles adult problems better.
Primal for me its the best example of adult animation: Excellent animation, good art direction and no sex jokes, millenial edgy jokes or nihilistic messages
I mean I don't know about the nihilistic messages part, like the entire thing was just absolutely brutal
I love Primal and how it manage to make a contrast between beauty and brutality, giving a great feeling of remoteness.
It’s funny because I recently was wondering why adult animation had an amateur style. Coming across this video it makes me realize that the animators don’t have enough time to invest making more aesthetically looking characters. It sucks because you have a deadline and you need to please the audience as well as the people you work for.
Thank you for this video. I've been a fan of Family Guy/The Simpsons for a long while and I felt like the quality of those shows have weaned for a while (more so on Family Guy since its downfall was noticeable by the early-mid 2010s, imo at least). This video explained the struggles of most people who worked in adult animation and I thank you for your research.
Japan is the prime example of how mature animation can be. Every Yugioh series, up until Sevens has at times been very serious. Tons of other anime as well
Even stuff like cowboy bebop or Yoshiaki kawajari’s stuff?
Japp@@Johnlindsey289
Final space is really underrated that including primal! Final space obviously has comedy but it’s honestly so amazing the way it tackles child abandonment, loss, love, guilt and all other crazy deep topics but without hammering them deep down! Primal is a well animated show about the prehistoric era and its way to good to pass up! Definitely my top 2 shows this last decade
I think Smiling Friends is gonna be a game-changer for adult animation.
YES
Here's hoping [as] doesn't axe it after only a season or two in favor of more Rick and Morty...
@@zzz43344oh I dont know about that… I’d actually prefer another season of Rick and Morty.
I feel like adult animated shows should be more like these shows: The Midnight Gospel, Final Space, South Park, the early years of Family Guy. In other words, I personally feel like they should be funny, memorable, sometimes serious, unique, and I guess it could have an occasional dirty joke every once in a while. But how come so many animated adult shows have immense cynicism, constant dirty jokes, darkness, sometimes drugs and alcohol, and sometimes murder? I understand it's for adults, but I doubt that every older bloke can find stuff like that entertaining.
If I could make a show, which I definitely want to, I'd make it like this: There's plenty of mean and cynical characters, but there's always good people there to balance them out. Violence, drugs, and alcohol exists, but it's not constantly presented or used. There's at least two or three optimists in the cast, and their innocence is never needlessly destroyed. Yes, there is mentioning of sex, but it's never shown or talked about constantly. There's also a little bit of pathos to flesh out the emotions of the characters sometimes, y'know? Don't wanna just leave 'em as undeveloped husks.
What I'm saying is, I'd try to balance it all out. There's plenty of edginess and sweetness all mixed in a bowl, but there's also a secret ingredient, and that's humor. You can't make a show, especially one for adults, unless it has some humor to balance out the darkness sometimes. Now I'm no genius, I'm just thinking out loud, but if I could actually make a show, that's how I would build the show. In summary, I'd just make it something that's fun to watch. Something to make people laugh. Something to make people cry... Something to make you think, probably.
Adult Animation is much like Fast Food.
It can either be really good (First 12 or so Simpsons seasons,Bojack Horseman,Beavis and Butt-Head)
Or really bad (Brickleberry,Paradise PD,Modern Family guy)
Family Guy was at least amusing for the first 8 seasons I will admit after which it became shite. I just hate pointing that out and prefer to think I had no part of it. Went off FG as soon as I turned 30.
Most American adult animation looks like garbage. It's flat, doesn't really vary in camera angles/cinematography, and looks like it's animated in flash.
Voice acting is what it's centered around, with the rest of the content being throwaway.
It seems more that independent groups do have a better idea about adult animation and how to properly portray adult life or mature comedy (even if it can be vulgar or crass), such examples being Vivziepop's works, Brain Dumped, and Sublo and Tangy Mustard, at when it comes to western animation.
I hope more adult shows go in the direction of Invincible
Invincible is a comic book cartoon though.
the comedy is far superior in some of the cartoons made for teens and children. whereas adult animation go on and on about sex, drugs and general vulgarity. children cartoons can have a really witty humour, a likeable cast of characters and some deep story archs that everyone can learn from no matter the age.
