15 Best Animated Shows Since The Simpsons

Since they first hit television screens in 1989, The Simpsons have become some of the most iconic figures in popular culture. The animated sitcom's trademark wit and originality has ensured that it has remained one of the world's favourite animated TV shows.

The yellow-skinned American family has taken the world by storm, and in the thirty-one years and thirty seasons since their debut, there have been countless more animated series that come very close to matching the freshness of The Simpsons. Some of these series have a similar style and sense of humour, whereas others are polar opposites of the distinctly yellow family and their satirical tone.

The Simpsons paved the way for the majority of popular animated TV shows since 1989, though there has yet to be one that parallels the worldwide success of The Simpsons. Even so, many rivals have induced enough uproarious laughter and profound rumination from audiences to give The Simpsons a run for their money. Many programmes have had none of these qualities but are nonetheless beloved by global audiences.

So although nobody expects any TV show to gain a level of critical acclaim and popularity to rival The Simpsons, many have come close.

In the midst of the unpopular (to say the least) Star Wars prequel trilogy, this cartoon TV show lasted twenty-five episodes between 2003 and 2005. Star Wars: The Clone Wars notably introduced General Grievous, who would be one of the main villains in the following Star Wars film, Revenge of the Sith.

It received generally positive reviews from critics. Fans of Star Wars, who had mostly been disappointed with the first two instalments of the prequel trilogy, also generally liked the show, as it was an improvement on many levels to the new films.

Although its fan-base primarily existed only as a small sector of another, much larger fan-base, this TV show provided a redemption amongst all fans of Star Wars - one of the largest media franchises of all time, which had become disreputable in the years preceding this show.

So, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is significant and influential enough to be included on a list of best animated TV shows of the last thirty-one years.