Best cartoons for teens: the best Teen cartoons — IMDb

Where Are All The Cartoons For Teens? – COMICON

In 2018 I asked, “Where Are All The Cartoons For Adults” and miraculously, a tidal-wave of mature animated content came forth that only seems to continue growing. As a fan of adult cartoons, I’m overjoyed; but as expressed by Rad Sechrist, (Kipo) we need more content for teens.

In Japan they have a ton of these shows like Death Note, or Initial D, but in the US it tends to jump from kids to super adult like Rick and Morty or South Park. I’d love to do even more teen/YA animated shows and push into that middle ground even more.

— Rad Sechrist (@RadSechrist) May 26, 2020

Just to recap, we have several new adult animated series that break the “rude-sitcom” mold. Standouts include: Primal, Love Death and Robots, Castlevania, Midnight Gospel, and much more to come this year.

PG-13 cartoons still have room for growth so here are some suggestions of what I would like to see.

Shows Based On Comics

I believe that shows based on comics will have a stronger appeal for teens. Considering that PG-13 is the most sought after target market in feature films, and that comic book movies are dominating Hollywood, making a PG-13 animated series based on a comic property makes perfect sense.

This has worked in the past with shows like Young Justice, Teen Titans, and the Spectacular Spider-Man. Because pop culture is saturated with superheroes, I’d rather see an animated series based on an Indie comic. Scott Pilgrim is ripe for an animated adaptation, with appealing characters, bombastic action, and themes of entering adulthood.

Do What Anime Has Already Done Well

I’ve expressed on multiple occasions that the key to animation’s future is cross-pollination. For decades, anime has explored ideas that can relate to young people. Just scrolling through the anime selection on Crunchyroll we have the genres of fantasy, scifi, horror, sports, cooking, survival game, martial arts, superhero, and romance. With a generation of new animation creators who grew up with anime, we are bound to see cross-pollination give rise to new epic stories. Just look at the AMV above to see what American cartoons are missing out on.

Tell Long-form Stories

It may seem obvious that to engage young people you must tell a good story. However, most Western cartoons opt for self-contained episodes rather than a long-form narrative with hard continuity and character development. The PG-13 rating will allow creators to explore more complex themes and tell more epic stories.

Hopes For The Future

While there are still areas that need to be improved, I see more opportunities than obstacles. With the Internet and affordable animation software, young people from across the globe are able to connect and create the content they want to see. I would strongly advocate for any aspiring creator to just make the material they want to see and not wait for the world to be ready. I envision an animated future that isn’t limited by one nationality, genre, animation technique, or age demographic. It’s a bright future and we can make it happen, one frame at a time.

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June 1, 2020

Tito W. James

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adult animation, Kipo And The Age Of Wonderbeasts, Rad Sechrist, teen animation

Must-See Animated Films For Kids And Teens

Fantastic must-see animated films for kids and teens!

 

We know a few of these picks may be obvious to some but you’d be surprised how many people still haven’t seen absolute classics – especially animated ones! We’ve recruited film expert Jack again to break down fantastic animated films that you may not have seen but should have…

 

 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

 

 

This is a perfect film for someone who loves superhero films but also someone who has no interest in them whatsoever. It is also a film that kids of all ages will love especially older kids and teenagers. This 2018 film takes place in an alternate reality, following teenager Miles Morales as he transitions into Spider-Man. When the Spider- Man of his universe gets killed by the evil tyrant Kingpin, alternative heroes come to Miles’ universe to help him take the tyrant down. I find it unbelievable I watch it and it surprises me with the outstanding animation every re-watch. Make sure you pay attention to the comic-style animation and the hilarious visual gags.

 

Available on Prime Video.

 

 

The Adventures of Tintin

 

 

This is a film that parents, teens and younger kids can all watch together as it is based on the Tintin books by Hergé. The film takes place in 1950, following the young journalist Tintin and his dog Snowy as they get caught up in the mystery involved in the history of the model ship he has bought. When Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) gets his ship stolen, he and Tintin work together to track Sakharine down. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this animated film may as well be live action as the animation and cinematography is brilliant combined with impressive storytelling. Watch out for the fantastic tracking shot as Tintin chases the antagonist through a bustling cityscape.

 

Available on Netflix and Prime Video.

 

 

Finding Nemo

 

 

Well I couldn’t write about animation without mentioning my favourite animated film ever! Pixar’s Finding Nemo is a perfect family film with amazing animation mixed with hysterical characters and some very tense scenes. When Nemo, a young clownfish on a school trip, gets taken away by some divers on the edge of the great barrier reef, his cautious father Marlin (Albert Brooks) travels across the ocean trying to find his son. En route, he meets wacky characters including Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) the forgetful blue tang and a group of vegetarian sharks! Make sure you look out for Pixar’s famous Pizza Planet Truck and Luxo Ball, as well as a cameo from John Ratzenberger which are recurring Easter Eggs in each of the films.