I definitely agree that adult animation is at it's most unique right now. A good example of this is Final Space, one of my personal favorite adult cartoons. It has a very interesting overarching story, compelling characters and relationships, good comedy (by my standards at least), and amazing animation (simple artstyle, but the character movement is very fluid and expressive, and the backgrounds are gorgeous). Not to mention that Final Space takes advantage of it's TV-14 rating by making it feel like that there's an actual sense of danger and risk to the characters' lives, something that children's cartoons normally can't do. Final Space isn't perfect, and I certainly have critiques, but I still love it! Highly recommend!
Close Enough is one of the best adult animation who talks about being an adult.
It's basically Regular Show but from with adult pov. (While RG was more a pov of an teenager/young adult)
I feel like this could be said in not only adult animation but also western *adult* media in general. Most of these “adult related” medias only see the “sex drugs alcohol” in adult themes, while there are so much more than that. I’ve seen a lot of ppl that i know tend to gravitate towards Eastern medias like k-dramas and anime bc the themes are way more diverse, more creative and they could cover actual adult themes western adult media couldn’t
Watch spawn tas
With the success of Castlevania and Invincible, you'd have thought they'd make more shows like that instead of another fucking sitcom
I mean, they are. Over the last few years we’ve had shows like Blood of Zeus, Onyx Equinox, DOTA: Dragon’s Blood, Arcane, Seis Manos, Primal, Trese, etc. Warner Bros even un-canceled Young Justice and geared it more towards adults.
@@ldiod4374 arcane hit monkey coming next morth
At least we have shows like Primal, Final Space, and Tuca and Bertie.
There are good adult animated shows out there - we just have to look harder.
I'm currently enjoying Helluva Boss and excited for Hazbin Hotel (both series created by Vivienne Medrano). Though these shows follow the stereotype that gore/sexual innuendos make something "adult", I think they're pushing the bar by using a not-so-typical animation style, incorporating musical aspects, diversity and representation, as well as experimenting with a new business and production model. Overall it's super creative compared to other adult shows and I hope to see more like it.
Yee agreed definitely probably the only good adult animated tv show rn is Helluva Boss
It is creative, but the problem with Helluva Boss is that it further feeds into the stereotype that all adult shows are all just sexual and crass humor when the reality is that animation can go beyond that.
@@Meimoons I wouldn't say that's a problem with the show. Yes, it would be good to get more adult shows that are not necessarily sexual or crass, but I don't think it should be ALL shows. Like I said, Helluva Boss is doing something different in many aspects, but I don't think it needs be completely different in every single way posible. There should still be a place for sexual and crass humor in adult animation (I personally enjoy it when it's done well)... and if I'm gonna consume that type of content, I think it's so cool to find a show that's so colorful, gay and musical... while also being sexual and crass. I don't know, I really don't think a show being like this is the problem, I think the general lack of diversity in the medium of adult animation is the actual problem.
This perfectly sums the status of animations geared towards adults. I wish you went over more of the adult swim shows like the shivering truth, superjail, or even king of the hill.
The Venture Bros is also good and often overlooked. It has engaging stories and characters actually develop/there's permanent changes to their world.
What a shame for BoJack to be so prominent in the thumbnail for it not being mentioned at all.
I really love American Dad. Yes, for the first few seasons it was a Simpsons/Family Guy clone but the show really has unique qualities to it now. The move from Fox to TBS has given the writers a lot more freedom and now it's wacky, but still grounded in reality when it needs to be.
I think another thing that helps is a lot of the writing staff for American Dad consists of the same people who worked on the original Family Guy pre-cancellation seasons
I think the things I look for in adult shows is exploration of mature and sometimes difficult and relatable themes we can take from them. Shows like Tuca and Bertie, Harley Quinn and Invincible explore serious and everyday issues like mental illness, toxicity in relationships, abuse or post traumatic stress disorder while also showing how having healthy and supportive relationships can help people work through these obstacles. It also helps when there's a level of sincerity to these stories. As for the humor, instead of relying heavily on shock value and being offensive, the humor is primarily based around character dynamics and is also relatable, though some vulgar humor here and there isn't a problem.
