Cartoon Rating Guide For Smart Adults

[Bone]

Cartoon rating guide for the smart adult: v1.2, 1/2007

Note: This is a rating guide, not a review book -- hit up Google & Wikipedia, then Amazon and IMDB forums for extended analyses. It's purpose is to quickly alert you to animation you may never have heard of. It is also skewed from the perspective of an adult animation fan -- a lowly-rated show may be immensely enjoyable for small children and even competently-made, but was of little interest to me; a highly-rated show will be competently-made, and may or may not be enjoyable for or even marketed to small children. Lastly, if a show has English-language versions, those are the versions I have likely watched (and I appreciate good dubbing and loathe bad dubbing).

This list covers mainly animated television series, although several films are included. I have not seen every episode of some shows rated 7 and lower and many episodes of shows rated 5 or lower; indicated ratings may change if I see new episodes of better or worse qualify than those previous, or if many better or worse episodes of other shows alter the landscape.

Anything rated at least "5" is in the category of "average show worth watching, provided you have time"; you probably won't watch re-runs, however. A typical "5" cartoon features arch-type characters and villains, with servicable if unexceptional dialogue, animation and plots. "4"s and lower feature too much bad animation, one-dimensional characters, plot-holes, dumbed-down or just plain stupid writing and spastic slapstick for this adult reviewer to stomach, although kids will like many of them. "6"s and "7"s feature stronger characterization, more innovative drawing and intelligent scripting than average, and anything rated "8" or better is likely to pull you in to watching a re-run while you're channel-flipping, even if it's well-memorized already. Anything rated "9" is truly exceptional, and perfect in nearly every way. "10"s are reserved only for those shows which, IMO, will become or already are timeless classics. Highly-rated shows generally have unique and memorable musical scores associated with them. Make an effort to see every "8" and up before you croak, and most 6s and 7s.

- "series" means plots track across multiple episodes and even seasons (so they are best watched in order); lack of this term doesn't mean, however, that all of a show's episodes are "stand-alones".
- "drama" indicates a character-driven series with little emphasis on confrontation.
- "spoof" indicates a comedy which makes or parodies cultural or other-show references which younger persons are less likely to be aware of; such a show is not necessarily only adult-oriented, however, although it is likely to drag up this reviewer's rating due to intelligent writing.
- "comedy" describes humorous shows that are neither toons nor spoofs.
- "toon" means real-world physics are expressly NOT observed, animals talk, etc.
- "fantasy" indicates the presence of magic or "chi" and/or spirts, gods, demons, undead, fantastic animals, etc, but the setting is in an otherwise more or less realistic world.
- "realistic" indicates real-world physics are observed, nobody has superpowers, and animated characters are essentially like real people and don't take inordinate risks, speak "one-liner dialogue" or "mug for the camera".
- "superhero" means some characters have extraordinary abilities or "mutant" powers which permit them to cheat real-world physics others have to obey in a otherwise more or less real world. Many shows feature character which trend in this direction, but superhero shows invariably have costumed protagonists who are (in)famous for their abilities.
- "shonen" indicates a style of teen-male-oriented anime, often with frequent battles between sometimes enormous casts of protagonists and villains (such are the counterparts to western-style mass-cast superhero shows).
- "mecha" indicates giant robots.
- "cards" means the show is a marketing vehicle to sell trading cards.
- "Ghibli" indicates the acclaimed Japanese animation studio, or to anything prior involving its founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
- "DCAU" refers to the DC Animated Universe (look it up in Wikipedia).
- "Violent" means there's frequent blood and/or on-screen death, and the show is usually inappropriate for small children (the lack of this term, however, doesn't mean that a show lacks fighting).
- "Scary" means weird monsters may frighten small children and give them nightmares, even if it's a comedy.
- "adult" indicates overly lewd sexual references and/or foul language.
- "kids" means the show is appealing to small children (whether or not dialogue is dumbed-down).
- "family" indicates a show with very broad appeal; it isn't specifically written for any age group, and is neither "dumbed down" nor "sophisticated humor".
- "girl" indicates the presence of important female characters (other than mothers or grandmas).


