This season’s adult animated series continue to push creative boundaries, exploring complex emotions and real-life experiences often absent in traditional cartoons. From visually arresting, dialogue-free storytelling to satirical takes on contemporary issues, these shows offer a range of tones that merge humor with deeper themes.
Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Primal,” airing on Adult Swim, unfolds in a prehistoric world where a Neanderthal named Spear and a female Tyrannosaurus rex, Fang, struggle to survive. Uniquely told without dialogue, the series relies on expressive visual storytelling and raw, often violent imagery, which Tartakovsky describes as deliberately crafted rather than shocking. The show’s first season introduced Mira, an escaped female slave, adding new layers to the narrative. Tartakovsky emphasizes a cinematic approach that blends drama, action, and occasional lighthearted moments despite the absence of spoken words.
On Prime Video, “Kevin” centers on a talking cat navigating human-like experiences of heartbreak and self-discovery. Created by Joe Wengert and actress Aubrey Plaza—who also voices a character—the series draws inspiration from their real-life pet. Wengert sees the animal perspective as a therapeutic lens for exploring emotional struggles, noting that portraying such themes through a cat allows for a less intense, yet still meaningful, exploration of relationships and personal growth.
Netflix’s “Long Story Short,” created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, known for “BoJack Horseman,” tackles relatable human sadness without exaggeration, presenting characters dealing with issues such as fertility treatments and family dynamics in a way that resonates deeply. Bob-Waksberg underscores how the show balances emotional gravity with humor by juxtaposing intense conversations against quirky scenarios, a blend he suggests would be challenging to replicate in live-action without a very specific comedic style.
“Mating Season,” another Netflix production co-created by Andrew Goldberg, takes an explicit yet whimsical look at Gen Z relationships through the lens of forest animals. The series uses its animal characters to explore sexual themes with a degree of detachment, tempered by influences from nature documentaries and reality dating shows. Goldberg remarks that the show’s romantic comedy elements emerged naturally during its development, underscoring its fresh approach to adult relationship narratives.
Lastly, Netflix’s “Strip Law” offers a comedic spin on legal procedurals. Featuring Adam Scott as Lincoln Gumb, a Las Vegas lawyer facing off against a powerful rival, the series plays with absurd cases—including disputes over Santa Claus’s identity and theological custody battles. Creator Cullen Crawford, who transitioned from writing late-night comedy to animation, describes the show as a “David and Goliath” tale and admits aiming to unsettle audiences deliberately. The season finale experiments with multiple perspectives for a meta-narrative effect, illustrating the series’ inclination toward narrative innovation.
Together, these animated series represent a broader trend in adult animation—one that embraces bold storytelling, emotional complexity, and stylistic experimentation, signaling an evolving medium that transcends traditional genre boundaries.