Despite the social stigma thatanimatedfilms are immature or just for kids, popular cartoons likeFamily Guy,The Simpsons,Rick and Morty,and even various anime series have dispelled this notion. Many animated works are much more intricate than they appear on the surface. Hidden in the visually artistic worlds featured in animation are complex themes, profound emotions, and messages that reflect our political, cultural and social problems — subjects that even live-action films may hesitate to explore. Well, the whole point of this compilation isn’t to persuade viewers who dislike cartoons to give them a chance, but rather to cater to those who absolutely love cartoons and are looking to find more of them onNetflix.
While some of the cartoons available on Netflix are definitely just for kids, there is a substantial collection that exclusively caters to mature audiences. FromBig MouthtoBoJack Horseman, here are some of the finest animated series for suckers of these imaginative worlds.
Updated on June 18, 2025, by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
20The Guardians of Justice (2022-Present)
Created, written, and directed by Adi Shankar,The Guardians of Justiceis a unique blend of live action and superhero animation. Its story follows a fearless leader named Marvelous Man, who has maintained peace on Earth for four decades now. But when he self-destructs, the world descends into pure chaos. Marvelous Man’s former lieutenant, Knight Hawk, and an idealistic hero named The Speed, take it upon themselves to stop a nuclear war.
A Piece of Adi Shankar’s Bootleg Universe
The Guardians of Justicebelongs to Adi Shankar’s Bootleg Universe. It is both a satire of DC Comics anda zany and humorousadult animation series. The series reminds you of Saturday morning cartoons and classic superhero comics, but with a surprisingly fresh tone. While the mixed-media experience is like nothing you’ve seen before, the series’ fast-paced and geeky narrative acts as a palate cleanser between your regularly rotating shows.
19Paradise PD (2018-2022)
Paradise PD
Roger Black and Waco O’Guin co-wrote and directedParadise PDspecifically for an adult audience looking for a laugh. The animated series follows an eccentric crew of cops led by Chief Randall Crawford in the crime-ridden town of Paradise. Despite being police themselves, they are so incompetent and corrupt that they end up breaking more laws than upholding them. Their anything-goes style of enforcing the law, however, does not save them from dangerous situations.
A Raunchy Workplace Comedy
If you’re a fan ofBrooklyn Nine-Nineand its signature brand of humor, thenParadise PDis the show for you. With its raunchy and politically outrageous jokes, the series completely contradicts and subverts its central theme. The characters – ranging from an officer who is borderline psychotic to a police dog who ends up abusing the drugs he’s supposed to guard – arewild and entertaining, with strong actors voicing them. These include the likes of Dana Snyder, Tom Kenny, Cedric Yarbrough, and Grey DeLisle. Overall, the animated series is filled with non-stop comedy moments and rapid-fire jokes.
18The Midnight Gospel (2020)
A surrealist comedy,The Midnight Gospelis created by Pendleton Ward and comedian Duncan Trussell, and is adapted from Trussell’s recording of his podcast, “The Duncan Trussell Family Hour.” Basically, the eight-episode series transforms real life interviews into psychedelic animation, simply to give visuals to the voices. Each conversation delves into topics like death, addiction, relationships, and moving on.
A Psychedelic Treat
The best thing aboutThe Midnight Gospelis that the episodes are standalone, lasting around 20 minutes each, and you can simply watch them in a random order depending on what you’re in the mood for. Its mind-bending and visually bizarre animation has no connection with the podcast whatsoever, but it acts as the perfect foil to keep you invested in the overall conversation, help you dive into the philosophy, and understand the personal growth anecdotes better. Critics and fans particularly enjoyed an episode titled, “Mouse of Silver,” where Trussell talks to his real-life mother.
17Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Scott Pilgrim Takes Offis a clever and charming animated series based on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels and the 2010 film adaptation,Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. However, unlike the source material, it sees the titular character mysteriously disappear in the first episode. In the remaining seven episodes, his love interest, Ramona Flowers, tries to figure out the truth behind Scott’s disappearance. In the process, she’ll regularly interact with other famous characters from the series.
A Twist on a Cult Classic
The entire cast of the beloved cult classic returns to reprise their roles as respective voice actors and makeScott Pilgrim Takes Offboth refreshing and nostalgic. Captured with hyper-colorful, breakneck energy, the series adds new depth to the characters by placing them in an alternate reality. Creators Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski create new scenarios and slick animations for the characters to thrive within while still retaining the personal quirks as witnessed andadmired in the comic books. Overall, with humor and action, the series offers bingeworthy fun.
16Human Resources (2022-2023)
Human Resources
This raunchy but sweet animation series has a lot in common with sitcoms likeThe Office, as well as comedy classics likeSuperbad, and beloved animated movies likeInside Out. One quick read through its premise and you’ll make the connection. A workplace comedy featuring the monsters fromBig Mouth, it follows surreal creatures like Hormone Monsters and Depression Kitties, who are given the role at a corporation called Human Resources. At this corporation, they help guide a respective adult through various aspects of life ranging from puberty to adulthood.
