The 2020s are already shaping up to be a great decade for animation. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best animated series from the 2020s… up to this point, at least.
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00:00That was incredible. I can't believe what I just saw."
00:05Welcome to MissMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best animated series
00:09from the 2020s, up to this point at least.
00:12We did it. After everything, after all that, we stuck together.
00:1810. Adventure Time – Fiona and Cake
00:21Let's go to our house!
00:22Yeah! We could throw a party!
00:27Yeah!
00:28A spin-off-slash-sequel to Adventure Time, this series follows the eponymous Fiona and
00:32Cake, alternative versions of the leads from its parent show. When their world is changed
00:37irrevocably, the duo sets out on a journey through the multiverse to put things right,
00:41running into alternate versions of familiar characters, old and new.
00:45You know, Simon, I used to bust your balls about those old stories, but I really came
00:50around to them.
00:51While the whimsicality of Adventure Time remains, Fiona and Cake takes a more mature approach,
00:55having grown up along with fans of the original series. Whether you're new to the land of
00:59Ooo, or a veteran, Fiona and Cake offers plenty of fantastical adventures to be had.
01:04Bandles! You won't get away with this!
01:07Gibbon doesn't forgive!
01:13Yeah, that was great!
01:159. My Adventures with Superman
01:18You'd think that after decades of telling Superman stories, they'd run out of ideas.
01:22Yet, My Adventures with Superman still feels like a refreshing take on the familiar superhero.
01:26Don't worry, I'm still me, Ma. I'm still your son.
01:34Of course you are. But you're something else now, too.
01:38Unlike some other recent versions of The Man of Steel, this show is light-hearted and romantic.
01:43Clark Kent's relationship with Lois Lane, and their friendship with Jimmy Olsen, takes
01:47center stage.
01:49All three of them work together to fight villains threatening Metropolis, and the world.
01:53The Adult Swim series draws some inspiration from anime for its art style and tone, while
01:58emphasizing Superman's relatability and humanity.
02:02It's just plain fun.
02:048. The Legend of Vox Machina
02:06Safe to say you've sent Vox Machina to their doom?
02:09Doom? We don't know the meaning of the word.
02:12I certainly don't.
02:14Based on the critical reviews of The Man of Steel, it's safe to say that Vox Machina is
02:17one of the best shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
02:208. The Legend of Vox Machina
02:22Safe to say you've sent Vox Machina to their doom?
02:25Doom? We don't know the meaning of the word.
02:28I certainly don't.
02:30Based on the Critical Role Dungeons & Dragons campaign, The Legend of Vox Machina follows
02:34the titular group of adventurers on various adventures. And misadventures.
02:39The series perfectly captures and distills the chaos of a D&D campaign, while also honing
02:44and focusing on what's most important, helping it feel more accessible and definitely shorter.
02:50Had a busy evening, little man?
02:53You're a tiny maggot, but your head will still mount nicely on my wall.
02:58Not everyone has time for four-hour-long episodes, Matt Mercer.
03:02The cast has incredible chemistry, the fights are great, and even fans of the source material
03:08will find plenty new to enjoy.
03:10If ever you want to see what D&D is really like, you can't go wrong with this show.
03:15Hold on, you'll get us caught, Scanlan. No!
03:17No?
03:18Scanlan's foot!
03:24I fell out of the window.
03:26It may be set in Japan, but Blue-Eye Samurai was made in the West.
03:31Front-loading. Not a Japanese pistol.
03:37A European design, isn't it?
03:39The series follows Mizu, a mixed-race samurai in search of revenge.
03:45The animation style is distinctive and striking, while the action sequences are thrilling throughout.
03:59As much a character study as it is a bloody revenge tale, Blue-Eye Samurai also delves
04:04into gender roles and provides historical insight as well as timely commentary.
04:09The immersive atmosphere, complex characters, and gripping story help make Blue-Eye Samurai
04:14a fantastic blend of Eastern and Western styles.
04:17You're the bravest princess I've ever met.
04:20I'm not brave. I've been a captive my whole life.
04:24If I die today, I die free.
04:286. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
04:30Are you real?
04:31Did you just ask me if I was real?
04:33Uh, nope. I was talking to someone else. Bye.
04:38Based on the graphic novel series and film, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off isn't another retelling
04:42of the same story. Instead, it depicts what happens to Scott Pilgrim's life once he drops
04:47out of it. Without Scott, the supporting cast, particularly the girl of Slash in His Dreams,
04:53Ramona Flowers, gets a chance to shine.
04:56Roxy, I'm sorry.
05:00For what?
05:02For leaving the way I did.
05:06Its premise allows for plenty of meta-humor, while also updating elements that didn't work
05:10so well in hindsight. All this, plus its fantastic animation, particularly for its fight scenes,
05:16helps make Scott Pilgrim Takes Off an animated show that could take on the world.
05:265. X-Men 97
05:29One day life's fresh, then the next day you're waking up to a blue monkey singing Mozart
05:33as he tinkers with doohickeys.
05:35Simian Analogies, Jubilee. Shame on you.