 

Available on Disney+.

 

 

Rango

 

 

Another favourite of mine, Rango is the 2011 smash-hit western starring Johnny Depp as a skittish pet lizard who falls out of the back of a car and is left stranded in the desert. He is quickly introduced to the small town of Dirt in which he adopts the character of legendary outlaw Rango. Now that the town has made him the new Sherriff, he forms a posse to investigate the water that has been stolen from the town bank. With outstanding voice acting, amazing photo realistic animation and hilarious rip-roaring scenes, Rango is both brilliant and completely underrate.

 

Available on Netflix.

 

 

The Lion King

 

 

Here’s the first Disney film on the list and it’s one of my all-time favourites, The Lion King. This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of young lion cub Simba – the son and heir of Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Simba’s wicked uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons), plots to overthrow Mufasa by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. In order to take down Scar, Simba must search for his destiny in the great “Circle of Life”. Part of the Disney renaissance, The Lion king is a rollercoaster of serious emotion with an outstanding soundtrack and great characters. With a great soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and Oscar winning songs by Elton John, it’s a definite classic. Available on Disney+.

 

If you’re feeling fancy then why not see it live! Check it out here.

 

Chicken Run

 

 

I know a film is brilliant film when my 24-year-old sister still loves it to this day and Aardman Animation is here as I love their amazing storytelling combined with their trademark animation style.

 

Chicken Run is a stop-motion comedy classic and tells the story of a band of chickens doomed to a life of servitude and egg-laying on a Yorkshire farm. When a flamboyant American rooster arrives on the scene, the hens hope he can teach them to fly to freedom but unfortunaltely he is not all he seems. Another one for the whole family.

 

Available on Prime Video.

 

Coraline

 

 

Another stop motion film in the list, Laika’s Coraline is about a young girl wandering around her rambling old house when she discovers a hidden door to a fantasy version of her life including characters with creepy button eyes which in many ways, is better than the original. She rejoices in her discovery until her new mother and the rest of her parallel family try to keep her there forever. Coraline must use all her resources and bravery to make it back home safely. This film is definitely scarier than most of the other films on this list so maybe refrain from watching with younger children. Again, I completely love the beautiful animation style and score.

 

Available on Hulu and Prime Video.

 

My Neighbour Totoro

 

 

My Neighbour Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film by Studio Ghibli. The film follows schoolgirl Satsuke and her younger sister, Mei, as they settle into an old country house with their father and wait for their mother to recover from an illness in the hospital.

 

As the sisters explore their new home, they encounter and befriend playful spirits in their house and the nearby forest, most notably the massive cuddly creature known as Totoro.

 

I put this on the list as I don’t think many people have seen Miyazaki’s films and that they are severely underrated. This film is incredibly wholesome and pleasing with very emotional moments and outstanding visuals.

 

Available on Netflix.

 

 

The Iron Giant

 

 

In this animated film a giant alien robot (Vin Diesel) crash-lands near the small town of Rockwell, Maine, in 1957. Exploring the area, a local 9-year-old boy, Hogarth, discovers the robot, and soon forms an unlikely friendship with him.

 

When a paranoid government agent, Kent Mansley, becomes determined to destroy the robot, Hogarth, and beatnik Dean McCoppin must do what they can to save the misunderstood machine. With the same director as The Incredibles and Ratatouille, The Iron Giant is another underrated family film with themes about the meaning of identity along with some highly emotional scenes.

 

Available on Prime Video.

 

 

The Triplets of Belleville

 

 

This film follows an elderly Frenchwoman as she becomes involved in international intrigue when her grandson, Champion, a professional cyclist, is kidnapped and taken abroad. Joined by her faithful dog, Bruno, she embarks on a journey to find Champion, and stumbles across unlikely allies in the form of three sisters who are veterans of the stage.

 

Tracking down Champion’s criminal captors, this unlikely quartet use their wits to try and win the day. Although it is a French film, there is very little dialogue and it’s subtitles making it easy to follow.

 

Available on Prime Video.

 

 

 

Soul

 

Soul is a 2020 Pixar- animated film co-directed by Pete Doctor (Up, Inside Out) and Kemp Powers, and starring Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey.

 

Soul introduces Joe Gardener (Foxx), an easy-going music teacher who lands the gig of his life at the best jazz club in town with his idol Dorothea Williams. But one misstep lands Joe in the fantastical place of ‘The Great Before’ and he must team up with soul 22 (Fey) in order to find the answers to some of life’s biggest questions.

