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10 Animated Shows Without a Single Flaw
Collider has published a listicle naming ten animated television series it considers essentially flawless, spanning family-friendly and mature audiences alike. The piece, written by Eddie Possehl, argues that great animation can combine accessible art styles with sophisticated storytelling, and highlights shows praised for their worldbuilding, character development and visual craft.
Among the entries confirmed in the excerpt are Cartoon Network's "Infinity Train" (2019–2021), an anthology about characters trapped on a train exploring different universes; "Adventure Time" (2010–2018), praised for balancing comedy with mature themes over its eight-year run; and Netflix's "Arcane" (2021–2024), the League of Legends adaptation lauded for its hand-painted 3D animation and strong voice acting from Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell. The full list contains ten shows in total, though the remaining entries were not included in the available text.
In short
- Collider lists ten animated TV shows it deems essentially flawless.
- Confirmed picks include Infinity Train, Adventure Time and Arcane.
- Article praises strong storytelling, art style and character work.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Identifying animated series that have achieved genuine excellence across storytelling, character development, animation craft and world-building serves a valuable purpose: it sets a standard for what the medium can accomplish and celebrates artistic achievement. These shows represent demonstrable peaks where creators overcame technical and narrative constraints, delivering work that functions powerfully on multiple levels. Calling them 'flawless' is reasonable shorthand for exceptional quality that handles its ambitions without significant weakness, and such recognition helps audiences discover quality work while inspiring creators.
The case against
Declaring any artwork 'without a single flaw' represents an abandonment of genuine criticism rather than its practice. Every creative work, however accomplished, contains directional choices that resonate differently across audiences, moments that could have landed otherwise, and aspects open to legitimate disagreement. This framing forecloses meaningful discussion and suggests uncritical enthusiasm rather than analysis. Responsible criticism celebrates excellence whilst remaining honest about a work's dimensions, variations in effectiveness and room for legitimate differing perspectives on its achievements.
Explained simply
Animation has evolved from being primarily associated with children's entertainment to encompassing sophisticated narratives aimed at adult audiences. As the field has matured, entertainment publications and critics have increasingly subjected animated shows to rigorous evaluation comparable to that applied to live-action television and drama.
When assessing animated series, critics typically consider multiple factors including visual art style, animation quality, character development, narrative complexity and voice acting. Shows from networks including Cartoon Network and streaming platforms like Netflix have demonstrated that animation can deliver emotionally complex stories that resonate across different age groups.
The recognition of animation as worthy of serious critical attention represents a significant shift in how the medium is perceived. Shows achieving widespread critical praise tend to combine sophisticated storytelling with distinctive artistic vision and strong technical execution.