10 Mind-Blowing Animated TV Shows Showcasing Sci-Fi's Perfect Medium

Article Overview

Animation allows sci-fi TV shows to transcend the limitations of live-action, opening up boundless possibilities for storytelling and world-building.

Various animation styles can elicit particular emotions and enrich the themes and subgenres of science fiction, spanning from horror to comedy.

Animation has proven to be a valuable asset in a range of science fiction television series, demonstrating its versatility and capacity to breathe life into otherworldly concepts.

Animation in sci-fi TV shows allows for the creation of limitless galaxies filled with diverse life forms, limited only by the imagination of the show's creators. While the genre has historically been constrained by technological limitations, animation provides a solution to convey the vast scale of sci-fi concepts without the same resource restrictions. Using animation instead of live-action opens up a world of possibilities, removing limitations and offering a perfect medium for bringing otherworldly ideas to life.

In addition to facilitating grandiose sci-fi ideas, animation serves as an emotive tool for storytellers. Different visual styles of animation can evoke various responses, allowing animators to tailor their work to fit the story. With access to a range of tools, animators can heighten the horror of sci-fi or create surreal comedy related to multiverses and time travel. Animation has been successfully utilized in various sci-fi subgenres, including space opera, superhero tales, and cosmic horror. The adaptability of animation parallels the malleability of the sci-fi genre itself, exemplified in numerous TV shows.

10. Star Wars: Visions

A new twist on a sci-fi classic

The Star Wars universe is brimming with rich lore that extends far beyond the movies. Numerous graphic novels, TV shows, video games, and more have delved into the gaps within the Skywalker saga. Star Wars: Visions is an anthology series created by various animation studios. The first volume presents a reimagined anime style with an Eastern influence, while the second volume further expands the universe through collaborations with animation studios from around the world. Aardman Animations, known for Wallace and Gromit, even crafted a claymation short about an aspiring pod racer. The potential for the show's future is limitless.

9. Futurama

Workplace sitcom in the 31st Century

The television show "Futurama" first premiered on March 28, 1999. The cast includes Katey Sagal, Billy West, Lauren Tom, Maurice LaMarche, David Herman, Tress MacNeille, John DiMaggio, and Phil LaMarr. The show can be streamed on Hulu and Prime Video.

Matt Groening's futuristic animated series, Futurama, brilliantly satirizes the sci-fi genre similar to how The Simpsons does with the American nuclear family. The show pays homage to familiar genre tropes while also cleverly poking fun at the often outlandish nature of speculative fiction. Through animation, Futurama takes viewers on a journey to strange planets and introduces a myriad of alien and mutant characters, yet some of its most compelling storylines are surprisingly ordinary. Far from being a mere parody, the show's witty dialogue could elicit laughter in any era.

Despite facing numerous cancellations and revivals, Futurama is now preparing for its twelfth season, using the backdrop of the future to cleverly mock 21st Century society in its latest episodes.

8. Gravity Falls

Spooky supernatural adventure

Gravity Falls

Original

Release Date June 15, 2012

Cast Jason Ritter , Kristen Schaal

Streaming Service(s) Hulu , Disney+

Dipper and Mabel Pines go to stay with their great uncle Stan for the summer, but they soon stumble upon the paranormal secrets of the town of Gravity Falls. The mythical creatures which populate the area all stem from a mysterious source, and as the twins get closer to the truth, things get a lot weirder and a lot scarier very quickly.

Rewritten

Released on June 15, 2012, with a cast including Jason Ritter and Kristen Schaal, "Gravity Falls" is available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+. The series follows Dipper and Mabel Pines as they stay with their great uncle Stan for the summer, uncovering the town's paranormal secrets. As they delve deeper into the mysterious source of the mythical creatures in the area, the twins find themselves facing increasingly weird and terrifying phenomena.

7. The Jetsons

Gravity Falls may only have two seasons, but this allows the story to remain tightly focused without resorting to desperate ideas. The show maintains its fiercely creative spirit all the way to its wonderfully executed "weirdmageddon" finale, a chaotic horror extravaganza featuring dimension-invading demons.

Retro-futurist family sitcom

The Jetsons serves as a reflection of 1960s attitudes, capturing the era when space exploration and the promise of the future were just beginning to take shape. Hanna-Barbera's futuristic counterpart to The Flintstones has gracefully evolved from futuristic aspirations to a charmingly retro-futurist nostalgia. The show cleverly suggests that even with advanced technology like robot maids and flying cars, human nature and its flaws remain unchanged.

George Jetson is perpetually annoyed, indicating that no matter how much society advances to make life easier, there will always be individuals who find something to gripe about. While his sitcom family adheres to the usual stereotypes, the unique setting adds a new layer to their dynamic.

6. Invincible

Gruesome superhero spectacle

Unbeatable

March 26, 2021

Starring Mark Hamill, Gillian Jacobs, Jon Hamm, Mae Whitman, Steven Yeun, Walton Goggins, Ezra Miller, Jonathan Groff, Sandra Oh, Djimon Hounsou, Khary Payton, Seth Rogen, Jeffrey Donovan, Sonequa Martin-Green, Mahershala Ali, Malese Jow, J.K. Simmons, Clancy Brown, Zazie Beetz, Zachary Quinto, Jason Mantzoukas, Nicole Byer

Available on Amazon Prime Video

From the first episode of Invincible, it becomes evident that the show resembles 1980s Saturday-morning superhero cartoons, but the similarities end there. This is not a Super-Friends; it presents a much more intense and raw portrayal of super-powered violence. With the introduction of more villains with extraordinary abilities in Invincible season 2, the show becomes even more visceral and shocking.