 

Now I’m aware that this is a list for teenagers and older kids, but this will surprise you for an animated film as it prominently deals with adult themes such as death, mourning, and the key appreciation of others. Pixar never ceases to amaze me with its exquisite animation, but this film absolutely hits it out of the park with the photo-realistic look mixed with the cartoonish style.

 

 

With genius writing, hilarious comedy, and a rollercoaster of emotion, you can find this film on Disney+. Oh and also check out my list of must-see animated classics for kids and older teen here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Madagascar

 

 

For reasons too convoluted to go into a group of animals from New York’s Central Park Zoo find themselves on a ship that’s been hijacked by some psychotic penguins. The hijacking goes awry, however, and Marty the zebra, Alex the lion, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo find themselves adrift at sea.

 

 

They soon fetch up in the wilds of Madagascar, where they meet a colony of critters led by a lemur, King Julien (voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen) and get to learn what it really means to be a “wild” animal.

Famously featuring the voice talents of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer, Cedric the Entertainer and Andy Richter, Madagascar is an above average animated romp that successfully spawned two sequels.

 

 

However, we’ve included it so you go and check out three of it’s spin-offs –   The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper  and  The Penguins of Madagascar and All Hail King Julien  – a television series starring King Julien and set before the events of the first film which is a KidRated favourite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need great TV ideas for older kids and teens? Click here to check out the guide by Ed, our resident TV Critic.

 

 

 

 

 

Need great film ideas for older kids and teenagers? Click here to check out the guide by our resident movie buff, Jack.

 

 

 

 

Need ideas for things to do in London for teens and older kids? We’ve got 50 of them. Click here.

 

 

 

50 things to do in London with Teens

 

Top 10 cartoon series for teenagers

Do you like cartoon series but don’t know which one to watch with the whole family? The projects listed below will be of interest to both teenagers and their parents. So this hobby can be shared and discussed together with the metamorphoses and adventures taking place with the heroes.

At the very end, a nice bonus awaits you. Feel free to tell us which of the listed series (or even several?) is your favorite.

#1: Gravity Falls

What: siblings, Dipper and Mabel Pines, spend the summer at their great-uncle Stan, who lives in the town of Gravity Falls. The twins cannot even imagine that a theoretically boring summer in the middle of nowhere can turn into an endless stream of mysteries and troubles, which (most often) will have to be dealt with by children.

What they praise for: literally for everything! Even the fact that the series was canceled after two seasons could not reduce the number of fans. After all, it is better to end the story on the rise than to wait for the drop in quality and ratings. High-quality puzzles, drawing style, characters, music… Everything is perfect here!

#2: Avatar: The Last Airbender

About: is another great animated series about and for teenagers. In the universe of «Avatar» there are people who are able to control the four natural elements with the help of magic. In the center of events is the boy Aang, surrounded by friends and not only. He was destined to be an avatar — a special magician who united all the elements. He also slept in the ice for a hundred years, so the situation will not be easy for him!

What they praise for: 9The 0011 animated series is dynamic, exciting and widely considered one of the best. A separate bonus is the released sequel (also in the form of an animated series) called The Legend of Korra. And don’t be afraid that there are many seasons — Aang’s story ends so quickly, you won’t have time to look back!

#3: Adventure Time

What: is a fun post-apocalyptic game for all ages. Yes, it is hard to imagine that something joyful can remain in the world after such a catastrophe. In the center of events is the boy Finn and his friend the dog Jake. Vowing (as a child) to help anyone in need, Finn takes himself and his friends on adventures from series to series.

What they praise for: Both adults and children like . And if real kids can just enjoy the abundance of bright colors, then older children will be able to appreciate the breadth of Finn’s soul, the inimitableness of his dog and not leave side characters without their attention. An adult viewer will be interested in reflecting on what is happening on the screen — and no matter which series will catch your eye. Great stories and an amazing atmosphere are present in each episode!

#4: Steven Universe

What: is about a group of alien rescuers and a boy, Steven, who also contributes to a good cause. Steven, surrounded by the Crystal Gems (the same group of women), learns to understand and manage his own abilities.

What they praise for: the animated series perfectly shows the ability of a person to come to acceptance of himself and, thanks to efforts, to understand what we are. It is important not to forget here that the process may not be fast, but it cannot be abandoned either. After all, it is you who can take care of you in the first place.

#5: «Beyond the fence»

What: two brothers, Wirt and Greg, find themselves in a mysterious and mysterious forest, where they search for a way out. Along the way, they come across strange characters (how strange they can be in a cartoon): not only people, but also other creatures. By the way, viewers continue to look for a double or even triple bottom in this animated series even now!