Exactly! I find Tuca and Bertie and Bojack Horseman are some of the only bearable newer adult shows.
I didn’t expect this video to actually cover the deadlines and bad pay. Canada is a service animation industry, we don’t get to aspire for Disney quality work or what ever. We do what we can with the time we’re give . We know it sucks but sadly that’s life and that’s why all Canadian animation talent moves to the USA where they can actually be paid well and make good work under union
God, I wish there were less corporations and more people making art they are truly passionate about.
it's honestly depressing because the reason late stage capitalism and big streaming companies (who don't really care about the quality of these shows) have been able to take advantage of animators is because of the advances in technology in the last 20 years. like, it'd been insane to ask a season of the simpsons to be made in 8 months back in the 90's, but because digital animation is (supposedly) easier and quicker, these companies have no shame in asking that of their employees.
the way i see it, most animators are stuck in the same boat as most game devs; you either take a gamble and go work on a project that you genuinely think is good in which you're treated like a person and risk not seeing any major success from it or you go work for a big company that'll mistreat you but deliver a steady income. you're right that unionization is key here, as it's also been pushed as the solution in game development, but the bleak reality is that if one of the best animated shows ever, bojack horseman, can get cut short because of (allegedly) the animation studio unionizing... what hope is there really other than adult swim still being an institution?
invincible perfect example of using the adult aspect correctly
It's near damn perfect.
To be fair, it's not like kids' cartoons are paragons of originality. Bean-mouthed characters in pastel marshmallow universes, with such tough-hard hitting lessons as "it's okay to cry".
That man who said “I thought nothing of the children at all.” Straight god
Bojack horseman is not only one of the best animated shows I've ever seen, but simply one of the best shows I've ever watched. It has a unique and charming art style, the struggles are relatable, its brilliantly written, its witty and completely heartbreaking at times. It's a masterpiece.
There are *way* too many adult animated shows that act less mature than *kids shows* these days! I hope that will change in the future. 🤞
What about adult animation in Japan?
great video. I think Helluva boss and Hazbin hotel may be the only modern adult animations that keeps captivated
you wanna know why there are more independent projects out there? because almost all of the Large name products suck ass. I'm glad we got stuff like Helluva and Hazbin to keep us from losing our minds.
I'd recommend South Park. Remained topical and hilarious, at least to me.
This makes me appreciate adult anime like, Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Attack on Titan
Kids' Shows are WAY smarter than Adult Shows these days. Final Space is a better example of a Good Adult Show.
moral orel was a good adult show as well, especially season 3.
4:18 It is pronounced as Grain-ing, or at leasyhow he says it in DVD audio commentaries.
However, in Simpsons games, where Matt plays himself, he would be asked, "are you sure?", and reply with, "no", as a joke.
The animation business is hell when I was a kid I thought though being an artist is easy and stuff but now I realize that there's a lot more to it and it's honestly stressful hard to say the least I honestly have the highest respect for artists now. Aside that this was a very well made, edited and researched video I hope you make more videos like this one but I hope you continue to make videos in general
Oh yeah! I think I also saw that Twitter thread you talked about! It opened my eyes to how hard it actually is to do and why it’s so popular.
I'm surprised no one brought up Invincible. It feels like one of those early to mid-2000s action shows that I grew up on with an emphasis on the more brutal aspects of superhero-ing. It doesn't feel as abrasively cynical as the main lineup of adult animated shows currently on, there's some heart to it that so many shows are missing.
Wow. The conclusion was way more of a good way of explaining the problem than putting your perspective in the matter. Great video!
At least there are a few adult animated shows that will change adult animation forever.
There a a few recent adult animated shows that are good.
Like for example, Final Space, Primal, Invincible, Harley Quinn, Tuca & Bertie, Castlevania, Love Death + Robots, Seis Manos, Hazbin Hotel, Blood of Zues, Bless The Harts, Duncanville, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K., The Great North, Helluva Boss, Solar Opposites, Central Park and HouseBroken.