10 - 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother - series, family, adventure, drama, realistic
10 - Adventures of Prince Achmed, The - movie, family, fantasy, girl, adventure
10 - Courage the Cowardly Dog - toon, family, spoof, scary
10 - Cowboy Bebop - series, sci-fi, realistic, violent, girl
10 - Future Boy Conan - series, family, adventure, Ghibli, girl
10 - Grave of the Fireflies - movie, drama, realistic, violent, girl, Ghibli
10 - Kiki's Delivery Service - Ghibli, movie, family, girl, fantasy
10 - My Neighbor Totoro - Ghibli, movie, family, kids, girl, fantasy
10 - Popeye: Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp - toon, family, fantasy, movie-short
10 - Romeo's Blue Skies - series, family, adventure, drama, realistic
10 - Venture Bros., The - adult, spoof, violent
10 - Whisper of the Heart - movie, girl, family, realistic, Ghibli

9 - Avatar, The Last Airbender - series, fantasy, family, adventure, girl
9 - FLCL (Fooly Cooly) - series, comedy, girl, sci-fi, fantasy
9 - Gauche The Cellist (Sero Hiki no Goshu) - movie, Ghibli, family, fantasy
9 - Laputa (Castle in the Sky) - Ghibli, family, movie, adventure, girl, sci-fi
9 - Lupin III (or the Third) - comedy, adventure, girl, adult
9 - Pinky and the Brain - kids, toon, spoof
9 - Porko Rosso - Ghibli, movie, adventure, girl, fantasy, family
9 - Princess Mononoke - Ghibli, movie, fantasy, adventure, violent, scary, girl
9 - Rocky & Bullwinkle Show, The - kids, spoof, toon
9 - Samurai Champloo - series, spoof, violent, adventure, adult, girl
9 - Spirited Away - Ghibli, family, movie, fantasy, girl, adventure, scary
9 - Superman, The Animated Series - superhero, DCAU, girl, family
9 - Teen Titans - spoof, superhero, DCAU, girl, family

8 - Akira - movie, sci-fi, violent
8 - Batman Beyond - superhero, DCAU
8 - Batman, The Animated Series - superhero, DCAU
8 - Billy & Mandy - kids, toon, spoof, girl
8 - Full Metal Alchemist - series, fantasy, violent, shonen, comedy
8 - Futurama - adult, spoof, sci-fi, toon
8 - Ghostbusters, Extreme - fantasy, scary, comedy
8 - Ghostbusters, The Real (seasons 1-3 only) - kids, fantasy, scary, comedy
8 - Howl's Moving Castle - Ghibli, movie, girl, fantasy, violent
8 - Justice League, Unlimited - superhero, DCAU
8 - Korgoth of Barbaria - adult, spoof, fantasy
8 - Mysterious Cities of Gold, The - series, kids, adventure, girl, fantasy
8 - Pom Poko (The Racoon War) - Ghibli, movie, fantasy
8 - Popeye - toon, family, spoof
8 - Static Shock - kids, superhero, DCAU
8 - Valhalla - movie, kids, fantasy, girl

7 - Case Closed (Detective Conan) - series, family, mystery, adventure
7 - Dexter's Lab - kids, toon, spoof, sci-fi
7 - Eureka Seven - series, mecha, violent, shonen
7 - Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG - series, sci-fi, violent
7 - Invader Zim - toon, kids, spoof, sci-fi
7 - Jackie Chan Adventures - series, kids, fantasy, girl
7 - Johnny Quest (original) - kids, adventure, violent
7 - Megas XLR - kids, mecha, spoof, girl
7 - Naruto - series, shonen, violent, girl, fantasy, comedy
7 - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - Ghibli, movie, girl, fantasy, adventure
7 - Oban Star-Racers - series, adventure, sci-fi
7 - Outlaw Star - series, sci-fi, comedy, girl, adventure
7 - Powerpuff Girls, The - kids, toon, spoof, girl, superhero
7 - Robot Chicken - toon, spoof, adult
7 - Samurai Jack - kids, sci-fi, superhero, adventure
7 - Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! - kids, toon, mecha, superhero, scary
7 - The Tick - toon, kids, spoof, superhero
7 - Time Warp Trio - kids, fantasy, educational
7 - Trigun - series, sci-fi, violent, comedy

6 - Batman, The - series, superhero
6 - Ben 10 - kids, sci-fi
6 - Big O, The - series, mecha, sci-fi
6 - Bleach - series, sci-fi, fantasy, violent, comedy, scary
6 - Blu Gender - series, sci-fi, violent, drama, girl
6 - Escaflowne - series, fantasy, mecha, violent, shonen
6 - Fafner in the Azure (Dead Aggressor) - series, sci-fi, mecha, violent, shonen
6 - Gargoyles - series, fantasy, mecha, violent, girl, Disney
6 - Hercules - kids, fantasy, superhero, comedy, Disney
6 - Infinite Ryvius - series, sci-fi, drama, girl
6 - InuYasha - series, shonen, violent, fantasy, girl
6 - Johnny Bravo - toon, spoof
6 - Kim Possible - comedy, girl, sci-fi, Disney
6 - Lilo & Stitch (animated TV) - kids, sci-fi, comedy, girl, Disney
6 - Martin Mystery - sci-fi, comedy, scary, girl
6 - Ninja Scroll - movie, adult, violent, fantasy
6 - S-CRY-ed - sci-fi, mecha, superhero, shonen
6 - Scrapped Princess - series, fantasy, sci-fi, girl, adventure, scary
6 - Tutenstein - kids, toon, adventure, girl
6 - Witch Hunter Robin - series, fantasy, girl, violent
6 - Xiaolin Showdown - kids, toon, fantasy, comedy
6 - Zeta Project, The - kids, girl, superhero, DCAU

