Animated sitcom

An animated sitcom is a subgenre of television sitcoms that are animated rather than live-action, often targeting adult audiences. While some animated sitcoms are created for younger viewers, many of the most popular and enduring examples cater to adult with their humor, themes, and content. The Simpsons, SpongeBob SquarePants, South Park, and Family Guy are four of the longest-running animated sitcoms.

History

Early history

Photo of Bill Hanna (right) and Joseph Barbera (left) in 1965; Hanna and Barbera were the co-creators of The Flintstones.

The Flintstones, which debuted in 1960, is widely considered the first example of the animated sitcom genre. A similar series, The Jetsons, which aired in 1962 and took place in a futuristic setting, is often viewed as a counterpart to The Flintstones' prehistoric setting. Marc Blake argued that The Jetsons helped establish the "science fiction sitcom subgenre."

Animated sitcoms have often been more controversial than traditional cartoons, even from their inception. The Flintstones was originally designed for parents, as an animated adaptation of The Honeymooners, although it gained widespread popularity among children. David Bennett contended that when The Flintstones first aired, it was aimed at an adult audience, calling it the "direct ancestor" of modern adult animation due to its focus on adult themes. Bennett also noted that The Flintstones specifically influenced The Simpsons, as well as other adult-oriented animated shows on Adult Swim and Netflix. This argument is supported by the unexpected popularity of The Huckleberry Hound Show, another creation of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, which resonated with adult viewers despite being a children's show. While some scholars agree that The Flintstones influenced The Simpsons, others argued that while the show did spark a boom in primetime animation and subverted conventional television norms, it ultimately contributed to the decline of primetime animation for nearly three decades. Nonetheless, scholar John Libbey asserted that the show embraced the "subversive qualities of animation."

From 1972 to 1974, Hanna-Barbera produced Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, an adult-oriented animated sitcom that was stylistically similar to All in the Family. The series addressed social issues such as feminism and the generation gap, further pushing the boundaries of animated sitcoms.

The Simpsons and expansion of the genre

The Simpsons cast and crew at a stamp unveiling in Los Angeles, California, in May 2009

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a number of animated television programs emerged that challenged the traditional Standards & Practices guidelines, including The Simpsons, Beavis and Butt-Head, The Critic, The Brothers Grunt, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko's Modern Life, Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, SpongeBob SquarePants, Duckman, and All Grown Up!.

In 1987, The Simpsons shorts debuted on Fox's The Tracey Ullman Show. Since the show aired in prime time, it was not as heavily censored as Saturday morning cartoons. As a result, the series featured brief nudity, mild language, and dealt with mature themes such as death, gambling addiction, religion, and suicide. The first full-length episode, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", debuted on December 17, 1989, marking the first American animated sitcom not to include a laugh track, unlike its predecessors.

Throughout the 1990s, The Simpsons remained the only mainstream adult-oriented animated sitcom in the English language. However, this changed with the debuts of Beavis and Butt-Head, King of the Hill, South Park, Daria, Family Guy and Futurama. Some scholars argued that Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, was inspired by the sci-fi genre presented in The Jetsons. Futurama, in particular, was praised for its "intelligent, scientifically accurate, and humanized" approach to adventures, romances, and sci-fi parodies. This included the growing relationships between Fry and Leela, as well as Kif and Amy.

John Evershed, former showrunner of Happy Tree Friends and founder of Mondo Media, argued that The Simpsons' success established a "time-tested formula" for the animated sitcom genre, proving that animation was not solely for children. He claimed the show was crucial in shifting U.S. attitudes toward cartoons primarily aimed at adults. The Simpsons won the Guinness World Records award for "longest-running animated sitcom (by episode count)." Chris Turner, author of Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation, argued that 1990s culture and events "can all be understood through a Simpsons prism." Critics credited The Simpsons with popularizing adult animation and influencing satirical cartoons like South Park and Family Guy. Furthermore, The Simpsons paved the way for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, with praise for its unique and evolving style.

Andrew J. Crow of Time highlighted the influence of The Simpsons on adult animation, noting that shows like Family Guy, King of the Hill, and Bob's Burgers followed a similar structure. He also noted that non-family-based shows have drawn from Matt Groening's hyper-referential, irreverent, and slapstick humor. Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch described adult animation as an "arms race of different ways to copy The Simpsons," and noted that creators like Pendleton Ward (Adventure Time) and J. G. Quintel (Regular Show) were also inspired by the series.

As The Simpsons began to dominate primetime, other networks attempted to follow suit, but few succeeded. ABC, CBS, and NBC all developed animated primetime series, but none were commercially successful. One notable attempt, Capitol Critters, addressed topics like gun control, interracial violence, and political corruption. However, it received mixed reviews, with Variety critic Brian Lowry criticizing its approach and appeal. Another series, The Critic, experienced a similar fate, struggling with low ratings due to sporadic scheduling, and eventually being canceled.

