You’ve been working too hard. Don’t be humble—you work eight hours a day, run errands, and come home only to cook and clean until dinner is in the oven and the bathroom is spotless (like the models available at capitol kitchen & bath). If you’re looking for a way to relax and forget about the stress of the day, what better way to mellow out than by binge-watching some cartoons? Not all animated shows are just for kids, and some, like the following, are actually surprisingly deep.
BoJack Horseman
One wouldn’t think that an adult cartoon about a washed-up actor that just so happens to be a horse would have much to offer aside from some horse-related jokes and television references. However, this show is extremely heavy. It may even be too much for some people to handle. While there are certainly plenty of jokes, much of the content tackles themes such as loneliness, depression, addiction, nihilism, and finding happiness.
Many of the characters are thrown into realistic and relatable situations that tug at our heartstrings and leave us hoping that everything will work out—which doesn’t always happen. It’s won several awards and was even nominated for an oscar. The writing team succeeds in delivering a narrative that is worthy of all the praise the show gets. If you haven’t seen it, you can check it out on Netflix—although your heart may not be able to binge more than a few episodes at a time.
Avatar The Last Air Bender
If you were a kid growing up in the early 2000s, you’ve likely caught an episode or two of this show. Originally airing on Nickelodeon, it followed a young boy who was the Avatar, meaning he could control each of the elements, whereas others could only control one if any at all. The show was certainly more mature than most for being on Nickelodeon, dealing with loss and overcoming moral dilemmas being frequently expressed. It even spawned a spin-off, The Legend of Korra, which dealt with similar themes.
Adventure Time
What about chaotic randomness, a candy kingdom, and a fantasy world, all airing on Cartoon Network, comes across as deep? Initially, very little. The show is largely episodic in nature, and with only eleven minutes an episode, this kids’ show seems like it was made for an audience that just wants to tune in and hop out before a quarter of an hour has even passed. However, deeper themes pop up as the seasons go on, covering things like isolation, loss, the struggles of growing up, the follies of war, and mental illness. The show does this in its own unique ways, but they are unmistakable if you pay attention. If you’re on the fence about this one, the overarching story ramps up after a few seasons, and while it is still very much a show made for children, it can easily be enjoyed by adults as well.
Sit Back And Enjoy
If you give these shows a chance, you might find that they are surprisingly deep for what they’re presented as. There are loads of other animated TV shows that offer the same level of enjoyment and critical thinking, too, so don’t think you can’t give them a watch just because you’re not a kid; you’d be missing out on a lot of great content.