The Australian kids' TV show Bluey follows a family of blue heeler dogs, who navigate family and friendships together, and the show is often considered one of the best kids' TV shows of all time.

Many of the kids' shows that adults also love often have several specific features in common. The characters are relatable and fun without being grating, the shows are not overly repetitive, and they do not talk down to their audiences. This is likely the most important point of all, as neither kids nor adults like to feel patronized. TV shows like Bluey are growing in popularity, yet the misconception that cartoons and animated shows are specifically for children is still widespread. Many animated shows may not be like Bluey, but are just as popular with parents as well as kids.

10 Bluey (2018-Present)

The Lovable Dog Family Teaches Life Lessons In A Wholesome Way

Many past kids' shows perpetuated harmful gender stereotypes, making Bluey a breath of fresh air. Many viewers were surprised to learn that Bluey is female despite being blue, which was a deliberate choice by the show's creator. Bluey's dad, Bandit (also blue) often stays at home with Bluey and her sister while his wife, Chilli, works. Both the heeler parents are flawed, making the show realistic, while other kids' shows often promote impossible "perfect parent" characters.

The choice to show a realistically flawed but loving and healthy family relationship has made Bluey extremely popular with parents. There are very few issues that the show has not covered, from moving house to parenting problems, and even dealing with traumatic memories in childhood. Bluey's humor is intelligent, and many episodes feature jokes that only adults will pick up on, while kids will find different moments funny.

9 Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)

The Series Is Less Adult Themed Than The Recent Batman Movies

The superhero genre has undergone some massive changes. While past superhero stories were often more campy, the recent Batman movies have been extremely dark, with characters like Heath Ledger's Joker being unsuitable for small children. Batman: The Animated Series has elements of the later movies while being much more kid-friendly, appealing to both children and parents. Batman: The Animated Series has aged extremely well, and can give kids an introduction to Batman before they are ready for the movies.

Batman: The Animated Series is regularly considered the default for all depictions of Batman and the other characters, with the new movies often drawing comparisons to the series. The animated series does change the comics and movies, but the changes have largely been popular, like the choice to give Mr. Freeze a more compelling backstory than the original comics showed. The animated series is a forerunner for more serious cartoons, which can also appeal to people of all ages.

8 Over The Garden Wall (2014)

Elijah Wood Voices A Main Character In This Critically-Acclaimed Series

Over The Garden Wall has a similar animation style to the enormously successful Studio Ghibli, which has also produced animated movies that are as popular with adults as with children. Over The Garden Wall is short and whimsical, starring Elijah Wood and Collin Dean as half-brothers exploring the world known as "The Unknown." The series focuses more on building atmosphere than traditional storytelling, and the unusual approach pays off.

Over The Garden Wall has often been considered one of the best animated TV shows of all time and, unlike many other TV shows aimed at kids, it has a twist that will even surprise adult viewers. The show is a fun, fable-like adventure for kids, but its central theme is mortality and love. The ending of Over The Garden Wall is still debated today, and the show has a 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

7 Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

The Series Blends A Summer Holiday With A Supernatural Mystery

Gravity Falls is a genre-mixing animated show with jokes that work on many levels. When Mabel and her brother Dipper are sent to stay with Grunkle Stan for the summer, they find themselves involved in a supernatural conspiracy. The show aired on the Disney Channel, which was surprising, as Gravity Falls was often more similar to adult shows like Twin Peaks than the usual tone of the shows on the network.

Gravity Falls featured kid-friendly animation, while parents could understand the Lovecraftian and mystery references throughout the show. The best episodes of Gravity Falls showcased its comedy alongside its world-building, which was the show's greatest strength. Like many kids' shows, Gravity Falls has some extremely dark moments, but the main focus of the show is the relationship between Mabel and Dipper as they fight to save the world.

6 Gargoyles (1994-1997)

The '90s TV Show Was A Cult Hit

Many episodes of Gargoyles still hold up today, and the show is one of the best animated TV shows of the '90s. Gargoyles is tonally very similar to Batman, and the show follows a group of Manhattan gargoyles as they defend New York City by night. Kids can easily follow the superhero-style plot, but Gargoyles also introduces themes that are much more complex, like film-noir, Shakespeare, and mythology over its two seasons. ​​

The show featured some extremely detailed story arcs which involved characters going back in time and fighting Nazis. While Gargoyles is more of a cult hit than a mainstream success, the unusual plot was so well-received that Gargoyles season 1 has a 100% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The original show found new fans on Disney+ and it has remained so popular that a live-action Gargoyles reboot is currently in development.