A Hilarious Big Mouth Spinoff
Just as outrageous and funny as its predecessor,Human Resourcesdistinguishes itself by combining classic (and gross) humor with clever social commentary. What’s interesting is the monsters can be seen by their assigned humans, which leads to some creative breaking of the fourth wall. The voice cast includes beloved names like Nick Kroll, Randall Park, Keke Palmer, and Aidy Bryant. The strong animation allows their characters and their inner worlds to be as hilarious as possible while still making poignant notes on certain themes.
15Inside Job (2021-2022)
The beauty of cartoons is that they have the liberty to explore a wide range of topics, including subjects that even live films may hesitate to venture into. In line with this sentiment, the adult animated seriesInside Jobfearlessly offers viewers a glimpse into the world of conspiracies and shadow governments, where employees are tasked with the singular goal of keeping their operations a secret. It is centered around the complex and intriguing character Reagan, whose caustic presence makes the show worth the watch.
For Fans of Gravity Falls
This animated series is funny and clever, following in the footsteps of great adult cartoons likeRick and MortyandGravity Falls. Reagan’s caustic personality hides some genuinely compelling character development, and the eclectic cast of supporting characters allow ample room to explore the most bizarre of conspiracy theories. It is simply slick, well-crafted, and has plenty of fascinating ideas to explore.
14Love, Death & Robots (2019)
Love, Death & Robots
Love, Death & Robotswas created by Tim Miller and Oscar-nominated director David Fincher, and is known for its diverse animation styles and mature adult content. Each episode in this animated anthology series consists of standalone stories, characters, and settings that are often based on its over-arching themes of love, death, and technology. Spanning from its inaugural season to its third, which are all available on Netflix, it provides a unique experience that is truly captivating from start to finish.
An Excellent Animated Anthology
Hailed by many as a standout in Netflix’s offerings,Love, Death & Robotshas been acclaimed as the peak of animation. It is, indeed, a remarkable work that excels with its varied scripts, visuals, atmosphere and a host of other elements. It is so complex, dark, disturbing and intriguing that even non-fans of animated films will find themselves drawn to this intriguing anthology series.
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13Disenchantment (2018-2023)
Disenchantment
This animated fantasy-comedy series is from the brilliant mind of Matt Groening, who createdTheSimpsonsandFuturama. Set in the medieval kingdom of Dreamland,Disenchantmentfollows the adventures of a young and free-spirited princess named Bean, her elf companion Elfo, and her personal demon Luci. As Bean faces a series of personal challenges and delves deeper into the mysteries of Dreamland, the show satirizes various aspects of medieval fantasy and fairy tales while setting up a grandiose mystery.
Traditional Fantasy, Modern Humor
Blending traditional fantasy elements with contemporary humor,Disenchantmentbecomes a standout series. Beyond mere comedy, it evolves into a character-driven fantasy that feels so real, even within a fictional setting. It’s a drastically different series when compared to Matt Greoning’s other projects, yet fans of eitherThe SimpsonsorFuturamacan find familiar positive qualities throughout. You might be able to catch references to either series if you have a keen eye.
12Arcane (2021)
Created under the supervision of Riot Games and situated in the universe of the popular video gameLeague of Legends,Arcanedelves into the origins of some of the game’s iconic characters. The story is set in the twin cities of Zaun and Piltover, and it follows two main characters: Vi and Jinx. At its core, it is a tale of two sisters’ discord, underpinned by the themes of peace, war, betrayal, loyalty and so much more. From the gargantuan cities, to the intimate character development, the series is absolutely gripping.
Arcane Is an Incredible Video Game Adaptation
Arcanehas been praised not just by the fans of the popular games, but by viewers who appreciate well-crafted storytelling and character development. It is visually stunning with its unique blend of 3D and 2D animation, earning praise for its attention to detail. On top of these impressive visuals, however, is a series that crafts a compelling narrative that’s ripe for a mature audience. As the series progresses, it gets even darker and better.
11Big Mouth (2017-2024)
An animated coming-of-age series,Big Mouthhas gained recognition over the years for its candid and bold portrayal of puberty, drawing inspiration from the experiences of the show’s creators: Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett, and Mark Levin. The series primarily follows Nick Birch and his friend Andrew as they enter the tumultuous year of Puberty. They are joined by their friends Jay, Missy, and Jessi, as they’re all experiencing the awkwardness and challenges of their age.
An Unflinching Portrayal of Adolescence
The series delves into explicit content and mature themes, presented in a surreal and exaggerated manner, making it unsuitable for kids.Big Mouth, despite being a crude, animated series, is weirdly relatable withfun and memorable characters, making it impossible not follow each season. It’s also one of Netflix’s longest-running original series, a testament to its popularity and overall appeal.
