When it comes to western animation, the great series of the 90s and early 2000s are often known as the best the medium has to offer. Partially due to the kids who watched them now being in positions of influence, series like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Teen Titans receive regular praise across the web.
Cartoons didn’t end after 2009 though. As the 2020s are only just beginning, it’s worth looking back at the many great shows released in the preceding decade. A lot of what the 2010s had to offer was not only great and influential shows in their own right but also more than worthy of being spoken of in the same breath as the greats that preceded them.
10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an old hand in the cartoon world that has managed to retain its relevance into the modern day. So much so that the 2010s saw two whole TMNT shows. Choosing between Rise of the TMNT and TMNT (2012) is a matter of preference, but TMNT (2012) gets the spot this time around.
The show not only gave the TMNT franchise a fresh coat of paint but is still to this day one of the best 3D animated shows ever made, both technically and narratively.
9 BoJack Horseman (2014)
Adult cartoons have had a somewhat mixed reputation, with series like Family Guy and Big Mouth being quite popular, but arguably juvenile with their humor. BoJack Horseman, however, managed to avoid such accusations due to its strong writing and mature tone.
Following the show’s titular washed-up actor, BH is a sobering meditation on adult life, as well as the mental health struggles that come with it. It’s a show that isn’t afraid to let its characters be downright despicable, while never quite giving up on the potential for them to become better people.
8 Bob’s Burgers (2011)
The popularity of The Simpsons has led to a host of animated comedies starring dysfunctional families. However, none since The Simpsons has managed to present a family as genuinely likable as the Belchers: Bob, Linda, Louise, Tina, and Gene.
Despite being 13 seasons deep, Bob’s Burgers still retains the relatability of its cast, as well as its often wonderfully dry sense of humor. The series even received its first feature film recently, giving it the budget to really shine with fluid animation and big musical numbers.
7 Rick And Morty (2013)
Rick and Morty could be described as a far more chaotic version of Doctor Who. Rick Sanchez is an absurdly smart scientist whose desire for constant adventure and experimentation drags his whole family and universe into disaster after disaster.
The show gained massive popularity almost instantly and is still releasing new episodes today. While the comedic style made famous by R&M is starting to lose favor, the show itself remains a wild metaphysical ride, which does a good job of using its deplorable characters in interesting ways.
6 The Amazing World Of Gumball (2011)
Cartoon Network has been a powerhouse for cartoons since the 90s, and they did not slow down in the 2010s. While Gumball features a typical setup of a dysfunctional family and their often weird neighbors, it is easily one of the most unique shows with this premise.
The multimedia tech on display in Gumball is still mind-blowing, seamlessly combining 3D, 2D, and real-life assets, and somehow making it seem normal. The show has an endlessly likable cast, and unlike some slice-of-life shows, still manages to satisfyingly develop them over time.
5 Steven Universe (2013)
For a show about alien gem people, Steven Universe is exceptionally human. The titular protagonist starts off in a sleepy beach town, living with three mysterious alien guardians. While he’s very optimistic, when other aliens start to appear, his will to find good in others is tested over and over again.
The show takes great care to portray emotions and mental health journeys in a positive light, even if things get a bit messy at times. Its musical nature is also a big selling point, putting forward some of the best songs ever written for a cartoon, thanks in great part to the series creator, Rebecca Sugar.
4 Gravity Falls (2012)
Everybody loves a good mystery. When twins Dipper and Mabel are sent to spend the summer in the enigmatic Gravity Falls, a chain reaction of mysteries is set off, leading to one of the decade’s most beloved shows.
Gravity falls has a very precise form of humor, owed in great part to series creator Alex Hirsch. It almost never fails to be funny, and its dedication to conspiracies and the fun of unfolding them is palpable. Often, the show’s mysteries even spilled out into the real world during its run, making the show akin to an ARG itself.
3 DuckTales (2017)
Trying to revive a classic show is almost an impossible task, but Ducktales manages to pull it off. It is made in the image of its original show, following Scrooge McDuck and his three nephews going on various adventures. However, this new imagining takes everything to the next level.
The animation is consistently impressive, and the new characters introduced are instant classics. Della Duck alone more than deserves to enter the main Disney canon along with her brother Donald. And despite often being seen as three of the same person, Huey, Dewey, and Louie finally have distinct personalities to tell them apart.
2 Over The Garden Wall (2014)
It might be easy to overlook due to its short runtime, but Over The Garden Wall is a straight-up masterpiece. The 10-episode series follows two brothers on what turns from a normal Halloween night into an eerie journey through new and disturbing worlds.
OTGW holds a very unique spot in the animated landscape, being only a miniseries, yet standing out due to its sheer quality. Its characters are grounded yet fun, and its jokes always land, no matter how morbid they can get. Anyone who needs something to watch for the Halloween season has their answer right here.
1 Adventure Time (2010)
It’s fitting that the 2010s started off with the release of Adventure Time because it would go on to shape cartoons for the rest of the decade. In a world as large and complex as it is bizarre, a young boy named Finn and his dog brother spend every day looking for the best adventure on offer.
Adventure time is an amazing show in all terms including visuals, music, story, and characters. Even side characters like B-MO and Marceline are so rich that they received spin-off stories. Meanwhile, the main story managed to end in a satisfying way, despite the sheer number of plot threads set up over the series' lifetime.
It must also be credited for launching the careers of several creators, some of whom created the other entries on this list.