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 its separate app specifically 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.
From Shrek’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.
14 The Amazing World of Gumball
From 2011 to 2019, Cartoon Network ran The Amazing World of Gumball, which is currently available on Hulu and HBO Max. Following a mischievous blue cat and his adopted fish brother, Gumball was 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.
13 Avatar: The Last Airbender
When Nickelodeon Movies pumped out a live-action adaptation of The 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 of the Golden Raspberries. But hopefully, nothing similar will occur in the upcoming Netflix adaptation.
The Last Airbender was based on a beloved Nickelodeon cartoon, Avatar: The Last Airbender which 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. Avatar appealed 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.
12 Tom and Jerry
It is fair to say that Tom and Jerry showcase 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 entitled Tom & Jerry was released in theaters in 2021.
11 The 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 newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Chronicles of Narnia or 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) in The 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 had different 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.
10 Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is considered by many to be the best Star Wars animated show of all time. The seven-season series (2008-2014, 2020) showcases the story of the Clone Wars in between Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge 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 to Star Wars fans of all ages looking for lightsaber duels and great battle scenes.
9 Gravity Falls
Disney Channel hit the nail on the head when it created Gravity Falls, a show for people of any age, with characters of all ages to further prove this point. Gravity Falls sees 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.
8 Curious 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.
7 Green 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 Ham follows 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).
6 Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb have 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.
5 SpongeBob 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 SquarePants has 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.
4 The Muppet Show
From 1976 to 1981, The Muppet Show brought joy into living rooms all over the place. Over five seasons, Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson) and Co. brought 120 total episodes to the big screen. In each episode, the beloved group of Muppets would bring all kinds of funny jokes, stunts, and tricks to the table.
There would also be a special guest star in each episode. From Steve Martin and Julie Andrews to Sylvester Stallone and Elton John, viewers were treated to something unique every single time. All kinds of family fun and wonder were brought to the lives of adults and kids alike.
3 A Series of Unfortunate Events
There are 13 books in Lemony Snicket’s turbulent children’s series, A Series of Unfortunate Events. A 2004 film, starring Jim Carrey as Count Olaf, attempted to squeeze as much as it could into an hour and a half but ultimately and unsurprisingly, it left out a heap of details. In 2017, Netflix said “Have no fear!” and brought each book to life, with each having two episodes, both around an hour.
The show, according to the theme song, “will wreck your evening, your whole life and your day,” but still Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire’s adventuresome escapades as they struggle to get away from Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris) stick truly to the book in great detail. Its combination of dark humor and stunning cinematography make it worthy of its three-season run and multiple Emmy nominations.
2 Teen Titans Go!
Teen Titans Go! might not have that dark edge that the original Cartoon Network series did but still, its playfulness makes for an amusing comedy show. Like other superhero-based shows, Teen Titans is available for young kids with this Cartoon Network original, preteens with the 2003 series, teenagers with its DC animated universe and adults with its live action HBO show.
Following Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven and Cyborg, the soon-to-be eight-season show displays the more laid-back home life of the five teenagers, rather than their epic fights and battles as seen in the original cartoon. A theatrical film, titled Teen Titans Go! to the Movies debuted in 2018 and subverted the expectation of a cringe-worthy kids film, earning a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.
1 Sesame Street
Sesame Street is arguably the greatest children's television show of all time. It opened doors for fans to all-time characters like Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Count, and so many others. Over the last 53 seasons (yes, you heard me right), Sesame Street has helped children and adults alike all over the world learn about new topics but in much easier ways.
The cast of characters bridges cultural and educational gaps by teaching audiences about easier topics from numbers and letters to more difficult topics like homelessness and autism. The show is one of the longest-running shows of all time, and the world is all the better for it.