This is a list of adult animated television series of the 1990s (including streaming television series); that is, animated programs targeted towards audiences aged 18 and over in mind. Works in this medium could be considered adult for any number of reasons, which include the incorporation of explicit or suggestive sexual content, graphic violence, profane language, dark humour, or other thematic elements inappropriate for children. Works in this genre may explore philosophical, political, or social issues. Some productions are noted for their complex and/or experimental storytelling and animation techniques. Adult animation is typically defined as animation which skews toward adults. It is also described as something that "formative youths should stay far, far away from" or has adult humor and comes in various styles, but especially sitcoms and comedies. These animations can also "appeal to wide swaths of viewers," including those aged 18–34. AdWeek called adult animation "animated projects aimed at grown-ups, not kids."
In North America, there is children's animation, adult animation, and young adult animation, with various mature animations in the United States, especially in television series. This page mainly includes series in North America and Europe, on programming blocks such as Adult Swim, Animation Domination, Adult Swim (in Canada), and others, with other mature animations, including web series and animated films covered on other pages. These series should not be confused with cartoon pornography.
List United States Title Genre Seasons/episodes Show creator(s) Original release Network Studio Age rating Technique SourceÆon Flux Avant-garde3 seasons, 16 episodesPeter ChungNovember 30, 1991 – October 10, 1995MTVMTV AnimationTV-MATraditional Science fictionLiquid Television Animation showcase3 seasons, 27 episodesJaphet AsherNovember 30, 1991 – January 1, 1995TV-14 BBC Enterprises Colossal Pictures BIG Pictures Noyes & Laybourne EnterprisesCapitol CrittersComedy1 season, 13 episodes Nat Mauldin January 28, 1992 – September 17, 1996 ABC Hanna-BarberaTV-PG Steven BochcoCartoon Network Steven Bochco Productions Michael Wagner 20th TelevisionFish Police Crime1 season, 6 episodesbased on the comic created by Steve MoncuseFebruary 28, 1992 – March 13, 1992CBSHanna-BarberaTV-PG Comedy The Specialists 1 season, 10 episodes 1992 MTV Beavis and Butt-HeadSitcom11 seasons, 274 episodesMike JudgeOriginal series: March 8, 1993 – November 28, 1997MTVJ.J. Sedelmaier Productions TV-14 MTV AnimationRevival series: October 27 – December 29, 2011Comedy CentralFilm Roman2nd Revival series: August 4, 2022 - presentParamount+Judgemental FilmsMTV Entertainment Studios Family Dog Comedy 1 season, 10 episodes Brad Bird June 23, 1993 – July 28, 1993 CBS • Nelvana • Amblin Television • Universal Television • Warner Bros. Television TV-PGThe CriticSitcom2 seasons, 23 episodes Al JeanJanuary 26, 1994 – May 21, 1995 ABC Gracie FilmsTV-14Mike ReissFox Film Roman Columbia Pictures Television Rough Draft StudiosDuckmanSitcom4 seasons, 70 episodesEverett PeckMarch 5, 1994 – September 6, 1997USA Network Klasky Csupo Reno & Osburn Productions Paramount TelevisionSpace Ghost Coast to Coast Comedy11 seasons, 110 episodesMike LazzoApril 15, 1994 – May 31, 2008 Cartoon Network Ghost Planet IndustriesAdult SwimWilliams StreetTalk showFlash GameTap Cartoon Network StudiosThe Head Action2 seasons, 14 episodesEric FogelSeptember 1, 1994 – March 1, 1996MTVMTV AnimationMTV ProductionsTraditional AdventureThe Maxx Action1 season, 13 episodes Sam KiethApril 8, 1995 – June 19, 1995 Adventure Bill Messner-Loebs MTV AnimationMTV ProductionsDr. Katz, Professional TherapistSitcom6 seasons, 81 episodes Jonathan KatzMay 28, 1995 – February 13, 2002Comedy Central HBO Downtown ProductionsTV-PGTom Snyder Popular Arts Entertainment Tom Snyder Productions The Ambiguously Gay Duo Animation 1 season, 12 episodes Robert SmigelJ. J. Sedelmaier March 19, 1996 - May 15, 2011 ABCNBC J.J. Sedelmaier Productions, Inc.King of the HillSitcom14 seasons, 269 episodes Mike JudgeJanuary 12, 1997 – presentFox Film RomanTV-14Greg Daniels 3 Arts Entertainment Deedle-Dee Productions Judgemental Films 20th TelevisionDariaSitcom5 seasons, 65 episodes Glenn EichlerMarch 3, 1997 – January 21, 2002MTV Tenth Annual IndustriesTV-14 Susie Lewis MTV AnimationTodd McFarlane's Spawn Superhero3 seasons, 18 episodesTodd McFarlaneMay 16, 1997 – May 28, 1999HBOHBO AnimationTV-MA Drama Spicy City Science fiction 1 season, 6 episodes Ralph Bakshi July 11, 1997 – August 22, 1997 South ParkSitcom25 seasons, 316 episodes Trey ParkerAugust 13, 1997 – presentComedy Central Celluoid Studios Stop-motionMatt Stone Braniff ProductionsDigital animation South Park Digital Studios, LLC. The Goddamn George Liquor Program Drama 1 season, 8 episodes John Kricfalusi October 15, 1997 – 1998 Spümcø Flash The PJsSitcom3 seasons, 44 episodes Eddie MurphyJanuary 10, 1999 – May 20, 2001 Fox Imagine TelevisionTV-14Stop-Motion Larry WilmoreThe WB Eddie