Celebrating International Animation Day: The 10 Animated TV Series That Changed the Game (and Our Streaming Queues)

Animation is no longer just for the kids’ table. Long gone are the days when cartoons were Saturday-morning sugar highs between cereal commercials. Today, animation is prestige television, internet meme fuel, and the emotional therapy we didn’t realize we needed. So as the world celebrates International Animation Day, we at The TV Cave are raising a metaphorical glass (and maybe an actual one) to the shows that redefined what animated TV can do in our humble opinion.

From Springfield to the Land of Ooo, from bending elements to breaking hearts, these ten series prove that animation isn’t a genre, it’s a storytelling superpower. Some made us laugh until we snorted coffee out of our noses. Others reminded us that existential dread looks better when it’s cel-shaded. Either way, these are the animated TV series that earned their place in the pop-culture pantheon.

1. The Simpsons — The Godfather of Modern Animation

You can’t talk about animation without genuflecting to The Simpsons. It’s the TV equivalent of a national monument, one that still somehow produces new episodes. Since 1989, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie have been the dysfunctional American family we love to roast and occasionally relate to.

Sure, the golden years ended somewhere around the late ’90s (don’t @ us), but The Simpsons built the foundation every other animated sitcom stands on. The writing was razor-sharp, the satire cut deep, and the cultural footprint? Immense. Whether you’re quoting “D’oh!” or realizing half your memes originated here, this show deserves its eternal yellow crown.

2. BoJack Horseman — The Depressed Horse That Made Us Feel Things

Somewhere between an A-list meltdown and an animated existential crisis, BoJack Horseman became one of the most emotionally brutal and brilliant shows of the 2010s. What looked like a goofy Netflix experiment turned into a masterclass in storytelling, tackling addiction, fame, and self-loathing with brutal honesty and dark humor.

BoJack isn’t just a cartoon horse, he’s every bad decision you’ve ever made after 2 a.m. But that’s the genius of it. The show doesn’t flinch. It makes you laugh, then guts you three seconds later. It’s proof that animation can hit harder than most live-action dramas and it looks damn good doing it.

3. Avatar: The Last Airbender — The Perfect Blend of Art and Heart

If storytelling perfection had an element, Avatar: The Last Airbender mastered all four. What started as a Nickelodeon kids’ show became one of the greatest fantasy sagas ever told, animated or otherwise.

Aang’s journey from goofy monk to world savior is emotional, visually stunning, and deeply philosophical. Every episode balances humor, action, and moral complexity with near-mythic precision. The world-building? Flawless. The character arcs? Chef’s kiss. If you’re still sleeping on it because it’s “for kids,” congratulations, you’re missing one of the best shows of the century.

4. Rick and Morty — Science, Nihilism, and Too Many Pickle Jokes

Half sci-fi fever dream, half therapy session for people with too much existential dread, Rick and Morty continues to be Adult Swim’s chaotic crown jewel. It’s smart. It’s stupid. It’s aggressively self-aware.

Beneath the burping, time-hopping, and multiverse madness lies a surprisingly profound exploration of meaninglessness and how to laugh at it anyway. Rick and Morty is proof that animation can deliver big ideas through tiny portals, with enough nihilistic charm to keep you questioning everything.

5. Gravity Falls — The Small-Town Mystery That Grew a Cult

It’s rare for an animated series to stick its landing, but Gravity Falls nailed it. Creator Alex Hirsch turned a quirky Disney show into a cult phenomenon full of conspiracies, cryptids, and coded messages that still fuel Reddit threads.

At its core, it’s a heartfelt story about growing up and facing the weirdness of the world, wrapped in one of the smartest mystery-comedy packages ever animated. You come for the jokes; you stay for the lore. And then you rewatch to catch all the Easter eggs you missed while laughing the first time.

6. Adventure Time — The Whimsical Fever Dream That Made Grown-Ups Cry

What time is it? It’s Adventure Time. Pendleton Ward’s candy-colored masterpiece turned Cartoon Network into an emotional rollercoaster that somehow mixed absurdist comedy with gut-punch storytelling.

inn and Jake’s adventures in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo delivered surreal visuals, quirky humor, and a surprising depth that hit viewers right in the feels. This show taught an entire generation that friendship is magic, love is complicated, and weird is wonderful. And it did all that while featuring a talking lemon who screams “UNACCEPTABLE!”

7. Futurama — Smart Sci-Fi That Never Got Old (Even After Being Cancelled Twice)

Futurama is the rare show that got canceled, resurrected, and somehow stayed hilarious. Created by Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, it’s the cooler, nerdier cousin of The Simpsons, a blend of sharp satire, clever writing, and surprising heart.

Every episode juggles absurdity and emotional gut punches like only great animation can. The jokes hit the nerd notes, but episodes like “Jurassic Bark” and “The Luck of the Fryrish” prove it also hits where it hurts. Futurama made space feel weirdly human.

8. Steven Universe — The Gem of Progressive Storytelling

When Steven Universe premiered, it quietly revolutionized what children’s animation could do. Rebecca Sugar’s vibrant world of gems, fusion, and found family became a milestone for LGBTQ+ representation and emotional intelligence.

The show’s charm lies in its radical kindness. It taught kids and adults alike that love takes many forms and that healing is messy but worth it. Add in gorgeous music and beautifully soft visuals, and you’ve got an animated masterpiece that wears its heart and its glitter, on its sleeve.

9. Archer — The Spy Comedy That Never Missed Its Mark

Archer is pure chaos in a tailored suit. It’s a show that skewers spy thrillers, workplace comedies, and pretty much every genre it touches with enough quotable one-liners to power your group chat for years.

Sterling Archer is an unfiltered narcissist you somehow root for, surrounded by a cast of lovable disasters. The animation style is sleek, the writing is viciously funny, and the commitment to bit after bit is frankly heroic. Even after years on air, Archer proves that animated comedy can still feel sharp, fast, and delightfully inappropriate.

10. The Legend of Korra — The Bold Successor That Stepped Out of the Shadow

Following Avatar: The Last Airbender was a nearly impossible task, but The Legend of Korra didn’t just follow, it evolved. Korra’s story brought a more mature tone, tackling politics, trauma, and identity in ways few animated shows dared.

Visually stunning and thematically daring, Korra turned animation into an introspective powerhouse. Its finale alone, one of the most quietly revolutionary moments in animation history, cemented it as a modern classic.

Why These Shows Still Matter

Each of these animated TV series didn’t just entertain, they changed the rules. They pushed the boundaries of genre, tone, and audience expectation. Animation isn’t a niche; it’s a narrative playground. These shows proved it could be just as sophisticated, emotional, and daring as any prestige drama sometimes more so.

They also made it clear that animation is for everyone. Whether it’s the absurd genius of Rick and Morty, the sincerity of Steven Universe, or the timeless wit of The Simpsons, these series invite you to laugh, cry, and maybe question your life choices, all without a single live-action actor.

The Takeaway

So, in honor of International Animation Day, revisit these worlds. Rewatch your favorites or finally dive into the ones you’ve been pretending to have seen. Animation isn’t a guilty pleasure, it’s television’s beating creative heart.

At The TV Cave, we salute the animators, writers, voice actors, and fans who make this art form impossible to ignore. Because whether you’re sobbing over a cartoon horse or quoting Homer Simpson for the thousandth time, one truth remains: great animation hits harder than reality.

What's your favorite? Drop a comment.