You Should Not Let Your Kids Watch These Cartoons

Not every animated show is meant for kids, and plenty lean hard into mature themes that parents should know about. Many of these series carry TV-MA ratings for explicit language, graphic violence, sexual content, and heavy subject matter that can be upsetting to younger viewers. Some also include drug use, dark humor, and storylines centered on crime or trauma. Here are well known cartoons that are produced for adults and better saved for later viewing.

‘Rick and Morty’ (2013-)

This sci fi comedy features frequent graphic violence and crude humor that targets adult audiences. Episodes often include body horror, profanity, and nihilistic themes that younger viewers may find confusing or distressing. Storylines explore trauma, dysfunctional family dynamics, and existential ideas. The series is officially rated for mature viewers and airs on late night programming blocks.

‘South Park’ (1997-)

This long running series is known for strong language and explicit jokes about politics, religion, and sexuality. Episodes regularly include graphic imagery and satire that assumes adult cultural literacy. The show has posted content warnings for mature themes and controversial subject matter. It is scheduled in late night slots and labeled for adults only.

‘Family Guy’ (1999-)

This animated sitcom relies on adult oriented cutaway gags and sexual humor that is not appropriate for children. Episodes can feature intense slapstick, crude jokes, and stereotypes that require critical media literacy. The program frequently references R rated films and explicit pop culture moments. It carries a mature rating in many regions and streams with age restrictions.

‘Invincible’ (2021-)

This superhero series contains extreme animated violence, including graphic fight scenes and gore. Plots address coercion, betrayal, and adult relationships with consequences shown on screen. Several episodes depict mass casualty events and intense peril. The show is marked TV-MA and presented on platforms with parental controls enabled.

‘Arcane’ (2021-2024)

This fantasy drama explores class conflict, crime, and substance abuse with realistic consequences. Several sequences portray heavy violence and emotionally intense family trauma. Political intrigue, moral ambiguity, and complex character arcs are written for adult comprehension. The series carries a mature rating and provides age guidance on streaming pages.

‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014–2020)

This show examines depression, addiction, and self destructive behavior in detail. Episodes include strong language, sexual content, and depictions of substance misuse. Storylines cover topics like miscarriage, exploitation, and public scandal. The series is labeled for mature audiences and offers content advisories for sensitive themes.

‘Big Mouth’ (2017-2025)

This comedy centers on puberty and sexual development with explicit dialogue and visual jokes. Episodes discuss anatomy, consent, and adult topics that are not designed for children. The program uses frank language and scenarios that match health class for older teens and adults. It is consistently rated TV-MA across seasons.

‘Love, Death & Robots’ (2019-)

This animated anthology includes episodes with graphic violence, nudity, and horror elements. The tone varies from hard sci fi to dark satire, often pushing boundaries with disturbing imagery. Many installments end with bleak or shocking twists. The series is categorized for mature viewers and includes individual episode advisories.

‘Harley Quinn’ (2019-)

This superhero comedy features frequent profanity, splatter style violence, and sexual references. Characters engage in criminal activity and revenge plots presented with graphic outcomes. The show targets adult fans of comic book franchises rather than children. It streams with a TV-MA rating and content warnings.

‘Primal’ (2019-)

This dialogue light series depicts survival in a harsh prehistoric world with intense violence. Episodes show animal attacks, bloodshed, and emotionally heavy themes like loss and vengeance. The realistic sound design and imagery amplify frightening moments. It is scheduled in adult animation blocks and marked for mature audiences.

‘Castlevania’ (2017–2021)

This dark fantasy adapts a video game series with explicit violence and occult themes. Episodes include gore, torture sequences, and sexual content not suitable for younger viewers. The narrative explores power struggles, corruption, and moral compromise. It carries a TV-MA rating and age gating on major platforms.

‘The Boys Presents: Diabolical’ (2022)

This anthology ties into a franchise known for extreme violence and adult satire. Segments feature graphic injuries, strong language, and mature jokes that assume knowledge of the parent series. Several shorts include explicit sexual content and drug references. The collection is labeled TV-MA and packaged with parental controls.

