Which is the Best Animated Series?

[Saltyk]

So, there are tons of animated shows out there. I could probably name them all day long. And there are countless great series out there as well. Older shows with huge universes like Batman: TAS and the extended DCAU. Serious series like X-Men that touches on discrimination. Comedies like Animaniacs. Shows that mix various cultures like Avatar and its sequel Korra. And, of course recent hits like Steven Universe and Adventure Time.

But, which is the best? Which do you think is the best series? And for bonus points, which has the best theme song?

 

[DefunctTheory]

One of the DCAU titles, without a doubt.

If you count both Justice League series as being the same show, then Justice League is the hands down winner. If you separate JL from JL:U, then I think it's a tie between Batman: TAS and JL:U. And The Question just might let JL:U edge out TAS by the barest of margins at that point.

And the best theme is easily X-Men, though the JL themes are close. The best opener, animation and theme combined, is Batman: TAS.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Snip

Beaten to the punch.

I mean yes there is never a "best" in singular form to me (I can't picked among my favourite shows as the number one favourite) but I do gotta say the DCAU (or if I do got to picked one in the series then it's Batman:TAS for me) is among my favourites.

Ok if I have to picked a new series into the list, it would have to be Gravity Falls. I have never seen such a well detailed series and I'm not talking about the background images (those hidden messages found througtout the episode)!
The series has remain strong throughout and consistant (not once has there been a bad episode and everyone of them always made me laugh).
What more is that the creator did set out what he intended to created therefore it had a beginning, middle and end and it certainly did end on a high note than having it run down to the ground thanks to the many many season unlike Fairy Odd Parent and Spongbob etc!

 

[CrazyGirl17]

It's hard to decide since there's so many, but if I had to, It would be a three-way tie between Avatar: The Last Airbender, Steven Universe, and Gravity Falls. As for best theme... that's even harder. I might have to get back to you on that.

 

[Michel Henzel]

Can't say there are many recent cartoons that aren't complete shit.

Young Justice was pretty amazing, spectacular spider-man was also pretty nice, atleast nicer then the crappy ultimate spider-man show that replaced it. The old DCAU stuff was also pretty damn good stuff. Wolverine and the X-men I also liked a lot. So sad a lot of the stuff I liked got cancelled quickly.

Some older stuff would be Exo-squad and Prince Valiant.

Animaniacs is probably one of my all time favorites.

 

[Smithnikov_v1legacy]

Can the old Tex Avery works be really called a series? If so, that would be my vote. The animation was so lively, the jokes are STILL funny, the timing ridiculously good. I could gush all day about it.

 

[spartandude]

Last year I watched Avatar The Last Airbender for the first time and I absolutely loved it. It gets my vote for best animated show and in my top five of all time.

 

[Fox12]

I assume anime is out of the draw?

Because it's really hard to choose. Batman and Superman were both phenomenal. I also have huge respect for Hey Arnold, which had amazingly complex characters for a kids show. One of my favorite pieces of western animation ever.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Its a big wet three-way tie between Freakazoid, Animaniacs and Batman the Animated Series. As far as I can tell every show since has been trying to reach that unreachable high par those three shows set in terms of comedy, characterization, action beats and quality consistency.
Even the worst episode of Batman is better than that best episode of like 95% of all the animated shows out there.

And this summary will always give me chills. He nails it.

 

[DoPo]

Last year I watched Avatar The Last Airbender for the first time and I absolutely loved it. It gets my vote for best animated show and in my top five of all time.

Yep. It's my favourite animated show ever.

Another one I love is ReBoot - it was the firs or at least one of the first fully CG shows. And it was quite good, as well. Comedy, drama, action, it has it all.

I adore that opening. It's just so... I don't know how to describe it exactly, but it's like a call to action. Definitely one of my favourite openings. I quite like the X-Men animated series, as well.

 

[Raddra]

Justice League Unlimited for sure. its an amazing watch and is one of those rare sequels that trumps the original series (Justice League, which was great in and of itself!)

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

No love for Samurai Jack

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

Rick and Morty, which has recently become my favorite show of all time, and with only 21 episodes under its belt. No other show I've seen combines crazy sci-fi concepts, crass scatological humor, cosmic horror, deep philosophical questions and genuinely emotional and touching moments to such a perfect degree. Without even mentioning the insane level of creativity, the quality of the animation, voice acting and basically everything else. It hit the perfect sweet spot between Futurama (also another favorite of mine) and South Park for me. I would even go so far to say that it's the best (at least animated) show currently running right now.

Avatar TLA is also fantastic. A classic, timeless series that will stand the test of time for centuries to come.

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

ATLA, Gravity Falls, Samurai Jack, Regular Show, Tom & Jerry, Rick & Morty... honestly too many good ones to pick one.

Best theme song though? ...You won't believe what i've JUST finished listening to:

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Avatar TLA is also fantastic. A classic, timeless series that will stand the test of time for centuries to come.

While its sequal series in my eyes will be dust in the wind

God I was so dissipointed in Korra.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

ATLA, Gravity Falls, Samurai Jack, Regular Show, Tom & Jerry, Rick & Morty... honestly too many good ones to pick one.

Best theme song though? ...You won't believe what i've JUST finished listening to:

Another series that died before it properly ended. I am reminded of Sym-Bionic Titan

 

[Captain Marvelous_v1legacy]

Christ, this is difficult. Justice League/Unlimited wins this. A marvelous cartoon that brought together some of DC's greatest heroes in a brilliant series that's mature enough to hold an adults attention and fun to boot. Imagine that, Zack. The cartoons did it better, even with the ridiculous underwear on the outside.

Second place goes to Earth's Mightiest Heroes. A series killed before it's time and replaced with a God awful movie tie-in series.

As for the theme song... Duck Dodgers.

Tell me that isn't the sexiest theme song you've ever heard! I dare you! I double dare you!

It's a shame that I can't find a video with better quality.


Honorable Mention Themes:

Pokemon
DuckTales
Please don't fuck up the reboot​

 

[Saelune]

Archer.

I like Adventure Time's world building and DnD influence, but its whackyness only goes so far with me. Steven Universe is great, but if I was Steven, Id be asking more questions all the time.

Best theme though, that's a far harder one. X-Men is a lot of fun, but I think Batman's is artistically better. Pok?mon's original theme is great, but because its cheesy.

 

[twistedmic]

My childhood favorites, so by nostalgia filter (firmly in place even with the DVDs in my collection) rules they are the best, though not as best as Batman the Animated series

Spoiler: Swat Kats

Spoiler: Tale Spin

and

Spoiler: King Arthur and the Knights of Justice