5 Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Avatar: The Last Airbender Has Some Of The Best Role Models In A TV Show

The three seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender gave viewers some of the best role models of all time, with the tea-loving Uncle Iroh being a fan favorite. The story is deceptively simple, centering on four warring nations, each with an affinity to different elements. The nations in Avatar: The Last Airbender have destroyed the Air nation, leaving just the young Aang behind as the Avatar, who is destined to save the world and unite the nations once more.

The themes in the show might be mature, but they are handled in an accessible way, and will resonate on different levels as the audience ages. Unlike many other epics, kids will find the story in Avatar: The Last Airbender easy to follow, while parents will likely appreciate the nuance and complex backstories of the main characters, especially the villains and antiheroes. There are also plenty of comedy moments, which balance out the more high-stakes scenes.

4 DuckTales (1987-1990)

The Animated 1980s Adventure Series

DuckTales began as a comic book, and the TV adaptation ran for a total of 100 episodes over four seasons. DuckTales is about the three orphans, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, who go to live with their rich and stingy uncle Scrooge McDuck, and find themselves going on adventures. The stories stand on their own for younger viewers, but older ones will be able to spot the references to other movies like Indiana Jones, which both inspired DuckTales, and was inspired by DuckTales.

DuckTales was rebooted in 2017 with another successful run, ending in 2021, but the original theme song is guaranteed to give you nostalgia. The series still stands up well today, attracting new audiences of kids whose parents enjoy the nostalgia factor. The show is easy to watch, with few genuinely scary moments, and even Scrooge McDuck was retconned from being a villain to a more mischievous (if greedy) antihero.

3 Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969-1978)

The Kids Mystery Show That Still Influences Culture Today

Scooby-Doo has been running for over 50 years, making it one of the longest-running animated franchises today. There have been 14 Scooby-Doo series so far, with another currently in development after the polarizing and more adult-oriented Velma series. The mixed reaction to Velma showed that while Scooby-Doo regularly changes with the time period, the show is best when it reaches both the kids and parents demographics, keeping it a fun family show.

TV shows still reference scenes and characters from Scooby-Doo, with the most well-known being Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which calls Buffy and her friends "The Scooby Gang." The show's supernatural and mystery stories are combined with comedy, making it more of an adventure than a horror show, and an introduction to the "whodunnit" genre for kids. The villains are one of the best parts of Scooby-Doo, and many of the ing characters, like The Hex Girls band, are as beloved as the original Scooby Gang.

2 Adventure Time (2010-2018)

A Boy And His Shapeshifting Dog Explore A Post-Apocalyptic World

The experimental style of Adventure Time makes the show instantly recognizable even for people who have not seen it. Adventure Time follows the adventures of 12-year-old Finn, who lives with his shapeshifting best friend in the post-apocalyptic land of Ooo. The show's premise might sound like a more adult show similar to Rick and Morty, but it is aimed at kids, airing on the Cartoon Network. Adventure Time is one of the funniest kids shows made, with plenty of jokes that will resonate with parents too.

Adventure Time's iconic characters like Princess Bubblegum avoid gender stereotyping by being well-rounded and multi-faceted, with Bubblegum being a successful scientist as well as a princess. Adventure Time's best episodes show new aspects to the main characters, keeping the show compelling for kids and parents. The show is one of the best modern examples of world-building, character development, and originality, winning multiple awards and a 100% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

1 Steven Universe (2013-2019)

A Coming-Of-Age Story With A Difference

Steven Universe is about a young boy who is half-human, half-gem, in a world populated with Crystal Gems, who are crystal-based aliens. Steven Universe is colorful, fun, and action-packed, with Steven often teaming up with the Crystal Gems to help save the world while learning to harness his powers. That said, Steven Universe tackles some very serious subjects, giving the show a more layered and complex tone while being one of the most inclusive shows to be made yet.

While the Crystal Gems are technically aliens, they have a wide range of different appearances, and skin tones, and the show prominently features LGBTQ+ characters in positive roles. Steven Universe has been hailed as one of the best examples of positive representation yet, while prioritizing storytelling, character development, and intricate plotlines. Its themes of love, family, and loyalty make the show popular with viewers of any age, especially when watching it as a family.