Must-Watch Animated Series from Across the Pond
Looking for your next animated obsession? Ditch the usual suspects and dive into these critically acclaimed and wildly popular shows from the US and beyond. Get ready for laughs, adventure, and maybe a little bit of existential dread.
1. Rick and Morty
- Genre: Animated Sitcom, Sci-Fi
- First Aired: December 2, 2013
Synopsis: After mysteriously disappearing for years, the eccentric and borderline-insane scientist Rick Sanchez suddenly reappears at his daughter Beth’s doorstep. He promptly sets up a laboratory in her garage and embarks on interdimensional adventures using his portal gun. Much to the dismay of his family, Rick drags his grandson Morty along for the ride, exposing him to the infinite wonders and horrors of the multiverse. Beth and her husband Jerry are often exasperated by Rick’s antics, but they can’t deny his genius (or the chaos he brings).
2. The Simpsons
- Genre: Animated Sitcom, Comedy
- First Aired: December 17, 1989
Synopsis: The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening for Fox Broadcasting Company, is an animated sitcom that satirizes American middle-class life through the portrayal of the Simpson family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Set in the fictional town of Springfield, the show humorously mocks American culture, society, television, and the human condition.
Groening conceived the Simpsons’ characters for a series of animated shorts produced by James L. Brooks. He named them after his own family members, substituting “Bart” for his own name. The shorts debuted as part of The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987. After three seasons, The Simpsons was spun off into a half-hour prime-time show, becoming one of Fox’s early successes. Since its premiere on December 17, 1989, The Simpsons has aired 23 seasons, totaling 504 episodes.
The 400th episode aired on May 20, 2007, coinciding with the show’s 20th anniversary. The Simpsons Movie, released worldwide in July 2007, has grossed approximately $525.3 million. The 23rd season began airing on September 25, 2011, and the 500th episode aired on February 19, 2012. The Simpsons has received numerous awards, including 25 Primetime Emmy Awards, 26 Annie Awards, and a Peabody Award.
Time magazine named it the 20th century’s best television series on December 31, 1999. On January 14, 2000, The Simpsons received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As the longest-running American sitcom and animated program, The Simpsons has had a significant impact on popular culture. Homer Simpson’s catchphrase “D’oh!” has been added to the English dictionary, and the show has influenced many adult-oriented animated sitcoms.
3. Ben 10: Alien Force
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
- First Aired: April 18, 2008
Synopsis: Ben 10: Alien Force is the second series in the main Ben 10 franchise. It premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States on April 18, 2008, and concluded on March 26, 2010, with a total of 46 episodes across three seasons. The series was planned for 46 episodes from the start, originally titled Ben 10: Hero Generation. Ben 10: Alien Force is set five years after the events of the original Ben 10 series.
Five years have passed, and Ben and Gwen are now in high school. Ben has been living a normal life without the Omnitrix, playing as the goalkeeper on his soccer team. However, after winning the MVP award and wanting to show it to Grandpa Max, he discovers that his grandfather has disappeared. He teams up with Gwen and puts the Omnitrix back on to investigate. As they delve deeper, they uncover a conspiracy involving the Highbreed’s invasion of Earth. The core group is missing Max, but Kevin, a former enemy, joins them as a new ally. Ben re-activates the Omnitrix, and Gwen and Kevin’s powers also evolve, becoming stronger as the story progresses. Additionally, Plumbers’ kids with alien superpowers begin to emerge. With everyone’s help, Ben successfully thwarts the Highbreed’s invasion. Meanwhile, Vilgax launches invasions throughout the universe and seeks revenge on Ben. Ben tries to hack the Omnitrix, but this causes Kevin to be affected by its energy and mutate. Although they defeat Vilgax and save Earth, Vilgax’s ambitions are not over.
Eventually, Vilgax is defeated and severely injured. The Omnitrix is destroyed, Kevin returns to normal, and Ben’s transformation device is replaced with the Ultimatrix. Compared to its predecessor, this series has a more tightly structured story with a clear overarching goal. The main enemies in the first and second seasons are the Highbreed and their DNAlien minions, while Vilgax is the primary antagonist in the third season. The Forever Knights also appear, but their influence is less significant than before. The story is more serious than the previous series, especially Ben’s personality in the first two seasons. The story arcs in the first and second seasons mainly revolve around the Highbreed, while the relationships between Ben and Julie, and Gwen and Kevin, are also explored. The third season focuses on Vilgax’s ambitions, and Gwen and Kevin’s relationship is challenged by Kevin’s mutations.
4. Helluva Boss
- Genre: Dark Comedy, Musical, Adult Animation
- First Aired: November 25, 2019
Synopsis: In the hierarchy of Hell, Imps are at the very bottom. But what happens when a group of Imps start a business in assassination? Find out in this darkly hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt series.
5. What If…?
- Genre: Superhero, Anthology, Animation
- First Aired: August 11, 2021
Synopsis: Based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name, What If…? flips the script on key moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Each episode explores alternate realities, asking questions like: What if Peggy Carter became the first Super Soldier instead of Steve Rogers? Or what if Spider-Man joined the Fantastic Four? Prepare to enter the unknown and witness the infinite possibilities of the multiverse.