Cartoon rating guide for the smart adult: v2.

2, 5/21/2007
Why watch cartoons if you're an adult? Because cartoons often have the best scor
es, most interesting plots and/or most humorous dialogue, and the best "cinemato
graphy" of any visual media. The best are stunning works of art and imagination.
This is a rating guide, not a review book -- hit up internet forums for extended
analyses. Its purpose is to quickly alert you to animation you may never have h
eard of. It is also skewed from the perspective of an adult animation fan -- a l
owly-rated show may be immensely enjoyable for small children and even competent
ly-made, but was of little interest to me; a highly-rated show will be competent
ly-made, and may or may not be enjoyable for or even marketed to small children.
If a show has English-language versions, those are the versions I have likely w
atched (and I appreciate good dubbing and loathe bad dubbing). A show with great
writing but average animation will score higher on this list than a show with g
reat animation but average writing.
This list covers mainly animated television series, although many films are incl
uded. I have not seen every episode of some shows rated 7 and lower and many epi
sodes of shows rated 5 or lower; indicated ratings may change if I see new episo
des of better or worse quality than those previous, or if many better or worse e
pisodes of other shows alter the landscape.
Anything rated at least "5" is in the category of "average show worth watching f
or the cartoon buff, provided you have time"; you probably won't watch re-runs,
however. A typical "5" cartoon features arch-type characters and villains, with
serviceable if unexceptional dialogue, animation and plots. "4"s and lower featu
re too much bad animation, one-dimensional characters, lousy voice-acting, plotholes, dumbed-down or just plain stupid writing and spastic slapstick for this a
dult reviewer to stomach -- although kids will like many of them. "3"s and lower
will have the smart adult scrambling for the remote. "6"s and "7"s feature more
charismatic characters, more innovative drawing and intelligent scripting than
average, and anything rated "8" or better is likely to pull you in to watching a
re-run while you're channel-flipping, even if it's well-memorized already. Anyt
hing rated "9" is truly exceptional, and perfect in nearly every way. "10"s are
reserved only for those shows which, IMO, will become or already are timeless cl
assics. Highly-rated shows generally have unique and memorable musical scores as
sociated with them. Make an effort to see every "9" and up before you croak, and
most 7s and 8s.
- "3D" indicates an obvious computer generated style as opposed to a 2D drawn ar
twork look.
- "adult" indicates overly lewd sexual references and/or foul language. Some adu
lt-oriented cartoons are superlative witty parodies or taut thrillers; most are
rancid, fast-buck trash.
- "adventure" means the main characters are perpectually on the move.
- "cards" means the show is a marketing vehicle to sell trading cards; most of t
hese involve children with strange monster pets or summoned creatures who fight
each other.
- "comedy" describes humorous shows that are neither toons nor spoofs.
- "DCAU" refers to the "DC Animated Universe" created by Bruce Timm and Paul Din
i.
- "east" denotes an oriental-themed samurai, ninja or martial-arts cartoon. This
guide does not otherwise distinguish between cartoons and "anime".
- "educational" shows frequently deal with ethical, historical or geographical a
spects.
- "family" indicates a show with very broad appeal; it isn't specifically writte
n for any age group, and is neither "dumbed down" nor "sophisticated humor".
- "fantasy" indicates the presence of magic or "chi" and/or spirts, gods, ghosts
, demons, undead, fantastic animals, etc, but the setting is in an otherwise mor

e or less realistic world.

- "Ghibli" indicates the acclaimed Japanese animation studio, or to anything pri
or involving its founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
- "girl" indicates the presence of important female protagonists.
- "kids" means the show is appealing to small children (whether or not dialogue
is dumbed-down).
- "mecha" indicates giant robots.
- "movie" means a single, stand-along show, regardless of whether it played in t
heaters.
- "realistic" indicates real-world physics are observed, nobody has superpowers,
and animated characters are essentially like real people and don't take inordin
ate risks, speak "one-liner dialogue" or "mug for the camera".
- "scary" means weird monsters may frighten very small children and give them ni
ghtmares, even if it's a comedy otherwise popular with kids. I afix this term on
ly to shows marketed toward family or children's audiences (I take it for grante
d that teen- and adult-oriented shows are filled with imagery guaranteed to frig
hten toddlers, especially anything rated "violent").
- "series" means plots span multiple episodes and even seasons (so they are best
watched in order); lack of this term doesn't mean, however, that all of a show'
s episodes are "stand-alones".
- "spoofs" parody cultural or other-show references which younger persons are le
ss likely to be aware of; a kid's cartoon which is also a spoof is likely to dra
g up this reviewer's rating due to intelligent writing. On the other hand, a spo
of's gags tend to be topical in nature, and the humor may fall flat with the pas
sage of time.
- "superhero" means some characters have extraordinary abilities or "mutant" pow
ers which permit them to cheat real-world physics which others have to obey in a
n otherwise more or less real world. While many cartoons feature characters who
trend in this direction, superheroes are invariably costumed protagonists who ar
e (in)famous for their abilities.
- "toon" means real-world physics are expressly NOT observed, animals talk, char
acters have "three fingers & thumb" hands, gravity is defied until noticed, etc.
- "violent" means there's realistic combat with injuries and blood, and/or on-sc
reen death, and the show is usually inappropriate for small children (the lack o
f this term, however, doesn't mean that a show lacks fighting).
- "ultra-violent" shows so wallow in gore that many would consider them complete
ly depraved.
- "WMT" indicates Japan's "World Masterpiece Theater".
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- 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother - series, family, adventure, realistic, WM

