Give me an example of an adult-oriented, mature western animated film or TV show

[Lord Doomhammer]

Archer, most stuff on [adult swim]?

if I could remember how to link videos I would... but since I cant remember how to do that just go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjay_8dfgW0

 

[genericusername64]

Six feet under should be what your looking for, its a Drama/comedy that ran on HBO
EDIT: Oh animated? Batman the animated series

 

[Chonodhoch]

Wizards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizards_(film) watch it

 

[Delock]

That new Transformers series is just this (whenever Miko isn't around). Yes, it's still a kid's show, but it's insanely dark (they decide to kill off a classic character in the first episode and show the equivalent of blood drain out of the wound, only to revive him in the second and permanently kill him off there. There's also a Predator tribute where one of the Autobots is suffering from PTSD after being tortured and watching a partner get bludgeoned to death in front of her. You know, for kids!).

Otherwise, all I can really point you towards is Hulk Vs., Avatar: Last Airbender (surprisingly it was a western show), or some of the Batman stuff.

 

[Knife]

Just remembered another one - the 1977 wizards animated film, to quote the wikipedia "post apocalyptic science fantasy", another one of my favourites. Deals with a whole lot of mature issues, imagine if saruman was combined with hitler in a fallout setting and the forces of good had to stop him...

Edit: damn ninjas...

 

[MurderousToaster]

Six feet under should be what your looking for, its a Drama/comedy that ran on HBO

I'm sorry if I sound offensive here, but did you even read my original post? Some of the others ones I'm avoiding choosing here are a matter of perspective (or sometimes not reading a specific part) but you went straight ahead and ignored the entire concept of the thread.

 

[FilipJPhry]

I immediately thought Afro Samurai

 

[Dargocitfer]

An argument could be made also for "A Scanner Darkly". I'm not sure if Rotoscoping counts, but it is animated, western, and most assuredly not for kids!

 

[evilneko]

Yellow Submarine?

[small]*flees as quickly as possible*[/small]

 

[genericusername64]

I'm sorry if I sound offensive here, but did you even read my original post? Some of the others ones I'm avoiding choosing here are a matter of perspective (or sometimes not reading a specific part) but you went straight ahead and ignored the entire concept of the thread.

I read it as an animated movie, or just any tv show, animated or not, I realized my error seconds after I posted btw.

 

[coheedswicked]

well there's "9" or "Beowulf" those were more adult oriented albeit not that deep... maybe better described as geared toward a teenage audience.

"The Brave Little Toaster" is supposedly a kids movie but has a ridiculous amount of philosophical and social allegory.

 

[tigermilk]

The Simpsons...

And all the adult orientated/friendly animated sitcoms that were produced in its wake.

 

[IndianaJonny]

There was another recent thread [//www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.314649-Why-arent-more-realistic-and-serious-animated-movies-being-made?page=1] here on the Escapist with a similar premise. Potential food for thought.

 

[Scarim Coral]

The Maxx came into my mind, that show got a serious mature undertone (one eisode there was this teenage girl describing how her life suck which sound sudical). Here's a promo of it.

 

[Leftnt Sharpe]

The Ultramarines Movie? It has lots of manliness and GRIMDARK so it must be adult orientated and mature..................

 

[dimensional]

An argument could be made also for "A Scanner Darkly". I'm not sure if Rotoscoping counts, but it is animated, western, and most assuredly not for kids!

Exactly what entered my mind when I saw this topic I havent seen it though so good to have someone else to make its point.

I immediately thought Afro Samurai

Afro Samurai is a Japanese creation and animated by a japanese studio (Gonzo) while Animatrix is a collaboration between east and west but I believe most of the animation (if not all) was eastern made (not 100% on that though).

I think you are going to have problems finding many mature non humour based western animations particularly if you dont want really avant garde stuff its just animation and attitudes towards it have evolved differently in the west than the east.

Some western films do have partial animation in them like Monty python and the holy grail (but thats humour based) Kill Bill (western film eastern animation) or what about sin city did that have any animation in? cant remember now so long ago.

 

[Jonny49]

Persepolis is a good example.

I'm glad someone beat me to it, it's a fantastic film.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Mmmmm. I have a hard time thinking that mature themes automatically disregard humor. Part of being a mature individual I would think would be to include humor in one's life, so by that reasoning a mature themed animated film or tv show should include some humor. I've watched plenty of "mature" themed anime and found a lot of them to be either childish or an excuse for extreme porn or violence. It reminds me of the "your mom hates this game" Dead Space commercials. Extreme violent content and/or sex doesn't make it mature. Family Guy is very mature themed at times as can be said of Futurama or other western cartoons. They may be guised in satirical humor but the overarching themes are still mature (i.e. not intended for children).
So in reality, I would say it depends on your view of mature material.

 

[Asita]

*points to Pixar films in general* Allow me to quote Roger Ebert on Ratatoullie:

This is clearly one of the year's best films. Every time an animated film is successful, you have to read all over again about how animation isn't 'just for children' but 'for the whole family,' and 'even for adults going on their own.' No kidding!

(Full review here)

Batman The Animated Series was also very well done. Sure, the animation strikes me as somewhat lacking these days, but it excelled in the characterization department, providing the introduction of Harley Quinn and what has essentially become the true story of Dr. Freeze (as most subsequent takes on the character have used that story as their base). On a similar vein, it's worth checking out the flicks Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker (For the latter, the uncut version is highly reccomended). Granted though, these all harp on comic adaptations, so may not be the best examples.

And I know you said western animation, but all the same I say Monster's worth a mention, if for no other reason than it makes for a very good example of a dramatic adult-oriented animated series