Summary
The battle betweenHuluand Netflix has lasted for almost two decades. Many people are flooding forums with questions about what to watch on each platform every single day. However, the question still remains as to which streaming service hosts the best shows. Even though Hulu doesn’t have as much original content as Netflix, it still stands at the top when it comes to its selection of fan-favorite Western animations.
Thanks to vast licensing deals, Hulu is able to host adult animation shows from major networks, like Adult Swim, Fox, NBC, ABC, and FX. The platform even streams some ofthe longest-running showsof all time. For fans of animation, here are thebest Western animated series currently available on Hulu.
8Duncanville
A Humorous Take On Adolescence
Often compared toThe Amazing World of Gumballfor its quotable one-liners and silly humor,Duncanvilleis one of the best Western animations streaming on Hulu today. The show was always set for success with its impressive cast of writers and producers, including the comedian and American actress Amy Poehler and the creators ofThe Simpsons, Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully.
What makes the show a very entertaining watch, especially for new parents, is its ability to deliver witty remarks on adolescence. From episode one, the show goes deep into sensitive topics like family dynamics, contrasting parenting styles, and child psychology with a tone of sharp humor and silliness.
Marvel fans don’t often get to see unpopular comic book heroes animated, which is whyHit-Monkeygetting its own animated series on Hulu was a pleasant surprise to everyone. Unlike the majority of Marvel productions that are meant to be enjoyed by young adults, families, and international viewers,Hit-Monkeywas made to be enjoyed by a more mature audience.
Being centered aroundan extremely violent and bloody revenge story, the series introduces an entirely unconventional take on the superhero trope, almost close to that ofDeadpool. What’s even more unique about this series is its amazing blend of Eastern and Western art styles—featuring intense fight scenes, blood splatter, and graphic violence.
It’s not the first time that an animated show has tackled the concept of an outsider trying to fit in, butSolar Oppositesapproaches that concept with a whole new level of absurdity and chaos. This fan-favorite Hulu exclusive from Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan is just as nonsensical and over-the-top asthe creators' most popular show,Rick and Morty.
In a world where aliens are out of place, rejected by humans, and hilariously failing to blend in on an overpopulated Earth, the Shlorpians—Korvo, Terry, Jesse, and Yumyulack—are left to make sense of the irrelevant and unfamiliar human world. As the crew attempts to understand human behavior and culture, they conduct bizarre experiments to test how things might work better for them—usually with disastrous results.
With 23 seasons and four more to come,Family Guyis one of the longest-standing adult animated series in history. As a landmark for animated satire, the show has not only defined its genre but has also been frequently referenced in other animated works and looked to for inspiration. The show was canceled twice, but because of its massive popularity, it was brought back to TV and streaming services.
There’s almost no one alive who doesn’t know whatFamily Guyis. The show is well-loved and frequently quoted for its fearless commentary and 80s references. Even thoughthe more recentFamily Guyepisodesaren’t as well perceived as the old ones, the show is still considered an immortal relic in the world of Western animation.
The world of Western animation is over-saturated with satire and dark humor. It’s not every day that a wholesome sitcom makes its way to the masses and earns a spot among the best animated series of all time.Bob’s Burgersis unique in that regard. It’s a lighthearted and sweet story, revolving around the life of Bob Belcher, a passionate but unlucky restaurateur trying to keep his small burger shop afloat with the help of his supportive wife Linda and their three eccentric kids.
Rather than relying on shock value,Bob’s Burgerswins over audiences with its sincerity, originality, anddistinctive comedic voice. Its hand-drawn animations and entertaining musical episodes have earned it two Primetime Emmy Awards and a featured film in 2022.
Futuramais one of the few shows that takes its scientific accuracy as seriously as its humor. With a whole team of scientists writing for the show,Futuramagoes deep into complicated scientific details and still delivers the best jokes. A concrete proof of that is the Season 6 episode “The Prisoner of Benda,” which features a real mathematical theorem—created solely for the purpose of the plot—by writer Ken Keeler, who holds a PhD in applied mathematics.
Not only hasFuturamabeen the center of numerous internet memes, but it has also beenthe focus of many fan theoriesover the years. It even inspired a fan-made live-action movie in 2016 calledFan-O-Rama.
What ifThe Officewas about spies instead? That would beArcher, an animated show centered around the workplace shenanigans of secret agents. Adam Reed, the creator ofArcher, envisioned the show as a bold reinvention of both the spy genre and animated comedy. The result is a series that defies comparison, thanks to inconsistent genres and retro animation.
The main character of the series, Sterling Archer, washeavily inspired by James Bond. Having a hilarious code name, “Duchess,” which is also the name of his mother’s deceased dog, Archer is often deemed the world’s most dangerous and narcissistic spy character in the world of animation. He has survived multiple comas, explosions, and gunfights. Even so, the most traumatic thing for him is therapy.
With its mind-bending science fiction, dark humor, and existential questions,Rick and Mortyexploded in popularitywithin its first six episodes. Few series can claim to be as popular as this series or to inspire both academic papers and fast-food riots.
Many people still say that not many shows can deliver complex themes and still be as entertaining and as humorous asRick and Morty. With every single episode, the show pushes the limits of absurdity and unpredictability, ensuring that fans of ridiculous stories and mature jokes will be entertained endlessly.
