Adult animation is animation that is targeted at adults. Many such programs also include "adult humor". Popular programs such as FOX's The Simpsons and Family Guy contain humor that some parents might find unsuitable for children. However, adult humor can be innocuous as well, and simply above an average child's ability to appreciate, as is the case in many early theatrical cartoon series, such as Looney Tunes and Popeye, as well as in many modern television cartoon series, such as Animaniacs and Rockos Modern Life. These cartoons will often contain slapstick comedy for children, but also jokes which can be appreciated only by older audiences, such as pop-culture references, political satire and sexual innuendos. Some animated series, such as Max Fleischer's Betty Boop cartoons of the 1930s and Nickelodeon's Ren and Stimpy series, walk the line between both types of adult humor.
Content
Graphic violence is a consideration; many Japanese anime contain graphic violence, such as Akira and Neon Genesis Evangelion, but also some western programs, such as HBO's Spawn and MTV's Æon Flux, contain violence which is considered unsuitable for children.
Swearing is another reason why programs garner this label. Comedy Central's South Park and Drawn Together, Adult Swim's Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Metalocalypse and Robot Chicken and FOX's American Dad! and Family Guy are good examples.
Nudity is not commonplace among American animated programs, but it can be a consideration in some theatrical releases.
Strong sexual content is another template of adult animation.
Many films, such as the works of Ralph Bakshi, contain all of these factors, and some examples of "adult animation" were originally released with the X or "R" rating in the United States.
Another reason is that a program or movie might contain animated pornography. This is virtually unheard of in American television, but there is a growing section of the population which consumes domestically produced direct-to-video animated pornography, and imported programs and movies from around the world. Animated pornography is produced worldwide, but the best known variety is the Japanese genre, known as Hentai.
It should be noted that prior to the advent of television in the late 1940s, animated films in general were not seen as being primarily for children. In other words, animation that might be viewed upon as "Children's entertainment" today, such as the early Disney films or the aforementioned Looney Tunes films for example, was originally intended for adults and children alike.
List of programs which are considered to be adult animation
Below is a list of programs which might be considered "adult animation" due to one or more of the above reasons. Note that this list only contains programs which are solely intended for an adult audience (and are promoted as such) and not programs that are intended for children and adults alike.
Television
Note "commissioning network" mean the network that supplied the bulk of the capital to produce the series, and therefore has a lot of power over it. This is almost always the first network to screen a series.
| Name |
Commissioning Network |
Country of Origin |
| 12 oz. Mouse |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
 US |
| 2DTV |
ITV |
 UK |
| 3-South |
MTV |
US |
| Aaagh! It's the Mr. Hell Show |
BBC Two |
 Canada / UK |
| Æon Flux |
MTV |
US |
| Afro Samurai |
Spike TV |
 Japan |
| American Dad! |
FOX |
US |
| Angry Kid |
BBC Three |
UK |
| Aqua Teen Hunger Force |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Assy McGee |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Baby Blues |
The WB |
US |
| Beavis and Butt-head |
MTV |
US |
| Blood+ |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Blue Gender |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Bob and Margaret |
Channel 4 UK |
Canada / UK |
| The Boondocks |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| The Brak Show |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Bromwell High |
Channel 4 UK |
UK / Canada |
| The Brothers Grunt |
MTV |
US |
| Bro'Town |
TV3 NZ |
 NZ |
| Celebrity Deathmatch |
MTV |
US |
| Chilly Beach |
CBC |
Canada |
| Clerks |
ABC US |
US |
| Clone High |
MTV |
Canada / US |
| Cnex (also Cnex Bach) |
S4C |
UK |
| Code Geass |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Code Monkeys |
G4 |
US |
| Cowboy Bebop |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Crapston Villas |
Channel 4 UK |
UK |
| The Critic |
ABC, FOX |
US |
| The Cunning Little Vixen |
BBC |
UK |
| Daria |
MTV |
US |
| Delta State |
France 2 |
 France / Canada |
| Dilbert |
UPN |
US |
| Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist |
Comedy Central |
US |
| Dogshitter Wants |
MTV2 |
US |
| Death Note |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Downtown |
MTV |
US |
| Drawn Together |
Comedy Central |
US |
| Devil May Cry |
ADV Films |
Japan |
| The Drinky Crow Show |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Duckman |
USA Network |
US |
| Earth Girl Arjuna |
TV Tokyo, Animax |
Japan |
| Elfen Lied |
TV Tokyo |
Japan |
| Ergo Proxy |
WOWOW |
Japan |
| Evil Con Carne |
Cartoon Network |
US |
| Family Guy |
FOX, TBS, Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Father of the Pride |
NBC |
US |
| Fat Sluts |
Men & Motors |
UK |
| Fish Police |
CBS |
US |
| The Flintstones (1960-66) |
ABC |
US |
| FLCL |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Freak Show |
Comedy Central |
US |
| Frisky Dingo |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Friday: The Animated Series |
MTV2 |
US |
| Futurama |
FOX, Comedy Central |
US |
| G4's Late Night Peepshow |
G4 |
US |
| Game Over |
UPN |
US |
| Gantz |
Fuji Television |
Japan |
| Gary & Mike |
