Which is the Best Animated Series?

[Souplex]

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

Surely you mean Full Metal Alchemist: There is no subtitle, because Brotherhood was the worst.

 

[The Jovian]

My personal favorites are Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (gone too soon) and Transformers: Prime.

A:EMH for its stellar ability to adapt its source material that in some ways surpasses the MCU, and Prime for its excellent CGI animation, strong characterizations and elaborate myth arcs.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

Surely you mean Full Metal Alchemist: There is no subtitle, because Brotherhood was the worst.

Strange. This is the first time I have ever seen someone say Brotherhood was the worse of the two, yet you say it with such conviction, like its an absolute.

My favorites are The Venture Brothers, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Archer, Rick and Morty, Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, South Park, and Superjail!. Animation is so much better these days than in the past - I grew up in the 1980s and even as a young kid I couldn't stand the garbage "cartoons" on Saturday morning TV.

Why did it take until post thirty-fucking-six for Venture Bros to be mentioned? I can think of only one reason.

 

[happyninja42]

Avatar: The Last Airbender gets my vote.

 

[happyninja42]

Best animated series... would be a toss-up between Avatar: The Last Airbender and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Both stellar examples of storytelling and mature narrative in animation.

Venture Bros is a very close third.

This guy's videos pretty much sums up my opinion on Korra:

Hrmmm, there are a lot of points made there I'd say are kind of balls, but this is a discussion for another thread.

Please no, it doesn't need another thread....not again. This site has seen enough flame wars about why Korra is/isn't good, we don't need more. Let that subject die please.

 

[Saltyk]

I intended to be a bit more involved in this thread that I turned out being (last minute change of plans moving things up a day) so I apologize for this extensive post.

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.

Honestly, if we include the entire DCAU as one series (it is one world), it would be tough to beat. Even by some of the best series this thread has mentioned.

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

I almost mentioned how awesome the X-Men theme is in my post. I'm not sure I would say that Batman: TAS has the best opener, however, it probably sets the tone for the show better than any other opening theme, so if you think of it like that, it might.

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.

Well, obviously. I'm hard pressed to name any thing as my favorite. You could ask me my favorite character in a series, and I would pretty much give you 3-5 answers more often than not. This was just intended to, once again, shine some light on great series.

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.

Of course. Feel free to include all the classic cartoons you like. Who doesn't love any of the classic cartoons of yesteryear?

Since most of the shows I would list have already been mentioned I'll go with one that hasn't.

Gargoyles

It's still to this day one of my favorite shows. Great writing, great characters, great voice acting and memorable stories.

I just wanna say I was kicking myself for not even mentioning it in my OP.

Count me among the Batman: TAS for best Animated Series and Darkwing Duck for best opening. Also I agree with A:TLA and Samurai Jack

I do love some Samurai Jack, too. That's one that could tell me story in five minutes without dialog than other shows could in 30 with dialog.

Also I'm assuming we're excluding anime though because Cowboy Bebop should totally also be "best opening" 'cuz that opening was badass.

It is animated and a series. I see no reason to exclude anime from this thread.

And I don't think it's been mentioned yet but I really loved Teen Titans. The opening was catchy (not as catchy as Darkwing Duck but whatcha gonna do when you aren't the terror that flaps in the night) and the episodes were well done. Loved the voice acting too (then again, I'm a sucker for Ron Perlman).

Teen Titans. That's a show that beings a smile to my face just thinking about it. Plenty of love for the Dark Mallard, too.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

I'll give shoutouts to the following:

-Bob's Burgers
-Futurama
-My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
-The Simpsons
-South Park
-Spectacular Spider-Man
-Sonic SatAM (maybe Sonic Boom as well, but I wouldn't count it among the greats)
-Star Wars: The Clone Wars
-Rocko's Modern Life
-Rugrats
-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1980s version)

I'm sure there's others, but I'm not that big a conissuer of cartoons. Sure, grew up with them in the 90s, pretty much ignored them in the 2000s, and even in the 2010s, while I can find good stuff, they're not really my "go to" medium. Doesn't help that watching cartoons isn't something you really advertise to most people, considering the "just for kids" mindset that still prevails.

Despite your lacking palate, I'm surprised how many you listed that haven't been mentioned up until your post.

 

[Saltyk]

Tie between non non Biyori and Ichigo Mashimaro.

South park is the clear winner for comedy.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Question:

What was universaly considerd the last good season for the Simpsons?

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Question:

What was universally considered the last good season for the Simpsons?

'Universal' would be impossible, but I've read two retrospects and a 300-page tome analysing the show which all agree Season 4-8 were its highest point, with the chief 'shark jumping' episode being considered to be 'The Principal and the Pauper'. There were no doubt many other episodes past that which were good, just not as consistent in quality or subtext.

