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Ananimated sitcom is a subgenre of a televisionsitcom that isanimated, and is usually made or created foradult audiences.[1][2]The Simpsons,Family Guy,South Park,SpongeBob SquarePants,American Dad! andKing of the Hill are six of the longest-running American animated sitcoms.[3][4][5]
The Flintstones, which debuted in 1960, was the first example of the animated sitcom genre.[6][7] A similar cartoon,The Jetsons, which took place in the future rather than the past, followed in 1962.[6] Marc Blake argued it started the "science fiction sitcom sub genre".[8]
Animated sitcoms have been more controversial than traditional cartoons from the onset.The Flintstones was originally oriented at parents, as an animated version ofThe Honeymooners, though it was primarily popular with children.[9][10][11] David Bennett argued that when it was originally released, it was aimed at an adult audience, and called it the "direct ancestors" of current adult animation, because it covered adult subjects.[12] Bennett stated that it specifically influencedThe Simpsons, along with animations onAdult Swim andNetflix. His argument was confirmed by the fact thatThe Huckleberry Hound Show, another animated sitcom created byWilliam Hanna andJoseph Barbera, became a "surprise hit with adult audiences."[13] Even though some argued thatThe Flintstones later influencedThe Simpsons,[14] other scholars said that although the show caused a boom inprimetime animation and "subverted conventional TV", the result would be driving animation out of primetime "for almost three decades".[15] Despite this, scholar John Libbey argued that the show utilized "subversive qualities of animation."[16]
From 1972 to 1974,Hanna-Barbera producedWait Till Your Father Gets Home, an adult-oriented sitcom in the style ofAll in the Family.[17][18] The series dealt with subjects such asfeminism and thegeneration gap.[19]
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a number of animated television programs appeared which challenged theStandards & Practices guidelines, includingThe Simpsons,[20]Beavis and Butt-Head,The Critic,Rocko's Modern Life, andDuckman.[21][22] In 1987,The Simpsons shorts debuted onFox'sThe Tracey Ullman Show. This show aired in prime time, meaning it was not self-censored as much as programs intended to air on Saturday mornings. As such, the show would have brief nudity and mild language, while dealing with mature themes and subjects such as death, gambling addiction, religion, and suicide.[20] The first full-length episode, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", debuted on December 17, 1989. It is the first American animated sitcom not to have alaugh track, unlike other animated sitcoms prior. It remained the sole English-language mainstream adult-oriented animated sitcom until the 1990s, which saw the debuts ofBeavis and Butt-Head,King of the Hill,South Park,Daria,Family Guy andFuturama.[7][14] Some scholars argued thatMatt Groening emulated the sci-fi genre shown inThe Jetsons.[23]Futurama would be complimented for its "intelligent, scientifically accurate, and humanized" approach to adventures, romances, and parodies of sci-fi.[24] This included the growing relationship between Fry and Leela and an "alien relationship" (Kif and Amy).[25]
John Evershed, formerly showrunner onHappy Tree Friends and current founder ofMondo Media, argued that the "enduring popularity" of this genre is a result ofThe Simpsons, a massive "animation franchise," and said this proves "the time-tested formula" of the genre works, even though it was "controversial" when it was released.[26] Evershed also said that the show made clear that animation is "more than justkids content."[27] Others also argued that the show marked a turning point in U.S. attitudes "toward cartoons written primarily for adult audiences"[28]The Simpsons would later win theGuinness World Records award for "Longest-running animated sitcom (by episode count)."[4]Chris Turner, author ofPlanet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation, argued that culture and events of 1990s "can all be understood through a Simpsons prism."[29] Some critics argued thatThe Simpsons was responsible for "popularizing adult animation" while influencing "satirical cartoons" likeSouth Park andFamily Guy.[30] Others even said thatThe Simpsons opened the "door for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim" and praised it for being "extremely unique and ... constantly evolving."[31][32] Andrew J. Crow ofTime magazine noted the influence ofThe Simpsons on adult animation, withFamily Guy,King of the Hill, andBob's Burgers, among others, featuring some version of the same structure, while "non-family-based shows" have drawn from "Matt Groening's hyper-referential style, irreverence and slapstick humor."[33] He quotedAlex Hirsch, creator ofGravity Falls, as describing adult animation as an "arms race of different ways to copyThe Simpsons." Two of Hirsch's friends from CalArts,Pendleton Ward (creator ofAdventure Time) andJ. G. Quintel (creator ofRegular Show) were also inspired by The Simpsons. In 1989,The Simpsons began airing onFox Broadcasting Company in prime time, becoming a massive hit among American audiences. In response,ABC,CBS andNBC each developed animated series to air in prime time, but none of the shows were successful.[34] One series,Capitol Critters, focused on subjects such as gun control, interracial violence and political corruption.[35] In his review of the series,Variety critic Brian Lowry wrote that he felt that the series' approach was "muddled", and that "the bland central character and cartoonish elements ... will likely be off-putting to many adults, who won't find the political satire biting enough to merit their continued attention. Similarly, kids probably won't be as smitten with the cartoon aspects or look".[35] The series was cancelled after one month.The Critic was somewhat more successful, but achieved low ratings because of ABC's sporadic scheduling, and was cancelled by the network. Fox picked up the series, but cancelled it four months later.[34] While Fox allowedThe Simpsons to portray animated depictions of human buttocks, ABC would not allow similar scenes to appear onThe Critic.[20]