Some of these shows have storytelling elements and some of these shows have clever humor and reveal some heart towards the viewers.
People always forget that the majority of any medium is garbage and we only remember the classics so it seems like we have more garbage coming out nowadays when we really are just able to see it more clearly with the internet.
Been binging your content since it popped into my recommended yesterday, everything is really well done. Definitely subscribing.
I really like f is for family, it’s one of the few adult cartoons that actually made me laugh
"He calls it suitcase pasghetti!"
Wow this video was so good :) I really enjoyed what you said at the end of the video, the closing line made me tear up genuinely. Thank you
There are too many kids openly watching adult animation today
Sadly that's who is targeted at. Why do you think it's put on Cartoon Network? Hell, Family Guy starts playing at 9 pm
I watch South Park with my family. Glad to say I appreciate it on a basis that's not 'hahaha, cartman farts fire.'
Because the humour only appeals to kids
I grew up watching The Simpsons and Family Guy with my brother and parents. In fact, I grew up on CN and AS so King of the Hill also holds a close place in my heart. My family and I quit watching most new adult cartoons after Brian was killed. The only somewhat recent adult animation show my family still watches it Bob’s Burgers and of course King of the Hill when it’s on.
One of my favorite adult shows as of recent is a show called Final Space. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s about a guy named Gary who encounters an alien which he names Mooncake. Mooncake is being hunted down by a dictator named Lord Commander, and Gary swears to protect him at all costs.
I like this show because it feels (to me at least) like a balance between both an adult and kid cartoon. Adult because it has some dirty jokes and swearing at times but it doesn’t throw them at you constantly like Family Guy or South Park. It also feels like a kids show because of the plot and surroundings. The characters are constantly jumping to different locations and meeting new people. it makes me feel nostalgic as I watched a lot of shows like that as a kid (Adventure Time, Pokemon, Regular Show, etc.) it gives you the sense of wonder as you feel like your traveling all over the Galaxy to achieve your goals.
The show has its bright and colorful moments but also tackles serious subjects, like death for example. Gary’s father is killed during one of his missions before the events of the show. Throughout the first season Gary makes it his mission to finish what his father didn’t get to complete. Other characters go through development and must tackle their own problems. A few other main characters go through similar struggles, such as understanding who they are and what their purpose is, or learning to change their life for the better.
It’s easily become one of my favorite shows of all time and I recommend it to everyone, especially those who like Sci-fi, as it’s very heavy on that. I hope all of you love it as much as me :)
It’s on HBO Max if your interested
Bee cheese😳
Adult animation means something totally different than back in the 90s. Anime has inspired western animation so much that it caused this natural evolution both in kid's and adult animation of becoming much more experimental, deep and dark. It's not inspired by South Park and The Simpsons anymore, it's inspired by works like Death Note, FMA:B, or Mob Psycho
Personally, I just find out the “animated sitcom” formula that most Adult Animation goes for these days only really appeals to an older (or Conservative) cohort. I’ve noticed quite a few in my generation (Millennials) tend to resent the fact that a barely employable asshole and a stay-at-home Mom can enjoy a Middle Class lifestyle, where we’re working multiple jobs and can barely even afford Rent, nevermind a home.
Though in the broader scheme of “Adult Animation”, Rick and Morty’s Decoy episode put it best.
“You see, Ricks, they get lazy. There’s always a shitty Decoy near the end. but those decoys made decoys too, and got lazy themselves. Far enough down the line….there be Monsters.”
It’s really easy to re-contextualize this quote for adult animation.
Burger fur😒
Great video! Given how memed to hell Family Guy it's very difficult to talk about it objectively, but I'm glad you did. For better or worse it was a widely popular show and had a lasting impact on the animation industry. The unfortunate truth is that there's still a lot of stigma around animation to where unless its a children's show or a vessel for adult gags and satire, people are not really drawn to it. Several shows like Bojack Horseman and Moral Orel have shown you can have profound storytelling comparable to any 'Golden Age' live-action drama while utilizing the unique abilities afforded by animation. Not to say that all animated shows should become depressing dramas about serious issues, but these were very artist-driven and while these shows have gotten fans and a share of critical praise, general audiences I think are still averse to it. Your comments about quick turnarounds and crunch time are also super relevant when talking about this. While everyone in the industry wants to make art that has lasting impacts on people, we also need to pay rent and maintain a career and will weather working on shows we don't feel passionate about that are more lucrative in order to stay in the industry. I'm hopeful that with the "Streaming Wars" companies will keep investing in niche, artist-driven shows to allow for more creative and groundbreaking adult animation. At any rate, animators should be treated better and we gotta fight the stigma around animation as an art form.
