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2021 was a strong year for television animation. Shows like The Owl House and Kid Cosmic pushed the boundaries of what all-ages shows could accomplish, while Invincible and Arcane showed adult animation could be as epic and engrossing as ever. However, amid the glut of good content, there are a handful of programs that, for one reason or another, slipped through the cracks and didn’t get the proper attention paid to them. For cartoon fans of all kinds, here’s a brief list of five titles that are well worth your time.
Fans of Steven Universe Will Love Centaurworld
Centaurworld was rather quickly introduced and concluded in 2021, wrapping up its story in a succinct two-season arc. That didn’t stop it from being such a delightful surprise. What starts off as a surreal, Wizard of Oz-esque musical fantasy quickly evolves into an interdimensional epic, without losing its charm or sense of self along the way.
The jokes land, the songs are catchy and clever and the voice cast all do a great job bringing the characters to life — particularly Kimiko Glenn as series lead Horse, who expertly sells the character’s emotional journey and peculiar sense of humor. Centaurworld is ostensibly a kids show, but its themes and storytelling are strong enough that anyone can go on this journey and get something out of it.
Centaurworld is available to stream on Netflix.
Adventure Time Fans Will Love Aquaman: King of Atlantis
King of Atlantis is a far cry from the ocean-spanning epicness of Jason Momoa’s take on the character, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time. Instead, this three-episode miniseries focuses on the humor and humanity of its lead. Aquaman is the king, yes, but by what right? Because he beat his jerk brother Ocean Master in a fist fight? Those nagging issues of insecurity and imposter syndrome become a key motivator in Aquaman’s quest to safeguard the Seven Seas and actually makes for a strong foundation for character motivation.
It’s also quite funny, not acknowledging the inherit absurdity of mythical superhero stories but basking in it. Cooper Andrews and Gillian Jacobs have a lot of fun as Aquaman and Mera and their chemistry is frankly adorable. The animation style is different than what fans of the DC Animated Universe might be used to, but it’s still vibrant and expressive and works wonders in the horror-tinged second episode. The whole thing is just oodles of fun.
Aquaman: King of Atlantis is available to stream on HBO Max.
Fans of The Suicide Squad Will Love Super Crooks
On the other end of the superhero spectrum, we have an animated adaptation of Mark Millar’s 2012 limited series, Super Crooks. The series, which shares continuity with the short-lived Jupiter’s Legacy, follows a team of lesser-known supervillains as they attempt to pull off one last major heist before retiring — only for things to go wrong at almost every turn.
The result is a breezy but entertaining romp through a world familiar to genre fans of all sorts, even if the details are different. There’s plenty of comedy to be had — particularly from the Diesel brothers, a pair of dimwitted but unkillable pro-wrestlers — but where Super Crooks really delivers is on the action. It’s fast-paced, it’s dramatic and it’s positively gruesome when it wants to be. The show’s not likely to change anyone’s life, but anyone needing a fix of jerks with powers while waiting for Season 3 of The Boys could do worse than this calamitous caper.
Super Crooks is available to stream on Netflix.
Fans of Aqua Teen Hunger Force Will Love The Freak Brothers
Gilbert Shelton’s underground comic comes to life in this animated series, which sends the eponymous weed-loving trio from 1969 to the far-flung future of 2020. Now living with a yuppie couple and their activist in-law in a gentrified San Francisco, the brothers try their best to navigate a world of artificial intelligence, tech monopolies and legalized marijuana, all while trying to bring the spirit of the Summer of Love to the Worst Year Ever.
Much like Super Crooks, The Freak Brothers isn’t a terribly complex product; a stoner comedy enhanced by the limitless potential of animation. What truly makes the show is its insanely stacked voice cast: Woody Harrelson, Pete Davidson and John Goodman do a lot to elevate the material into something worth watching, while Tiffany Haddish takes Kitty — the brothers’ foul-mouthed, perpetually in-heat cat who feels like a holdover from a lesser Family Guy episode — and turns her into one of the highlights of the series. Add in some clever jokes and the occasional bit of well-observed satire, and you’ve got yourself a pretty dope time.
The Freak Brothers is available to stream on Tubi TV.
Fans of Netflix’s Inside Job Will Love Helluva Boss
Ever since the short Hazbin Hotel was picked by A24 in 2020, fans have waited patiently to see what Vivienne Medrano’s hellish opus might look like as a full series. Luckily, Helluva Boss has been there to tide them over and entertain them along the way. The series follows the Immediate Murder Professionals, a group of demonic assassins who make their living getting revenge on the living on behalf of the dead. However, more often than not the I.M.P.s find themselves tripped up by their own iniquities, insecurities or simply the dangers that come with life in Hell.
Helluva Boss is a twisted take on the workplace comedy, but it works thanks to the care and observation that goes into the cast. Team leader and main character Blitzo (the ‘O’ is silent) in particular comes off as not just funny and clever, but nuanced and, at times, even tragic. It’s surprising depth from a show mostly built on swear words and silly songs, but it’s what makes this bizarre world worth going back to time and again. It’s a helluva strange ride, but well worth your time.
Helluva Boss is available to watch on YouTube.
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