05:38The 1990s X-Men series was one of the gold standards for superhero cartoons, and its
05:43sequel series lives up to that legacy. Picking up where the original left off, yet also feeling
05:48inclusive to new viewers, X-Men 97 has everything that made the 90s show great. But with even
05:54more going for it. The animation is stellar, the character development and relationships
05:59are great, and the plot twists hit like a truck.
06:02Dang asteroid exploded, now we're here.
06:07Indeed. What is the saying? We are not in Kansas.
06:11We never thought we'd be shipping Rogue and Magneto, but here we are. It's clearly a labor
06:17of love by X-Men fans for X-Men fans. And of course, the theme song still slaps.
06:244. Scavenger's Reign
06:35This series may be a sleeper pick, but it's certainly not one you should sleep on.
06:41Please come back!
06:48Scavenger's Reign follows several groups of survivors of a spaceship crash on an alien
06:53world as they attempt to reach their downed ship. Each survivor responds to their new
06:58situation in different ways, yet all of them must struggle to adapt to a place that is
07:02as beautiful as it is deadly.
07:04It's ok. We're going to get through this.
07:11Don't touch anything in here.
07:13Science fiction can often struggle to feel truly otherworldly, but Scavenger's Reign
07:18creates this impression effortlessly, and we want to explore every inch of this vibrant,
07:23exciting story.
07:24You're not making any sense.
07:26If you just go back in there and try...
07:28Go back in? Are you crazy?
07:30Here's hoping it gets the continuation it deserves.
07:323. Invincible
07:36You might as well give up. I...
07:41Being the son of a superhero can be a lot to live up to. Mark Grayson knows that all
07:46too well.
07:47That's the tricky part of the job. Balancing what you want to do with what you need to
07:52do.
07:53However, after finally developing superpowers, he slowly discovers his dad, Omni-Man, may
07:58not be such a good guy after all.
08:00Invincible is the adult animated superhero show we all need, deftly balancing great world-building,
08:08complex character relationships, and brutal fight scenes.
08:11A nuanced and raw look at the responsibility of superpowers, Invincible is an animated
08:16series that, while not as bulletproof as its name implies, is still nearly unbeatable.
08:22They shouldn't matter to me.
08:24That doesn't mean they should die.
08:26You don't understand! I'm not supposed to feel this way!
08:302. The Owl House
08:32I don't fit in at home. You don't fit in here.
08:35To this day, we could not fit in together.
08:37A spiritual successor of sorts to Gravity Falls, The Owl House follows Luz, a human
08:43teenager who finds herself transported to the demon realm, falling in with a misfit
08:47witch and trying to learn magic herself.
08:49The series has a spectacular appeal to both kids and adults, with intricate lore, a compelling
08:54ongoing storyline, hilarious and often dark humor, lovable characters, and one of the
08:59most adorable LGBTQIA plus animated couples ever.
09:05Oh, crikey. I can't believe I just did that.
09:11Our only real complaint is that there isn't more of it.
09:14How many snails do we have to pay to make that happen?
09:17Garbage, garbage, garbage.
09:21Now this, this will make me rich.
09:27Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:31Star Wars The Bad Batch
09:32The grim aftermath of Order 66, as seen by the Dad Batch.
09:37One match. If you win, then no more sitting out on missions.
09:47You ready for this?
09:49Are you?
09:51Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
09:53Combines a unique world with inclusivity and great characters.
09:57Wolf, get in here! Family hug!
10:00You forgot to say Vincent and Dave!
10:02But we're coming too!
10:07The Midnight Gospel
10:08This podcast gets weird.
10:11It's just letting go into that thing.
10:13Yes. And the amazing thing about letting go into it is that you find that this thing called love is supportive. That it holds us.
10:25What if?
10:26It's basically big-budget MCU fanfiction, and we kinda love that.
10:29You're trying to bring back Christine, aren't you?
10:32Yes, I am. And if anyone could understand, it's you.
10:35Strange, come to your senses!
10:37I have to do this!
10:38But this is madness!
10:39Oh, come on, Peggy! You know you'd do the same thing for Steve!
10:43Has Been Hotel
10:44The dark comedy musical web series came to Amazon and smashed all expectations.
10:51It's time to lose yourself, loathe and excuse yourself.
10:55Let hope in, baby.
10:57Play your card, be who you are.
10:59The loser just lied.
11:03There he is!
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11:201. Arcane
11:22League of Legends may inspire more salt than every ocean on Earth, but this animated series,
11:27based on the game, is almost universally acclaimed.
11:30Arcane focuses on a conflict between a utopian city and its lawless, downtrodden undercity.
11:36Topside and bottom, oil and water. That's all there is.
11:40What about us?
11:44Oil and water. It wasn't meant to be.
11:47This is mostly told through two sisters who find themselves at the heart of it
11:51when magically-powered Arcane technology is developed.
11:54This character development is immaculate.
11:57The ensemble cast is excellent, the music perfectly suits the series' style.
12:11The animation is so good, every frame is like a painting.
12:16It's a downright magical work of art.
12:26Is there a Western animated series from the 2020s we forgot?
12:30Help keep our hindsight 2020 by sharing your picks in the comments.
12:35I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out with me
12:37and smoke weed and fill our bellies with diet soda and play Burnout Revenge for the PS2.
12:42No thanks, I have to go to work.
12:44Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo.
12:48And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.