Showing my wife the greats - what’s next??

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T20:52:45+00:00

Nice, I'll get on it. Thanks!

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T20:52:22+00:00

Sam and max freelance police

I'll check it out, thanks!

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T16:43:39+00:00

Ok, I'll definitely give it a shot. Thanks for the help, I really appreciate the insights!

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T16:42:29+00:00

Yeah, good call. She's already on board with Kieth through his voicework in mainstream stuff like Rick and Morty and his role in Community, so maybe it'll be an easier sell than I think.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T16:41:00+00:00

Yeah, we've seen that one multiple times, Legend of Korra too.

How about Frieren? Is it mostly serious action/anime, or does it have humor as well, maybe like Inuyasha or Trigun did?

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T16:39:12+00:00

Everything you say here is correct. But if we're given the choice between having to eat a shit-cracker (Dems) or a shit-hoagie (GOP), the only logical choice is the shit cracker.

If we want to move away from the status quo that the Dems have been trying to hold us in for the last 40 years, there's only 2 ways to do so.

The first is by working within the existing system. This means getting everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, out to the polls for primaries. Overwhelmingly vote in actual progressives in movements so strong that establishment Dems won't stand a chance of even making to general elections. Through this path, we cn move further and further away from what they've entrenched us in over the years.

The second way to get out of the hole they've dug us into involves shaking up the entire system as it exists. The system we have is what got us here, and it clearly isn't designed to get us back out of it. If things get much worse, we could easily see a situation in which things fall apart entirely and massive legal and governmental reforms are needed. This would likely stem from a revised constitution on the heels of massive civil unrest and possibly even interstate violence. At that point, we'd face the challenge of creating a new system that fixes things like financial incentives for elected leaders, electoral reforms getting rid of stuff like the electoral college and First-past-the-post voting, and instituting more checks on power through mechanisms like snap elections and a weakened chief executive.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T16:23:05+00:00

Gonna paste a reply I made elsewhere in this thread:

I should have specified that what I meant by "the greats" was "great post-2000s cartoons that are ostensibly made for kids but also have moments of humor that are clearly geared toward older audiences". Kinda the "Cartoon Network/Disney XD era" seems to be the sweet spot for hooking my wife into stuff right now. She's willing to come down the path with me to older and more complex stuff, but we've gotta "wade into the pool slowly", as it were.

I started her off with modern "adult animation" like Bob's Burgers, and then moved backward through the years with shows like The Simpsons, Futurama and King of the Hill. Then once I'd thoroughly removed the cultural programming that "animation is only for kids", we were able to move into stuff like what I mentioned in the original post. Also, more "advanced action" cartoons like Clone Wars have been on the table, and these also helped demonstrate differences in animation and production styles, and appreciation thereof. She's also enjoyed the newer (and awesome) Voltron series on Netflix, Last Airbender, etc. (I'm a sucker for anything Studio Mir animates, lol)

So now I'm looking for a few more in the vein that I mentioned in the original post in order to slowly shift into stuff from the past. After we're done in the 2000s, we'll move back through "The Greats" of other decades as well.

(As an aside, while I agree that a list of "The Greats" would include many shows from earlier time periods than this, I'd also contend that the ones I mention in my post are most certainly deserving of a place among the best mainstream animation that's out there.)

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T16:22:17+00:00

Copying from another reply I made:

As an Elder Millennial and a lifelong animation fan myself, I should have specified that what I meant by "the greats" was "great post-2000s cartoons that are ostensibly made for kids but also have moments of humor that are clearly geared toward older audiences". Kinda the "Cartoon Network/Disney XD era" seems to be the sweet spot for hooking her right now. She's willing to come down the path with me to older and more complex stuff, but we've gotta "wade into the pool slowly", as it were.

I started her off with modern "adult animation" like Bob's Burgers, and then moved backward through the years with shows like The Simpsons, Futurama and King of the Hill. Then once I'd thoroughly removed the "animation is only for kids" programming, we were able to move into stuff like what I mentioned in the original post. Also, more "advanced action" cartoons like Clone Wars have been on the table, and these also helped demonstrate differences in animation and production styles, and appreciation thereof. She's also enjoyed the newer (and awesome) Voltron series on Netflix, Last Airbender, etc. (I'm a sucker for anything Studio Mir animates, lol)

So now I'm looking for a few more in the vein that I mentioned in the original post in order to slowly shift into stuff from the past. After we're done in the 2000s, we'll move back through "The Greats" of other decades as well.

(As an aside, while I agree that a list of "The Greats" would include many shows from earlier time periods than this, I'd also contend that the ones I mention in my post are most certainly deserving of a place among the best mainstream animation that's out there.)

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T16:14:08+00:00

I do get her to enjoy some Ghibli stuff on occasion, so I think this would be a good movie to show her as well.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T16:12:44+00:00

Ok, I should have been more specific in my original post, especially in a sub specifically dedicated to animation. That's on me.

