Possibilities are endless with animation, and that’s what sets animated sitcoms apart from regular sitcoms. Due to the fact that there is no limitation to what a character can do, this artform can often pull off the unthinkable.
We’ve scoured the libraries of animated sitcoms to bring you a list of our favourites over the years. Let us know what you think about our picks. And if you feel we have missed some popular names, do let us know in the comments below!
Family Guy
Family Guy is unlike other animated sitcoms and its early seasons are fantastic. In the fictional city of Quahog, the Griffin family is often up to some insane tasks ranging from partying with Jesus to plotting revenge against the President. The head of the family, Peter, has got a bunch of bosom buddies who join him in his expeditions and often end up unwittingly adding fuel to the fire.
Family Guy is a brilliant end product of clever scripting, detailed animation, and of course, an unparalleled team of voice actors. A bit of friendly advice: Beware of Stewie!
Rick and Morty
This sci-fi sitcom is unnaturally captivating – and it’s all due to the perennial potential of its main plot. Rick Sanchez is an intelligently crazy alcoholic scientist who has a habit of dragging his dim-witted grandson, Morty, into his boisterous escapades. The duo’s adventures often turn into misadventures of the highest degree.
The series depicts some of the most bizarre sci-fi fantasies imaginable – which serve as the essence of the series.
American Dad!
Another result of Seth MacFarlane’s vivid and wild imagination besides Family Guy, American Dad is absurd, funny, and so very American. Stan and Francine are a happily married couple with two kids, a pesky goldfish, and a self-centred manipulative alien. Stan, who is a C.I.A agent, is often forced to use his agency’s resources to try to solve his family problems. And of course, he fails most of the time.
American Dad is an eccentric comedy that may sometimes be reminiscent of live-action American family sitcoms of the 70’s and 80’s. Every character has something different to offer. Though American Dad is not an absolute laughter ride, it surely is one that makes you smile every time.
Futurama
As the title suggests, Futurama is a story that takes place in the future. New York 1000 years from now, to be precise. Philip J. Fry accidentally falls into a cryogenic pod and is frozen for 1000 long years. After he is thawed out on December 31, 2999, he gets a job as a cargo delivery boy at an interplanetary delivery company called Planet Express. The series largely focuses on the interesting workplace events that keep occurring at Planet Express.
Futurama is an ideal mix of adventure, romance, drama, humour, and sci-fi. If this is how the future is going to be, it certainly looks bright! Just be sure to avoid those cans of slurm!
BoJack Horseman
This one is for everybody who envies animals for their ease of life. A washed-up television star, BoJack Horseman, is finding it hard to come to grips with obscurity. He has plans but things just don’t seem to work out for him. To make matters worse, BoJack has a freeloading roommate who he can’t get along with.
Besides dark comedy, BoJack Horseman is also a thought-provoking presentation on major issues including drug addiction, depression, and human psychology. All in all, it’s much different from the rest, and hence a must-watch.
Archer
Archer is a brilliant spy sitcom that contains the flavour of both the best spy movies along with its very own flavour of humour that often zings. The story follows a dysfunctional team of spies who tend to cause a mild ruckus as they try to do their jobs. The interactions between the agents are sometimes harsher than friendly banter – and stronger than simple attraction.
The animation style is absolutely top-notch, and voice actors do total justice to it.
Bob’s Burgers
Bob’s Burgers is a sitcom star that glows rather than shines. Bob Belcher runs a burger shop with the help of his wife and three underachieving kids (equivalent to three different troublesome varieties). Every so often, Bob has to deal with situations that ultimately lead to chaos and disarray.
The episodes are quite easy flowing and not as loud as other popular animations. And to be honest, that’s what makes Bob’s Burgers a go-to show for every mood – be it happy, sad, or even angry.
South Park
There is a good possibility that, like many of us, the South Park creators believe modern-time little kids are not so little. One of the most popular animated sitcoms of all time, South Park centres on four kids who unite to take part in adventures of both ordinary and uncanny sorts.
What’s more, these kids aren’t anything like regular grade-schoolers, they are highly smart, foul-mouthed, and massively irreverent. One thing to note – they might be potty mouths but what they say often makes some sort of sense!
South Park is both famous and infamous for taking a dig at various social norms of American society. With everything that it presents, South Park is a very smart piece of art that’s confident and doesn’t stop at anything.
Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-Head is a musical sitcom that features two ever-fidgeting teenage boys who are big on heavy-metal music. Though they are professional slackers, there are a couple of things that launch them like rockets. The duo like to form quick opinions, set out on stupid adventures, and waste tons of time.
With all its music, stupid commentary, and funny mess, Beavis and Butt-Head has certainly streamlined the special genre of musical sitcoms.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom for a good reason. The kind of characterization, stories, and humour that the show offers are simply rare, despite these later seasons waning and failing to stack up.
The Simpsons are a working-class dysfunctional family in the misfit town of Springfield. The family often finds themselves in strange situations, and their way out is generally even more strange.
This series continues to serve as an inspiration for both new and existing animations. Initially thought to be unrealistically unattractive, the animation style of The Simpsons has today become iconic.
So there we have it, our list of 10 best animated sitcoms. Do you agree with our picks? Which one would you have included? Let us know in the comments section below!