5 - A.T.O.M - kids, superhero, sci-fi
5 - Aladdin - kids, fantasy, Disney
5 - American Dragon Jake Long - kids, superhero
5 - Beastwars - toon, mecha, shonen
5 - Blue Submarine #6 - series, sci-fi, realistic, violent
5 - Digimon - kids, toon, cards, adventure
5 - Dragonball Z - series, shonen, violent, fantasy, comedy
5 - Gigantor - kids, mecha
5 - Gotham Girls - series, girl, superhero, DCAU
5 - Gundam Wing - series, sci-fi, mecha, violent, shonen
5 - Horus, Prince of the Sun - movie, Ghibli, fantasy, adventure
5 - Inspector Gadget - kids, toon
5 - Kappa Mikey - kids, spoof, toon, superhero
5 - Legion of Superheroes - kids, superhero, DCAU(?)
5 - Metalocalypse - adult, spoof, violent
5 - Mobile Suit Gundam - series, mecha, shonen
5 - One Piece - kids, toon, adventure
5 - Record of the Lodoss Wars - series, fantasy, violent
5 - Silverwing - kids, scary, adventure
5 - Speed Racer - adventure
5 - Spongebob Squarepants - kids, toon
5 - Time Squad - toon, spoof, kids, educational
5 - Timon and Pumba - kids, toon, Disney
5 - Trinity Blood - series, vampires, violent
5 - Yin Yang Yo! - kids, toon, Disney, spoof
5 - YuYu Hakusho - series, kids, shonen, girl, fantasy

4 - Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The - kids, toon
4 - Animaniacs (without Pinky and the Brain) - kids, spoof, toon
4 - Camp Lazlo - kids, toon, girl
4 - Codename: Kids Next Door - kids, comedy
4 - Dragon Booster, kids, fantasy, cards(?)
4 - Family Guy - adult, spoof
4 - Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends - toon, kids, fantasy
4 - Kenny the Shark - toon, kids
4 - Kong: The Animated Series - kids, fantasy,
4 - Legend of Tarzan - kids, toon, girl, adventure
4 - Legend of the Dragon - toon, superhero
4 - Little Mermaid, The - kids, toon, fantasy, Disney, girl
4 - Mummy, The - kids, adventure, scary
4 - Pokemon - toon, kids, cards
4 - Rocko's Modern Life - kids, toon
4 - Scooby Do - kids, toon
4 - Shinzo - kids, mecha, fantasy, cards
4 - Shuriken School - kids, toon
4 - South Park - toon, adult, spoof
4 - Thundercats - kids, fantasy, girl
4 - Voltron - mecha, sci-fi, kids
4 - Yugi Oh! - kids, toon

3 - Aqua Teen Hunger Force - toon, adult, spoof
3 - Dungeons & Dragons - kids, fantasy
3 - Ed, Ed & Eddy - kids, toon
3 - Fantastic Four - superhero
3 - Flintstones, The - kids, toon, girl
3 - G.I. Joe - kids, action
3 - He-Man & Masters of the Universe - kids, fantasy, superhero
3 - Mike, Lu & Og - kids, toon
3 - My Gym Partner is a Monkey - kids, toon
3 - Proud Family, The - toon, Disney, spoof
3 - N.A.S.C.A.R. Racers - kids
3 - Rugrats - kids, toon
3 - Spiderman - superhero
3 - Superfriends - kids, superhero, girl
3 - Transformers (various) - toon, mecha

2 - Amazing Chan Clan - kids, toon
2 - Jabberjaw - kids, toon
2 - Little Bear - kids, toon
2 - MaggieBeast - kids, toon, girl
2 - Squidbillies - adult, toon

1 - Assy McGee - adult, toon

[Sam]

8 - Ghostbusters, Extreme - fantasy, scary, comedy
7 - Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG - series, sci-fi, violent

fail. 8-)

[SturmVogel]

Amerikalılar, Anime ile kendi animasyonlarını aynı şey gibi bir arada, aynı ölçütlerle değerlendirmekten ne zaman vazgeçecek acaba?

edit:

10 > Popeye
5 > Mobile Suit Gundam

şeklinde baktığımızda, bu listeyi hazırlayan insan(lar) hakkında fazla da birşey söylemeye gerek kalmıyor.

