The Best R-Rated Animated Shows (That Definitely Are NOT For Kids)
Netflix has finally wrapped up its raunchy comedy Big Mouth. This animated adult comedy, which follows a group of classmates whose struggles with puberty and sexual attraction are manifested in the form of monsters who represent their baser instincts, remained a steady hit until the end, with a loyal and vocal fanbase driving it forward for eight seasons.
While the end of Big Mouth is notable for the loss of another popular Netflix series, it’s surely not the end of the genre. The adult animation genre has been popular for decades, and the advent of streaming has only made it more popular and more accessible. If you’re looking for something to fill the void left by Big Mouth, we explain where you can stream five adult animated shows that are very R-rated and are sure to make you laugh, cry, and maybe cheer a little bit, too.
Would it even be possible to discuss R-rated adult animation without mentioning the longest-running and most prominent of the genre? South Park wrote the book on adult animation, and it continues to add new chapters to this day. Though it premiered in 1997, everything about its lifespan—from its vulgar first episode accidentally being released on PS1 game discs to its recent films taking shots at everything from social media celebrities to weight loss drugs—has offered critical commentary about the world around us while being as shocking as possible.
South Park remains a fan favorite to this day, with Season 27 currently airing on Paramount+ as of this writing. Like Big Mouth, South Park’s crude humor remains implicitly on point, but it has evolved in recent years to become an important reflection of society, especially as it uses its platform to skewer today’s current events, from politics to Internet celebrities to weight loss trends. If you’re in the mood for rude humor that pulls no punches, for better or for worse, South Park is the definitive raunchy cartoon for adults.
Based on the hit comic strip of the same name, The Boondocks was a surprise hit on Cartoon Network as part of the Adult Swim lineup and became something of a cultural phenomenon thanks to its larger-than-life characters and pointed exploration of race relations in America. The show follows the Freemans, a Black family who moves from Chicago to Woodcrest, a white suburb. Today, The Boondocks is revered for its satirical humor built on examining social issues and relationships.
The Boondocks is quintessential viewing for shocking and thought-provoking satire, especially in today’s climate that still sees race as a hot-button topic. Fans found the show stumbled in its final season after series creator Aaron McGruder stepped away due to scheduling issues, but as a whole, this is still considered one of the best series of all time, animated or otherwise.
Another hit on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, The Venture Bros. serves as a loving parody of classic ‘60s cartoon Jonny Quest. The series is about the highly dysfunctional Venture family, including patriarch Rusty Venture, a child genius turned famous scientist whose morals are flimsy at best, and his twin sons (who are, in fact, clones), Hank and Dean. Aided by a bevy of sidekicks and co-stars, including brawny bodyguard Brock Samson, the family finds themselves in misadventure after misadventure.
The Venture Bros. enjoyed a seven season run on Adult Swim, and its shock cancellation in 2018 led to a massive fan outcry, resulting in a series finale film, 2023’s The Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart. The Venture Bros. resonates with fans new and old thanks to its complicated characters, humor, and the warm undercurrent that runs throughout its absurd run. Whether you’re in the mood for crude humor or you grew up with Jonny Quest, The Venture Bros. is sure to scratch an itch for surprisingly heartfelt laughs and action. Comparatively, the series is a lot less vulgar than other entries on this list, like South Park.
The first adult animated series produced for Netflix, BoJack Horseman follows the titular BoJack, a washed-up star of a ‘90s sitcom struggling with depression, alcoholism, and addiction. The show started as a pithy comedy taking shots at celebrity culture, but what it became in later seasons was one of the most thoughtful and introspective shows Netflix ever aired.
BoJack Horseman still manages to be downright hilarious, thanks to its unique take on “Hollywoo,” filled with a mix of humans and humanoid-animals in a world as wondrous as it is down-to-Earth. BoJack is a rare series that will make you cry as quickly as it will make you laugh. It’s a must-watch for anyone who has ever wondered if they were at rock bottom.
One of the current crown jewels of Prime Video’s library, Invincible adapts the classic comic book series of the same name by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. The series follows Mark Grayson, a teenager whose father is the Superman pastiche Omni-Man, as he discovers his own developing powers and becomes a superhero named Invincible.
Like the comic before it, the animated series has become renowned for its down-to-Earth characters, shocking plot twists, and no-holds-barred, blood-soaked action. The series has received some criticism for its long production time and animation that pales in comparison to the stunning original comic book, but it’s still a perfect superhero send-up for those who are exhausted with the MCU or want something with more edge than Superman had.