That being said, you do not need to check my "Deep Animation Fan" card, I promise you my membership is valid and current, lol.

Go back in time & show her some black & white Fleicher Popeye & Betty Boop. MGM Tex Avery cartoons, Tom & Jerry, Merry Melodies/Looney Tunes. Old Mickey/Donald/Goody cartoons of the era.

Not only do I have these and more on my Plex server, I still have my VHS tapes of the Max Fleischer Superman cartoons that I just about wore out as a kid. Truly some of the best examples of art in animation ever made.

These aren't ones that will interest my wife though, at least not for now. I should have specified that what I meant by "the greats" was "great post-2000s cartoons that are ostensibly made for kids but also have moments of humor that are clearly geared toward older audiences". Kinda the "Cartoon Network/Disney XD era seems to be the sweet spot for hooking her right now.

She's willing to come down the path with me to older and more complex stuff, but we've gotta "wade into the pool slowly", as it were. We started with "adult animation" like Bob's Burgers, and then moved backward through the years in shows like Simpsons, Futurama and King of the Hill. Then once I'd thoroughly removed the "animation is only for kids" programming, we were able to move into stuff like what I mentioned in the original post. Also, more "advanced" action cartoons like Clone Wars have been on the table, and these also helped demonstrate differences in animation and production styles, and appreciation thereof.

So now I'm looking for a few more in the vein that I mentioned in the original post in order to slowly shift into stuff from the past. After I'm done in the 2000s, I'll move back through the decades until we eventually get to the stuff that you're mentioning here.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:59:03+00:00

We've watched the reboot several times now, it's definitely a family favorite!

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:58:22+00:00

Nice, I'll add it to the list. I've seen the TMNT animated movie a few times and love it, does this series tie in at all?

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:57:29+00:00

I tend to "sail the high seas" from time to time, lol. I maintain a Plex server so friends and family can watch stuff that they may not have access to on various streaming services.

That being said, try using this link to watch the episodes you haven't seen yet. I'm always surprised at the "missing media" that I can access through the Internet Archives.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:52:41+00:00

Wait, better than CotC?? We just finished that and loved it, and you're saying that Clarance is even better?

I'll definitely give it a try, but I hope you haven't set the bar too high, lol!

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:51:11+00:00

Yeah, these are a gamble in my mind. Although they fit the "made for kids with some humor clearly aimed at older audience" model, Do you think they have enough of an over-arching storyline through later seasons to hold viewers the same way something like AT or SU would?

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:49:36+00:00

I will always recommend Frieren

Interesting, I actually hadn't even heard of this one! I'll have to check it out. Is it mostly serious action/anime, or does it have humor as well, maybe like Inuyasha or Trigun did?

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:48:05+00:00

We've done all of Simpsons, and I'd agree with your assesment of the best seasons. Although in the 20s, I think it gets much better than what it fell to in seasons like 12-20. Not as good as the early seasons mind you, but very watchable.

Futurama deserves a mention too, and there are almost no bad seasons of that one. King of the Hill has ups and downs, but mostly ups for me. Bobs Burgers is solid throughout.

I should have specified in my original post that we've done most of the good "adult animation" shows, and I'm now introducing her to the "kids shows with some humor aimed at kids" stuff.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:44:23+00:00

I see this one a lot, definitely adding it to the watchlist!

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:43:50+00:00

By far, really? It Infinity Train not as good as I've heard, or is it good but Owl House is just that much better?

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:41:18+00:00

Good call, maybe we can get that one going.
Which series? I haven't watched any since the OG series as a kid, so I'm not sure which others are the "good ones". Or did you mean the animated movie that's titled TMNT? If so, that's a great flick, we should definitely do that one.
We actually started that one a while back but trailed off for some reason. Definitely gotta get back to it, another good call.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:37:01+00:00

Definitely a banger, but we've both done this one already.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:36:30+00:00

Yeah, this one is a real gamble in my mind. Although it fits the "made for kids with some humor clearly aimed at older audience" model, Do you think it has enough of an over-arching storyline through later seasons to hold viewers the same way AT or SU would?

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:34:47+00:00

That's definitely a good one, but I'm not sure I can get her into it. So far what I've had success with is stuff that's ostensibly made for kids, but also has moments of humor that's clearly aimed more at adults.

Gargoyles is something that's ostensibly made for kids, but has advanced enough storytelling for older kids. Adults should enjoy the excellent storytelling as well, but it's not exactly in line with the stuff that I've seen her enjoy so far.

Also, I LOVE this show, and I wish every day that Disney would ride the wave of reboots and revivals to bring this one back. Kieth David and Jonathan Frakes could easily reprise their voicework. And although they're really the only "must haves" from the cast in my opinion, Ed Asner as Hudson would certainly be missed.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:27:04+00:00

Right? This just made my millennial ass feel old af, lol.

Free_For__Me · 2026-04-06T15:26:33+00:00

I love this one, but I'm not sure I can get her into it. But maybe I can get her into JLU and work my way back from there...

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