Murphy ProductionsSteve Tompkins Will Vinton Studios Charged Productions Touchstone Television Warner Bros. TelevisionDilbertSitcom2 seasons, 30 episodesbased on the comic strip created by Scott AdamsJanuary 25, 1999 – July 25, 2000UPN IdboxTV-PGTraditional United Media Productions Columbia TriStar TelevisionFamily GuySitcom24 seasons, 445 episodesSeth MacFarlaneJanuary 31, 1999 – presentFox Fuzzy Door ProductionsTV-MA Traditional (Digital ink-and-paint, and color) 20th Television Animation Flash 20th Television Toon Boom Station Zero Comedy1 season, 20 episodesTramp DalyMarch 8, 1999 – April 6, 1999MTV Possible WorldsTV-14Traditional Musical C-Traze Studios Upfront Entertainment MTV AnimationFuturama Science fiction10 seasons, 170 episodesMatt GroeningMarch 28, 1999 – present Fox The Curiosity Company TV-14Traditional (Digital ink-and-paint, and color)Sitcom Comedy Central 20th Television Hulu 20th Television AnimationHome MoviesSitcom4 seasons, 52 episodesBrendon SmallApril 26, 1999 – April 4, 2004UPN (1999-2001)Adult Swim (2001-2004)Burns & Burns ProductionsTV-PGTraditional Flash The Dick & Paula Celebrity Special Comedy 1 season, 7 episodes Tom Snyder July 20, 1999 – August 1999 FX Soup2Nuts TV-14 Traditional Downtown Comedy 1 season, 13 episodes Chris Prynoski August 3 – November 8, 1999 MTV MTV Animation TV-14 Cita's World Music Trayce Z. Zinzer September 20, 1999 – January 3, 2003 BET TV-PG CGIMission HillSitcom1 season, 13 episodes Bill OakleySeptember 24, 1999 – August 11, 2002 The WB Bill OakleyTV-14TraditionalJosh WeinsteinAdult Swim Josh Weinstein Productions Castle Rock Entertainment
United Kingdom Title Genre Seasons/episodes Show creator(s) Original release Network Studio Technique SourceWicked WillieComedy1 season, 11 episodes1990 - 1991Channel 5Traditional Crapston Villas Satire 2 seasons, 20 episodes Sarah Ann Kennedy October 27, 1995 – January 19, 1998 Channel 4 Spitting Image Stop-Motion Black ComedySoap Opera Pond Life Comedy 2 seasons, 21 episodes Candy Guard December 2, 1996 – October 10, 2000 Collingwood & Co. Traditional Angry KidComedy4 seasons, 66 episodesDarren WalshDecember 5, 1998 – November 8, 2019 Atom.com Aardman AnimationsStop-motion/Live-action YouTube Mr. Morris Productions Channel 4 BBC ThreeRex the RuntComedy2 seasons, 26 episodesRichard GoleszowskiDecember 21, 1998 – December 16, 2001BBC Two Aardman AnimationsStop-motion/Live-action BBC Bristol Egmont Imagination EVA Entertainment
Canada Title Genre Seasons/episodes Show creator(s) Original release Network Studio Technique SourceLe JourNulSatire1 season, 360 episodesPrix Gémeaux1999 – 2001TVAGroupe TVACGIKevin SpencerBlack comedy8 seasons, 113 episodes Greg LawrenceJanuary 17, 1999 – November 6, 2005The Comedy NetworkOcnus ProductionsAtomic ProductionsFlash
Latin America and Brazil Title Country Genre Seasons/episodes Show creator(s) Original release Network Studio SourceEl Siguiente ProgramaColombia Comedy5 seasons, 93 episodes Santiago Moure October 29, 1997 – September 1, 2000Canal A Gaira SatireMartín de FranciscoNovember 14, 2019 Conexión Creativa Canal 1 Cenpro TelevisiónMercano El MarcianoArgentinaComedy1 season, 40 episodesJuan Antin, Ayar B1998 – 2000MuchMusicMalcriados Science fiction
Co-productions Title Country Genre Seasons/episodes Show creator(s) Original release Network Studio SourceThe Brothers GruntCanadaComedy1 season, 35 episodesDanny AntonucciAugust 15, 1994 – April 9, 1995MTVa.k.a. CartoonUnited StatesMTV AnimationRobinCanadaSlapstick comedy1 season, 30 episodesMagnus Carlsson1996SVT1TMO Film GmbHGermanyNelvanaSwedenCartoon SushiCanadaAnimation showcase1 season, 15 episodesDanny Antonucci1997 – 1998MTVa.k.a. CartoonUnited StatesKeith AlcornMTV AnimationD.N.A. ProductionsO CanadaCanadaAnthology1 season, 13 episodesBob JaquesMarch 5, 1997 – December 30, 2002Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network ProductionsUnited StatesKelly ArmstrongGlen KennedyStressed EricUnited KingdomBlack comedy2 seasons, 13 episodesCarl GorhamApril 20, 1998 – October 11, 2000BBC TwoKlasky CsupoUnited StatesSitcomNBCAbsolutely ProductionsHungarySatireCelebrity DeathmatchCanadaSports entertainment6 seasons, 93 episodesEric FogelOriginal series: May 14, 1998 –June 6, 2002MTVMTV AnimationUnited StatesParodyRevival series: June 10, 2006 – March 30, 2007MTV2Cuppa Coffee StudiosThe Comedy NetworkBob and Margaret CanadaComedy4 seasons, 52 episodes David FineJune 22, 1998 – December 25, 2001 Comedy Central Philippines Animation StudioGlobalUnited KingdomAlison SnowdenChannel 4 NelvanaPhilippines
See also List of adult animated television series List of adult animated television series of the 2000s List of adult animated television series of the 2010s List of adult animated television series of the 2020s LGBT representation in adult animation Modern animation in the United States Lists of animated feature films Independent animation Animation in the United States in the television era Cartoon violence
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