Seen spawn?
@@Johnlindsey289 I haven't actually! You mean the one from the 90s yeah?
@@technodorito
Spawn TAS should be an example of adult animation that isn't a comedy
I'm glad you said all of this. Most of those "Family Guy" carbon copies you mentioned drive me up the wall. Same character archetypes, run of the mill jokes, same crappy lazy design, unwarranted crudeness that seems to crave on one upping other shows like "How far can go with this without getting borderline banned?" or "You think THIS show is crude? Well, check THIS out!!" (I'm excluding American Dad because as much as a Family Guy clone it is, it's actually a good show.) EDIT: (and Bob's Burgers, because that, too, is a great show, and it's the farthest from a Family Guy clone)
Rick and Morty and Castlevania are my top recent adult animated series favorites. When it comes to older shows, I LOVE Metalocalypse.
Big mouth is “adult animtion” but it came out when i was about 12 or 13 watching it made me feel better about what i was going through and made up for the sex education i never got due to only abstinence being taught, it deals with mental health, learning disorders, sexuality ,racism ect ect. Its an amazing show in my opinion and didn’t deserve hate , yes the animation style is wacky but they arent doing this to be another carbon copy.
People have the problem with execution, just because a story has good themes doesn't mean the execution is good. It's too reliant on Gross and random humour to the point that it becomes annoying and the characters are obnoxiously unlikable. The themes of going through puberty are actually interesting but how it was handled it's pretty shallow in and it leaves ALOT to be desired in my opinion. I'm not saying that the story should have gone full serious, But there are massive flaws with how it went
This man got his sex ed from big lips show lmao
Dude, I found you through your morditwi video but I’ve subscribed because all your videos are awesome! Lookin forward to whatever you make next- im sure whatever it is you can make it interesting :)
I actually gasped when you mentioned Spicy City. I love that show.
RIP Spicy City. I love all six episodes of that show. If only it was approved for another season, it could have done extremely well.
Great video, and you make a great point. If producers want to make quality animation, they need to give the animation team the time and money they deserve. At least we have Rick and Morty.
Sometimes good animation can't save a bad story like Eight Crazy Nights for example may look pretty but the story stinks, sometimes you can save cheap animation wth a good story like Daria for example.
Tezuka once said you can save poor animation with a good story but you can't save good animation with a poor story".
Beauty an the Beast taught us "do not be decieved by apparances for bauty is found within" And Aladdin did said "do not be fooled by it's commonplace appearance, it is no what is on the outide but what is on the inside that counts"
cartoons for children can often be as shallow and superficial (aka for money) as "adult" animation.
I think animation can be a great way to convey really challenging and real problems in a more creative and metaphorical way.
Bee and Puppycat is a great example of cartoons for adults in my opinion.
Nourishing, funny, creative, and relatable.
"Adult" media in western society often means devoid of heartfelt looks into what life is like, and sharing that art with people to inspire them. and it is truthfully disheartening to me.
Idk im just spouting here but anyway: Im really enjoying your videos and the effort you put into them is admirable. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for bringing up bee and puppycat.
Finally someone talking about this!! It’s been on my mind for a while
Glad final space got mentioned as a good cartoon
i learned a lot today
- adult animators don't know how to be adults
- animators working on those shows have burnout issues
- toon boom is terrifying
Yes,
yes,
and OHHHHHH hell yeah...
You are absoltely hilarious and this was a topic I never thought that deep into but this video was fascinating!
Also you sound like someone I could totally be pals with!
Don't know how I stumbled across you but I really appreciate your content! Keep it up!