8 Animated Shows That Are Better Than 'Futurama'

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Zoidberg looking startled and surprised in 'Futurama'

Published Aug 24, 2026, 5:36 PM EDT

Jiminna Shillingford is an avid reader and a passionate storyteller. She is obsessed with all things TV, from anime and romantic fantasy to action-packed series. With that deep affection, Jiminna longs to share her excitement with all her readers through the Collider platform as a TV author. Through her writing she has created stories and blog posts of amazing book recommendations, showcasing her love of writing. Jiminna's goal is to inspire others to discover and embrace their love of stories in all of its forms.

Futurama is one of the most beloved and longest-running animated shows of all time, and its captivating blend of clever world-building, sci-fi comedy, emotional surprises, and absurd humor ensures that it stays an iconic favorite. Still, the animated series has seen some serious competition over the years, as quality gems have been delivered to animated TV. From bolder visuals to better plots and long-term character arcs, there exist quite a few animated knockouts that surpass even a sci-fi banger such as Futurama.

Animated series like the spy comedy Archer, which transforms the basics of espionage drama into something stylish, fast-paced, and endlessly quotable, and the iconic fantasy hit Adventure Time, which may be a bit strange but is incredibly well-loved, are just two in the lineup of shows that prove even classics can be outdone. Compiled on this list are such series, standout animated watches that outclass Futurama by being truly inventive gems.

'BoJack Horseman' (2014–2020)

BoJack Horseman looks at himself in the mirror over a bathroom sink.

BoJack Horseman is a Netflix animated series that is profoundly deep. The show follows the washed-up 1990s sitcom star, BoJack Horseman (Will Arnett), living in Hollywood and desperately trying to reignite his career while navigating his life rife with loneliness, depression, and addiction.

BoJack Horseman outclasses a show like Futurama simply because of its genuinely unparalleled emotional depth. It's a series that is quite often praised for its comedic yet incredibly honest take on personal trauma. Futurama is no doubt a humorous good time, with tons of quirky gags, but BoJack Horseman brings that real and raw feel to its bright and colorful animation. From the exploration of substance abuse, depression, and existential crises, the series fearlessly gifts audiences a dark comedy that ranks way above Futurama in emotional resonance.

'Invincible' (2021–Present)

Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) and Nolan (J.K. Simmons) talking in the sky in Invincible Season 4, Episode 5.

Invincible is a recent animated icon that ranks among some of the best in the genre for its remarkable story. The animated series centers on the teenager Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), as he finally gains his superpowers and vows to become a greater superhero than his father, Omni-Man (J. K. Simmons), only to receive a dastardly, brutal wake-up call.

Invincible is an iconic superhero series that may not be able to touch a hilarious series like Futurama in terms of comedy, but definitely outranks it when it comes to captivating plot, brutal emotional stakes, and complex character development. The series is often praised as one of the best new animations seen on TV, beloved for its intensity and shocking twists. Compared to a long-running series like Futurama and its much lighter tone, Invincible brilliantly delivers dark humor with high-stakes drama, alongside brutal action. The show's raw emotional intensity gives it a powerful edge that makes it an easy contender for the stronger overall viewing experience.

'Archer' (2009–2023)

Archer holds someone by the neck and prepares to punch him in a scene from Archer on FX.

This horribly underrated espionage series is a fast-paced good time, rife with action spoofs and sexual innuendos. The FX/FXX animated comedy, Archer, focuses on the brilliant but egotistical secret agent Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) as he hilariously tackles missions, love affairs, and being an overall bad influence on everyone he meets.

Archer is a quality animated series that wields slick animation and intricate jokes. The series may be the lesser-known watch in comparison to Futurama, but its dysfunctional characters, razor-sharp dialogue, and willingness to constantly reinvent itself make a strong case for it being a better watch than the iconic sitcom. Archer is bold and consistently hilarious, with some fans even stating that its writing is much more clever than many other animated series. With its snappy one-liners and creative shifts, the spy series definitely earned its place on this list of gems that are actually better than Futurama.

'The Simpsons' (1989–Present)

The Simpsons is one of the longest-running sitcoms to ever exist that is consistently still pretty good. Set in the town of Springfield, the comedic series centers on the antics of Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) and his family: wife Marge (Julie Kavner), son Bart (Nancy Cartwright), daughter Lisa (Yeardley Smith), and little baby Maggie.

