20 Best Animation TV Shows to Stream Right Now
Discover animated series worth streaming now, from Over the Garden Wall and Rick and Morty to classics, new hits, and 20 total picks.
If you’re searching for animated series that are actually worth your time, this roundup brings together 20 strong picks across comedy, adventure, drama, and short-form storytelling. From the eerie charm of Over the Garden Wall (2014) to the sharp sci-fi chaos of Rick and Morty (2013) and the long-running bite of South Park (1997), there’s a lot here for different moods and tastes. You’ll also find classics like The Simpsons (1989) and Futurama (1999), plus fan favorites such as Pokémon (1997) and the fresh energy of X-Men '97 (2024). Whether you want something nostalgic, funny, or story-driven, these animated series make it easy to queue up your next binge.
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01
South Park
Won 6 Emmys 23 nominations
animation · comedy
Follow the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.
Directed by Trey Parker, Eric Stough, Matt Stone, Adrien Beard, Toni WurtsCast Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mona Marshall, April Stewart, Isaac HayesParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
02
Over the Garden Wall
Won 2 Emmys
animation · short · adventure · comedy · drama · family · fantasy · horror · mystery
Two brothers, Wirt and Greg, find themselves lost in the Unknown; a strange forest adrift in time. With the help of a wise old Woodsman and a foul-tempered bluebird named Beatrice, Wirt and Greg must travel across this strange land, in hope of finding their way home. Join them as they encounter surprises and obstacles on their journey through the wood.
Directed by Nate CashCast Elijah Wood, Collin Dean, Melanie Lynskey, Christopher Lloyd, Samuel RameyAmazon Prime VideoHuluDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
03
The Apothecary Diaries
animation · drama · history · mystery · romance
Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she's making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!
Directed by Norihiro Naganuma, Akinori Fudesaka, Jun Ôwada, Wataru Nakagawa, Akira KoremotoCast Aoi Yûki, Emi Lo, Takeo Otsuka, Katsuyuki Konishi, Kaiji TangNetflixHuluMore details on IMDb → -
04
The Simpsons
Won 37 Emmys 108 nominations
animation · comedy
Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.
Directed by Mike B. Anderson, Jim Reardon, Mark Kirkland, Steven Dean Moore, David SilvermanCast Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Yeardley SmithHuluDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
05
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
3 Emmy nominations
animation · comedy · family
Join the Peanuts gang for a timeless adventure as Charlie Brown preps for a party, Snoopy sets his sights on the Red Baron, and Linus patiently awaits a pumpkin patch miracle.
Directed by Bill MelendezCast Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Sally Dryer, Cathy Steinberg, Ann AltieriApple TV PlusMore details on IMDb →
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06
Pokémon
action & adventure · animation · comedy · drama · fantasy · kids & family · science-fiction
Join Ash accompanied by his partner Pikachu, as he travels through many regions, meets new friends and faces new challenges on his quest to become a Pokémon Master.
NetflixDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
07
Rick and Morty
Won 2 Emmys 5 nominations
animation · adventure · comedy · sci-fi
Rick is a mentally-unbalanced but scientifically gifted old man who has recently reconnected with his family. He spends most of his time involving his young grandson Morty in dangerous, outlandish adventures throughout space and alternate universes. Compounded with Morty's already unstable family life, these events cause Morty much distress at home and school.
Directed by Wes Archer, Jacob Hair, Pete Michels, Nathan Litz, Kyoung Hee LimCast Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke, Justin Roiland, Kari WahlgrenHuluMaxMore details on IMDb → -
08
SpongeBob SquarePants
10 Emmy nominations
animation · comedy · family · fantasy
Deep down in the Pacific Ocean in the subterranean city of Bikini Bottom lives a square yellow sponge named SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob lives in a pineapple with his pet snail, Gary, loves his job as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab, and has a knack for getting into all kinds of trouble without really trying. When he's not getting on the nerves of his cranky next door neighbor Squidward, SpongeBob can usually be found smack in the middle of all sorts of strange situations with his best buddy, the simple yet lovable starfish, Patrick, or his thrill-seeking surfer-girl squirrel pal, Sandy Cheeks.
Directed by Vincent Waller, Dave Cunningham, Sherm Cohen, Alan Smart, Stephen HillenburgCast Tom Kenny, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Clancy Brown, Mr. LawrenceAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
09
Attack on Titan
animation · action · adventure · drama · fantasy · horror
100 years ago, the last remnants of humanity were forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that roamed the land outside their fortress. Only the members of the Scouting Legion dared to stray beyond the safety of the walls – but even those brave warriors seldom returned alive. Those within the city clung to the illusion of a peaceful existence until the day that dream was shattered, and their slim chance at survival was reduced to one horrifying choice: kill – or be devoured!
Directed by Tetsurō Araki, Masashi Koizuka, Yūichirō Hayashi, Jun Shishido, Hiroyuki TanakaCast Jessie James Grelle, Bryce Papenbrook, Trina Nishimura, Yûki Kaji, Yui IshikawaHuluMore details on IMDb → -
10
PAW Patrol
animation · adventure · comedy · family
Marshall, Rocky, Rubble, Zuma and Skye are doing their best to protect the people of their town. Led by Ryder, a tech-savvy 10-year-old boy, each of them is equipped with special equipment and together they help anyone who finds themselves in trouble. No task is too big for them and no puppy is too small.
