The Best Cartoons (For the Stories)

New cartoons are being produced each year but some of the best ones seem to get swept under the rug before they gain the attention they deserve. I don’t watch a ton of cartoons, but every now and then one will catch my interest. These are usually cartoons that have a deeper side to them. They don’t always seem that way at first, but the longer you watch them, the more you begin to see the depth and level of detail within them.

Below are some of my favorite Cartoons in no particular order. Each of them has different positive aspects to them, though they all have stories that leave me wanting more.

Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls is a masterpiece of storytelling, continuity, and easter eggs. Even when an episode seems out of place or random, it’s usually because you’ve either missed something or haven’t gotten far enough to understand it yet. The show is about the pine twins Dipper and Mable, and their summer spent in Gravity Falls. What starts out as silly adventures quickly evolves into a series of mysteries.

While the first couple of episodes seem silly, the show gradually pulls you into a well-thought-out story with plenty of intrigue. I don’t want to say more here, for fear of spoiling anything, but this is an A+ in both storytelling and humor. Best of all, you can watch the series several times and still find value in it by piecing together all the foreshadowing and clues left in each episode.

Amphibia

Amphibia is on a similar level to Gravity Falls and even has some of the same writers. This one take a little bit longer to get into the phenomenal storytelling, but it does get there. The first season focuses on a character named Ann that magically teleported to this strange swamp-like world. She ends up meeting Sprig, Hop-Pop, and Polly, a small family of frogs in a little village.

After several creative and fun adventures Ann starts to feel part of the community. Piece by piece, the show reveals parts of Ann’s past and what led her to the unique world of Amphibia. The main plot is about how Ann has to find her friends and look for a way home, but they soon find out that they are now part of something much bigger than themselves.

Infinity Train (Season 1)

Infinity Train is an unsung hero of cartoon story telling. It deals with the very real emotions of the main character, tulip, as she is experiencing drama in her home. She leaves her house and is surprised to find a train waiting for her to board. The train ends up being a mysterious place, and Tulip has trouble discovering it’s purpose.

Each cart of the train has a unique puzzle, and Tulip begins solving as many as she can. As she progresses, she discovers that the train might not be functioning the way it is supposed to and is forced to face a cunning adversary. If that isn’t enough, the show has plenty of fun characters that keep you laughing.

Note: Keep in mind that this review is only for the first season, I’ve watched the second one, and it didn’t feel nearly as well thought out as the first.

Over the Garden Wall

When I first watched Over the Garden Wall I didn’t take it seriously. The first episode or two feel super strange. It’s only when you get toward the end of the series that those episodes start to make sense. This is another show that lays out puzzle pieces throughout the story, then connects them toward the end.

Over the Garden Wall is the story of two brothers traveling through the woods, though you don’t find out why they are there until much later in the story. The whole plot is just them trying to return home, but they don’t quite know where they are. Odd details like the boy’s outfits stand out until you eventually discover their reasons. Through each adventure the sense that nothing was left to chance grows.

I remember finishing the show for the first time and feeling a sense of awe at how it all came together. Since then, I’ve rewatched the series several more times. No matter how much I watch it, I find myself admiring the creativity, connections, and even the little songs found in each episode.

Hilda

Finally, we get to talk about Hilda. This show is geared toward a younger audience, but the number one thing I enjoy about it is its charm. Hilda is an optimistic girl the loves adventure and the outdoors. She grew up in the countryside and has an easier time dealing with unique and wild creatures than other kids. When her and her mom are forced to move into a city, Hilda has to learn how to still have adventures while making human friends.

Every artistic part of Hilda is exeptionally well done. From the music, to the art work, to the animation, all of it impressed me. This is the type of show you can watch, be interested in, and feel a nice warm feeling when you’re finished. It’s creative and has creatures and social dynamics that I haven’t seen anywhere else. (Like bureaucractic elves that you can’t see unless you sign paperwork first.)

Keeping Cartoons Alive

We often assume that cartoons are for kids, and lets face it, many of them are. Kids don’t long for the same sophistication adults do. Show like Spongebob Squarepants are designed to hold attention one episode at a time. While that can still be entertaining, there’s something much more satisfying about watching a cartoon with skilled writers behind the curtain.

If you haven’t seen any of the shows I’ve listed above, I highly reccomend you look them up. Good stories are good stories, no matter the format they come out in. By watching well done shows, we show our support for them and, hopefully, we’ll be able to get more of them.

Know any cartoons that have a phenomenal story or other aspects? Share them in the comments! I’m always looking for more well written shows and I know there are more out there!