The Best Animated Shows of 2024
If there was an overarching trend for animated TV shows in 2024, it’s that they became harder to find. Across the board, streamers cut tons of animation from their services, particularly Max, which is slashing and burning Cartoon Network’s back catalog at an alarming pace: by the end of this year, they will have removed Steven Universe, The Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Teen Titans, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, and many more. In fact, the only Cartoon Network series that will still be on the service in 2025 will be Adventure Time, The Powerpuff Girls, and Courage the Cowardly Dog.
While plenty of great animated TV came out this year to offset some of this exodus, it doesn’t shake the nagging feeling that many of these shows will be the first to go as entertainment executives bend over backward to cut costs and avoid paying residuals. And considering how time-intensive it can be to create animation, this purge feels doubly insulting.
As for what actually came out this year, despite the depressing surrounding circumstances, there was an impressive lineup of animated shows, with plenty of out-of-left-field surprises alongside long-awaited follow-ups. Superhero antics dominated, but even among all these vigilantes, there were plenty of dramatically different takes on familiar material. Beyond that, there were sci-fi laughs, fantasy escapades, coming-of-age journeys, and perhaps most notably, the highly anticipated second season of one of the most visually impressive animated shows in recent memory. Although it seems like animated TV may be the canary in the coal mine for the long-expected streamer crash, the first to feel the brunt of an incoming scale-back for TV production, at least for now, there’s still probably more of it than most of us can possibly watch. Let’s enjoy it while we can.
(Editor’s Note: Anime series were considered in a separate list, which can be found here)
10. Creature Commandos
You’d be forgiven if you’re a little sick of the Suicide Squad, the misanthropic “superhero” outfit that’s somehow been rebooted several times over the last few years alone; they’ve received several films, a poorly received videogame, a TV spin-off, and even an anime. But while Creature Commandos is yet another take on this material, this work of adult animation differentiates itself through its sense of style and, most unexpectedly, its pathos.
After the practice of using villains as expendable Suicide Squad operatives is banned by Congress, Amanda Waller finds a workaround: put together a team that isn’t considered legally “human” and thus not subject to the law. It’s from this motley crew of creatures that this story finds its mojo, diving into the affecting backstories of each squad member as they’re forced to do Uncle Sam’s dirty work. James Gunn’s fingerprints are all over this one, and while his sense of humor can be a little grating at times, there are equally as many sincere turns here that give this violent, crass journey some much-needed heart. They may look like monsters on the outside, but there’s more to this group than appearances suggest. —Elijah Gonzalez
9. Batman: Caped Crusader
Prime Video’s Batman: Caped Crusader follows Bruce Wayne (Hamish Linklater), aka Batman, as he conducts a one-man war against the criminals of Gotham City. As Wayne, he plays the role of the charming socialite, but when he’s Bats, his true self, he’s stoic, cerebral, and ruthless. His origin story—being orphaned and psychologically scarred by a mugging gone wrong—is the same as usual, but this telling does a particularly good job hinting at the unhealthy extremes of his obsession with cracking criminal skulls. While he’s not quite as openly unhinged as The Batman’s portrayal of the character (although that film’s director, Matt Reeves, serves as executive producer here), this take makes it clear that, despite his intellect and physical prowess, this is a person entirely shackled to the past. Although Caped Crusader doesn’t reinvent Batman, it successfully draws from several eras of everyone’s favorite poorly adjusted superhero. Its film noir aesthetics, varied villains, and slightly less fatalistic turns create a series that stays true to its roots while finding enough of its own identity to avoid feeling entirely derivative. This story needed a few more episodes to reach its full potential, but it had me eager to return to the dismal streets of Gotham. —Elijah Gonzalez
8. The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, the new Prime Video animated sci-fi comedy created by Russian Doll and Big Mouth writer Cirocco Dunlap, immediately stands out from other shows in its genre in that there are no human characters. Futurama can always use Philip J. Fry as a sounding board for exposition regarding the wackier parts of its future, and Rick and Morty juxtaposes the out-there multiverse adventures with a familiar dysfunctional family sitcom set-up. In contrast, Second Best Hospital throws the viewer straight into its alien world without telling you the rules. Doctors Klak (Keke Palmer) and Sleech (Stephanie Hsu) know their stuff when it comes to treating all sorts of species, designed with an underground cartoonist charm by Robin Eisenberg. Keeping up with all the barrage of creative and comedic medical emergencies the show throws their way is part of the fun. And when Klak and Sleech find themselves in a situation where they don’t know what they’re doing? Well, that’s where it gets really fun.
