Win or Lose holds a landmark place in Pixar's history as the studio's first-ever original long-form series, an animated comedy that brings Pixar's feature-quality craft and emotional depth to episodic television. Created by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, the eight-episode series follows a co-ed middle-school softball team, the Pickles, over the course of the week leading up to their big championship game, examining the anxieties, hopes, and inner lives of the kids, coaches, and parents in their orbit.
The show's clever structural conceit is that each episode retells the same week from a different character's point of view, revealing how the same events look wildly different depending on whose eyes you see them through. A nervous young pitcher, an overwhelmed coach, a kid navigating family stress, each perspective is rendered with its own visual flourishes that externalize that character's emotional state, a technique that lets the series explore empathy and subjectivity in a way tailor-made for Pixar's storytelling strengths.
Debuting on Disney+ in early 2025, Win or Lose drew attention both for its inventive format and for a pre-release controversy when Disney removed a storyline involving a transgender character, a decision that generated significant discussion. Reviews praised the animation and the show's tender understanding of adolescent anxiety. It streams on Disney+.
"Black Dynamite" is an animated television series that first aired on Adult Swim in 2012. The show is a parody of blaxploitation films from the 1970s and features a character named Black Dynamite who fights crime in a fictional city. The series was created by Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, and Scott Sanders.
The show follows the adventures of Black Dynamite, a former CIA agent and Vietnam War veteran who uses his martial arts skills to fight crime in his community. Along with his sidekick Bullhorn, his love interest Honeybee, and other allies, Black Dynamite faces off against various villains and criminal organizations. The series is known for its humor, action, and references to blaxploitation films.
The show received positive reviews for its animation style, voice acting, and humor. It ran for two seasons and a total of 20 episodes before being cancelled in 2015. Despite its relatively short run, "Black Dynamite" has since gained a cult following and remains popular among fans of the blaxploitation genre and Adult Swim programming.
Superjail! is an American animated television series that follows the surreal and often violent adventures of the inmates and staff of Superjail, a massive, complex, and bizarre prison located in a volcano. The show features a cast of eccentric and colorful characters, including the ruthless Warden, his loyal assistant, the sadistic Alice, and the flamboyant, cross-dressing Doctor. The series is known for its surreal and dark humor, as well as its graphic violence and sexual content.
Each episode of Superjail! typically features several interwoven storylines that take place within and around the prison, often involving the various inmates and their attempts to escape, outwit, or manipulate each other, as well as the prison staff. The show's animation style is highly stylized and frequently incorporates psychedelic imagery, rapid cuts, and surreal transitions, giving it a frenetic and disorienting feel.
Superjail! has been praised for its innovative animation and its willingness to push boundaries with its edgy humor and graphic content, although it has also been criticized for being excessively violent and vulgar. The series has developed a cult following among adult audiences and has been compared to other animated shows such as Adult Swim's The Venture Bros. and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
"Xavier: Renegade Angel" is an American animated television series that premiered in 2007. The show follows the journey of the titular character, a philosophical and spiritual seeker who wanders through the world in search of answers to life's biggest questions. Xavier is a half-man, half-goat hybrid with a patchwork body and a snake for a left arm.
The series features absurdist and surreal humor, with episodes often exploring complex themes such as spirituality, morality, and the nature of existence. Xavier's journey takes him to a variety of settings, from the mundane to the fantastical, where he interacts with a diverse cast of characters, including a group of stoners, a talking egg, and a man with a detachable penis.
Despite its unique style and experimental nature, "Xavier: Renegade Angel" received mixed reviews and struggled with low ratings throughout its two-season run. The show was praised for its creativity and unconventional storytelling but criticized for its often confusing and nonsensical plotlines. Nonetheless, the series remains a cult classic and a testament to the power of experimental animation.
"The Boondocks" is a satirical American animated TV series that first aired in 2005. The show follows the life of an African-American family, the Freemans, who move from the inner city to the suburbs. The two young Freeman boys, Huey and Riley, face many challenges as they adjust to their new surroundings, often clashing with the cultural differences and attitudes of their white neighbors.
The show's creator, Aaron McGruder, infuses political and social commentary into the series, often addressing issues such as racism, hip-hop culture, and the African-American experience. The show also features a cast of diverse characters, including the Freeman's eccentric grandfather, their white neighbor who is infatuated with black culture, and a corrupt black politician.
"The Boondocks" received both critical acclaim and controversy for its provocative and controversial content. Despite this, the show's popularity led to a successful four-season run before ending in 2014. The series remains a culturally significant work of media and a commentary on race and culture in America.
"Ten Year Old Tom" is an American adult animated sitcom on HBO Max created by Steve Dildarian. The show follows the story of a regular ten-year-old boy named Tom, who is trying to navigate the world around him with the help of the adults in his life. However, their guidance is often questionable, leading Tom to face new and challenging situations.
The cast of the show includes Steve Dildarian as the voice of Tom, Byron Bowers as Nelson, Edi Patterson as Tom's Mom, Todd Glass as Principal, Ben Rodgers as Bus Driver, Erik Griffin as Coach, Gillian Jacobs as Dakota, John Malkovich as Mr. B, Matt Johnson as Announcer, Taylor Misiak as Yasmine, and Eugene Cordero as Hector.
The show's humor revolves around Tom's interactions with the adults in his life, who often have misguided or odd advice. The show uses animation to create a whimsical world where anything can happen, from bus rides with eccentric drivers to encounters with strange coaches. The show has been renewed for a second season after its first season premiered in 2022.
Space Ghost Coast to Coast is an American animated television series that originally aired from 1994 to 2004. The show featured the character Space Ghost, a 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon superhero who, in this series, was repurposed as a talk show host. The show was unique in that it was a combination of traditional animation and live-action interviews.
The format of the show involved Space Ghost interviewing celebrities from various fields, including actors, musicians, and politicians, often with absurd or nonsensical questions. The interviews were interspersed with clips from the original Space Ghost cartoons, as well as segments featuring other characters such as Zorak and Moltar.
Space Ghost Coast to Coast is considered to be a pioneering show in the genre of adult animated television, and has been credited with paving the way for other shows such as Adult Swim. The show was also notable for its use of surrealist humor and absurdist dialogue, as well as its innovative use of limited animation. Despite its relatively short run, Space Ghost Coast to Coast has become a cult classic and continues to have a dedicated fanbase.
Dragon Ball Super is a Japanese anime television series that is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and the Dragon Ball Z anime. It was produced by Toei Animation and premiered in Japan in July 2015. The series was later dubbed into English and released in North America in January 2017.
The series follows the adventures of Goku and his friends after the defeat of Majin Buu. They face new threats, including the God of Destruction Beerus and his attendant Whis, who are searching for the Super Saiyan God. The series also introduces new characters such as the Universe 6 Saiyans, Hit the assassin, and Jiren the Grey of Universe 11.
Dragon Ball Super has received positive reviews for its animation, fight scenes, and storytelling. It has also been praised for its ability to continue the story of Dragon Ball while introducing new elements to the franchise. The series has spawned numerous spin-offs, including manga adaptations and video games, and has become a cultural phenomenon around the world.
