In popular culture, cartoons may once have been synonymous with Saturday mornings, silliness, and an age group that still needed adult supervision. But there’s nothing inherently childish about cartoons. Quite the opposite, in fact. With near-boundless imaginative potential and flexibility that live-action can only dream of, the genre has evolved over the decades to go much deeper than chasing roadrunners off of cliffs.

The best animated adult sitcoms don’t just offer laughs; they tackle themes that go to the very heart of the human condition. To prove once and for all that animation is universal and ageless, here is a list of our top five favorite animated adult sitcoms, both classic and current, that show just how versatile, relevant, and poignant cartoons can be.

BoJack Horseman (2014–2020)

Over six seasons and 77 episodes, BoJack Horseman proved what WC Fields’ famously said about comedy: that it is “tragedy happening to someone else.” In this world where anthropomorphized animals live alongside humans, BoJack is a depressed horse grappling with the fallout of a difficult upbringing and a stalled acting career. It’s hard to imagine a blacker comedy, with its all-too-realistic takes on mental illness, sexism, racism, and more. But its unwillingness to look away from the tragedy of everyday life is exactly what makes it relatable — and outrageously funny.

Where to watch: Netflix

Daria (1997–2002)

After being unavailable for many years due to licensing issues with its incredible “all killer, no filler” soundtrack, Daria is now available on scores of streaming sites, minus the original music. Millenials looking for a hit of youthful nostalgia (and Gen Z-ers who have an understandable fascination with all things 90s) will most definitely find it in the misadventures of teenage misanthrope Daria, her offbeat bestie Jane, teen queen sister Quinn, and the other cast of characters in Lawndale.

Where to watch: Paramount+, AppleTV, Google Play, MTV

Big Mouth (2017–present)

Raunchy as they come, Big Mouth is an animated adult sitcom that shows coming of age isn’t child’s play. It’s also a shining example of how animation can bring to life absurd premises (like teenage hormones actually coming to life as walking, talking monsters who pester their human hosts) and not only make them believable, but insanely watchable. And underneath the bawdiness and other eyebrow-raising aspects of the shows, there’s a surprisingly tender and human message about acceptance.

Where to watch: Netflix

South Park (1997–present)

Love it or hate it, you’ve surely heard of South Park and that fact alone is enough to earn the show its place among the highest echelons of animated adult sitcoms. Known as much for its quotable quips (“Oh my god, they killed Kenny!”) as for the controversies it’s generated (the least of which is an episode featuring a cocaine-sniffing Buddha), South Park has carved out a specific, enduring niche for itself. Its paper cut-out and stop-motion aesthetic also makes it a visual outlier among its slicker, more highly produced peers.

Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max

F Is for Family (2015–2021)

It’s wild to think that when The Simpsons was first launched, it generated backlash and controversy for its depiction of a “dysfunctional” family. Today, beer-chugging Homer and wise-cracking Bart look like the Waltons next to the likes of the Murphys, the family at the center of F Is for Family. The head of the household, Frank, is as salty about navigating life, work, and family as you’d expect for a war vet-turned-baggage handler in the mid-1970s. But Bill Burr, the voice behind the character and the creator behind the show, brings sweetness and serious comedy chops to the party. The result? A knee-slapper of a show that’ll make you glad you live in the 2020s.

Where to watch: Netflix