The kid-friendly visual style of Invincible adds a layer of subversion to its fight scenes, and every splash of crimson blood somehow feels more genuine than other superhero content currently popular. Additionally, Invincible's animation allows for the introduction of a diverse cast of strange aliens without falling into the uncanny valley.

5. Rick & Morty

Absurdist dimension-hopping romp

Rick and Morty

Release Date December 2, 2013Cast Spencer Grammer , Justin Roiland , Kari Wahlgren , Chris Parnell , Sarah ChalkeStreaming Service(s) Hulu

The strange planets showcased in Rick and Morty demonstrate that animation is the ideal format for the show, as a live-action version would require extensive CGI to create the same vast and diverse universe. From a snake planet to a miniature Earth to the risqué Boob World theme park, Rick and Morty effortlessly traverse a wide range of locations. Moreover, the show's creativity extends beyond a single universe, with Rick's portal gun leading to even more bizarre destinations across the multiverse. The interdimensional cable episodes offer a glimpse into the show's zany humor.

4. Dexter's Laboratory

Sci-fi parody for a new generation

Dexter is a childish version of the mad scientist stereotype, so his experiments include a number of sci-fi tropes.

The dramatic physical differences between Dexter and Dee Dee highlight their antagonistic relationship, and Dee Dee's naive interference often leads to the failure of Dexter's experiments. Dexter embodies a youthful version of the classic mad scientist stereotype, and his experiments feature numerous science fiction elements, such as shape-shifting potions and mechanical suits.

Dexter's distinctively blocky appearance and unique accent would not have been as impactful in a live-action format. Dexter's Laboratory was Cartoon Network's first fully animated original program, and its success potentially saved the network from closure. Without Dexter's Laboratory, iconic shows like Samurai Jack, The Powerpuff Girls, or Ben 10 might never have existed.

3. Final Space

Ambitious space opera

The show Final Space depicts a prisoner serving his sentence alone on a spaceship in space. His encounter with a friendly green alien named Mooncake provides him with a companion, but Mooncake is actually a weapon capable of destroying planets, and is at the center of a power struggle that spans the galaxy. The duo, along with their allies, embark on a search for the edge of the universe, where they hope to find incredible and majestic sights.

Despite the cancellation of the show, a Final Space graphic novel by series creator Olan Rogers is in the works to bring the story to completion. Fans can anticipate another breathtaking intergalactic adventure, but they will surely miss the voices of Fred Armisen, David Tennant, and Conan O'Brien.

2. Adventure Time

Wildly inventive genre mash-up

Adventure Time

Release Date May 10, 2010Cast Tom Kenny , Hynden Walch , Jeremy Shada , John DiMaggio , Niki YangStreaming Service(s) Hulu , HBO Max

Adventure Time may seem like a classic fantasy show about a hero fighting evil with a sword, but it actually incorporates many elements of sci-fi. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the show features mutated creatures created by radiation and glimpses into other dimensions. Despite not conforming to typical sci-fi tropes, Adventure Time still manages to stumble upon them while maintaining its originality. For example, there is an episode where the hero, Finn, visits Mars, but it's not the conventional sci-fi portrayal of the planet as it includes the unexpected presence of Abraham Lincoln.

Adventure Time recently inspired a more mature spinoff, Fionna and Cake.

1. Love, Death & Robots

Expansive multi-layered anthology

Each installment of Love, Death and Robots on Netflix unfolds a unique narrative, accompanied by entirely distinct animation styles. This approach intelligently expands the show's range, with each visual aesthetic seamlessly complementing the episode's thematic material. From lifelike 3D animation portraying visceral body horror to whimsical, caricatured figures enhancing the show's more lighthearted comedic episodes such as "When the Yogurt Took Over".

Love, Death and Robots' top episodes combine horror, humor, and sci-fi, functioning as standalone short films united by their commitment to innovative visual storytelling.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of animated TV shows, I am thrilled to see the recognition of their ability to showcase the perfect medium for sci-fi storytelling. Animation allows creators to transcend the limitations of live-action, opening up boundless possibilities for storytelling and world-building. The versatility of animation enables the creation of limitless galaxies filled with diverse life forms, limited only by the imagination of the show's creators. It's exciting to see how animation has been successfully utilized in various sci-fi subgenres, including space opera, superhero tales, and cosmic horror. The adaptability of animation parallels the malleability of the sci-fi genre itself, exemplified in numerous TV shows.

I particularly appreciate the mention of "Star Wars: Visions" and "Futurama" as examples of mind-blowing animated sci-fi TV shows. "Star Wars: Visions" is a brilliant anthology series that presents a reimagined anime style with an Eastern influence, while "Futurama" is a satirical masterpiece that cleverly pokes fun at the often outlandish nature of speculative fiction. Both shows demonstrate the power of animation to bring otherworldly ideas to life and create truly immersive experiences for viewers.