As different as these aliens’ physiologies are, their psychologies aren’t much different from our own. This is another adult cartoon centered heavily around mental health issues, reminiscent of the likes of BoJack Horseman and Tuca & Bertie. Would it shock you to learn that the writer of BoJack’s “The Face of Depression” episode wrote an episode of Second Best Hospital focusing on Klak being treated as “The Face of Anxiety?” This isn’t groundbreaking material at this point, but it’s meaningful nonetheless, and without any new Raphael Bob-Waksberg shows on the immediate horizon, Second Best Hospital fills a worthwhile niche with smart writing and compelling stories. —Rueben Baron
7. Invincible
We might be tired of short seasons of television, but it is nice to see that there are still teams of writers who can pull them off. The biggest hindrance to the first half of Invincible’s second season was that it was only half of the story we knew we would be getting from this installment of the series. Now that the latter four episodes are in play, it is clear that Invincible’s sophomore outing is a fantastic continuation of this already great comic book adaptation.
When the season left off, Mark had been beaten down by Viltrumite agents and Nolan had been imprisoned, leaving Mark to deal with the fallout of the destruction on Thraxa and the existence of his new half-brother. Upon his eventual return to Earth in the midseason premiere, Mark is dropped back into the everyday challenges of his life as a college student, boyfriend, and son, while also having to deal with the constant demands of Cecil and the government that come with his heroic responsibilities. It is almost immediately apparent that Mark has too much going on in his life to keep himself together. The emotional arcs that were started in the front half of the season are not hastily resolved; Mark is constantly suffering in order to grow as a person, and while he could certainly use a break, his pain does not make the show drag. Overall, Invincible continues to earn its well-deserved flowers this season, and it has easily made its mark as one of the only shows that can make a minuscule episode order work. Every episode has a runtime that is well under an hour, and it’s nice to know that, even under the limits that streaming seems to be imposing across TV everywhere, the classic 45-minute-long drama is far from dead. —Kathryn Porter
6. Star Trek: Lower Decks
After a long, painful post-Enterprise drought, the streaming era has brought a whole bunch of Star Trek to the small screen, so much so that even many diehard Trekkies may have fallen behind. But of these, the biggest surprise for me has been Lower Decks, a hilarious animated series that focuses on the kinds of red shirts who would normally bite it within 15 seconds on an away mission. The centerpiece of this show’s success is how it balances parody with the type of earnestness that Trek is known for, poking fun at the franchise’s storytelling conventions while still embracing its core utopian beliefs.
For those unfamiliar with the premise, this story follows a crew of junior officers, “lower deckers,” on Starfleet’s USS Cerritos as they “seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.” Or that’s the overall goal, at least, because a lot of the time, they’re too busy having existential breakdowns, dealing with imposter syndrome, or going AWOL. Star Trek may traditionally focus on grandiose philosophical inquiries involving funky-looking aliens, but this show is often more interested in how these strange happenings influence its characters and their bonds with each other, which these episodes continue to do well. And did I mention it’s hilarious? Through the first five episodes of this final season, showrunner Mike McMahan and the rest of the team continue to deliver jokes so funny they could (almost) make a Vulcan grin. —Elijah Gonzalez
5. The Legend of Vox Machina
For the past three years, Critical Role and Prime Video’s animated triumph The Legend of Vox Machina has done it all: brought viewers to tears, elicited the most outrageous laughs, and defied all adaptational expectations to deliver a tale that is both familiar to seasoned fans yet accessible to newcomers as well. In its rollicking and surprisingly romantic third season, Vox Machina continues to be just as action-packed, well-animated, hilariously gross, and heartbreakingly heartfelt, all while focusing on the relationships between these compelling and dynamic characters. In short, it’s another awesome outing for the consistently-excellent animated series.
