Animation has long outgrown its reputation as entertainment made only for children. From workplace satire and family comedy to science fiction and crime capers, animated series have become some of television's most inventive storytelling, blending humor with thoughtful social commentary. If you're looking for something different to stream this weekend, The New Times has selected six animated series that stand out for their memorable characters, clever writing, and lasting appeal. Downtown Originally airing on MTV in 1999, Downtown follows a diverse group of young adults and teens navigating everyday life in New York City's East Village. At the centre is Alex, a 24-year-old working a dead-end job at a copy shop, who nurses a crush on Serena, a goth girl who admits she's only drawn to bad boys. Rounding out his circle are his sharp-tongued 17-year-old sister Chaka, his best friend Jen, and their mutual friends Goat, Fruity, Matt and Mecca. Drawing on interviews with real New Yorkers, the series gave its characters a natural, unscripted feel rarely seen in animated sitcoms of its era. Though it lasted only one season of 13 episodes, Downtown earned a Primetime Emmy nomination and has since built a cult following for its honest, offbeat portrait of urban youth culture and early adulthood. The PJs Set in the fictional Hilton-Jacobs housing projects, The PJs centres on Thurgood Stubbs, the building superintendent whose short temper and reluctance to fix anything constantly clash with the endless problems of his neighbours. His wife Muriel serves as the household's voice of reason amid the chaos. Created by Eddie Murphy, Larry Wilmore and Steve Tompkins, the stop-motion comedy premiered on Fox in 1999 and became one of television's most ambitious animated productions of its time, using a claymation-style technique known as foamation. While built on sharp humour, the series also captured everyday life in a struggling urban community, portraying tenants like Mrs. Avery and Jimmy Ho with both satire and warmth. Fugget About It Jimmy Falcone, a New York mafia capo, is placed in witness protection after killing his own mob boss to spare his uncle Cheech, relocating with his family to Regina, Saskatchewan under a new identity. Adjusting to ordinary Canadian life proves difficult, as his old instincts keep clashing with his new surroundings. The Canadian adult animated sitcom follows Jimmy, his wife Cookie, his uncle Cheech, and his children Theresa, Petey and Gina as they navigate small-town life while an RCMP agent keeps a watchful eye on the family. The contrast between organised crime and suburban routine gives the series its distinctive humour while exploring loyalty, identity, and unwanted change. Rick and Morty Brilliant but reckless scientist Rick Sanchez moves into his daughter Beth's home and soon recruits his grandson Morty for dangerous adventures across galaxies, alternate realities and parallel dimensions. Their journeys often leave the rest of the Smith family dealing with the unexpected consequences. Since its debut in 2013, Rick and Morty has become one of the most influential adult animated series of the past decade. Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, it is celebrated for blending complex science fiction concepts with sharp comedy while tackling themes such as family dysfunction, existentialism, and the cost of limitless ambition. SuperMansion Titanium Rex, an ageing alien superhero, leads a team of eccentric heroes known as the League of Freedom out of a mansion that has seen better days. As his relevance fades, he must manage a dysfunctional roster while facing supervillains and generational tension within his own ranks. Produced using stop-motion animation by the team behind Robot Chicken, SuperMansion premiered on Crackle in 2015 and takes a satirical approach to the superhero genre, focusing less on epic battles and more on the everyday frustrations of running a fractured team. F Is For Family Set in the fictional town of Rustvale, Pennsylvania, during the 1970s, F Is For Family follows Frank Murphy, a Korean War veteran working as a baggage handler at a local airline, as he struggles to provide for his wife Sue and their children. The pressures of work, parenting and a shifting decade frequently test the family's patience. Co-created by comedian Bill Burr and Simpsons writer Michael Price, the Netflix series draws heavily on Burr's own childhood, right down to specific incidents from his youth. Beyond its often abrasive humour, the show offers a candid portrayal of working-class family life in an era marked by economic strain and generational friction.