Others stated that it was not until the early 1990s that "cartoons specifically for adults" rather than children, did not come to "mainstream prominence" until after the success ofThe Simpsons, with Fox later airingKing of the Hill andFamily Guy both of which "generated massive audiences."[33] As animation critic Reuben Baron described it, for a long time, "adult action/drama cartoons" were scarce on television, with only a "few cult hits and flops in the '90s", with almost nothing in the 2000s and more in the 2010s.[36] Some critics calledDuckman, based on a comic of the same, a "Simpsons-inspired sitcom" which had a pilot in 1991 and premiered in 1994 on theUSA Network as part of the "network's Saturday night programming."[37] The show features humans, animals, and hybrids of both intermingling, with "every design intentionally exaggerated and distorted", looking like the original comics, with theme music fromFrank Zappa and set its sights on "1990s incarnations of political correctness and censorship", making it, a critic argued, a precursor toFamily Guy andBoJack Horseman.[37] As forKing of the Hill, some noted it had the a great example of "young, adolescent love" within adult animation, specifically between Bobby and Connie.[25] The show was also described as a "force for adult animation."[38] In 1999,Family Guy debuted onFox. The series was cancelled twice in the first three years, but became one of the network's longest-running series. It would later be praised for its humor, "cynical commentary, and sci-fi adventures"[24] while having a sincere but tragic and real relationship between Brian and Pearl Burton.[25]
Beavis and Butt-Head, which began airing in the early 1990s, another sitcom, was also controversial. This was due to its portrayal of brief nudity, profanity and violence. Although the series was intended for adult audiences, it was shown in the afternoons, and multiple parents claimed that their children had imitated the show's characters. After an incident,MTV responded by moving the series to a later airtime and adding disclaimers to future episodes stating explicitly not to imitate the actions of the characters, as well as removing all references to fire from the episodes.[39] AsBeavis and Butt-Head began entered its last season in 1997, a new adult animation began airing on MTV which was titledDaria. It would praised for its "progressive characters", sense of humor, and ability to capture absurdity of teen life in suburbs.[25] Beginning around the same time wasSouth Park. It became an "icon for anti-censorship and free speech"[24] and was called "one of the most controversial shows on television."[40]
In May 1995, another adult animated sitcom began airing onComedy Central. It was titledDr. Katz, Professional Therapist, featured the voice talents ofJonathan Katz,Jon Benjamin, andLaura Silverman,[41] won aPeabody Award in 1998.[42] and was animated in a crude, easily recognizable style produced with the softwareSquigglevision in which all persons and animate objects are colored and have constantly squiggling outlines, while most other inanimate objects are static and usually gray in color.[43] Some critics stated that this series offered "plenty of cleverness and humor for those who looked", with funny lines, a unique style, and centered around "therapist discussions with real celebrities".[44]
In March 2000, the first few episodes ofGod, the Devil and Bob aired onNBC, with nine episodes unaired.[45] The series didn't return until 2011, when the nine remaining episodes aired, from January to March 2011, onAdult Swim.[46][47] Some said this was becauseChristian groups, like theAmerican Family Association, had boycotted the network, and 17 NBC-affiliated stations agreed, leading to the show being stopped only after four episodes had aired.[48] Even so, some religious leaders in theUnited Kingdom supported the show, and critics like Caryn James called it "a little risky" but "relatively benign" when compared toSouth Park,The Sopranos, andSex and the City which aired at the time.[49]
In June 2000,Kevin Smith criticizedABC over its animated sitcom,Clerks: The Animated Series, tellingEW that they delivered the content but that ABC, and their corporate ownerDisney Company, reneged on their promises, and called the show "dead" even though there were six episodes that had not aired.[50] Six episodes of the show, based onKevin Smith's1994 comedy of the same title, were produced, but only two episodes aired before the show was cancelled by ABC.[51][52]
While thepilot ofHarvey Birdman, Attorney at Law first aired as a sneak peek onCartoon Network on December 30, 2000,[53] the series officially premiered on Adult Swim on September 2, 2001, the night the block launched.[54] It ended on July 22, 2007, with a total of39 episodes, over the course of four seasons. Later, in October 2018, aspecial, entitledHarvey Birdman: Attorney General, premiered,[55] and a spin-off,Birdgirl, was ordered in May 2019, ultimately running from 2021 to 2022.[56] Some described the series as funny, entertaining, zany, and amusing.
