List of adult animated television series before 1990

For adult animated TV series in the 1990s, see List of adult animated television series of the 1990s. For adult animated TV series in the 2000s, see List of adult animated television series of the 2000s. For adult animated TV series in the 2010s, see List of adult animated television series of the 2010s. For adult animated TV series in the 2020s, see List of adult animated television series of the 2020s.

This is a list of adult animated television series before 1990 (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.^[1][2][3][4] It is also described as something that "formative youths should stay far, far away from"^[5] or has adult humor^[6][7] and comes in various styles,^{[8][9][10][11]} but especially sitcoms and comedies.^[12] These animations can also "appeal to wide swaths of viewers," including those aged 18–34.^[13][14] AdWeek called adult animation "animated projects aimed at grown-ups, not kids."^[15]

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 or hentai.

List

United States

Title	Genre	Seasons/episodes	Show creator(s)	Original release	Network	Studio	Age rating	Technique	Source
The Flintstones	Sitcom	6 seasons, 166 episodes	William Hanna	September 30, 1960 – April 1, 1966	ABC	Hanna-Barbera	TV-G	Traditional	^[16]
			Joseph Barbera
Where's Huddles?	Sitcom	1 season, 10 episodes	William Hanna	July 1, 1970 – September 2, 1970	CBS	Hanna-Barbera	TV-G	Traditional	^[17]
			Joseph Barbera
Wait Till Your Father Gets Home	Sitcom	3 seasons, 48 episodes	William Hanna	September 12, 1972 – October 8, 1974	Syndication	Hanna-Barbera	TV-Y7	Traditional	^[18]
			Joseph Barbera
Jokebook	Animated comedy	1 season, 3 episodes	William Hanna	April 23, 1982 - May 7, 1982	NBC	Hanna-Barbera	TV-NR	Traditional	^[19]
			Joseph Barbera
The Simpsons	Sitcom	35 seasons, 760 episodes	Matt Groening	December 17, 1989 – present	Fox	Gracie Films	TV-PG	Traditional	^[20]
						20th Television Animation	TV-14^[a]

United Kingdom

Title	Genre	Seasons/episodes	Show creator(s)	Original release	Network	Studio	Source
Dick Spanner, P.I.	Comedy	1 season, 22 episodes	Terry Adlam	1986 – 1987	Channel 4	Virgin Group	^[21]

See also

• List of adult animated television series
  • List of adult animated television series of the 2010s
  • List of adult animated television series of the 2020s
• Modern animation in the United States
• Lists of animated feature films
• Independent animation
• Animation in the United States in the television era
• Cartoon violence

Notes

1. some episodes

References

Citations

1. Motamayor, Rafael (March 10, 2020). "11 Adult Animation Shows We Can't Wait to See in 2020". Rotten Tomatoes. from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
2. Vargas, Alani (October 1, 2018). "7 Animated TV Shows On Netflix That Adults Will Absolutely Love". Bustle. from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
3. Jaworski, Michelle; Riese, Monica; Weber, Sarah (January 10, 2019). "The 17 best cartoons for adults". The Daily Dot. from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
4. Collider Staff (April 21, 2020). "The 25 Best Cartoons for Adults Streaming Right Now". Collider. from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
5. Fowler, Matt (March 25, 2019). "The 25 Best Adult Cartoon TV Series". IGN. from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
6. Krell, Jason (April 8, 2014). "Why Saying Animation Is Only For Kids Is Bullshit". Gizmodo. from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
7. Laux, Cameron (November 27, 2019). "Is Japanese Anime Going Mainstream?". BBC. from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
8. Baron, Reuben (December 23, 2019). "Adult Animation Is Better Than Ever - So Why Does It Draw Ridicule?". CBR. from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
9. Barrett, Duncan (November 2, 2020). "Animation nation: how Covid fuelled the rise of adult cartoons". The Guardian. from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
10. Sarto, Dan (March 19, 2020). "What Future Lies in Store for Non-Comedy Adult Animation?". Animation World Network. from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
11. Silliman, Brian (November 2, 2019). "SYFY drawing in more animation with midnight-ish block of adult genre fun". SYFY. from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
12. Sanderson, Katherine (June 30, 2020). "The Future of Adult Animation (With and Without Comedy)". Animation Ave. from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
13. Kunkel III, Earl Monroe (2009). Why ARE people laughing at rape? American adult animation and Adult Swim: Aqua Teen Hunger Force as contemporary humor (Masters). Lehigh University. pp. 5–6, 9. ProQuest 304916287. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
14. Mak, Phillip (July 10, 2020). "Why is everybody talking about adult animation?". Toon Boom Animation. from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
15. Sutton, Kelsey (April 12, 2020). "How Adult Animation Became the Hottest Genre for Streaming Services". AdWeek. from the original on April 26, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
16. Bennett, David (October 6, 2020). "Yabba dabba do! How The Flintstones set the stage for the adult animation boom". The Guardian. from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
17. Woolery 1983, p. 308-309.
18. Woolery 1983, p. 306-307.
19. Erickson 2005, p. 451-452.
20. Wells, John (November 21, 2020). "10 Of The Best 90s Thanksgiving Episodes On TV, Ranked By IMDb". Screen Rant. from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
21. Worthington, TJ (December 2002). . OFF THE TELLY. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2021.

Sources

• Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. ISBN 9781476672939.
• Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. ISBN 978-1476665993.
• Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1538103739.
• Woolery, George W. (1983). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part 1: Animated Cartoon Series. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1557-5. Retrieved January 3, 2021.