-

Adventures of Prince Achmed, The - movie, family, fantasy, girl, adventure

Cowboy Bebop - series, sci-fi, violent, girl
Future Boy Conan - series, family, adventure, Ghibli, girl
Kiki's Delivery Service - Ghibli, movie, family, girl, fantasy
My Neighbor Totoro - Ghibli, movie, family, kids, girl, fantasy, adventure
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - family, girl, violent, adventure
Oban Star-Racers - series, adventure, sci-fi, girl
Popeye: Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp - toon, family, fantasy, movie-short
Rocket Power - kids, comedy, girl, educational
Romeo's Blue Skies - series, family, adventure, realistic, WMT
Samurai Champloo - series, spoof, violent, adventure, adult, girl, east
Venture Bros., The - adult, spoof, violent
Whisper of the Heart - movie, girl, family, realistic, Ghibli
Avatar, The Last Airbender - kids, series, fantasy, adventure, girl, east
Beauty and the Beast - movie, Disney, fantasy, girl, family, scary
Courage the Cowardly Dog - toon, family, spoof, scary
Danny Phantom - comedy, fantasy, girl, superhero

9 - Eureka Seven - series, mecha, violent, sci-fi

9 - FLCL (Fooly Cooly) - series, comedy, girl, sci-fi, fantasy
9 - Gauche The Cellist (Sero Hiki no Goshu) - movie, Ghibli, family, fantasy
9 - Grave of the Fireflies - movie, drama, realistic, violent, Ghibli
9 - Kamichu: Teenage Goddess - series, fantasy, girl, east
9 - Laputa (Castle in the Sky) - Ghibli, family, movie, adventure, girl, sci-fi
9 - Lupin III (or the Third, English dub version) - comedy, adventure, girl, spo
of
9 - Megas XLR - mecha, spoof, girl, fantasy, sci-fi
9 - Mysterious Cities of Gold, The - series, kids, adventure, girl, fantasy, edu
cational
9 - Pom Poko (The Raccoon War) - Ghibli, movie, fantasy
9 - Porko Rosso - Ghibli, movie, adventure, girl, fantasy, family
9 - Princess Mononoke - Ghibli, movie, fantasy, adventure, violent, scary, girl
9 - Spirited Away - Ghibli, family, movie, fantasy, girl, adventure, scary
9 - Superman, The Animated Series - superhero, DCAU, girl, family
9 - Teen Titans - spoof, superhero, DCAU, girl, family
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Akira - movie, sci-fi, violent

Batman Beyond - superhero, DCAU, sci-fi
Batman, The Animated Series - superhero, DCAU
Ben 10 - kids, sci-fi
Cat Returns, The - movie, Ghibli, fantasy, girl, family
Full Metal Alchemist - series, fantasy, violent, comedy, east
Futurama - adult, spoof, sci-fi, toon
Gargoyles - series, fantasy, mecha, violent, girl, Disney
Ghostbusters, Extreme - fantasy, scary, comedy
Ghostbusters, The Real (seasons 1-3 only) - kids, fantasy, scary, comedy
Heavy Metal - movie, fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, violent, adult, girl
Howl's Moving Castle - Ghibli, movie, girl, fantasy, violent
Iron Giant, The - mecha, comedy, family, movie
Jackie Chan Adventures - family, fantasy, girl, comedy
Justice League, Unlimited - superhero, sci-fi, DCAU
Lilo & Stitch (animated TV) - kids, sci-fi, comedy, girl, Disney
Mulan - movie, fantasy, girl, Disney
My Dad the Rock Star - kids, comedy, girl
Nausica of the Valley of the Wind - Ghibli, movie, girl, fantasy, adventure
Pinky and the Brain - kids, toon, spoof
ReBoot - toon, fantasy, spoof, 3D
Rocky & Bullwinkle Show, The - kids, spoof, toon
Static Shock - kids, superhero, DCAU
Valhalla - movie, kids, fantasy, girl