UPN |
US |
| Gary the Rat |
Spike TV |
US |
| Gary Larson's Tales From The Far Side |
CBS |
US |
| Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex |
Animax, Cartoon Network |
Japan |
| Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG |
Nippon TV, Animax, Cartoon Network |
Japan |
| God, The Devil and Bob |
NBC |
US |
| Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor |
WOWOW |
Japan |
| The God & Devil Show |
Mondo Mini Shows |
US |
| The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy |
Cartoon Network |
US |
| The Groovenians |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Happy Tree Friends |
G4, self published by Mondo Mini Shows |
US |
| Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| The Head |
MTV |
US |
| Hellsing |
Animax |
Japan |
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni |
Chiba TV, Kansai TV, Tokai TV |
Japan |
| Hobbies |
BBC Three |
UK |
| Home Movies |
UPN |
US |
| The House of Morecock |
Self Published |
US |
| Human Contraptions |
ABC Australia |
 Australia |
| I Am Not an Animal |
BBC Two |
UK |
| Inspektor Erektor |
4.Fun.TV |
 Poland |
| King of the Hill |
FOX |
US |
| Korgoth of Barbaria |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Lil' Bush |
Comedy Central |
US |
| Liquid Television |
MTV |
US |
| Little Johnny Show |
Self Published |
US |
| Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Macross |
Mainichi Broadcasting |
Japan |
| Macross 7 |
Mainichi Broadcasting |
Japan |
| Macross Plus |
Studio Nue |
Japan |
| Malcom and Melvin |
Cartoon Network |
US |
| The Maxx |
MTV |
US |
| Metalocalypse |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Minoriteam |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Mission Hill |
The WB/Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| MK 22 |
Bip |
 ISR |
| Modern Toss |
Channel 4 |
UK |
| Monkey Dust |
BBC Three |
UK |
| Moral Orel |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Neon Genesis Evangelion |
TV Tokyo |
Japan |
| The Oblongs |
The WB |
US |
| Paranoia Agent |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Penguins Behind Bars |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Perfect Hair Forever |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| The PJs |
FOX, The WB |
US |
| Pond Life |
Channel 4 UK |
UK |
| Popetown |
BBC Three |
UK |
| Problems |
DR2 |
 Denmark |
| Quads! |
SBS Australia |
Australia / Canada |
| Queer Duck |
Icebox.com, Showtime US |
US |
| RahXephon |
Fuji Television |
Japan |
| Record of Lodoss War |
Bandai Visual, TV Tokyo |
Japan |
| Reign: The Conqueror |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| The Ripping Friends |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| The Ren and Stimpy Show |
Nickelodeon |
US |
| Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon |
Spike TV |
US |
| Rex the Runt |
BBC Two |
UK |
| Robot Chicken |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Robotech |
Television syndication |
US / Japan |
| Rocko's Modern Life |
Nickelodeon |
US |
| Samurai Champloo |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| s-CRY-ed |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Saddle Rash |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Sealab 2021 |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Shorties Watchin' Shorties |
Comedy Central |
US |
| The Simpsons |
FOX |
US |
| Slacker Cats |
ABC Family |
US |
| Sons of Butcher |
The Detour (Teletoon) |
Canada |
| South Park |
Comedy Central |
US |
| Space Ghost Coast to Coast |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Spawn |
HBO |
US |
| Spicy City |
HBO |
US |
| Shin Chan |
Jetix UK / Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US / Japan |
| Squidbillies |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Starveillance |
E! |
US |
| Station X |
The Detour (Teletoon) |
Canada |
| Stressed Eric |
BBC Two |
UK |
| Stripperella |
Spike TV |
US |
| Stroker and Hoop |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Superjail |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| The Super Milk-chan Show |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| SuperNews |
Current TV |
US |
| Texhnolyze |
Fuji Television, Animax |
Japan |
| That Crook'd 'Sipp |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| This Just In! |
Spike TV |
US |
| The Tick |
FOX |
US |
| Tokko |
Kodansha |
Japan |
| Tom Goes to the Mayor |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Tomorrow's Joe |
Fuji Television |
Japan |
| Total Drama Island |
Teletoon, Cartoon Network |
Canada/ US |
| Trigun |
TV Tokyo, Cartoon Network |
Japan |
| Trinity Blood |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Tripping the Rift |
Sci Fi Channel |
US |
| TV Funhouse |
NBC, Comedy Central |
US |
| Two Posh Old Men |
UKTV |
UK |
| Undergrads |
MTV |
US |
| The Venture Bros. |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| VH1 ILL-ustrated |
VH1 |
US |
| Welcome to the NHK |
Various Japanese Broadcast Networks |
Japan |
| Welcome to Eltingville |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Where My Dogs At? |
MTV2 |
US |
| Who I Am And What I Want |
Channel 4 |
UK |
| Witch Hunter Robin |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Włatcy móch (The Lords Of The Flies) |
TV4, MTV Polska, Comedy Central Polska |
Poland |
| Wonder Showzen |
MTV2 |
US |
| The Wrong Coast |
The Movie Network |
Canada |
| Xavier: Renegade Angel |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
US |
| Yukikaze |
Animax |
Japan |
| YuYu Hakusho |
Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) |
Japan |
| Zeroman |
The Detour (Teletoon) |
Canada |
Movies
Argentina
US
UK
Italy
Japan
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Belgium
Hungary
Canada
Australia