The Simpsons wields not only lasting popularity but also a solid fanbase that truly adores it. The show is simply better than Futurama because of its influence and groundbreaking status. It's an animated good time, with even its early "Golden Age" episodes holding up quite nicely even after all this time. The Simpsons has arguably laid much of the groundwork for Futurama's humor, making it a long-running, culturally impactful sitcom with top-tier satirical writing and iconic characters, which has earned it a spot above even a beloved gem like Futurama.

Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz Which Lord of the Rings
Race Do You Belong To? Hobbit · Elf · Dwarf · Man · Orc

Middle-earth is home to many peoples — the courageous, the ancient, the stubborn, the ambitious, and the wretched. Ten questions will determine which race truly claims your soul. The answer may surprise you. Or it may confirm what you already suspected.

🌿Hobbit

🌟Elf

⚒️Dwarf

⚔️Man

💀Orc

What does your ideal day look like? How we rest reveals as much as how we fight.

How do you feel about the passing of time? Our relationship with mortality shapes everything we value.

Danger is approaching. Your first instinct is to: Fight, flight, or something in between — it's more revealing than you'd think.

You stumble upon a great treasure. What do you feel? What we desire — and what we do about it — is the true test.

How important is community and belonging to you? No race of Middle-earth is truly alone — but some prefer it that way.

How ambitious are you, honestly? Ambition is neither virtue nor vice — it depends entirely on what you want.

Where do you feel most at home in the natural world? Middle-earth is vast — and every race has its place within it.

What kind of strength do you most respect? Every race defines strength differently — and they're all at least a little right.

What do you want to leave behind when you're gone? Legacy is the story we tell ourselves about why any of this matters.

Be honest — what do you actually want most out of life? The truest question always comes last.

Middle-earth Has Spoken You Belong To…

The race that claimed the most of your answers is your true kin. If two tied, both are shown — you walk between worlds.

◆ A TIE — YOU WALK BETWEEN TWO RACES ◆

🌿

Your Race

The Hobbits

You are, at your core, a creature of comfort, community, and quiet joy — and there is nothing small about that. Hobbits are proof that heroism does not require ambition, that the bravest heart can beat inside the most unassuming chest. You value good food, warm hearths, close friends, and a world that stays largely untroubled by dark lords and quests. When adventure does find you — and it will — you rise to it not because you sought it, but because the people you love needed you to. That is not ordinary. That is the rarest kind of courage in all of Middle-earth.

🌟

Your Race

The Elves

Ancient, graceful, and carrying a weight of memory most mortals cannot fathom, you are one of the Elves. You see the world in its fullness — its beauty, its impermanence, the unbearable ache of watching everything you love eventually fade. You pursue perfection not from pride, but because excellence is how you honour the time you have been given. Others may see you as remote or melancholy. They are not wrong, exactly. But they mistake depth for distance. You feel everything — which is precisely why you have learned to carry it so quietly.

⚒️

Your Race

The Dwarves

Stubborn, proud, fiercely loyal, and possessed of a work ethic that would exhaust most other races before breakfast — you are Dwarf-kind through and through. You do not ask for approval and you do not offer it cheaply. Your loyalty, once given, is given for life. Your grudges last longer. You love deeply and defend ferociously, and the things you build — with your hands, with your sweat, with generations of accumulated craft — are made to last. Not for glory. Because anything worth doing is worth doing properly, and you have never once done anything by half measures.

⚔️

Your Race

The Race of Men

Mortal, ambitious, flawed, and magnificent — you belong to the most complicated race in Middle-earth, and that complexity is your greatest strength. Men are capable of cowardice and extraordinary bravery, of cruelty and breathtaking sacrifice, sometimes within the same breath. You feel the urgency of your finite years, and it drives you. You want to matter. You want to leave something behind. You fall, and you rise, and the rising is what defines you. Tolkien called mortality the Gift of Men — not a curse, but a fire that burns bright precisely because it does not burn forever. That fire is you.

