Cartoons are not just meant for kids and after over a year’s worth of so many people spending extra time at home, a lot of folks may have fallen back on animated content once they had run out of other things streaming had to offer. Whether one’s new to animation or just a seasoned fan, 2021 was filled with spectacular animated productions on television.
Of course, grouping all animated shows and movies into a single group is a disservice to a craft that is much more than just another genre, but instead, just like anime, more of an artistic vehicle used to develop concepts and stories that could be ridiculously expensive or just feel off in live action form. 2021 has definitely been a fantastic year for Netflix, Disney Plus, Adult Swim, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, so let’s take a look at some of the best each has to offer.
What If…? - Disney Plus
It’s almost impossible to avoid the looming specter that is the MCU in modern pop culture, however, Spider-Man: No Way Home numbers certify that most people love superheroes. So if Marvel’s live-action adventures film have not fulfilled one’s expectations, What If…? brings an interesting proposition to enjoy all that superhero action as its multiversal approach taken from the eponymously named comics removes the MCU’s constant obligation to tie its productions with the next big thing to come.
What If…? features both famous plots from that storyline as well as some new original twists of its own, nevertheless, its usage of such highly recognized characters and the series’ entire proposition itself allows it to be quite enjoyable even for those not up to speed with every minute detail of what’s happened during Marvel’s Infinity Saga.
Most crucially, its first season’s nine episodes make it quite easy to go through and for anyone to pick their absolute favorite from the bunch as it even has zombies. As a bonus, anyone that enjoys What If…? can then find refuge in Disney Plus’ collection of older Marvel cartoons like the X-Men and Spider-Man animated shows from the 90s.
Demon Slayer - Adult Swim And Crunchyroll
Rules are meant to be broken, and Demon Slayer’s second season, currently being rolled out on Adult Swim and Crunchyroll definitely warrants it. At the time of writing Demon Slayer’s "Entertainment District Arc" has premiered three episodes with most reports putting the total at 10 or 11 episodes of shōnen anime action.
Why is Demon Slayer worth watching? Well, besides the show’s ability to put the main focus on its gorgeously choreographed fight scenes that blend more modern effects with traditional Japanese animation, Demon Slayer has simply become a worldwide phenomenon. The anime’s feature film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train broke all kinds of records in Japan and the United States, with the ability to draw plenty of viewers that are not necessarily hardcore anime fans.
Demon Slayer’s first season is widely available worldwide, and though the Demon Slayer movie is definitely worth watching, the first part of season two, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Train Arc, also covers that part of the story with some additional touches in the music and animation department. Overall, playing catch-up with Demon Slayer heading into 2022 should be quite the thrill.
Castlevania - Netflix
As long as they're not called Resident Evil, video game adaptations continue to get better with every passing day, and Castlevania has been going strong for Netflix for four years now. 2021 saw the final season of Trevor Belmont’s story marvel fans of the franchise, with plenty of excitement and a satisfying ending that has left many wanting more out of the Belmont bloodline.
Luckily, Netflix is eager to deliver as Richter Belmont will star in a new entry for the franchise that will adapt the classic game Rondo of Blood, after dropping head writer Warren Ellis. Castlevania will please anyone remotely interested in anime, video games, or just some good old vampire-themed fun.
Invincible - Amazon Prime Video
Beyond the family-friendly plots of the MCU lies a new frontier, one even exceeding DC’s darker, superhero stories written for grown-ups found in comics like Invincible. Fortunately, Amazon was savvy enough to pick up Invincible as its animated counterpart for The Boys.
As a bonus, J.K. Simmons’ Omni-Man is an outstanding character that fuels the more somber stories taking place in a world plagued by cynicism, and perhaps a little inspired by Zack Snyder’s work on DC properties. Invincible is a different kind of superhero story and that alone makes it worth seeing.
Arcane - Netflix
The Squid Game of animation that's completely taken the world by storm. It's rare enough for an animated show to dominate Netflix's charts but that it happens the one based on one of the biggest video games in the world makes it even more amusing and that's precisely what Riot Games has achieved. Everyone's watching Arcane, not just video game lovers, and that alone means there is no second best animated show to watch this year
Suffice to say, these millions of viewers are not coming to dive deeper into the stories of League of Legends' many champions, instead, it's the series pristine animation, enthralling stories, and, above all, brilliant world-building that keeps them coming as the series' biggest accomplishment is no alienating those that have never played a single League of Legends' match in their life before watching it.
Arcane also stars the lovely Hailee Steinfeld, whose voice acting matches her bullseye performances as Kate Bishop in Marvel's Hawkeye, so that's just another reason that makes it worth watching before the year ends.