[Bone]

SturmVogel said:

Amerikalılar, Anime ile kendi animasyonlarını aynı şey gibi bir arada, aynı ölçütlerle değerlendirmekten ne zaman vazgeçecek acaba?

animeleri siz de amma çok abartıyorsunuz yav.

anime = kaliteli çizgi film
anime = 18+ yaşındaki kişilere hitap eden çizgi film

sanılmaya bile başlandı.

anime sadece japonların yaptığı çizgi filmdir,
başka bir özelliği yoktur.
yani amerikalıların yaptığı çizgi filmler gibi iyi ve kötü olanları da vardır.

[Bone]

Sam said:

8 - Ghostbusters, Extreme - fantasy, scary, comedy
7 - Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG - series, sci-fi, violent

fail. 8-)

SturmVogel said:

10 > Popeye
5 > Mobile Suit Gundam

şeklinde baktığımızda, bu listeyi hazırlayan insan(lar) hakkında fazla da birşey söylemeye gerek kalmıyor.

şu kısma gelirsem,
doğrudur, liste çok da "mutlak gerçek" (absolute truth) gibi dikkate alınacak birşey değil.

sadece bir gözatasınız diye koydum :D

mesela spider-man ve transformers'a 3 vermiş. benim çocukluğum onunla geçti lan :P

o değil de, isterseniz buna benzer bir liste hazırlayabiliriz, en azından Türklere de hitap eden birşey olur :P

[Gallant]

8 - Ghostbusters, The Real (seasons 1-3 only) - kids, fantasy, scary, comedy
rofl mao:)

Bir fikir veriyor ama hazirlayan arkadas o kadarda smart deilmis.

[SturmVogel]

Gallant said:

8 - Ghostbusters, The Real (seasons 1-3 only) - kids, fantasy, scary, comedy
rofl mao:)

Bir fikir veriyor ama hazirlayan arkadas o kadarda smart deilmis.

X(

Duygularıma tercüman oldunuz ne diyeyim

[Bone]

mao öldü yaşasın bbq!

"anything rated "8" or better is likely to pull you in to watching a re-run while you're channel-flipping, even if it's well-memorized already"

e o kadar da kötü değil ki ghost busters.
çocukken çok severdim o diziyi :)

ama teen titans ve static shock nasıl o kadar yüksek puan almış onu anlamadım.
DC fanı herhalde adam :)

[Kaede]

6 - Ninja Scroll - movie, adult, violent, fantasy
6 - S-CRY-ed - sci-fi, mecha, superhero, shonen
6 - Scrapped Princess - series, fantasy, sci-fi, girl, adventure, scary
6 - Witch Hunter Robin - series, fantasy, girl, violent

Robinimi bunlarla aynı kefeye koyan zihniyeti ...

Made of poo and fail diyelim geçelim.

[SturmVogel]

Okudukça sinirden gülesim geliyor. Kafa iyiymiş herhalde bunu yazanların.

[Bone]

e siz yazın madem

[SenariouS]

Eva yok listede...
Cowboy bebop ve FLCL yeri doğru bence...
gerisi tartışılır

[Cuce]

ghostbuster fena değildi, ama cakma ghostbuster superdi!

[Asteroth]

(tu) Cowboy Bebop (tu)

[Laurelin]

amerikalilar zevksiz
burdan onu anliyoruz

dunyada saskeyi en cok seven memleketin vatandaslarindan bu listeyi gormek sasirtici degil

WI AR MOR SPESIL DEN YU AMERIKAAA!

[dasaaa]

hmm the simpsons neden yok ki?

[Bone]

izlememiştir adam ben ne bileyim

[sgecca]

acıkcası cocuklugumuzda ayıla bayıla seyrettigimiz cizgi ler ilerleyen yasımda rezalet geldi, ornek ; transformers, gjoe, tintin. Bu yuzden dusuk puan almasına hıc sasmadı, ama gidip de Popeye aptalına yuksek puan verilmesi sacmalık.

Bu da benim amerika lıların cizgi degerlendirmesinin genelde yanlıs oldugu kanısını guclendırdı.

Peki ; bu tarz bir listenin anime dunyasının icinde olan bir japoncası var mı ?

[BonePART]

Bone said:

SturmVogel said:

Amerikalılar, Anime ile kendi animasyonlarını aynı şey gibi bir arada, aynı ölçütlerle değerlendirmekten ne zaman vazgeçecek acaba?

animeleri siz de amma çok abartıyorsunuz yav.

anime = kaliteli çizgi film
anime = 18+ yaşındaki kişilere hitap eden çizgi film

sanılmaya bile başlandı.

anime sadece japonların yaptığı çizgi filmdir,
başka bir özelliği yoktur.
yani amerikalıların yaptığı çizgi filmler gibi iyi ve kötü olanları da vardır.

iyide burda yannis bi cumle yokki
adam animelerle amerikan cizgi filmlerini ayirt etmek gerekli diyor
animeler amerikan cizg filmi gibi deildir
farklidir yapisi japonlar romantizm icinde anime yapiyo aksiyon icinde korku icinde