7 - Batman, The - series, superhero

7 - Big O, The - series, mecha, sci-fi, violent
7 - Bleach - series, sci-fi, fantasy, violent, comedy, scary, east
7 - Case Closed (Detective Conan) - series, family, mystery, adventure
7 - Daria - girl, comedy, realistic, adult
7 - Dexter's Lab - kids, toon, spoof, sci-fi, girl
7 - Ghost in the Shell, Stand Alone Complex, 2nd Gig - series, sci-fi, violent,
girl
7 - Infinite Ryvius - series, sci-fi, drama, girl
7 - Invader Zim - toon, kids, spoof, sci-fi
7 - Juniper Lee (The Life and Times of) - spoof, girl, kids, fantasy
7 - Kappa Mikey - spoof, toon, girl
7 - Kim Possible - comedy, girl, sci-fi, Disney
7 - Korgoth of Barbaria - adult, spoof, fantasy, ultra-violent
7 - Martin Mystery - sci-fi, comedy, scary, girl
7 - My Life as a Teenage Robot - kids, toon, sci-fi, spoof, girl, superhero
7 - Naruto - series, east, violent, girl, fantasy, comedy

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Outlaw Star - series, sci-fi, comedy, girl, adventure

Popeye - toon, family, spoof, girl
Powerpuff Girls, The - kids, toon, spoof, girl, superhero
Robot Chicken - toon, spoof, adult, violent
Rock & Rule - movie, fantasy, sci-fi, girl
Samurai Jack - kids, sci-fi, superhero, adventure, east
Scrapped Princess - series, fantasy, sci-fi, girl, adventure, scary
Shuriken School - kids, toon, spoof, girl, east
Star Wars: Clone Wars - series, sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, violent
Time Warp Trio - kids, fantasy, educational
Trigun - series, sci-fi, violent, comedy, girl
Tutenstein - kids, toon, adventure, girl
W.I.T.C.H. - girl, fantasy, comedy

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A.T.O.M - kids, superhero, sci-fi

Aeon Flux - series, sci-fi, ultra-violent, adult
Afro-Samurai - series, east, adult, ultra-violent
Aladdin - kids, toon, fantasy, Disney
American Dragon Jake Long - kids, superhero, east
Beastwars - toon, mecha, 3D
Blu Gender - series, sci-fi, mecha, violent, drama, girl
Escaflowne - series, fantasy, mecha, violent
Fafner in the Azure (Dead Aggressor) - series, sci-fi, mecha, violent
Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The - kids, toon, spoof, girl
Hercules - kids, fantasy, superhero, comedy, Disney
Hobbit, The - fantasy, adventure, family, movie
InuYasha - series, east, violent, fantasy, girl
Johnny Bravo - toon, spoof
Legion of Superheroes - kids, superhero, DCAU(?)
Mar - toon, fantasy, comedy, east
Ninja Scroll - movie, adult, ultra-violent, fantasy, east
One Piece - kids, toon, adventure
Paranoia Agent - drama, violent, comedy
S-CRY-ed - sci-fi, mecha, superhero, east
Skyland - sci-fi, adventure, girl, 3D
Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! - kids, toon, mecha, superhero, scary
Tenchi Muyo! - series, fantasy, girl
Legend of Tarzan - kids, toon, girl, adventure
The Tick - toon, kids, spoof, superhero
Thunderbirds - series, adventure, comedy
Totally Spies - comedy, girl
Witch Hunter Robin - series, fantasy, girl, violent
Wolf's Rain - series, fantasy, violent, sci-fi
Xiaolin Showdown - kids, toon, fantasy, comedy, east
Zeta Project, The - kids, girl, superhero, sci-fi, DCAU

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As Told by Ginger - kids, girl

Beavis and Butthead - toon, adult, spoof
Berserk - series, adult, ultra-violent, fantasy
Blue Submarine #6 - series, sci-fi, realistic, violent
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command - kids, toon, sci-fi, Disney, 3D
Digimon - kids, toon, cards, adventure
Dragon Booster, kids, fantasy, cards(?), 3D
Dragonball Z - series, east, violent, fantasy, cards, comedy
Duck Dodgers - toon, spoof, sci-fi
Duel Masters - kids, cards, spoof
Get Ed - toon, kids, sci-fi, 3D, girl
Gigantor - kids, mecha
Goof Troop - kids, toon, Disney
Gotham Girls - series, girl, superhero, DCAU

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Gundam Wing - series, sci-fi, mecha, violent

