Many employ wittier humor, more complex characters and deeper stories to engage those of any age, while even more target teens or adults as their prime audience, giving them the ability to tell relatable, powerful and hilarious stories within the realm of animation. No longer are cartoons something only for children to enjoy on Saturday mornings.
Traditional cable networks have created new and exciting characters and worlds in animation, while streaming platforms have allowed even more creators to make the animated shows they want to make. Sure, new episodes of The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park and SpongeBob Squarepants are churned out each year like clockwork, but they’re only the tip of the iceberg. Cartoons have changed a lot in the decade since Paste originally published this list.
