The new generation of millennials grew up learning more from television and the internet than our elders. And when I say learning, I mean the kind of “learning” the elders wouldn’t dare speak of – sex education or dealing with bullying. Lost in this fantasy world of fictional characters, it shouldn’t be a surprise that adult animation is one of the leading forms of entertainment for all adults everywhere. From marriage, sex, unwanted pregnancy and divorce to childhood trauma, maintaining a stable job and paying taxes, these cartoons and adult animations teach us more about adulting than life itself. It’s not a surprise that these animations aren’t joy-filled like the cartoons from our childhood but are rather filled with harsh realities of the world, giving us the feeling that we have become an A-D-U-L-T.
In this piece, I am going to list down some of the most watched and loved adult animations that helped me learn a thing or two about adulting:
Family Guy
Probably the most famous adult animation for its dark humour and dysfunctional family, Family Guy is unmissable. Baby Stewie wants to dominate the world. Peter and Lois and their three kids with their dog Brian make their way through their daily lives, which turn into adventures and funny anecdotes – the kind adults find solace in.
Rick and Morty
A true escape from reality, Rick and Morty will get you ‘schwifty’. A grandfather and his teenage grandson enter a world of science where they play with timelines or save the world from an asteroid. It’s a perfect watch to get your mind off your boss’ email that you are trying to ignore.
F for Family
The perfect portrayal of a dysfunctional family, where a young couple Murphy and Susan abandon their dreams and get married due to an unexpected pregnancy. Their three children, each from a different age group, aptly undergo the teenage rebel years, the middle school era and the sibling rivalry. The adulting life is filled with sacrifices which are akin to reel life. The major themes are the fear of job instability and the trouble of connecting with your family.
Paradise PD
Quite sexual, sexist and gory in its depiction, if one looks closely at the show, there is much to be objected about. Yet it serves as a fun one-time watch where you can enjoy mindless humour and poor jokes. Dealing with being a disappointment, being bad at your job or your city turning into a giant pizza, addictions and drug abuse is a much-needed dose of revelation and adult lessons.
Close Enough
Two parents try their hand at parenting their five-year-old daughter, which drives them crazy. A shift between their time before and after becoming parents is accompanied by the adventures of the divorced couple they live with. The cycle of being unable to earn enough and the pile of bills is adulting simplified for you.
Big Mouth
It is the representation of the uncomfortable sex talk Indian children never got. Right from puberty in men and women, periods, masturbation, growth of hair and much more, this show enlights adults to reflect on their own experiences and revisit unresolved issues. It also gives us perspective on the struggles we have faced.
BoJack Horseman
The protagonist, half horse and half man, is a relatable character with major character flaws keeping us on the edge of our seats. Various tragedies and dark comedies are unnerved during the seasons, often leading us to question all our viewpoints, yet we find a bit of ourselves and our struggles in the characters.
Simpsons
Simpsons has been in the news multiple times mostly for “predicting” the future. But the Simpson family gave us a headstart into what it means to be a parent, be constantly tired, or be the overachieving daughter. Giving a foothold to the adult comedy genre, even the most predictable plots leave us laughing at every scene.
Inside Job
What if the conspiracies around us were true? Inside job follows a journey of the conspiracy office that deals with day-to-day conspiracies like replacing the president with a robot to life. The father-daughter duo also explore their childhood trauma. The importance of teamwork and a genius woman underplayed in her workplace by a handsome guy Brett is very relatable to the women folk.
PS: The writer has seen these adult animations and can thus vouch for them.