In the early 1990s, Beavis and Butt-Head debuted on MTV and quickly became controversial due to its portrayal of brief nudity, profanity, and violence. Despite being intended for adult audiences, the show aired in the afternoons, leading to complaints from parents that children were imitating the characters' behavior. MTV eventually responded by moving the show to a later time slot and adding disclaimers to the episodes. Around the same time, Daria also began airing on MTV, and was praised for its "progressive characters" and satirical humor, capturing the absurdity of suburban teen life. Similarly, South Park, which began airing in 1997, became iconic for its stance on anti-censorship and free speech, solidifying its place as one of the most controversial shows on television.

In May 1995, another adult animated sitcom, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, began airing on Comedy Central. The show, featuring the voice talents of Jonathan Katz, Jon Benjamin, and Laura Silverman, won a Peabody Award in 1998. The series was noted for its distinctive animation style, produced with Squigglevision software, which gave the characters constantly squiggling outlines. Critics praised the show for its clever humor and unique style, centered around therapist discussions with real-life celebrities.

21st century

In the 2000s

In March 2000, God, the Devil and Bob debuted on NBC, with only a few episodes aired and 9 remaining unaired. The series didn’t return until 2011 when Adult Swim aired the remaining episodes from January to March of that year. The initial cancellation was reportedly due to boycotts from Christian groups such as the American Family Association, and 17 NBC-affiliated stations agreed to stop airing the show after only four episodes had been broadcast. However, religious leaders in the United Kingdom supported the show, and critics like Caryn James called it “a little risky” but relatively tame compared to other shows like South Park, The Sopranos, and Sex and the City.

In June 2000, Kevin Smith criticized ABC over their handling of Clerks: The Animated Series, accusing the network, and its corporate owner The Walt Disney Company, of going back on their promises. He described the show as "dead" even though six episodes were produced, only two of which aired before the series was cancelled.

Dan Harmon, one of the creators of Rick and Morty, in July 2016

Meanwhile, the pilot of Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law first aired on Cartoon Network as a sneak peek on December 30, 2000, but the show officially premiered on Adult Swim on September 2, 2001, when the programming block launched. The series ended in 2007 after four seasons and 39 episodes. A special titled Harvey Birdman: Attorney General premiered in 2018, and a spin-off, Birdgirl, was ordered in 2019. The series was well-received for its humor, zaniness, and entertaining plotlines.

From August to October 2002, The Oblongs aired its final episodes on Adult Swim, after The WB had declined to air the last five episodes. Despite this, the show garnered a following, with some praising the relationship between the married couple, Bob and Pickles Oblong, for their constant support of each other. Additionally, in 2008, scholars Usha M. Rodrigues and Belinda Smaill compared Bro'Town, a New Zealand animated sitcom, to The Simpsons.

Adult animation gained popularity in the 2000s, with shows like Drawn Together, Family Guy, American Dad!, Archer, Bob's Burgers, Rick and Morty, BoJack Horseman, F Is for Family, and Big Mouth becoming critically acclaimed. Shows like Family Guy and South Park became significant franchises and were part of a broader shift towards darker and more intricate animated comedies, such as Bojack Horseman and Rick and Morty, the latter of which reached 9 million viewers after its first season. Drawn Together, a parody of The Real World, followed the misadventures of fictional housemates and was notable for its sitcom format within a reality TV show setting. The series later culminated in a direct-to-video film titled The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!. Another show, Brickleberry, aired from 2012 to 2015 on Comedy Central and was described as one of the "more vulgar adult-animation offerings" of the decade. While its reception among critics was mixed, it developed a fanbase that appreciated its offensive humor and fast-paced writing.

Archer became a "standard-bearer" for adult animation, praised for its "tight, fast-paced, and intelligent dialogue," and the relationship between Sterling Archer and Lana Kane was celebrated as a notable "power-couple" within the genre. Similarly, American Dad! broke away from the formulas of other adult animations, with the relationship between Stan and Francine Smith compared to that of Archie and Edith Bunker. Bob's Burgers, which debuted in 2011, was welcomed as a fresh addition to the Sunday lineup, with Bob and Linda Belcher being praised for their relationship and the show for its longevity. By November 2020, Bob's Burgers was approaching its 200th episode.

Drawn Together was noted for its bizarre and highly entertaining humor, often engaging in self-parody. Critics also pointed to the "foxhole humor" in Bob's Burgers as a reason for its continued success, and some argued that the humor in the reboot of Animaniacs was "far more adult" than the original 1990s version. The reboot of Animaniacs, which aired in 2020, had an episode pulled due to containing a real sex hotline number. The series, although aimed at all ages, featured a showrunner, Wellesley Wild, who was a veteran of adult animation, having previously worked on Family Guy.

In the 2010s

In June 2011, two scholars analyzed queer characters and themes in animated sitcoms, arguing that they create "space for queer resistance" by analyzing the themes and text in Family Guy. They also suggested that through postmodern thematic analysis, the show creates "deconstructionist instances" that subvert the dominance of heteronormativity.