What they praise for: is a great example of the interweaving of dream and reality, when you are not sure where the creator will stop and decide that there is already enough mystery and riddles, and offer the viewer at least some answers.

#6: Star Princess and the Forces of Evil

What: is the story of an alien princess exiled to Earth. Not just a princess, but a magical princess named Asterisk Butterfly. But even living on our planet did not become something calm for her, because the girl has to constantly fight monsters. And also — dealing with relationships is very long and confusing.

What they praise for: the fighting heroine in the main role is an excellent example for girls, showing that it is not necessary for boys to be attributed to the “strong sex”. And an equally great example for boys, showing that girls can fight and cope with trouble just as well.

No. 7: Heroes of Envell

What: is about Russian schoolchildren! And the fact that we are all about foreign characters. The viewer watches the union of four guys who enter the virtual world. The task, as in all games, is to come, see, win. Well, save the world. But at the same time, do not forget about studying at school and other social interactions necessary for teenagers.

What they praise for: firstly, it is for gamers who love new virtual worlds and communicate in slang that is incomprehensible to ordinary people. Secondly, teenagers here are more than convincing. Thirdly, the plot never ceases to amaze. You empathize with the guys, you want to cheer for them and raise your fists after winning the next quest.

#8: Voltron: Legendary Defender

What: is a reboot of the Japanese anime series Voltron. In order not to reveal all the details of the plot, which can be done literally in a couple of words, let’s say this: a series about teamwork. In which both adults and teenagers, earthlings and aliens participate. At the same time, they travel through space and can gather into a huge mechanical lion to participate in fights.

What they praise for: the most diverse characters, an interesting plot that seems to reveal the answers to many secrets, until it turns out that the answers are only partial. To find out for sure, you need to watch to the end. However, there are no problems with “look further”, the series captures quickly and for a long time. And one of the characters will finally convince you of the benefits of cosmetic procedures, both on Earth and beyond.

#9: «Rapunzel: Happy Forever Soon»

About: If you watched the original cartoon, you can easily start the series. According to the plot, six months pass after the victory over Mother Gothel, Rapunzel and her fiancé set off on a truly educational journey. In which the girl will have to fully realize her future duties, and for a second, it’s time for her to become the heir to the throne.

What they praise for: kept the spirit of the original, although many fans got used to atypical art for a very long time. But it’s really a matter of time to forget about the original animation style, it only takes a couple of episodes. The plot will capture the audience and will not let them be distracted by such trifles as the graphics are slightly cheaper than in the feature film.

No. 10: “Lady Bug and Super Cat”

What: is a story about seemingly ordinary French schoolchildren. Lessons, friends, love. But it’s not just that the word «super» is in the title of the animated series. Yes, the main characters Marinette and Adrien are real superheroes who save the world right after school. There was no romantic line in such a plot.

What they praise for: the audience is constantly in suspense, because the secret of identity remains unrevealed for both heroes. Yes, and due to this mystery itself, the plot continues to develop. It turns out something like “I want and it hurts”, because it is clear that as soon as the characters find out who is behind the mask, the main hook of the series will disappear and it will most likely decline.

Bonus: a new animated series «Amphibian»

About: a strange girl Anna gets into the frog country. Frogs have never seen people, so they perceive it as a huge gluttonous monster. Anna, of course, is not going to eat frogs, and she does not feel love for bugs, she likes human food. But the girl simply cannot return to her world.

What I already liked: interesting characters and a lot of frogs. The series will affectionately show what true friendship really is. Children and teenagers, using fictional characters as an example, will be able to assess how correctly they perceive relationships with friends and whether they can somehow be changed so that no one is uncomfortable. The series is promising and has already received a lot of attention from viewers of different ages. Even the abundance of fillers, which many complain about, does not prevent the plot from being revealed, which can take more than one season.

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Teen cartoons

Type:

All Series

Genre:

All Dramas Comedies Thrillers Melodramas Crime

Tag:

All the life of a teenager

Other selections:

Films about youth

Films about high school

Movies about teenagers

Movies about teenage girls

Films about school life

Coming of Age Movies

Teen films

Movies about teen boys

TOP cartoons of the list «Cartoons about teenagers» : City of Heroes (2014), Memories of Marnie (2014), Epic (2013), Suicide Hall (2011), Spider-Man: Into the Universe (2018), Her Heart’s Wish (2020), Magic Academy (2020), Monsters on vacation (2012), college soon? (2002), I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018), Whisper of the Heart (1995), Garden of Fine Words (2013), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Wizards of Waverly Place Movie (2009), True Sadness (1997), Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010), Likes or Dislikes (2020), Beauty and the Dragon (2021), Monster High: Action! (2011), Monster High: 13 Wishes (2013).