More than anything, watching The Legend of Vox Machina is a true treat as both a feat of animation and a lovingly-crafted fantasy romp. It takes itself more seriously this time around, but it’s never weighed down by the gravity of its storylines or plot threads. Rather, The Legend of Vox Machina continues to effortlessly glide through a story that remains whole and realized in its moving adaptation of this sprawling odyssey. Like the determined team we know Vox Machina to be, Prime Video’s animated adventure returns with just as much bravado as its scrappy heroes, delivering another action-packed season with a charm that is impossible to resist (though you can certainly try). —Anna Govert
4. My Adventures With Superman
Picking up where last season left off, My Adventures with Superman continues to follow Clark (Jack Quaid), Lois (Alice Lee), and Jimmy (Ishmel Sahid), now fully-minted reporters at the Daily Planet, as they navigate their new positions, relationships, and family drama. Clark is plagued by dreams of the mysterious Kryptonian he saw on Zero Day; Lois searches for her father, who has been missing since the final battle; and Jimmy’s Flamebird empire has taken off, though not without a few new road bumps. Task Force X, led now by the perpetually-hateable Amanda Waller (Debra Wilson), is still making power moves, attempting to amass more weaponry to neutralize the person they deem an ongoing threat to humanity: Superman. As Clark and Lois settle into a comfortable romantic relationship, their bond is put to the test when it’s revealed that there is another Kryptonian still alive: Clark’s cousin Kara. As the team prepares to face the fight of their lives against Task Force X, Clark continues to question his place in humanity, his unknown origins, and his connection to those he loves—all while always making time to save the day. —Anna Govert
3. Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld
Growing up is hard, and doubly so when you’re burdened with supernatural powers that accidentally burnt down half of your hometown, as you’re accosted by demons who desire said abilities for themselves. Such is the plight of Jentry, the protagonist of the aptly named animated series Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld, a lovingly crafted coming-of-age story that features relatable turns despite its boatloads of otherworldly happenings inspired by Chinese mythology. We follow Jentry as she’s forced to get a handle on abilities she’s repressed her entire life, all so she can avoid having her soul stolen by Mr. Cheng, a powerful mogui.
While this story may hit familiar high school drama beats, like childhood friend love triangles and the difficulties of being a teen, it does so with such flair, charm, and deft execution that it doesn’t feel like a repeat. At the center of it all is how well the show conveys Jentry’s specific circumstances: her questions about her deceased parents, the alienation that results from both her powers and also being a Chinese-American growing up in Texas, and her increased responsibility that comes with getting older. By the end, the story goes to some surprisingly challenging places thanks to its cast of complex, flawed characters. And it also helps that this is one of the most visually confident shows of the year, featuring anime-inspired aesthetics and chic character designs that make the action and comedy pop. Many of the best coming-of-age stories convey the broad strokes of adolescence while wrapping them in well-considered specifics, and Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld does just that. —Elijah Gonzalez
2. X-Men ’97
Nearly 30 years after that infamous cliffhanger, X-Men ’97 has finally arrived, and with it the weight of anticipation and expectation from an entire generation of adults who grew up watching the now-iconic X-Men: The Animated Series, alongside a slew of new fans just waiting to discover this classic team. X-Men ‘97 aims to thread a very tight needle, picking up the story of a series that ended a full 27 years ago but being innovative enough to write a new chapter that is true to that beloved saga, while also being interesting enough that it’s actually worth telling in the first place. Picking up a few months after the death of Charles Xavier, the premiere of X-Men ‘97 is a true love letter to the original series, with plenty of homages to that first adventure that introduced fans to these characters and their world. That original series had an outsized influence on everything Marvel would become all these years later, and this is a fitting tribute to the series that started it all. The X-Men animated series was Marvel at its best, and X-Men ’97 is thankfully more of the same. —Trent Moore
1. Arcane
In the first season of Arcane, showrunners Christian Linke and Alex Yee accomplished the difficult task of adapting League of Legends, a multiplayer game most known for making people hate their teammates and themselves, into a story full of compelling, complicated characters, while Fortiche Production’s painstakingly rendered animation brought this steampunk fantasy world to life. And at least through the first six episodes (out of nine) we were provided for review, this second season both reinforces the series’ place as one of the most visually impressive things on television and delivers a flurry of narrative blows that will leave you gasping for air.
The story picks up immediately where things left off; Jinx (Ella Purnell) just sent a magic missile through the window of a Piltover council room, killing several of the city’s leaders and leaving the upper crust more enthused than ever to viciously oppress the undercity of Zaun. Both sides gear up for war as a backroom manipulator attempts to squash any hope of peace. Here, more than ever, the series isn’t afraid to take its protagonists to some dark places. It all leads to tragic duels, heartfelt attempts at reconciliation, and shattering flashbacks that land with as much impact as Vi’s gauntlets—seriously, I wasn’t expecting to be so thoroughly undone by these unfulfilled dreams of change and familial reunions, which are consistently elevated by Fortiche’s deft visual craft. While the series undeniably could have used more time to wrap up every loose plot thread, particularly its political power struggles, its climax paid off these character journeys by skillfully mixing tragedy and catharsis. Even with its flaws, Arcane maintained its magic to the very end. —Elijah Gonzalez
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