From August to October 2002, the final few episodes ofThe Oblongs, another adult animation, would air on Adult Swim afterThe WB did not air the last five episodes of the series. The latter, which some called a "stray gem in the early 2000s," was noted for the romance between a married couple, Bob and Pickles Oblong, who had a healthy relationship where both would "constantly support each other."[25] In 2008, Usha M. Rodrigues and Belinda Smaill argued thatbro'Town was a "home grown animated sitcom" that is comparable toThe Simpsons.[57]
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Adult animation became more popular, premiering critically acclaimed shows such asDrawn Together,Family Guy,American Dad!,Archer,Bob's Burgers,Rick and Morty,BoJack Horseman,F Is for Family, andBig Mouth.[58] Some argued that animated sitcoms have formed some of the "most enduring and valuable franchises in the history of television," in terms of shows likeFamily Guy andSouth Park.[59] These shows, and their subsequent franchises, were said to be part of a shift in the early 2010s towardadult animation, with darker and "more intricate animated comedies" such asBojack Horseman andRick and Morty released, with the latter reaching nine million viewers after the first season.[60]Drawn Together, a parody ofThe Real World, which follows the misadventures of the housemates in the fictional show of the same name and uses asitcom format with areality TV show setting, was followed by a direct-to-video film andseries finale titledThe Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!.[61] Another animated sitcom wasBrickleberry which aired onComedy Central from 2012 to 2015. It was created byWaco O'Guin andRoger Black, executive produced by O'Guin, Black, and comedianDaniel Tosh. It was later described as one of the "more vulgar adult-animation offerings" of the 2010s, withKaitlin Olson only staying "for the first season as the female lead," voicing a "recently transferred Yellowstone ranger named Ethel."[62] It was also said that show had a divided reception from critics but received favorably by audiences, who appreciated the show's "shameless sense of offensive humor and fast-paced writing."
Archer was said to be a "standard bearer" for adult animation and an "eclectic comedy" and praised for its "tight, fast-paced, and ever impressively intelligent dialogue," with a "power couple": Sterling Archer and Lana Kane.[25][24][63]American Dad! was praised for breaking away from the "cynicism and formulas of its adult animation contemporaries" with the romance between Stan Smith and Francine said to be a wonderful romantic pair akin toArchie andEdith Bunker.[64][25]Bob's Burgers was described as a welcome addition to the "Sunday lineup," with passionate relationship between Bob and Linda Belcher while maintaining a large audience.[25][24] In November 2020, the show was approaching its 200th episode.[65] and that Some reviewers calledDrawn Together a "bizarre and highly entertaining series" which has a unique style of humor and "level of self-parody."[66] Some reviewers would point to how the "foxhole humor" inBob's Burgers has kept it going.[67]
In June 2011, two scholars analyzedqueercharacters and themes in animated sitcoms, arguing that they create "space for queer resistance," analyzing themes, and text, in the animated seriesFamily Guy.[68] They also argued that analyzing the show usingpostmodernthematic analysis, it creates "deconstructionist instances" that, in their view, "expose and subvert thehegemony ofheteronormativity."
