Animation isn’t a genre. Adult animation isn’t a genre. The proof is right here as we continue to be the only publication in the world that recognizes this. Here’s the best of the best for 2025.

Movies

Best Animated Comedy

Boys Go To Jupiter

Boys Go to Jupiter established itself as the year’s best animated comedy film by delivering what Bubbleblabber called it a “digital fever dream soaked in existential dread and cheap Florida sunshine.” Earning a 9/10 score, the feature debut from Julian Glander uses a unique, “plasticky” Blender-animated aesthetic to tell the story of Billy 5000, a high-school dropout grinding through the gig economy to save $5,000. Critics hailed the film for its “scathing critique of hustle culture,” weaponizing its lo-fi, toy-like visuals to create a surrealist world where “Have a Grubby Day!” is a mandatory corporate mantra. The film is elevated by an “alt-comedy cult leader summit” of a voice cast—including Janeane Garofalo as a sinister juice-mogul and Julio Torres—and a soundtrack of “bizarrely catchy earworms” about everything from side-hustles to eggs. By blending the vibe of a Richard Linklater “hangout” movie with the absurdism of early Adult Swim, Boys Go to Jupiter creates a singular, heartfelt experience that proves indie animation can be more “visceral and vital” than any big-budget studio release.

---

Best Animated Drama

100 Meters

100 Meters (Hyakuemu) took the crown as the year’s best animated drama film by transforming a literal ten-second sprint into a profound, lifelong existential journey. Earning a glowing 9/10 from Bubbleblabber, the film—directed by Kenji Iwaisawa (On-Gaku: Our Sound)—was praised for its “raw, rotoscoped humanity” that elevates the sports genre into something primal and deeply moving. The story tracks the evolving rivalry between Togashi, a naturally gifted runner who feels like a machine on autopilot, and Komiya, an obsessed underdog who runs to escape the voids in his life. We were were particularly floored by the film’s visual audacity; during high-stakes races, the animation sheds its realistic rotoscoping for “transcendent abstraction,” using distorted lines and draining color to mimic the tunnel vision and “animalistic” sensory experience of a full-out sprint. By centering its drama not on who wins, but on why we choose to run in a straight line at all, 100 Meters delivers a “breathless and breathtaking” exploration of self-worth that lingers long after the final dash.

---

Best Documentary

Grand Theft Hamlet

Grand Theft Hamlet redefined the “animated” documentary genre, earning a stellar 9/10 from Bubbleblabber and the prestigious SXSW Grand Jury Award. Directed by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, the film is a “hysterical yet deeply moving” chronicle of two out-of-work actors who attempt to stage a full production of Shakespeare’s tragedy entirely within the hyper-violent world of Grand Theft Auto Online. It stands as the best of its kind this year by transforming the “digital hell hole” of Los Santos into a poignant stage for human resilience. Critics praised the documentary for its “unscripted behind-the-scenes drama,” where real-life marital strains and the crushing isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic bleed into the game, juxtaposed against the absurdity of avatars in alien suits reciting soliloquies while being hunted by police helicopters. By proving that “you can’t stop art,” even when trolls are firing rocket launchers at the stage, Grand Theft Hamlet offers an irreplaceable and “sincerely human” experience that bridges the gap between high-brow theater and modern gamer culture.

---

Television

Best Animated Drama (Foreign Language adapted for English)

Dandadan

Dandadan solidified its status as a “visually stylized acid trip” and a true cultural phenomenon, earning a near-perfect 9.5/10 from Bubbleblabber. Following a stellar first season, the series returned with a second season that masterfully balanced its “chaotically bonkers” multi-genre DNA—blending supernatural horror, high-octane sci-fi, and a genuinely sweet teen romance. Science SARU’s animation remained the gold standard, particularly during the high-stakes “Evil Eye” arc, where we raved about the use of ambitious color palettes and musical tempos to elevate the action. Beyond the spectacle of Mongolian Death Worms and Kaiju battles, the show’s heart lies in the evolving relationship between Momo and Okarun, whose “unlikely underdog” dynamic provided grounded emotional stakes amidst the paranormal madness. Dominating the Netflix global charts and securing a nomination for Anime of the Year, Dandadan stands out in 2025 for its sheer originality and its refusal to follow safe industry formulas.

---

Best Animated Drama

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch emerged as the definitive animated drama of the year by successfully evolving a legendary stealth franchise into a sophisticated, “Old Man Logan” style character study. Scoring a rare 10/10 from Bubbleblabber, the Netflix series was hailed as a “brutally sharp and beautifully rendered” masterpiece that puts traditional video game adaptations to shame. While some purists initially bristled at the casting change, Liev Schreiber won over the fanbase with a “commanding and world-weary” vocal performance that perfectly captured an aging Sam Fisher’s transition from a shadow operative to a reluctant mentor for new recruit Zinnia McKenna. The show’s narrative depth, penned by John Wick creator Derek Kolstad, tackled complex themes of “analog” soldiers in a digital, hybrid-warfare world, all while maintaining the high-tension espionage that defined the early games. With its visually arresting 2D-3D hybrid animation style and a plot that skillfully weaves in deep-cut lore—such as the legacy of Chaos Theory villain Douglas Shetland—Deathwatch has set a new gold standard for adult animated drama.

---

Best New Animated Comedy

Common Side Effects

Common Side Effects has established itself as the standout newcomer by successfully bridging the gap between a high-stakes conspiracy thriller and a dry, nuanced comedy. Created by Joe Bennett (Scavengers Reign) and Steve Hely (Veep), the series follows Marshall Cuso, a mycologist who discovers a “miracle” mushroom capable of curing any disease, and his estranged friend Frances, who is secretly tied to the very pharmaceutical company trying to suppress it. Bubbleblabber praised the show for being Adult Swim’s long-sought-after answer to Breaking Bad, noting that its “unpredictability and nuance” make it feel entirely original in a landscape often crowded by Rick and Morty clones. The series excels by grounding its absurd premise—fighting a “profits-over-people” healthcare system—with surprisingly heartfelt character work and a “cinematic” animation style from Green Street Pictures. Whether it’s the hilariously mundane DEA agents Copano and Harrington or the mind-bending, psychedelic “trip” sequences that lean into cosmic horror, Common Side Effects delivers an intellectual, “all-in-one” experience that is as addictive as the medicine at its center.

---

Best Animated Comedy

South Park

South Park reclaimed its throne as the king of animated comedy by proving it still possesses the sharpest “bite” in the industry. After a long hiatus, Season 27 arrived with a “gloves-off” energy that critics described as the most subversive and “downright angry” satire in years. By directly lampooning the Trump administration—notably through the shocking and grotesque “Trump-Satan” storyline—creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone demonstrated a fearless “fuck it” attitude fueled by their massive $1.5 billion deal, ensuring they remain the ultimate “equal opportunity offenders.” While other shows struggled to keep pace with an increasingly surreal news cycle, South Park utilized a new bi-weekly release format to deliver more polished, narratively cohesive episodes that balanced savage political takedowns with the return of classic character-driven plots, such as the poignant emotional resolution between Kyle and Cartman in the finale, “The Crap Out.” Ultimately, the series remains unmatched in its ability to turn the week’s most absurd headlines into essential, “must-watch” cultural commentary.