Dec 26, 2023

10 Outstanding Animated Series That Defined 2023

With only a few days left in 2023, we would like to take a look back at some of the most impressive and interesting anime that debuted during the past 12 months.

Some of the shows we selected were chosen for their cultural impact, some for their impressive animation, and some simply because we liked them. The only criteria we considered were that the show must debut in 2023 and have multiple episodes (more on this later). We are not saying that these are the 10 best of 2023, but each had something that made them stand out.

Here are the 10 series that caught our attention in 2023, in alphabetical order. Let us know in the comments section below which shows most impacted you this year.

A spin-off of Cartoon Network's popular "Adventure Time" show for adults. Fans and critics alike were excited about the series, which matured aesthetically as well as narratively. The animation is sharper, but toned down to a more realistic feel to match the themes explored by the series' young adult protagonists. One thing that remains, however, is the sense of wonder that made "Adventure Time" a series that still holds a special place in the hearts of many viewers.

"Blue Eye Samurai" was one of the most exciting mixes of 2D and CG animation I saw this year. Animated by France's Blue Spirit, the series tells the Edo period story of a vengeful mixed-race samurai master. Written and executive produced by Amber Noizmi and Michael Green, and directed by Jane Wu, Green, who was nominated for an Academy Award for co-writing LOGAN, served as showrunner, and his experience in the film industry shined through in Blue-Eyed Samurai.

Who would have thought that a reboot of a 39-year-old cult favorite monster movie as an animated series could be so engaging and aesthetically distinctive: The Secret of the Mogwai made the list. The show deviates from its origins as a light horror film and targets children and families. Its aesthetic satisfies that demographic with energetic CG animation, a vibrant color palette, and a far less frightening version of the gremlins. In a world inundated with reboots, sequels, prequels, and spinoffs, it was refreshing to see such a fresh take on an existing franchise. [Disney's new anthology series is perhaps the best example of African animation prowess. Triggerfish was the lead producer on the film, but episodes were helmed by artists from South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Uganda. The series proposes ten visions of the future inspired by the diverse history and culture of the African continent. The directors were encouraged to draw on their personal experiences and stories to imagine new worlds, advanced technologies, aliens, spirits, monsters, etc. To ensure that Kizazi Moto remains truly African, Triggerfish's creative director Anthony Silverstone, instructed the artists to avoid referencing existing animation for inspiration and to let the African people and environment speak for itself.

While it was a rough year for Marvel's live-action productions, the brand continued to thrive in animation, with "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" being its best work. The series was the most nominated & won animated film at this year's Children & Family Emmy Awards, and each award was well deserved. The show has everything one could ask for in a children's comic book series, but what is truly special is the "mixtape moment," when the show's aesthetic and pacing changes dramatically with the music.

Co-creators and showrunners Everett Downing Jr. and Patrick Harpin describe the Netflix series as "a love letter to animation, science fiction, and the Black family all rolled into this crazy, action-packed comedy." They also have a new series called "The Black Family. "Check, check, check. The show was produced and scripted with children and family audiences in mind, but the action and humor are sharp enough to appeal to viewers of all ages. It features top-notch animation by French studio Dwarf Animation.

This sci-fi thriller series follows the surviving crew of a damaged deep-space freighter stranded on a beautiful but unforgiving planet.Scavengers Reign has a lot to offer, but the team at Green Street Pictures and Titmouse have created an amazingly The most favorite of all is the diverse world of flora and fauna created by the team at Green Street Pictures and Titmouse. Each life form feels necessary to the larger ecosystem, and it is fun to see how the introduction of humans into these systems changes them.

This eight-part series is animated and produced by Tokyo-based animation studio Science Sal. Like Wright's previous films, the "Scott Pilgrim" series is based on the comic of the same name by Brian Lee O'Malley. By blending the narrative and aesthetic influences of the West (the original comic) and the East (Science Sal's artists), "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off" will be both familiar and fresh, whether audiences are fans of the original comic or the live-action spin-offs or are new to the franchise The film has managed to create a look and feel that is both familiar and fresh at the same time.

Apple TV+ hit a home run with animation studio Bix Pix Entertainment's new stop-motion series Shape Island. Based on the "Shapes" trilogy by Jon Klassen and Mack Barnett, the series is set on a charming tropical island where the earnest Square, the brave Circle, and the tricky Triangle learn to accept and embrace their differences.

Creator and animation superstar Genndy Tartakovsky says that his work on Cartoon Network's classic shows "Dexter's Laboratory," "Samurai Jack" and "Sim Bionic Titan" all "prepared me for this series It was like a training ground to get ready for this series. Unicorn Warriors Eternal is the story of immortal heroes known as unicorns who accidentally reanimate in the bodies of teenagers, rather than the adult hosts they embodied in the past. The film mixes classic supernatural elements with a steampunk aesthetic and an epic storyline to create an adventure series that balances humor and drama in a way that is fun to watch.

Several excellent indie animated pilots were released in 2023, but since one episode does not make a series, we could not include two or three of our favorites in the list: "Lackadaisy" and "The Amazing Digital Circus" should be listed here as honorable mentions.