Your favorite Western Animated series (and why?)

For a long time for me it was Dexters Laboratory, partially because I liked to think myself an Insufferable Genius when I was a smartass kid. However, while I still love that show, in hindsight, I'd have to say that Sheep In The Big City is probably my favorite animated series of all time. That show (whether or not I realized it) really helped to shape my own sense of humor in that it helped me to appreciate wit in comedy above all else (although a healthy degree of the absurd certainly doesn't hurt).

So, what's yours?

BeastWars

Dinobot. Waspinator. 'Nuff said.

I feel like I have to say Danny Phantom just because I was a REALLY dedicated fan back when it first aired. Like, I was such a freak, I remembered the exact day it aired WITHOUT looking it up, remembered the order of the episodes, and a bunch of embarrassing stuff. And, from time to time, I still watch episodes on Netflix.

There are many gems and shows I've loved and really enjoyed, many that are definitely better than Danny Phantom (Like Avatar: The Last Airbender, which I revisited about a year ago to much surprise, you miss a lot when you're a child), but I feel like I've never loved a show as much as I did when I was that age (Which, btw, was from 8-12, lol) .

Right now my favorite is definitely The Legend of Korra and I feel like it's also making its way up my favorite ever because of the wait leading up to it, being a successor to The Last Airbender, another one of my favorites, watching every episode at least 4 or five times (SHADDDAPPPPP), and because of the hype and discussion is garners from a lot of my friends and the interwebz.

edited 13th Jun '12 6:46:42 AM by HidingGames

I really need to catch up on Korra. I've missed every episode past the first two.

For me, nothing beats The Simpsons. Say what you want about the later seasons, but the first ten years were the best thing on television. Period.

1- The Legend Of Korra (because it's fucking awesome)

2- Moral Orel (because it's fucking depressing)

3- Gargoyles (because it's fucking well written)

4- WITCH (because it's fucking dug itself into my heart)

Phineas and Ferb was good until about 80 episodes in (got kind of old)

Avatar The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are both awesome.

But my favorite is the Classic Disney Shorts (especially the late 20s and early 30s) just because their quality holds up.

Animaniacs gets major kudos for Getting Crap Past the Radar Up to Eleven and playing with the Classic Disney.

edited 13th Jun '12 11:47:48 AM by every108minutes

I dunno, I think Phineas And Ferb has only gotten better as it goes on and on.

I thought Animaniacs was supposed to be a sendup of Looney Tunes(well Disney and Warner Bros influenced each other, so I guess it's not surprising). Sometimes I look at the warners, and think, this is how Mickey should act; not too malicious, but a playful trickster.

It's not that the later episodes aren't good,(the earlier ones were kind of sloppy) it's that the repetition of the whole entire show is kind of slowing it down. Even before I watch a new episode, I'm already expecting all of the jokes.

Agreed.

Rocko's Modern Life, Tom And Jerry, Courage The Cowardly Dog, Spongebob seasons 1-3 , and Spectacular Spiderman.

edited 13th Jun '12 10:18:17 PM by eternalNoob

Yes, add Spectacular Spiderman to the list, please. I actually saw part of an episode last night and I frequently go back to it as well, I can't believe I forgot.

The characters are sincere, I love how most episodes build off each other, the animation is really nice. Man, every time I think of the show's fate.... balgh.... very sad I get...

I really enjoy a lot. Avatar The Last Airbender and The Legend Of Korra are great for dramatic. I'm a big fan of Danny Phantom, a show that straddles the line between drama and comedy, and inspired my love for super-heroes. I adore Phineas And Ferb, and am really enjoying how creative it is. My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic is fun, too.

I also like almost any good super-hero show. I'm loving Young Justice right now, but The Spectacular Spider Man was...well, spectacular. I also quite enjoyed X Men Evolution: I recognise it had flaws, but I absolutely love the character interactions in that version.

edited 14th Jun '12 7:11:03 AM by CompletelyDifferent

...That's why i'm not sure i can recommend it at all. I mean, it is awesome, and it has everything a good show should have, but finishing the entire series just leaves you depressed, for many reasons.

Gonna have to cast in my lot with the disgruntled Spectacular fans.

Hmm, several get me pretty nostalgic. I liked Eek The Cat a lot and Ed Edd N Eddy. Also Spiderman and the X-men series.

My favorite though was probably the French animated series Belphegor (character's on my avatar right now). I've seen all the episodes and hoped there would be more. It's the first animation that has kept me so exited throughout each episode. And the characters were great, especially Belphegor, who's probably one of the best cartoon villains I've seen. The guy was clever, always one step ahead and liked to toy with people, push them to their limits. Not to mention he was a complete mystery. A very well done antagonist, haven't seen better in Western animated series since.

It's too bad the only existing records of the episodes I could find are in French. Can't understand anything and I want to see it and refresh my memory again.

Looney Tunes and Spongebob.

"Your favorite Western Animated series (and why?)"

At least in the 2000's, I think I'd consider my favorites to be Kim Possible and Teen Titans; the former was more lighthearted, but still had great characters and lampshade hanging, while still keeping relatively bearable Aesops.

Teen Titans really manage to keep their balance. They had dark episodes, with Raven's dad and the Brotherhood of evil, lighthearted episodes, and just...surreal ones.

Batman the Animated Series. (Batman TAS .) This show was what got me into Batman to begin with, but more then that, showcased some incredible writing, some nice characterization, and rather good VA's, especially Mark Hamell as the Joker. The other DCAU shows were good as well, but this one, I think, is still the best single show they ever put out as a whole, (and has by far the most amount of episodes as well,) so it still holds a special place in my heart.

Gargoyles. Not so much to say about this one. It's just darn well-written, with good characters, and many different plot-points that are well-woven throughout the series. It was also darker and more serious then just about anything else Disney has ever put out, barring The Hunchbackof Nortedame , and the animation could get pretty spectacular at times, especially for when it was made. Just an all around excellent show, and anyone who hasn't seen it should go do so.

Avengers, Earth's Mightiest Heroes. I have more of a personal connection with this one. Long before watching the show, I'd have been a fan of the Avengers comic-series, having read many issues of it up to that point. At it's best, it was just an all-around excellent Superhero-team book; it only helped that there was literally decades worth of material to sift through. So, naturally, when this show came around, I watched it; and thankfully, Earth's Mightiest Heroes was quite faithful to the comics, at least in terms of general spirit. It's perfectly enjoyable in it's own right too, with some good characterization&interaction amongst the large assemblage (See what I did there?) of characters, and with epic, high-level threats&situations in later episodes. Again though, part of why it's one of my favorite Western Animated shows has to do with my own love towards the comics, but it's still quite good on it's own.

(I'd also put Avatar, but I've only see the first season so far, so I don't really feel I can properly judge it until I've seen more of it.)

Oh dear. Apologies, sir.

Cause dey funny as shit.

edited 20th Jun '12 10:44:18 AM by CTM

My all time favorite is Samurai Jack. Great story, great action, great art. It just nails everything.

My all time favorite is going to be Futurama. It's one of the few animated sitcoms that's managed to legit mix humor with heartwarming character development. That and unlike other shows. Flanderization has not negatively impact the quality of the series.

@CTM: Works for me

I rather enjoyed Korra but it didn't quite cut the mustard for me. Absolutely anticipating the 2nd book though

At the moment, I'm all over Green Lantern: The Animated Series. Needs more love. LOVEEEE. =o=