Directed by Charles E. Bastien, Paul H. Brown, Jamie Whitney, Dipesh MistryCast Ron Pardo, Lilly Noelle Bartlam, Kallan Holley, Justin Paul Kelly, Devan CohenNetflixAmazon Prime VideoParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
11
Batman: The Animated Series
Won 1 Emmy
animation · action · adventure · crime · family · mystery · sci-fi
Vowing to avenge the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne devotes his life to wiping out crime in Gotham City as the masked vigilante "Batman".
Directed by Kevin Altieri, Boyd Kirkland, Frank Paur, Dan Riba, Dick SebastCast Kevin Conroy, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings, Loren Lester, Robert CostanzoAmazon Prime VideoMaxMore details on IMDb → -
12
One Piece
animation · action · adventure · comedy · drama · fantasy
Years ago, the fearsome Pirate King, Gol D. Roger was executed leaving a huge pile of treasure and the famous "One Piece" behind. Whoever claims the "One Piece" will be named the new King of the Pirates.
Monkey D. Luffy, a boy who consumed a "Devil Fruit," decides to follow in the footsteps of his idol, the pirate Shanks, and find the One Piece. It helps, of course, that his body has the properties of rubber and that he's surrounded by a bevy of skilled fighters and thieves to help him along the way.
Luffy will do anything to get the One Piece and become King of the Pirates!
Directed by Munehisa Sakai, Kōnosuke Uda, Katsumi Tokoro, Tasuku Shimaya, Yûsuke SuzukiCast Mayumi Tanaka, Akemi Okamura, Tony Beck, Laurent Vernin, Kazuya NakaiNetflixHuluMore details on IMDb → -
13
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Won 1 Emmy 2 nominations
animation · action · adventure · family · fantasy · mystery
In a war-torn world of elemental magic, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world.
Directed by Oh Seung-hyun, Giancarlo Volpe, Ethan Spaulding, Lauren MacMullan, Dave FiloniCast Dee Bradley Baker, Zach Tyler Eisen, Mae Whitman, Jack De Sena, Dante BascoNetflixParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
14
President Curtis
animation · comedy · sci-fi
Follows President Andre Curtis and his eccentric staff as they deal with various crises that Rick Sanchez typically ignores.
Directed by Fill Marc Sagadraca, Erik Kling, Juan Jose Meza-Leon, Bryan NewtonCast Keith David, Stephanie Beatriz, Jim Rash, Nick Reczynski, Alanna UbachMaxMore details on IMDb → -
15
Invincible
3 Emmy nominations
animation · action · adventure · drama · fantasy · sci-fi · thriller
Mark Grayson is a normal teenager except for the fact that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet. Shortly after his seventeenth birthday, Mark begins to develop powers of his own and enters into his father’s tutelage.
Directed by Dan Duncan, Shaun O'Neil, Jeff Allen, Sol Choi, Ian AbandoCast Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons, Gillian Jacobs, Grey DeLisleAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
16
Futurama
Won 6 Emmys 14 nominations
animation · adventure · comedy · sci-fi
The adventures of a late-20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J. Fry, who, after being unwittingly cryogenically frozen for one thousand years, finds employment at Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery company in the retro-futuristic 31st century.
Directed by Peter Avanzino, Rich Moore, Dwayne Carey-Hill, Bret Haaland, Gregg VanzoCast Billy West, John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille, Katey Sagal, Phil LaMarrHuluMore details on IMDb → -
17
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
animation · adventure · comedy · drama · fantasy
Decades after her party defeated the Demon King, an old friend's funeral launches the elf wizard Frieren on a journey of self-discovery.
Directed by Keiichirô Saitô, Tomoya Kitagawa, Kazumasa Isogawa, Kôta Mori, Kôki FujimotoCast Atsumi Tanezaki, Kana Ichinose, Mallorie Rodak, Jill Harris, Nobuhiko OkamotoNetflixHuluMore details on IMDb → -
18
Dragon Ball Z Kai
animation · action · adventure · comedy · fantasy · sci-fi
Rejoin Goku and his friends in a series of cosmic battles! Toei has redubbed, recut, and cleaned up the animation of the original 1989 animated series. The show's story arc has been refined to better follow the comic book series on which it is based. The show also features a new opening and ending. In the series, martial artist Goku, and his various friends, battle increasingly powerful enemies to defend the world against evil. Can Earth's defender defeat demons, aliens, and other villains?
Directed by Yasuhiro Nowatari, Togo Shoji, Osamu Kasai, Daisuke Nishio, Kazuhisa TakenouchiCast Masako Nozawa, Joji Yanami, Sean Schemmel, Doc Morgan, Marc ZanniHuluMore details on IMDb → -
19
Naruto
animation · action · adventure · comedy · fantasy
Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja.
Directed by Hayato Date, Harume Kosaka, Masaaki Kumagai, Rion Kujô, Masahiko MurataCast Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Kate Higgins, Chie Nakamura, Noriaki SugiyamaNetflixAmazon Prime VideoHuluFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
20
Bluey
animation · family
Bluey is an inexhaustible six year-old Blue Heeler dog, who loves to play and turns everyday family life into extraordinary adventures, developing her imagination as well as her mental, physical and emotional resilience.
Directed by Richard Jeffery, Joe Brumm, Beth Harvey, Claire Renton, Tony WalshCast David McCormack, Melanie Zanetti, Brad Elliott, Dan Brumm, Myf WarhurstDisney PlusMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This list is built to help you find animated series that hold up, whether you want a quick watch or a long-running favorite. Some picks lean funny, some lean dark, and others balance action with character-driven stories, so there’s something here for different kinds of streaming nights. If you want a reliable guide for what to watch next, bookmark this page and come back when you need another suggestion. We update it regularly to keep the recommendations current and useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
How are these animation shows ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the animation titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.