5 Cartoons Every Adult Needs to Watch
At almost 36, I often get looks when I mention I still watch cartoons. I watch the usual adult suspects with Rick & Morty, Bob's Burgers, and a slew of anime, but I also love shows who's target audience is a bit younger. Cartoons aimed at kids are silly, brightly colored, and can teach us all valuable life lessons.
From how to deal with sexism, gender identity, broken homes, death, racism, disabilities, heartbreak, being the weirdo, when to give someone a second chance and when not to, or wanting to be a better person, kid shows cover all the topics and usually in a way that makes adults give a heartfelt Keanu "whoa." Aang taught me how to deal with my mental blocks to overcome them and that no issue is ever black and white. Zuko taught me that you must overcome your anger to avoid being consumed by it. Korra taught me to deal with my shame of having a chronic condition that I once felt controlled my life. The Crystal Gems taught me that love is always the answer and no villain can't have redemption. Star taught me how fixing centuries of racism isn't easy or quick, but together we can create a new world. Marco taught me it's ok to be both a princess and a knight. And Mabel taught me to always be my colorful self, even when people try to bring me down to their mundane level. Additionally, these shows have characters who *gasp* are disabled, people of color, non-binary, and LGBTQIA! And people don't freak out over them! What is this inclusive magic???
5 Cartoons Every Adult Needs to Watch
Post contains affiliate links. For more information, visit our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy pages.
1. Avatar: The Last Airbender (also referred to as Avatar: The Legend of Aang on Nickelodeon's site)
While not actually an anime, this American series takes place in an Asian-inspired world. Benders can control the elements of air, water, earth, and fire and the Avatar can control all four. 100 years after the Fire Nation started a war for world domination and the Avatar disappeared, he is found by a waterbender and her non-bending brother. Aang only has a few months to master all four elements and defeat the Fire Lord to save the world. This show does an excellent job at showing a "disabled" character as perfectly abled and not a one-off. Toph is just as an important part of the group as Aang. And it deals with both physical and emotional abuse and how we can either break the cycle or become a monster. (Buy the complete series on Amazon or stream on Netflix.)
2. The Legend of Korra (also referred to as Avatar: The Legend of Korra)
The sequel to The Last Airbender, the Avatar has been reborn as a waterbender full of fight. The world has been growing, redeveloping, and modernizing at a fast pace since we last saw it. Korra faces spiritual and political unrest unlike anything the previous Avatars faced. This series is definitely more "grown up" than the first and not for little kids as you do see actual on-screen deaths vs implied. Its dive into LGBTQIA relationships is completely subtext but also shows the boys you like can be completely different from the girls you like, which I love. (Buy the complete series on Amazon or stream on Netflix.)
3. Steven Universe, The Steven Universe Movie, and Steven Universe: Future
What starts off as a kid upset over his favorite snack getting discontinued turns into so much more. Steven Universe is the child of Greg, a human man and Rose Quartz, a gemstone with a human-like form and special powers. Throughout the series, Steven learns of the war his mother fought in, visits Homeworld, and learns that his first power is the power to change. You can watch the movie as a standalone piece, but I highly recommend watching all the episodes, even the annoying Uncle Grandpa crossover. This show also slyly drops LGBTQIA characters like it's nothing (because it real is no big deal). I say slyly because outside of Steven Universe: Future, all the gems are depicted as female even though they really have no gender, so gem couples are essentially same sex. And the eventual addition of a non-binary character was great! The issues surrounding said character have zero to do with how they identify. (Buy the complete series (available November 3, 2020) on Amazon, or buy or rent the movie on Amazon)
4. Star vs The Forces of Evil
Imagine you are a teenage girl sent away from for being a bit unruly. Imagine you have magic powers and are a princess. Imagine the place you get sent to is mundane Earth. What starts off as a lighthearted show develops into so much more as Star learns that actions have consequences you must live with and no good deed goes unpunished. I recently finished this and with current #BLM issues, it cuts close to home as it's full of racists (both villains and townspeople) and the good guys trying to create a better present and future. And where Korra and Steven more slyly drop in LGBTQIA characters, Star just drops them openly and without explanation. One character literally has a boyfriend then later a girlfriend and *gasp* no one comments on it! Star, who we see crushing on all the boys throughout the show, meets a female character and instantly crushes on her. I love it. And as stated above, Marco is a delight and one of the best written male characters ever. Full disclosure, I cried at the end. (Stream on Hulu.)
5. Gravity Falls
Imagine the most epic summer vacation possible set in the Pacific Northwest mountains. Is Bigfoot real? What about gnomes or vampires? And who is Bill? Tween twins Mabel and Dipper spend their summer with their great uncle (Gruncle Stan) who runs a Mystery Shack that lacks a lot of mystery for good reason. Even though this show is more lighthearted than the others, I ugly cried at the end of this one. (Buy the complete series on Amazon or stream on Hulu.)
Until next time my lovelies!
-M
 |
| Pin Now for Later! |
