Animated sitcoms have carved out their own niche within the landscape of television, and the genre has evolved a lot over the years. Starting with shows likeThe FlintstonesandThe Jetsonsin the 1960s, animated sitcoms presented a novel variation on a tired format. Animation allowed these shows to tell stories and jokes that would be impossible in traditional live-action sitcoms. After shows likeThe Simpsons, Family GuyandSouth Parkbecame popular in the 1990s, animated sitcoms took another big leap forward, with shows focused solely on adults.
Nowadays, animated sitcoms are more common than ever before, since advances in technology have made them quicker and easier to make. The genre has opened up to allow for original and creative concepts, many of which do things which live-action isn’t built to do. Modern classics likeRick and MortyandBoJack Horsemanshowcase all the fast-paced fun of animation, but with mature themes for older audiences. Thanks to a few revolutionary shows, there is a lot of variety among the greatest animated sitcoms.
10 Best Sitcoms Led By Women
The past few years have seen an explosion of great sitcoms led by gifted female performers; it’s worth knowing what they are, and what preceded them.
The Boondockswas never designed to have broad appeal, but it resonates with its fan base unlike most shows. There haven’t been many animated sitcoms about Black characters, or many live-action sitcoms for that matter.The Boondocksis about more than representation, however. Its comedy prods at the tension that modern Black culture must navigate between pure expressions of joy and a recognition of the reality of inequality in America.The Boondocksdraws on anime influences to create a dynamic, expressive style of animationthat gives it a unique look.
Dariais a spinoff fromBeavis and Butt-Head,but the protagonist is a completely different character. Daria is intelligent and cynical, and this jars with her surroundings. She is constantly besieged by her positive family and the relentless preppy optimism of American high school. In this way,Dariacasts a jaded glance over the artifice of American suburbia, with many of the show’s characters measuring their social status in material luxuries and comparing themselves with pop culture figures.Daria’s curse is that she can see the world around her for what it is, and her unimpressed look says it all.
Regular Showwas hidden on Cartoon Network where adult audiences wouldn’t have seen it at first, but it still managed to develop a cult following across a broad range of ages.Regular Showis endlessly creative, which perfectly suits its rapid pace. There are still some relatable elements, though, such as the brotherly bond between Mordecai and Rigby, or their feverish hatred of doing any work whatsoever.Regular Showmay be marketed toward children, but there is a lot to love for older audiences. It makes full use of the medium of animation, with sight gags, physical humor, and inventive character designs aplenty.
Beavis and Butt-Headis visually unappealing and proudly asinine at times, but the show’s lowbrow slackers resonated with an entire generation of youth in the 1990s. Through their various misadventures in their small town and their sneering, snickering comments on music videos,Beavis and Butt-Head became cultural iconsfor a subculture which sought to rebel against America’s corporate consumerist culture.Beavis and Butt-Headrevels in its controversial status, sending its two dim-witted protagonists on adventures that push well beyond the limits of good taste. It’s no wonder they have been revived for more.
H. Jon Benjamin has the perfect voice for Bob Belcher, the weary owner of a burger restaurant prone to fits of blinding comic rage. While Bob and Linda have their own peculiar repartee, they are often teaming up to put a stop to whatever hare-brained scheme their three children have hatched.As the show has progressed,Bob’s Burgershas built up the world of its supporting characters, and it has developed a more genuine emotional core. It also pulled off the tricky task of making a movie based on the show which doesn’t trade in any of its original humor.Bob’s Burgersseason 15is around the corner, and there are no signs that the show will be ending any time soon.
The Flintstonesis recognized as the first major animated sitcom, but it turned out to be so much more than a mere stunt.The Flintstonesis a Stone Age family sitcom full of charming anachronisms which expose the timeless foibles of the human condition, and it’sthis timeless quality which has allowedThe Flintstonesto stand the test of time better than most other sitcoms of the era. There are parts ofThe Flintstoneswhich seem old-fashioned today, such as the laugh track, but Fred and Wilma’s chaotic home life is still hilarious.
Archerhas a lot of explosive action sequences and some fun espionage plots, but the heart of the show is the dysfunctional workplace. This is why it doesn’t skip a beat, even when the agency is shut down and the characters have to find other avenues of income, whether that involves private detective work or selling drugs.Archer’s coma seasons take place entirely within the protagonist’s subconscious, but they still feel like the same oldArcher,because the characters are squabbling and getting in each other’s way just like any other season.Archer’s wry, raunchy sense of humor is the only constant.
King of the Hillwas created byBeavis and Butt-Head’s Mike Judge andThe Office’s Greg Daniels. They make the perfect duo, andKing of the Hillhas often been praised for its acute observation of middle American life.The show is much like its protagonist Hank Hill, in that he is unassuming and takes some getting used to, but he has a good heart.King of the Hillexamines the state of America as traditional conservative values are challenged by the ever-shifting social landscape. Often, it has a positive outlook on the commonalities that people share. AKing of the Hillrevivalis currently in the works at Hulu.
BoJack Horsemanprobes at the boundaries of the traditional sitcom. Although there are plenty of familiar elements, including some dysfunctional friends and fast-paced wordplay,BoJack Horsemanisn’t afraid to dig deepinto its protagonist’s psyche, even if that means going entire episodes without so much as a chuckle. Some of the best episodes ofBoJack Horsemancan marry its two disparate sides effortlessly, resulting in miniature tragicomic masterpieces which can make the audience both laugh and cry over the traumatic past of an anthropomorphic horse.
Futurama’s vision of the far-future is both alien and familiar.The robot and the cyclops who Fry meets on his first day in the year 3000 make him feel more at home than his family in the year 2000. In fact, the show soon forgets that Fry is a man out of time altogether.Futurama’s sci-fi comedy works best when it uses far-flung concepts to expose the timeless humor of human life. It may be set 1000 years in the future, butFuturamais a workplace sitcom about a regular Joe who has to deal with some utterly bizarre characters and situations just to get by each day.
