9 Greatest Animated Shows With Fewer Than 40 Episodes
Collider has compiled a list of the greatest animated television shows that ran for fewer than 40 episodes, spanning classic cartoons and modern series across genres.
– Justice League Unlimited – a superhero sequel series expanding on the DC Animated Universe, praised as the gold standard for team-based superhero storytelling.
– Invader Zim – Nickelodeon's cult sci-fi comedy about an inept alien (voiced by Richard Steven Horvitz) trying to conquer Earth, which ran 27 episodes.
– Jonny Quest – the classic 1960s adventure cartoon that lasted just 26 episodes but became a multi-generational favourite through reruns.
– The Spectacular Spider-Man – widely regarded as one of the best Spider-Man adaptations, with Josh Keaton voicing Peter Parker.
- Collider ranks top animated shows with under 40 episodes each.
- List includes Justice League Unlimited, Invader Zim and Jonny Quest.
- The Spectacular Spider-Man also named among the standout short-run series.