20. BoJack Horseman
Who would have guessed that a show about a depressed talking humanoid horse voiced by Will Arnett addressing topics that most series would shy away from would amass millions of fans? Now on its sixth and final season, this multilayered Netflix series is still addressing social issues in meaningful ways befitting of a show often touted as the best animated series of the decade. Its dark humor is not for everyone and can honestly dig up buried memories and feelings some of you may not wish to revisit, but that is what makes the show great. Like the characters that reside in its world, BoJack Horseman is about facing your past mistakes and hauntings and learning to not let them define who you are today. Season six was split into two parts, with part one as a setup to what is in store for us as part two releases in January 2020.
19. Rick & Morty
Rick and Morty is a dark, twisted, and bloody spin on Back to the Future, but it is one of the funniest series of the 2010s. Season 4 released just a couple of months before the end of 2019, after an almost two-year hiatus, cementing that fact. Don’t let the obnoxiously loud (but overall small) part of its fanbase deter you from getting into this show. Rick and Morty doesn’t take itself seriously, and neither should you, as it constantly makes fun of pop culture, cliches commonly found in sci-fi, and dysfunctional families that act like nothing is wrong despite everyone around them knowing that is not the case. Season 4 is currently airing, so now is the perfect time to catch up so you can take part in all of its ridiculous memes and moments that are sure to come out of this new season.
18. Tuca & Bertie
By all accounts, Tuca & Bertie is a great new series that rose above comparisons to BoJack Horseman (creator Lisa Hanawalt also worked on that show) due to it being another adult animation comprised of humanoid talking animals. Featuring a stellar voice cast, including Ali Wong, Tiffany Haddish, and Steven Yeun, Tuca & Bertie tackles real issues such as anxiety and feminism, showing just how hilarious it can be to try to keep your life together when nobody has it all together. Unfortunately, Netflix decided to cancel the series a few short months after its season one premiere, which might be one of the worst mistakes the company has made this year. But we won’t dwell on that, as there is still hope for the series to be picked up by another company or network. Don’t let it being a canceled show keep you from watching it, as Haddish and Wong voicing two humanoid birds is exactly the thing you need in your life, especially if you are a fan of similar shows, like the now-concluded Broad City.
17. Undone
Undone, created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg and starring Rosa Salazar, is Amazon’s first original animated series, and what a way to leave a first impression. The show is dreamlike, not just because of its realistic animation that words can’t wholly describe, but because of its sci-fi elements. After a tragic car accident, Alma (Salazar) wakes up with a new gift: the power to weave time and, by extension, reality. Undone is already great because of its fantastic voice work and its ability to handle the sensitivity of addressing mental health and death, but the dreamlike visuals and surrealness of Alma’s powers make Undone an experience like no other. As we enter into a new decade, Undone could signal a great future for Amazon’s original animation content.
16. Infinity Train
Cartoon Network is known for being the home of some of the greatest Western animation this century, but it is also known for cultivating talent. One such talent is Owen Dennis, a former writer and storyboard artist for Regular Show (another great Cartoon Network series) and now creator of Infinity Train. Adapted into a miniseries after its successful pilot and now being turned into an anthology series, Infinity Train centers on Tulip Olsen, a 12-year-old girl who gets stuck on a seemingly infinite train ride on her way to game design camp. Each cart she passes through contains new puzzles, environments, otherworldly inhabits, and dangers that she navigates in search of an escape off the train. In part, Infinity Train is so great because it captures what audiences love about a lot of the memorable series that released this decade: the element of mystery. The mystery of the train’s existence and its inhabitants is fascinating as you never know what to expect in each cart. The inhabitants and companions of Tulip have resulted in Infinity Train’s rather large fanbase despite the show’s brevity. If you’ve enjoyed Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, and/or Regular Show, then this show is the manifestation of their success and ingenuity.
Related Topics: 2019 Rewind, Animation, Netflix