💀

Your Race

The Orcs

Brutal, survivalist, and contemptuous of anything that can't defend itself — you answered with the instincts of an Orc, and there is a certain savage honesty in that. You do not dress up your desires in polite language or pretend you want things you don't. You want power, survival, and to never be at the bottom of any hierarchy ever again. Orcs are not evil by nature — they were made from something that was once good, and broken into this shape by forces they did not choose. What remains is fierce, territorial, and deeply aware that the world is not kind. You've made your peace with that. The question is what you do with it.

'Disenchantment' (2018–2023)

Bean Elfo and Luci ready to fight on Disenchantment

This horribly underrated Netflix fantasy series is a fresh and brilliant take on beloved fairytale tropes.Disenchantment follows reckless, booze-loving princess, Bean (Abbi Jacobson) as she and her friends, Elfo (Nat Faxon) and Luci (Eric André), navigate countless magical misadventures.

Disenchantment isn't as well-known as Futurama, and surely opinions vary regarding whether the animated fantasy is better than the influential comedy, but most are unable to deny that it is a success that outranks the long-lived series due to its ensemble and bold setting. The series masterfully expands Matt Groening's creative universe, delivering lush medieval animation that gives it an edge, adult humor, and serialized storytelling. Disenchantment is ambitious and fun, never constantly resetting its characters for another adventure, and instead building a continuous journey where consequences, betrayals, and relationships carry across seasons. It's committed from beginning to end with character growth that Futurama simply does not often have.

'Gravity Falls' (2012–2016)

Mabel is a ray of positivity in 'Gravity Falls.'

Gravity Falls is an iconic sci-fi animated series that may have been over for some time, but is still remembered as a fantastic watch. The mystery comedy series centers around twins Mabel (Kristen Schaal) and Dipper Pines (Jason Ritter) as they head to the strange town of Gravity Falls to spend time with their great-uncle Grunkle Stan (Alex Hirsch).

With a balance of heartfelt moments and hilarious humor, Gravity Falls is quite often praised as one of Disney's smartest, brightest, and truly iconic animated comedies. Though the series is no doubt aimed at kids/teens, it stands as a better watch than the iconic adult animated series because it's beloved by viewers of all ages for its cohesive mythology and sharp writing. Gravity Falls, with both its memorable characters and intricate plot arcs, surpasses even a big-name gem like Futurama thanks to its captivating mystery-driven story.

'Adventure Time' (2010–2018)

Jake, BMO, and Finn sitting together in their tree house in Adventure Time.

This Cartoon Network masterpiece takes the spot as one of animation's greatest achievements. The fantasy epic, Adventure Time, follows Finn the Human (Jeremy Shada) and his magical dog brother Jake (John DiMaggio) as they travel the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, getting into all kinds of hilarious hijinks in the name of friendship, adventure, simple fun, and helping the strange inhabitants they encounter along the way.

Adventure Time is an extremely ambitious series that, in comparison, outshines Futurama because of its intense creativity. During its time on air, the series tackled themes of loss, friendship, and growth in a truly masterful way, reaching emotional depths that even the long-running series only rarely touched on. With its unbridled imagination, Adventure Time often surprises viewers with its emotional weight that seems almost unusual for such a whimsical show. The series is no doubt one of the greatest animated shows to ever exist, and for its innovative spirit, it's earned a spot on this list of watches that outclasses a long-lived gem like Futurama.

'Bob’s Burgers' (2011–Present)

Bob's Burgers is an addictive animated sitcom that is quite beloved for its memorable characters. The series focuses on the Belcher family and their misadventures as they run a small hamburger restaurant while navigating everyday problems.

Lauded for its unique characters and heartwarming humor, Bob's Burgers definitely comes out ahead of Futurama. It has not only won awards and grown a rather devoted fanbase, but it also maintains an impressive consistency through its endlessly creative situations and comedy that refuses to sacrifice its warmth for a quick joke. Bob's Burgers masterfully transforms the life of an ordinary family into something genuinely heartfelt and hilarious, giving it a worthy charm that makes it wholly addictive, an arguably better watch than Futurama.

Bob's Burgers

Release Date January 9, 2011

Network FOX

Showrunner Loren Bouchard

Directors Tyree Dillihay, Anthony Chun, Jennifer Coyle, Wes Archer, Ian Hamilton, Tom Riggin, Bernard Derriman, Don MacKinnon, Kevin Wotton, John Rice, Simon Chong