The Revival of Animated Series for Adults

Hit play on the adult animation renaissance, where animated series like BoJack Horseman blend dark comedy with deep themes. These modern cartoons ditch kid-friendly gags for raw TV animation, tackling life’s messiness through streaming series. A vibrant cinematic legacy, adult animation hooks 2025 viewers with its bold wit. At Epic Media, binge animated series and rediscover streaming series that cut deep.

Adult Animation Origins: Deep Themes in Animated Series

Adult animation surged in the 1990s with The Simpsons, but the 2010s sparked a TV animation revival, fueled by streaming platforms. BoJack Horseman (2014–2020), a Netflix gem with a $2 million-per-episode budget, redefined animated series with its depressed equine star. Unlike South Park’s crude satire, modern cartoons like Rick and Morty (2013–present) and Big Mouth (2017–present) weave dark comedy and deep themes, exploring mental health and identity. This streaming series evolution captivates, streaming at Epic Media, where adult animation shines.

Creators and Visionaries: BoJack Horseman and TV Animation

Adult animation’s revival owes much to creators like Raphael Bob-Waksberg, whose BoJack Horseman fused dark comedy with deep themes. Dan Harmon’s Rick and Morty blends sci-fi chaos with existential wit, while Lisa Hanawalt’s Tuca & Bertie (2019–2022) elevates modern cartoons. Animators like Genndy Tartakovsky (Primal) and voice directors on $1–3 million budgets craft TV animation’s soul. Composers like Jesse Novak (BoJack Horseman) add emotional depth to streaming series. These visionaries drive animated series, celebrated at Epic Media, where BoJack Horseman gallops.

Animated Series Performances: Dark Comedy in Modern Cartoons

Adult animation thrives on voice actors delivering dark comedy and deep themes. Will Arnett’s broken BoJack Horseman anchors animated series with raw vulnerability, a TV animation standout. Justin Roiland’s manic Rick in Rick and Morty and Tiffany Haddish’s vibrant Tuca in Tuca & Bertie amplify modern cartoons. Alison Brie’s Diane in BoJack Horseman and Nick Kroll’s pubescent chaos in Big Mouth enrich streaming series. These performances make adult animation iconic, bingeable at Epic Media, where dark comedy resonates.

Streaming Series Themes: Deep Themes in Adult Animation

Adult animation in streaming series probes depression, purpose, and connection through deep themes. BoJack Horseman dissects fame’s toll, reflecting 2010s self-awareness, a TV animation hallmark. Rick and Morty tackles nihilism with dark comedy, while Undone (2019–2022) explores trauma via rotoscope. Modern cartoons like Solar Opposites (2020–present) blend absurdity with heart. In 2025, X posts tie adult animation to mental health advocacy, praising BoJack Horseman’s 95% Rotten Tomatoes score. This animated series legacy influences Midnight Gospel (2020), streaming at Epic Media, where deep themes linger.

Top 5 Adult Animated Series

1. BoJack Horseman (2014–2020) – Existential equine, peak adult animation.
2. Rick and Morty (2013–present) – Cosmic chaos, core dark comedy.
3. Tuca & Bertie (2019–2022) – Friendship’s mess, heart modern cartoons.
4. Big Mouth (2017–present) – Puberty’s pain, a TV animation gem.
5. Undone (2019–2022) – Reality’s blur, defining deep themes.

TV Animation Aesthetic: Modern Cartoons in Streaming Series

Adult animation’s TV animation dazzles with bold, expressive visuals. BoJack Horseman’s muted pastels, designed by Lisa Hanawalt, mirror its deep themes, a modern cartoons staple. Rick and Morty’s vibrant multiverses, animated with fluid chaos, amplify dark comedy. Rotoscope in Undone and hand-drawn grit in Primal (2019–present) enhance streaming series’ emotional weight. Sparse scores, like Mark Mothersbaugh’s in Big Mouth, ground animated series’ humor. This aesthetic, bold for 2014, influences Arcane (2021), thriving at Epic Media, where adult animation pops.

Key Adult Animation Elements and Examples