Allen Gregory had a short run in 2011 and was cancelled after the first season.[69] This series featured Richard and Jeremy De Longpre, the fathers of the title character, Allen. Jeremy is a former social worker who had a loving wife and family, although this changed after Richard became one of his clients.[70] Richard was attracted to Jeremy to the point where he started stalking him and his family until Jeremy finally agreed to be his husband. It is said that Jeremy is actuallyheterosexual but left his wife and children for Richard, who offered him an easy, no-maintenance life as his trophy husband.[70][71] The following year, from January to December 2012,Unsupervised, an adult animatedsitcom ran onFX.[72][73] Although it was cancelled in November 2012 after one season, it was praised by critics as acoming-of-age story, with two clueless and ridiculous protagonists, while having "realistic looking backgrounds," contrasting with show's look in general.[66]
Jeff & Some Aliens, an animated sitcom, aired onComedy Central from January to March 2017.[74][75] The plot surrounds three aliens who travel to Earth to find the most average person to test and understand humans. Most episodes revolve around Jeff having a problem that the aliens can fix with a strange device.[76] In December 2017, the series was canceled after one season.[citation needed][77] It was described as being "a witty and fun stoner alien romp" which is a comedy akin toRick and Morty.[66]
Other animated sitcoms includeSanjay and Craig,Paradise PD,Tuca & Bertie,The Boondocks,The Loud House, andMomma Named Me Sheriff.[78][58][13] Some series are on streaming platforms, as is the case withDisenchantment,Final Space,Solar Opposites,Central Park, the short-lived series,Hoops, andQ-Force.[58][79][80][81][33] This positioned Netflix as a leader ofadult animation content.[33] The creator ofBojack Horseman,Raphael Bob-Waksberg, said that the show is about "ourselves looking outwards" and argued that the voice actor for Bojack,Will Arnett, can find the comedy in anything.[82]Nasdaq argued that shows likeDisenchantment were "original content" which had helpedNetflix "dominate the online video streaming market," and said that demand for original content will allow Netflix to expand its base of subscribers.[83] This allowed Netflix to gain allegiance of smaller, but more fervent, fanbases, which garnered a wide viewership.[33]
Some critics noted thatThe Simpsons is not the only model for such animation, due to new shows coming to TV and streaming platforms likeBoJack Horseman,Big Mouth,Rick and Morty andUndone, which some call a boom at the time that "high-quality adult animation shows" are being produced in France, Japan, and in other parts of the world, a new group of creators is pushing existing boundaries.[33] Even so, fans ofThe Simpsons turnedHulu into a popular streaming hub.[84]
Critics praisedTuca & Bertie andSolar Opposites for their take onhumor andcomedy. Shaurya Thapa ofScreen Rant argued thatTuca & Bertie offered "a fresh and realistic take on the sitcom formula" while[85] Rafael Motomoyer ofCollider argued thatSolar Opposites not only mixes "crude humor and knack for violence ... with a long-standing tradition of animated sitcoms" centered on a family, but it gives a "new take on the typical American family."[7] Some describedThe Boondocks as profound, comedic, smart, silly, has social commentary on class relations, racism, and with a unique animation style.[44] Some said thatApple TV+'sCentral Park was one of the best shows of 2020 and described it as the network's "first foray into adult animation."[86]
Certain comedians have created their own animated sitcoms. This includes the ongoing series,Duncanville, is airing onFOX, co-created byAmy Poehler,Mike Scully, andJulie Thacker.[87] Poehler said the series is inspired byThe Simpsons.[88] Another animated sitcom on Fox,Bless the Harts, starredKristen Wiig, and was created by formerSaturday Night Live staff writer,Emily Spivey.[89]
A September 2018 report byAT&T, usingGoogle Trends, identified the most popular animated sitcoms in eachU.S. state.[90][91] They found thatSouth Park is popular inColorado,The Simpsons is popular inOregon andMassachusetts,Family Guy popular inConnecticut, andKing of the Hill popular in Kentucky and Tennessee.[28] The report also statedThe Simpsons andSouth Park are the two most popular animated sitcoms, whileRick and Morty is among the "most watched cable television series."
In 2019, it was announced that a writer forDisenchantment, Shion Takeuchi, would be heading her ownupcoming Netflix show titledInside Job,[92][36] withAlex Hirsch as an executive producer,[93] With a woman named Alma as the protagonist, Takeuchi said she hoped it would "push the boundaries" of adult animation.[33] Hirsch was also quoted as noting that adult animation is changing, saying that it can be something that is "sophisticated, dramatic, beautiful and nuanced" rather than "crass and cruel."
In January 2020,TZGZ,Syfy's new adult animation block, ordered six 15-minute episodes ofMagical Girl Friendship Squad.[94] At the same time, the short-form version,Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins, began airing on the same late-night programming block.[95][96]
In February 2020, Fox released an animated sitcom produced by Seungyong Ji and Jordan Grief titledDuncanville, focusing on the story of a kid who "daydreams of making it big without having to wear a suit and tie to do so."[97]
In September 2020,Magical Girl Friendship Squad began airing on SYFY.[98] In interviews the same month, series creator Kelsey Stephanides hoped that the series would expand the "types of new animated stories" with more variety in adult animation,[99] allowing for "different ways" to do adult animation in the future.[100]
In December 2020,Hoops was cancelled by Netflix after its first season received low ratings and negative reviews.[101][102] Hoops was described as "puerile comedy ... perfect forTrump's America,"[103] not funny,[104] and "crude, rude, and aimless."[105]
On January 15, 2021, the first part of season 2 ofDisenchantment was released onNetflix.[106] In February 2021, it was announced thatTyler, the Creator had teamed up withLionel Boyce and Davon 'Jasper' Wilson to develop an animated comedy namedShell Beach.[107] In March 2021, it was reported thatKing of the Hill would be revived, with characters aging 15 years from the end of the series.[108]
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