The same year, Allen Gregory had a short run, airing only one season before being cancelled. The series featured the fathers of the title character, Allen: Richard and Jeremy De Longpre. Jeremy, initially a heterosexual man with a family, left them for Richard after Richard, one of his clients, began stalking him and eventually convinced him to be his husband, despite Jeremy's sexual orientation. The following year, Unsupervised aired on FX from January to December 2012. Though it was cancelled after one season, it was praised as a coming-of-age story with realistic backgrounds contrasting the otherwise cartoony aesthetic.

Jeff & Some Aliens, which aired on Comedy Central from January to March 2017, revolved around three aliens testing the most average person on Earth. Despite its cancellation after one season, it was described as a "witty and fun stoner alien romp," often compared to Rick and Morty for its surreal humor.

Street-art of Luci, a character from Disenchantment, seen at Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne in November 2018

Other notable animated sitcoms include Paradise PD, Tuca & Bertie, The Boondocks, and Momma Named Me Sheriff.[11][12] Streaming platforms like Netflix have also entered the adult animation space with shows such as Disenchantment, Final Space, Solar Opposites, Central Park, Hoops, and Q-Force, further cementing Netflix's role as a leader in adult animation. The creator of BoJack Horseman, Raphael Bob-Waksberg, noted that the show explores introspective themes, and praised voice actor Will Arnett for finding comedy in anything. Disenchantment was part of Netflix’s strategy of creating original content, which helped it dominate the online video streaming market and garner dedicated fanbases.

Critics have observed that while The Simpsons laid the foundation for animated sitcoms, new shows like BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth, Rick and Morty, and Undone have pushed the boundaries of the genre, with high-quality adult animation being produced worldwide, particularly in France and Japan. Additionally, Hulu became a hub for Simpsons fans to stream the iconic show.

Tuca & Bertie and Solar Opposites were both praised for their unique approaches to humor. Tuca & Bertie was commended for offering a fresh and realistic take on the sitcom formula, while Solar Opposites was lauded for mixing crude humor with traditional family-centered sitcom elements, providing a new take on the typical American family. The Boondocks stood out for its social commentary on race and class relations, using a distinct animation style to tackle these issues. Apple TV+'s Central Park was also celebrated as one of the best shows of 2020, marking the network’s first foray into adult animation.

Several comedians have ventured into the animated sitcom space. Duncanville, co-created by Amy Poehler, Mike Scully, and Julie Thacker, was inspired by The Simpsons and has been airing on FOX. Another Fox animated series, Bless the Harts, was created by Emily Spiveyy and starred Kristen Wiig.

In September 2018, an AT&T report using Google Trends identified the most popular animated sitcoms in each U.S. state. The report found South Park was popular in Colorado, The Simpsons in Oregon and Massachusetts, Family Guy in Connecticut, and King of the Hill in Kentucky and Tennessee. The report also confirmed that The Simpsons and South Park remained the two most popular animated sitcoms, while Rick and Morty was among the most-watched cable series.

In 2019, it was announced that Shion Takeuchi, a writer for Disenchantment, would be leading her own Netflix show titled Inside Job, with Alex Hirsch as an executive producer. Hirsch, known for his work on Gravity Falls, noted that adult animation is evolving and can be sophisticated, dramatic, and nuanced, rather than just "crass and cruel." Takeuchi echoed this sentiment, expressing her desire to push the boundaries of adult animation with her upcoming series.

2020s to present

In January 2020, TZGZ, Syfy's new adult animation block, ordered six 15-minute episodes of a series that would later be titled Magical Girl Friendship Squad. At the same time, a short-form version, Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins, began airing on the same late-night programming block.

In February 2020, Fox released the animated sitcom Duncanville, produced by Seungyong Ji and Jordan Grief. The show centers on a kid who "daydreams of making it big without having to wear a suit and tie to do so."

In September 2020, Magical Girl Friendship Squad began airing on Syfy. During interviews that same month, the show's creator, Kelsey Stephanides, expressed hope that the series would expand the range of animated stories told in adult animation and open up opportunities for "different ways" to approach the genre in the future.

In December 2020, Hoops was cancelled by Netflix after its first season, which received low ratings and largely negative reviews. The show was criticized as a "puerile comedy" reflective of "Trump's America," with reviewers describing it as "not funny," and "crude, rude, and aimless."

On January 15, 2021, the first part of Season 2 of Disenchantment was released on Netflix. In February 2021, Tyler, the Creator teamed up with Lionel Boyce and Davon 'Jasper' Wilson to develop an animated comedy called Shell Beach. Additionally, in March 2021, it was reported that King of the Hill would be revived, with the characters aging 15 years from where the original series ended.

Sources

• Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. ISBN 978-1476665993.
• Evershed, John (2021). The "Great Adult Animation Boom" is in Full Swing (PDF) (Report). High Concentrate, LLC in Squarespace. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.