Back OT, my avatar was sitting right in front of me and I forgot to mention Beast Wars and Reboot. If Anime is legit, then so is CGI.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Question:

What was universally considered the last good season for the Simpsons?

'Universal' would be impossible, but I've read two retrospects and a 300-page tome analysing the show which all agree Season 4-8 were its highest point, with the chief 'shark jumping' episode being considered to be 'The Principal and the Pauper'. There were no doubt many other episodes past that which were good, just not as consistent in quality or subtext.

Back OT, my avatar was sitting right in front of me and I forgot to mention Beast Wars and Reboot. If Anime is legit, then so is CGI.

Beast Wars is technically the only good transformers cartoon.

Better character portrayals and development.

And No Human Characters.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

Surely you mean Full Metal Alchemist: There is no subtitle, because Brotherhood was the worst.

Strange. This is the first time I have ever seen someone say Brotherhood was the worse of the two, yet you say it with such conviction, like its an absolute.

My favorites are The Venture Brothers, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Archer, Rick and Morty, Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, South Park, and Superjail!. Animation is so much better these days than in the past - I grew up in the 1980s and even as a young kid I couldn't stand the garbage "cartoons" on Saturday morning TV.

Why did it take until post thirty-fucking-six for Venture Bros to be mentioned? I can think of only one reason.

Venture Bros. and The Boondocks are some of the best adult swim shows (heck better than Aqua Team Hunger Force)

But then again I just think Metalocalypse is the best of all:

 

[Drops a Sweet Katana]

I like other titles already mentioned in this thread more (but it's theme would be near the top of my list), but just to throw another name into the mix: Wakfu. It's french, and on the Avatar end of the spectrum.

Spoiler

I started watching Wakfu a while back but didn't really get past maybe episode 9 or 10 of season 1 since I found it too kiddy, for lack of a better word (I guess what I mean is the episodes I watched followed pretty standard kid show plots, which put me off a bit having heard it being praised so much). I've seen bits and pieces from later episodes and they look awesome, which makes me want to keep going. Do the episodes on the whole get past the standard kid show stuff later on?

OT: All of my current favourites (Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, Last Airbender, Rick and Morty) have already been said. I'd say Steven Universe is pretty much my favourite show kicking around. I don't think I've watched a show with better characters (this show has Peridot. End of story) and more consistently great writing. Also it's got some drop-dead gorgeous art and animation once it hits its stride, although the first few episodes were a bit jarring going back to them.

 

[Hawki]

I'll second Beast Wars...maybe. I do think it's quite decent, but I'm not sure if I'd hold it in the ranks of "the best." It's got decent characters and action, but "decent" is the key word. It's on a similar level to Roughnecks to me, a series I quite like. But again, not sure if it's among the best of the best. Least Beast Wars got a proper ending of sorts.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Beast Wars is technically the only good transformers cartoon.

Better character portrayals and development.

And No Human Characters.

Careful there, friend. If you listen carefully, you can hear the clatter of the G1 fans' pitchforks amid the cries of 'TRUKK NOT MUNKY!'

Besides, it was after my time but from the Youtube clips posted by AeonTFP I've watched, Transformers Prime looked to be a near-nonstop string of Crowning Moments of Awesome/Funny. I actually liked the character of Jack Darby. A worthy successor to BW at last- it even made references to being a 'spiritual sequel' with references to ancient Predacons. I think CGI may the optimal format for Transformers, since it allows for full detail and damage effects for each Cybertronian model without becoming the Bayformers.

Don't believe me? Watch the episodes 'Convoy' or 'Patch'.

Spoiler: Or watch this

I love BW, but I wouldn't declare it the only good Transformers show ever.

 

[RaikuFA]

Question:

What was universally considered the last good season for the Simpsons?

'Universal' would be impossible, but I've read two retrospects and a 300-page tome analysing the show which all agree Season 4-8 were its highest point, with the chief 'shark jumping' episode being considered to be 'The Principal and the Pauper'. There were no doubt many other episodes past that which were good, just not as consistent in quality or subtext.

Back OT, my avatar was sitting right in front of me and I forgot to mention Beast Wars and Reboot. If Anime is legit, then so is CGI.

I'd agree, seasons 4-8 were masterpieces.

OT: All great shows on here but there's one underrated "gem"(I did a funny) that needs mentioning: Pirates of Dark Water.


Look at that people. That's Hannah fucking Barbara in the 90s. Beautiful.

Also gonna add Star vs the Forces of Evil. One big love letter to Sailor Moon and since its Disney, Star can be counted as a Disney Princess.


Edit: Forgot to mention Wander over Yonder. Imagine if Dr. Seuss wrote Bugs Bunny shorts and his enemy was Skeletor if he never grew up mentally and had a Kanye West sized ego.