Hey Arnold! - kids, comedy
Horus, Prince of the Sun - movie, Ghibli, fantasy, adventure
Johnny Quest, Real Adventures of - adventure, girl, fantay
Metalocalypse - adult, spoof, ultra-violent
Mobile Suit Gundam - series, mecha
Proud Family, The - comedy, girl
Recess - kids
Record of the Lodoss Wars - series, fantasy, violent
Reign: The Conqueror - series, fantasy, violent, adult
Rocko's Modern Life - kids, toon
Sailor Moon - series, kids, east, girl, fantasy, cards, comedy
Scooby Do, Where Are You? - kids, toon, comedy
Silverwing - series, kids, scary, adventure
Samurai Deeper Kyo - series, fantasy, violent, east
Shinzo - series, kids, fantasy, cards, east
Speed Racer - adventure, series
Spongebob Squarepants - kids, toon
Swat Kats - kids, toon, fantasy
TaleSpin - kids, toon, girl, adventure, Disney
The Secret Show - kids, spoof, sci-fi, superhero
The X's - toon, sci-fi
Time Squad - toon, spoof, kids, educational
Timon and Pumba - kids, toon, Disney
Trinity Blood - series, vampires, ultra-violent
Wild thornberrys, The - comedy, kids, girl
Wizards - fantasy, movie, violent
Xyber 9 - mecha, sci-fi, series
Yakkity Yak - kids, toon
YuYu Hakusho - series, east, girl, fantasy, comedy
Zatch Bell! - kids, cards, comedy

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Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The - kids, toon, 3D

Animaniacs (without Pinky and the Brain) - kids, spoof, toon
Beyblade - kids, east
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo - toon, kids, spoof
Camp Lazlo - kids, toon, girl
Class of 3000 - kids, comedy, sci-fi, girl
Codename: Kids Next Door - kids, toon, girl
Corneil & Bernie - kids, toon
Dungeons & Dragons - kids, fantasy
Emperor's New School, The - toon, kids, Disney
Family Guy - adult, spoof
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends - toon, kids, fantasy
Growing up Creepie - girl, fantasy, comedy
Idaten Jump - kids, toon
Johnny Quest (original) - kids, adventure, violent
Kong: The Animated Series - kids, fantasy,
Legend of the Dragon - toon, superhero, girl, east
Little Mermaid, The - kids, toon, fantasy, Disney, girl
Lord of the Rings (Fellowship, Return of the King) - fantasy, movies, violen

Mucha Lucha! - kids, toon, superhero

Mummy, The - kids, adventure, scary
N.A.S.C.A.R. Racers - sci-fi
Pepper Ann - girl, Disney
Pokemon - toon, kids, cards
Pucca - kids, toon, girl, east
Rugrats - kids, comedy
Shin Chan - comedy, adult

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South Park - toon, adult, spoof

Special Duty Combat Unit: Shinesman - sci-fi, comedy
Super Milk-chan Show, The - toon, kids, spoof
The Secret Show - toon, kids, spoof
Thundercats - kids, fantasy, girl
Voltron - mecha, sci-fi, kids
Yin Yang Yo! - kids, toon, Disney, spoof, east
Yugi Oh! - kids, toon, cards

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Aqua Teen Hunger Force - toon, adult, spoof

Dora the Explorer - kids, toon, educational, girl
CatDog - kids, toon
Dragon Tales - kids, toon, fantasy, girl
Ed, Ed & Eddy - kids, toon
Fairly OddParents, The - toon, kids
Fantastic Four - superhero
Flintstones, The - kids, toon, girl
G.I. Joe - kids, action
Grossology - kids, toon
He-Man & Masters of the Universe - kids, fantasy, superhero
Inspector Gadget - kids, toon
Kenny the Shark - toon, kids
Krypto the Superdog - toon, superhero, kids
Magic School Bus - kids, fantasy
Mike, Lu & Og - kids, toon, girl
Moral Orel - adult, toon
My Gym Partner is a Monkey - kids, toon
Prince of Tennis, The - series, girl
Proud Family, The - toon, Disney, spoof
Spider Riders - fantasy, kids
Spiderman - superhero
Superfriends - kids, superhero, girl
Superman: Brainiac Attack - movie, superhero
Top Cat - kids, toon
Tracy McBean - kids, toon, girl
Transformers (various) - toon, mecha, 3D
Ultimate Avengers - movies, superhero, sci-fi, girl, violent

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Amazing Chan Clan - kids, toon

Captain Planet - kids, toon, superhero
Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos - kids
Frisky Dingo - adult, spoof, violent
Home Movies - toon
Jabberjaw - kids, toon
Little Bear - kids, toon
MaggieBeast - kids, toon, girl
Sealab 2021 - adult, spoof

1 - Assy McGee - adult, toon, violent

1 - Gary Coleman Show - kids, comedy
1 - Squidbillies - adult, toon, violent