‘Happy Tree Friends’ (1999-)

This deceptively cute show delivers sudden graphic violence and gore as its central joke. Episodes routinely portray dismemberment and fatal accidents in exaggerated ways. The contrast between visuals and content can mislead younger viewers without supervision. The series is specifically marketed to adults despite its art style.

‘Superjail!’ (2008-2014)

Set in a surreal prison, this series mixes psychedelic visuals with frequent brutal scenes. Plots escalate into mass chaos with graphic outcomes in nearly every episode. The show includes strong language and disturbing imagery that is inappropriate for kids. It airs in late night slots and carries a mature rating.

‘Mr. Pickles’ (2014-2018)

This dark comedy uses shock humor built around occult themes and explicit violence. Episodes depict gore, cruelty, and adult situations far beyond typical primetime standards. The narrative often involves criminal acts and disturbing behavior. It is labeled TV-MA and distributed through adult animation blocks.

‘F Is for Family’ (2015–2021)

This period sitcom focuses on an abrasive family with constant profanity and adult arguments. Storylines address infidelity, substance use, and workplace harassment. Several episodes show mature situations that require adult context to process. The series is presented with a TV-MA rating on streaming services.

‘The Midnight Gospel’ (2020)

This experimental show combines philosophical interviews with intense animated sequences. Visuals occasionally include disturbing or graphic depictions tied to themes like death and existential fear. Dialogue covers adult topics such as drug use and trauma at length. The series is intended for mature audiences and labeled accordingly.

‘Smiling Friends’ (2020)

This surreal comedy leans on dark humor, occasional gore, and unsettling character designs. Episodes include strong language and jokes based on adult anxieties and internet culture. Rapid tone shifts and disturbing gags are common. It airs in late night blocks and includes mature content tags.

‘Hazbin Hotel’ (2024)

This musical dark comedy is set in Hell and features demons, violence, and sexual humor. Songs and dialogue include explicit language and themes centered on vice and redemption. Visuals present stylized but mature scenarios throughout. The show is flagged TV-MA and marketed toward adult animation fans.

‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force’ (2000–2015)

This series follows three talking fast food items involved in bizarre situations that often turn violent. Episodes include crude humor, strong language, and surreal gore. Storylines feature crime, occult elements, and adult themes without a child friendly moral frame. It aired in late night blocks with TV-MA guidance.

‘Robot Chicken’ (2005– )

This stop motion sketch show parodies pop culture using explicit jokes and graphic slapstick. Segments frequently include dismemberment, sexual references, and drug gags. The rapid fire format shows disturbing imagery without context for young viewers. It is labeled TV-MA and streams with age restrictions.

‘The Venture Bros.’ (2004–2018)

This action satire blends retro adventure with mature violence and dark humor. Episodes explore trauma, failure, and adult relationships across long running arcs. Language is strong and the show includes suggestive content and occasional gore. The series carries TV-MA advisories on most platforms.

‘Metalocalypse’ (2006–2013)

Centered on a death metal band, the show depicts frequent on screen carnage tied to concerts and misadventures. Plots include cults, conspiracies, and violent set pieces with graphic outcomes. Humor leans into nihilism and adult references. Ratings and platform tags mark it for mature audiences.

‘Drawn Together’ (2004–2007)

This reality show parody uses animated archetypes to deliver explicit jokes and shock humor. Episodes include nudity, profanity, and cruel gags that hinge on sensitive topics. Violence and sexual content are common throughout. It is consistently flagged TV-MA.

‘Paradise PD’ (2018–2024)

This police department comedy relies on extreme gore, explicit sexual humor, and relentless profanity. Storylines involve corruption, drug trafficking, and graphic sight gags. Characters engage in behavior presented without lessons appropriate for children. The series posts mature content warnings across seasons.

