Top 5 Animated TV Kids Shows Adults Will Love Too

Cartoons and kids go together in most people’s eyes, with the few adult-oriented animated shows like “Family Guy” or “The Simpsons” excepting. However, whether you’re looking to enjoy a show with your kid, grandkid, niece or nephew, or you’re just looking for something to watch that’s not bound by a special effects budget and a limited reality, you’ll enjoy these five cartoons aimed at children that still appeal to adults. Start video streaming these shows today, and the child in your life will thank you — and you’ll be thankful you can watch with them without falling asleep.

Photo Sorce: http://foter.com/f/photo/3523997432/3620910c7b/

“Adventure Time”

A show about “Jake the dog and Finn the human,” says the theme song, “Adventure Time” is one of Cartoon Network’s biggest hits in recent years, and the website io9 even goes so far as to claim that “Adventure Time” is better than most live-action shows on TV. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, “Adventure Time” focuses on young Finn, the last known human, and his foster-brother, the dog Jake. They live in a massive tree house and spend most of their time battling bad guys and rescuing princesses from the kooky Ice King, who’s more hilarious than scary.

Of course, the princesses are hardly damsels in distress. Girls love “Adventure Time” as much as boys because of female characters like Princess Bubblegum, the scientific genius and cool-headed ruler of the Candy Kingdom. Then there’s Marceline, the rock star vampire queen. There’s also the Flame Princess who is Finn’s on-and-off-again girlfriend from an evil kingdom and just wants to be good — when she can control her temper, that is.

“Regular Show”

Another recent Cartoon Network hit, “Regular Show” is for kids but is about 20-somethings, none of whom are regular humans, who work at a park. Starring the bluebird Mordecai and raccoon Rigby who are well-intentioned slackers, “Regular Show” also features a short-tempered park manager who’s a gumball machine on legs, a smart and resourceful Yeti, a party-guy green-skinned human, a fun-loving ghost and an old-fashioned man with an extremely large head.

If all of this isn’t strange enough, almost every episode features a supernatural battle. The show will make kids laugh and appeal to adults who remember that phase between adolescence and maturity.

“Gravity Falls”

A recent debut on the Disney Channel, “Gravity Falls” is about a pair of 12-year-old twins who move to an extremely small town to live with their great uncle whom they lovingly call “grunkle.” Grunkle Stan runs a museum of odd things he calls “The Mystery Shack.” The twins stumble upon a mysterious journal that helps them unravel strange secrets of the town’s history. Kids will love the boy-and-girl twins, zealous Dipper and sassy Mabel. Adults will love laughing at the absurdity of the situations the Gravity Falls citizens find themselves in.

“SpongeBob SquarePants”

A long-running Nickelodeon cartoon that has entertained audiences for well over a decade, “SpongeBob SquarePants” caught on with both kids and adults. Starring a sea sponge who works at a fast food restaurant, “SpongeBob” is a comedy set in an underwater town.

SpongeBob is plucky, optimistic and fairly dumb but always well-intentioned. His best friend, Patrick, a starfish, is probably even stupider. Their neighbor, Squidward Tentacles, is a grumpy octopus and hates working in the fast food industry almost as much as SpongeBob loves it. Mr. Krabs, the restaurant owner, is greedy and always fighting off his rival, Plankton. The situational humor is a hit with kids while the tongue-in-cheek references go over their heads and connect with adults.

“Jem”

An oldie but a goodie, “Jem” is a series from the 1980s that adults with young girls especially will want to start streaming. “Jem” is about Jerrica Benton, a young woman who inherits her father’s record company after his death as well as his foster home for young girls. Jerrica, her sister, Kimber, and her foster-sisters, Shana and Aja, form a rock band to keep the company and home financially afloat. Jerrica discovers secret technology her father left behind that transforms her into Jem, the lead singer. Featuring romance, suspense and songs, the show enchants kids and adults who enjoy drama and heart in their cartoons.

TV appropriate for children doesn’t have to be mind-numbing for adults. Finding a show that both you and your children can enjoy will turn cartoon-watching into family time. No matter how busy your family life is, you can make time to come together, and watch cartoons at your convenience by streaming them online for free.

SpongeBob photo credit: Kate Tomlinson / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

About the Author: April McDowell is a pop culture blogger and TV reviewer.