8 Animated Shows That Need An Adult Revamp

The term Cult Classic has been used plenty in this article, but no entry fits the description better than Invader Zim. It is the shortest running series on this list, only producing 27 episodes in its two seasons on the air.

Show creator Jhonen Vasquez initially wanted Invader Zim to cater to older audiences, but the show couldn't create a wide enough viewer base. A few production difficulties later and it was cancelled before its second season finished.

Series shortcomings considered, it resonated with the audience it did manage to garner and has remained a fixture in the fan community. The show also received high marks from critics, even winning a Primetime Emmy in 2001.

With an eye-catching animation style and material that was both surreal and subversive, Invader Zim was, in many ways, ahead of its time. Similarly, Futurama experienced issues in ratings and production, which lead to its cancellation in 2003. Maybe our world wasn't ready for a show of this nature in the early 2000s.

However, there have been adult animated shows since that have used similar settings and themes to great success, most notably Rick and Morty, TBS' Final Space and even Futurama's revival on Comedy Central. There is now a clear demographic for the likes of Zim.

Nickelodeon must have taken notice, as an Invader Zim television film is scheduled for release in 2019. We can only hope people tune in and encourage a mature series reboot.