While their target demographic might be a bit younger, some shows transcend age boundaries to entertain both children and adult viewers alike.
Some of these programs are just plain fun; others contain more subtle messages or themes which may not resonate with young audiences but will undoubtedly hit home among those who’ve been around long enough to catch them.
10 – Bluey
We’ll begin our list with a relatively recent show that has become an unexpected hit outside its target demographic. Bluey was undoubtedly conceived as a show for very young children. Still, unlike Peppa Pig or the Teletubbies in their heyday, Bluey offers a rather entertaining approach to humor that even adults can find amusing.
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There might not be complex storylines or anything like that, but at the very least, Bluey is one of the most genuinely entertaining shows for young children released in recent memory. That may be why the show has gathered such an unforeseen online following of adults that fell in love with the characters and the show’s tone overall.
9 – Avatar: The Last Airbender
A true timeless classic, Avatar: The Last Airbender proved that animation could deliver some of the most riveting moments in TV storytelling we’ve ever seen. The story of Aang and his friends as they fight against the Fire Nation has become a landmark of animation history – and the best part is that this journey can be enjoyed by kids and parents alike.
With plans for a live-action version of the show coming soon, now is the best time to rewatch the original cartoon, which remains vastly superior to its sequel. Also, the less we say about the live-action M. Night Shyamalan adaptation, the better.
8 – Fuller House
There’s a recent trend going on with major streaming platforms of taking beloved sitcoms of the 80s and 90s and rebooting them to appeal to the same generation that grew up watching the shows. The results are often divisive, to say the least, but Netflix’s Fuller House is one of the best of the bunch.
This sequel to Full House stars Candace Cameron Bure as D.J. Tanner-Fuller, who now lives in the same San Francisco house as the one seen in the original show. For those looking for a good dose of nostalgia, Fuller House doesn’t disappoint, even if its first season is certainly the weakest of the series run.
7 – Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle premiered in 2000, and it shows. While the show might look like a time capsule of the dawn of the new millennium, the comedy and wit of the series are undoubtedly timeless, both for kids and adults.
The show centers around the exploits of a middle-class American family. In the middle of them all is Malcolm, a child prodigy who’s always at odds with the rest of his family. Malcolm in the Middle is also popular for featuring one of the most memorable roles by Bryan Cranston, aka Walter White from Breaking Bad.
6 – Phineas and Ferb
Who hasn’t heard of Phineas and Ferb? The show first premiered on the Disney Channel in 2008 and ran for four seasons until 2015, with a multitude of movies and TV specials released in between. The show’s unique blend of comedy and musical numbers became a massive success with kids and with adults that saw Phineas and his brother Ferb decorating virtually every toy store.
The series remains relatively popular with kids, and its accessible humor and a good amount of pop culture references make it a terrific watch for adults, too.
5 – Batman: The Animated Series
No matter in which generation you were born, every kid loves Batman. Released in 1992, Batman: The Animated Series pushes the boundaries of entertainment, being as entertaining for kids as it is for their parents.
Contrary to what its name might imply, The Animated Series is far from being the only Batman cartoon. However, it remains the best of the bunch thanks to its surprisingly serious themes and its superb presentation.
4 – The Amazing World of Gumball
Popular for its unique blend of animation techniques, The Amazing World of Gumball is a visual spectacle that also delivers some of the most entertaining moments in any modern cartoon. While younger kids will love the slapstick and absurd moments in the show, their parents will relate to some of the more obscure references that play on pop culture of the 80s and 90s.
Gumball is also one of the first shows on our list that’s still releasing new content, with two spin-offs and a film currently in development.
3 – Adventure Time
One of the first shows that spearheaded Cartoon Network’s modern approach to “kids’ cartoons,” Adventure Time has its fair share of silliness, but its more serious moments are the ones that made this show a truly timeless classic.
The earlier seasons of the show are vastly different from how it ended. The show grew up with its audience, and younger kids will likely prefer the more carefree tone of the show’s first two seasons than that of the last few episodes.
2 – Gravity Falls
A cartoon that would best be described as “Twin Peaks for kids,” Gravity Falls‘ creator Alex Hirsch always knew how to balance family-friendly content with a more serious narrative that people of all ages could enjoy.
Gravity Falls ran for two seasons, but the show’s legacy can still be felt in many modern cartoons that cite Hirsch’s work as one of their main influences. It’s also one of the few cartoons that have J. K. Simmons in its cast – which automatically makes it one of the best cartoons ever made.
1 – Regular Show
In many ways, Cartoon Network’s Regular Show is the very definition of a kids’ show that adults can also enjoy. The show’s silly characters go through some very real, and decidedly very adult problems that will resonate more with parents than their kids. On the other hand, the charm and silliness of these same characters also mean that younger audiences will adore Mordecai and Rigby’s antics.
The show ran for seven years at Cartoon Network, culminating in an epic space battle that, surprisingly, isn’t even one of the show’s most far-fetched moments. If you’d like an even more adult version of the show, you could watch HBO Max’s Close Enough, which is essentially Regular Show but with characters that swear. If, on the other hand, you’d prefer a truly amazing show with great characters and memorable moments that you can watch together with your kids, then definitely give Regular Show a watch.
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