It’s not just kids’ TV shows: Animation is a medium unto itself, and it has produced several of the most iconic, beloved, and high-quality TV shows in history. Some exceptional animated shows, however, sneak under most people’s radars. These hidden gems have gone with their praises unsung up until today, but all those who love animated television should give themselves the chance of checking them out.
From classic cartoons to modern underrated masterpieces, to a certain anime show that gave a legendary filmmaker their start, these cult classics—unbeknownst to the majority of people—are among the best cartoons of their time. No matter their era, their genre, or their country of origin, these shows would be far more popular in a more just world.
10
‘The Pirates of Dark Water’ (1991–1992)
From The Flintstones to Scooby-Doo, Hanna-Barbera is a household name among animation fans, one of the most iconic animation studios of the 20th century. But although they made some of the most popular animated shows of all time, they also made others that still don’t receive as much praise as they deserve. Case in point: the fantasy adventure show The Pirates of Dark Water.
Several obscure animated shows became cult classics worthy of note, and this one’s definitely among them. Sure, it’s a little corny, but that’s part of its distinctly ’90s-y charm. For the most part, Pirates of Dark Water is fun, creative, and visually memorable, bolstered by a terrific voice cast and some truly engrossing world-building.
9
‘Ten Year Old Tom’ (2021–2023)
Infamous for cancelling animated shows and then removing them from their platform altogether, HBO Max can sometimes be an animation fan’s worst enemy—and few cancellations have hurt more than Ten Year Old Tom‘s. This adult sitcom sits on the simple premise of a young boy learning to deal with all of the bad influences and grown-ups around him, but from that, it draws some of the funniest jokes of any HBO Max original animated series.Made by the same creator behind the underrated cult classic The Life & Times of Tim, this is an even more obscure gem that’s just as deserving of a loyal following. Sharp, offbeat, and genius in its use of cringe humor, this perfectly confident show already had a fully-formed voice from the start, so even though HBO Max only allowed it to run for two seasons, it definitely went out with a bang. With an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s a real must-see.
8
‘Downtown’ (1999–2000)
MTV Animation gained substantial popularity in the ’90s, delivering cult classics like Daria and Beavis and Butt-Head, but they also made shows that never gained as much popularity as they should have. That includes Downtown, a sitcom about the misadventures of a group of urban teens as they go about their lives. MTV cut the plug on the series after one season, but today, it still feels just as funny and culturally groundbreaking as it did back in ’99.It’s one of the best cartoons of the ’90s, a gem with perfectly written dialogue and an irresistible sense of humor. Though it wasn’t an instant hit, it started growing a cult following over time. Nowadays, those fans praise its atmospheric animation, its hilarious jokes and gags, and the virtually faultless way in which it captures late-’90s American culture.
7
‘Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus’ (2017–)
One of the best-ever animated series for adults, Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus is Cinemax’s first animated show. Co-created by Judge, the mind behind cult classics like Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill, Tales from the Tour Bus is a docuseries following the stories and adventures of real musicians, each season meant to focus on a specific genre.
The series was never officially canceled, but alas, there has never been any news on a potential Season 3. Even still, this is one of the freshest and most creative animated shows in recent years, perfect for animation and music fans alike. With a perfect balance between history and humor, this underappreciated masterpiece takes a cool concept and builds something even more brilliant on top of it.
6
‘Kurukshetra’ (2025–)
Indian television is an entirely new world unto itself, and discovering its charm opens the door to some of the most genuinely magical shows out there. For animation fans looking for a gateway, there’s no better choice than Kurukshetra. It tells the tale of an epic 18-day battle through the perspectives of 18 warriors, drawn from theMahabharata, one of Hinduism’s most important epic texts.
This Netflix mythological epic is far and away one of the streaming giant’s greatest foreign animated offerings, a terrific entry point both to the Mahabharata and Indian animation (for those willing to put up with less-than-great voice acting). It’s a grand, ambitious, layered spectacle that most non-Indian viewers may have never heard of, but should nevertheless check out.
5
‘Future Boy Conan’ (1978)
As one of the biggest titans in the history of Japanese cinema, as well as the undisputed master of anime filmmaking, Hayao Miyazaki is more than just an icon. But before he started making several of the greatest anime movies of all time, he made a TV show: Future Boy Conan, about a boy with superhuman strength fighting to save his friends from those who seek to conquer what a devastating war has left of civilization.
Ratings for the show weren’t ideal when it aired, and somehow, despite the pedigree of its director, it still hasn’t found the mainstream love that it so deserves.It’s a seminal work that’s appealing not just because it’s delightfully entertaining in its own right, but also because it’s a prototype of the kinds of themes and story elements that would continue to fascinate Miyazaki throughout his work going forward.
4
‘Silver Fang’ (1986)
Another one of the greatest and most underappreciated anime series of the 20th century, Silver Fang is an adaptation of the manga series of the same name. It’s a war drama about an Akita pup who leaves his owner to rally a brotherhood of stray dogs across Japan, forging an army to challenge the monstrous bear who threatens the fate of humans and hounds alike.
Curiously enough, it’s Finland of all places where Silver Fang has grown its largest cult following, but for such a terrific series, that following should be a worldwide deal. It’s a touching, nostalgic tale full of thought-provoking, mature themes. And while its animation may look a little dated by modern standards, there’s still an awful lot of charm to it, and it supports one of the most memorable stories of any ’80s anime series.
3
‘The Big Lez Show’ (2012–2019)
The world of web series should not be dismissed when talking about underappreciated cartoons, since that would mean dismissing the stoner comedy masterpiece that is The Big Lez Show. This psychedelic Australian gem follows the misadventures of humanoid alien Lezly “Big Lez” Mackerel and his friends. Initially uploaded to YouTube, the show quickly grew a cult following so large that a spin-off series was commissioned by Comedy Central.It’s a quintessentially Aussie series, but one so funny, so transgressive, and so exquisitely surreal that audiences from everywhere in the world should be able to find it delightful. It’s a passionate love letter to the art of making comedy television, a masterpiece of crudeness and vulgarity willing to go to the wildest of places just for a good laugh.
2
‘Monkey Dust’ (2003–2005)
The Brits have never fallen behind when it comes to making great animated shows, and that includes several underappreciated ones. This, likewise, includes one of the most underrated adult animated shows ever: the satirical sketch comedy series Monkey Dust, a darkly humorous tour de force that plays around with taboo topics like they’re nothing.
Throughout its run, it was one of the most brilliantly transgressive shows on television, and though its edginess sometimes took things to the point of obnoxiousness, that’s all part of the whole anarchic experiment. It’s a funny, shocking, occasionally jaw-dropping extravaganza with messed-up originality to spare.
1
‘The Maxx’ (1995)
During the mid-’90s, MTV played around with an experimental block of surreal, almost avant-garde adult-oriented animated shows called Oddities. The most noteworthy series of the bunch was arguably The Maxx, based on Sam Kieth‘s cult-favorite comic book series. It’s one of the best superhero cartoons of all time, and easily one of the most underrated adult animated shows ever made.
Colorful, exquisitely weird, and with an animation style that shifted from moment to moment in consistently entertaining ways, this is far and away one of the most creative animated shows ever. It’s thematically nuanced and undeniably transgressive, an esoteric cult classic whose appeal relies partly on the fact that it’s obscure. Even still, such an exceptional series deserves a larger fanbase.