‘Brickleberry’ (2012–2015)

Set in a dysfunctional national park, this show features adult jokes and offensive humor aimed at older audiences. Episodes include explicit language and exaggerated violence. Storylines revolve around incompetence, vice, and shock gags. It streams with TV-MA labels and parental controls.

‘Moral Orel’ (2005–2008)

This stop motion drama explores faith, family dysfunction, and abuse through dark satire. Episodes address alcoholism, infidelity, and trauma in ways intended for adult reflection. Tone shifts from comedy to bleak subject matter within single seasons. Content advisories and a mature rating accompany the show.

‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ (1993–1997)

This series centers on two teens whose antics lead to property damage, risky behavior, and crude humor. Episodes include strong language, sexual references, and reckless stunts. The show influenced copycat behavior concerns that prompted broadcast warnings in its era. Modern releases mark it with mature ratings.

‘Ren & Stimpy “Adult Party Cartoon”‘ (2003)

This revival pushes gross out humor into explicit territory with nudity and graphic violence. Plots often revolve around cruelty and disturbing scenarios. Several episodes were controversial for sexual content and abusive behavior played for laughs. It was marketed specifically to adults with TV-MA tagging.

‘Ugly Americans’ (2010–2012)

Set in a city filled with monsters and demons, the show presents body horror, gore, and occult themes. Plots include transformation, possession, and explicit jokes about vice. The workplace setting features adult relationships and frequent profanity. It carries mature viewer guidance on release.

‘The Maxx’ (1995)

This adaptation mixes superhero elements with psychological trauma and assault narratives. Episodes depict violence, stalking, and mental health crises in stylized sequences. The storytelling requires adult comprehension of dissociation and abuse. It aired with late night content advisories.

‘Spawn’ (1997–1999)

This dark superhero series includes graphic violence, torture, and organized crime. Themes involve hell, damnation, and moral corruption throughout. Frequent bloodshed and adult language place it outside child oriented viewing. It originally broadcast with mature content warnings.

‘Devilman Crybaby’ (2018)

This anime contains explicit gore, nudity, and sexual violence within an apocalyptic storyline. Episodes portray drug use, mass hysteria, and brutal transformations. The emotional intensity and graphic imagery are persistent across the season. Streaming platforms list it as TV-MA with detailed advisories.

‘Berserk’ (1997)

This series follows mercenaries in a medieval world filled with demonic horror and extreme violence. Multiple scenes depict torture, assault, and gruesome battles. The narrative explores trauma, betrayal, and sacrifice at an adult level. Releases include strict age ratings and content notes.

‘Elfen Lied’ (2004)

This anime opens with a massacre and continues with frequent graphic dismemberment. Themes include experimentation, abuse, and psychological trauma. Nudity and strong language appear across episodes. It is distributed with prominent mature content labels.

‘Hellsing Ultimate’ (2006–2012)

This vampire saga features prolonged firefights, gore, and supernatural carnage. Storylines involve extremist groups, war crimes, and body horror. The tone remains intense with minimal relief for younger viewers. It is rated for adults and packaged with content warnings.

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022)

Set in a dystopian city, this series shows cybernetic body horror, drug use, and graphic gunfights. Characters face exploitation, grief, and violent gang activity. Episodes include nudity and strong language throughout. Platforms categorize it as TV-MA with clear parental guidance.

‘Chainsaw Man’ (2022– )

This anime blends horror and action with frequent gore and disturbing creature designs. Scenes include dismemberment, trauma, and coercive situations. Adult themes like exploitation and grief drive the plot. It streams with mature ratings and per episode advisories.

‘Parasyte -the maxim-‘ (2014–2015)

This body horror series depicts alien parasites taking over humans with graphic transformations. Episodes involve intense violence, ethical dilemmas, and sustained fear. School settings contrast sharply with the adult level of threat and imagery. Home releases and streams mark it for mature audiences only.

Share the shows you think parents should keep off the kids’ watchlists in the comments.