Children’s entertainment, to put it simply, is created to entertain children. Multiple cable channels blast kids' programs 24 hours a day, streaming services have their sections dedicated to the youth, and even YouTube has dived into providing child-friendly content, launching itsseparate appspecifically for them. And with annoying characters, a nauseating amount of colors, and music that’ll surely linger in your head, it seems that adults, be it parents, older siblings, babysitters, etc., frequently turn their heads away from the age-appropriate extravaganza blaring from the television screen. But every so often, there comes a made-for-kids television series that grown-ups can sit through and maybe even, dare we say it, enjoy.
FromShrek’s compensating joke to Hercules’ jab at “that Oedipus thing,” kid’s cartoons have, for years, slipped in a joke or two to get adult companions laughing. But there are quite a handful of programs that go beyond a few jokes to satisfy the adult need for quality content, and some, the title alone, may come as a surprise. But rest assured, these kids’ programs are fun for adults as well.
Updated on September 7th, 2023, by Timothy Lindsey:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
14The Amazing World of Gumball
From 2011 to 2019, Cartoon Network ranThe Amazing World of Gumball, which is currently available on Hulu and HBO Max. Following a mischievous blue cat and his adopted fish brother,Gumballwas known for its unique take on animation, often mixing in CGI, stop-motion, puppetry, and more.
The series constantly peppered in adult jokes, whether risqué or just too complex for a child’s mind (cue the social justice warrior battle). Aside from being a fun, colorful kid show, it repeatedly dove into deep topics like philosophy, mental illness, and intolerance.
13Avatar: The Last Airbender
When Nickelodeon Movies pumped out a live-action adaptation ofThe Last Airbender, theaters were flooding with superfans. The film proudly made twice its budget and the movie was rewarded with numerous accolades. Except, most fans were incredibly disappointed, and some likely wanted their money back. The only awards it won were those ofthe Golden Raspberries. But hopefully, nothing similar will occur inthe upcoming Netflix adaptation.
The Last Airbenderwas based on a beloved Nickelodeon cartoon,Avatar: The Last Airbenderwhich told the story of Aang, an Airbender whose job it is to master the elements of water, earth, fire, and air with the help of his friends Katara and Sokka.Avatarappealed to older audiences for its mature themes and pristine execution. Rather than being some silly ‘ole comedy, the series touched on war, genocide, and imperialism, among other mature topics.
12Tom and Jerry
It is fair to say thatTom and Jerryshowcase possibly the greatest animal rivalry of all time. The beloved 1940 cartoon portrays a strong hatred between a cat and a mouse, who quarrel with each other every single day.
Usually, Jerry the mouse, who lives in a hole in the wall, ends up getting the better of Tom, the cat. Whether Tom ends up losing his teeth or sustaining massive head trauma, his injuries are always funny to witness. From 1940 to 2001, a total of 166 short films were created. Most recently, a film entitledTom & Jerrywas released in theaters in 2021.
11The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants
It’s possible that at the mention of a book fair, millennials and Gen Z-ers can recall the sensation of strolling through a giant selection of crisp, clean paperbacks of the newestDiary of a Wimpy Kid,Chronicles of Narniaor in this case,Captain Underpants. What began as a comic series for kids turned into a 2017 animated feature with Kevin Hart and Ed Helms providing voice work. From then, the adventures of George Beard and Harold Hutchins made it to Netflix (though the celebrity cast did not return) inThe Epic Tales of Captain Underpants.
“Tra-la-la!” shouts the evil principal once he’s turned into a pants-less superhero whom the kids accidentally (“kinda on purpose”) hypnotized with a magical ring. The show ran for three seasons and haddifferent television specials. If you, as an adult, put it on for ambiance, you just might find yourself eager to know what the troublesome pair will get themselves into next.
10Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Warsis considered by many to be the bestStar Warsanimated show of all time. The seven-season series (2008-2014, 2020) showcases the story of the Clone Wars in betweenAttack of the Clones(2002) andRevenge of the Sith(2005).
The story centers around Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, his padewan in Anakin Skywalker, and Skywalker’s eventual padewan in Ahsoka Tano. They, along with the rest of the Jedi Order, help to fight off Separatist forces to keep peace in the galaxy. The show is rated TV-PG, which means it is certainly appropriate for kids while also appealing toStar Warsfans of all ages looking for lightsaber duels and great battle scenes.
Related:These Are the Best Kids Shows From a Girl’s Perspective
9Gravity Falls
Disney Channel hit the nail on the head when it createdGravity Falls, a show for people of any age, with characters of all ages to further prove this point.Gravity Fallssees Dipper and Mabel Pines, two brave and curious, albeit contrasting, 12-year-old twins.
Once moving to Oregon for the summer, the two discover the town isn’t as boring as they thought it would be and in fact, it’s quite the opposite with strange secrets and even stranger inhabitants.
8Curious George
It is very hard to find a more beloved television animal than Curious George. The show that surrounds the funny monkey also shares the same name.Curious George(2006-2015, 2018-2022) tells the story of George and his daily adventures with his friend known as “The Man in the Yellow Hat.”
What makes George one of the most iconic children’s characters is that he always finds himself in trouble. Whether he is learning to fly a kite or feeding ducks, things always end up going the wrong way. But he learns from each situation and is all the better for it. “The Man in the Yellow Hat” almost acts like a father to George too, which is very special. Adults and their kids alike can relate to this show.
7Green Eggs and Ham
Dr. Seuss’ well-known novel is only 64 pages long and has a simple premise: Guy does not want to taste I-Am-Sam’s oddly colored breakfast items. The story goes on and on with the peddler offering the same foods in different locations, only for the man to insist he is not interested.
Such an easy storyline and yet, Netflix stretched it into an entire series, with a second season premiering in April.Green Eggs and Hamfollows the notable Guy and I-Am-Sam and introduces gobs of new characters and plot points. The show won an Emmy in 2020 and proves that there’s far more to the story than just not wanting to eat in a box, with a fox, in a house, or with a mouse (spoiler alert: he won’t eat them with a goat or on a boat either).
6Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferbhave 104 days of summer vacation and rather than spending it watching TV, they devote their time outdoors — building roller coasters, climbing the Eiffel Tower, and traveling across the globe before the sun goes down. Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning program ran for four seasons alongside multiple specials and two feature-length films.
It followed the outlandish shenanigans of an inventive redhead and his soft-spoken British step-brother, creators of giant contraptions for the entertainment of themselves and their neighborhood friends, all whilst their big sister Candace would snitch to their mother, only for them to never get caught. Meanwhile, their pet platypus, Perry, was said not to do much, but behind their backs, he was a crime-fighting secret agent, continually going head-to-head with the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
5SpongeBob SquarePants
Whether you’re talking about Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, or Homer Simpson, there are just some cartoon characters known to all, and SpongeBob is one of them.SpongeBob SquarePantshas been on Nickelodeon since 1999 and is still going strong, having spawned two spinoffs, three movies with more underway, and even a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.
While some say the show is declining in quality, the series' first few seasons are pure gold with clever writing, humorous jokes, and classic lines from “Is mayonnaise an instrument?” to “I’m ugly, and I’m proud!” Those lines will not soon be forgotten.
