Adult Swim recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. This past weekend the network hosted the Adult Swim Festival where panels were held on some of their popular original shows like Squidbillies, Rick and Morty, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
The network confirmed at the festival Rick and Morty season 6 would premiere in 2022, meaning there is plenty for fans to look forward to. Adult Swim has plenty to offer viewers, but if a fan is unsure what to watch, Ranker has a list of the top currently airing shows as voted on by fans.
Primal
This series from creator Genndy Tartakovsky follows a caveman, Spear, and a Tyrannosaurus, Fang, in their struggle to survive in a prehistoric world. The show features striking visuals, visceral violence, and tender moments— impressively, all without the use of dialogue.
The show is one of the more unique currently airing. Without dialogue, all of the story needs to be told by the visuals and the music. The show does so, and it's incredibly effective. With a Tomatometer of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, this show is well worth the watch.
The Eric Andre Show
Eric Andre and Hannibal Buress host the wildly chaotic, surreal, and absurd parody of public access shows. The exact show viewers would expect to air on Adult Swim, the show features public pranks and awkward celebrity interviews where the guest is not in on the joke.
Andre is never afraid of going too far, and always raises the bar of making someone uncomfortable. The highlight of the show is the celebrity interviews, where viewers will either cringe or roll on the floor laughing. While the show is silly, Andre will still deliver some thought-provoking questions to guests.
Squidbillies
A staple of the network, airing since 2005, Squidbillies follows the Cuyler family, consisting of Early, Rusty, Granny, and Lil, of hillbilly mud squids living in the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia. The show is a hilarious look at the stereotypes of the south.
The show is known for its smart commentary on the south and hillbilly culture. Fans of Aqua Teen Hunger Force and The Brak Show should check out the show as the same creators created this. The animation is a bit crude, and that can be off-putting, but the humor is strong enough to carry the show.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Taiba
Based on the manga Kimetsu no Taiba, Demon Slayer is an anime adaptation telling the story of Tanjiro, a demon slayer in training and his sister Nezuko, who is now a demon after an attack on his family left all but her dead.
There's a reason why Demon Slayer is one of the most popular anime. It's a beautifully animated show, with intense fight scenes, and great characters. Viewers might not like that Adult Swim airs the dubbed version of the show, but either subbed or dubbed, Demon Slayer is the anime to watch.
Final Space
The series follows an astronaut, Gary Goodspeed, who befriends an alien he names Mooncake. The two need to band together to help save the universe all while being chased after by the evil Lord Commander.
The show is funny and heartwarming, with plenty of emotional scenes throughout the series. Fans of Doctor Who should check out the show to hear David Tennant as the Lord Commander. The only downside is the show was canceled after its third season, leaving viewers hoping for more from its universe.
Robot Chicken
The longest-running show on Adult Swim, Robot Chicken is a stop motion sketch comedy show parodying all kinds of media. No topic is safe, from toys to video games and films and TV.
Taking the unique visual approach of stop motion, the show separates itself from many other shows currently airing. It stands out and grabs your attention, and holds it with its hilarious takes on pop culture. Viewers might find themselves looking up an '80s toy to get the joke, but the variety is what makes the show have such a broad appeal.
Family Guy
Family Guy is one of the most popular adult animated sitcoms of all time. Following the Griffins, a typical dysfunctional family, the show parodies the American family and culture.
The show is crude and irreverent, but that is the appeal. Fart jokes are welcome on Family Guy. Depending on viewers tastes, the show relying on cutaway gags to make many of its jokes could be a turn-off. But the show has made it its identity, and it does it well. The show was even the first animated program to be nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards since 1961.
American Dad!
This animated sitcom centers on Stan Smith, a CIA agent, and his family, which includes Klaus, a talking goldfish, and Roger, an alien. The show focuses on family relationships and politics, and often mixes them in clever and humorous ways.
With its clever takes on family and politics, American Dad! has cemented itself as one of the best animated sitcoms. The dynamic between Stan and his daughter Hayley is used to great comedic effect in many of the show's episodes. While the political jokes might not be for everyone, the show usually doesn't try to alienate the audience. Viewers can even look out for Patrick Stewart voicing Deputy Director Bullock, Smith's boss.
Bob's Burgers
This charming and heartwarming show follows the Belcher family, parents Bob and Linda, and their children Gene, Tina, and Louise, who operate a hamburger restaurant, along with the adventures they go on.
The series is incredibly funny, and has many tender moments between the family. Fans of Archer can tune in to hear H. Jon Benjamin as Bob. The show is elevated by the performances of Eugene Mirman and Kristen Schaal as Gene and Louise, two of the three Belcher children. Viewers will instantly fall in love with the Belchers and the many quirky characters that inhabit the show.
Rick And Morty
Rick and Morty has transcended Adult Swim. The show is one of the most popular shows currently airing, and for good reason. The series follows Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty as they navigate both family issues and interdimensional travel.
Smart dialogue, clever jokes, sci-fi weirdness, and the occasional crushing moments are what define the show and draw viewers in. Each season of the series has over a 90% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans of Community should also check out the show as Dan Harmon co-created it.