All Time Top Five Adult Themed Cartoons

In honor of the eagerly anticipated and critically adored (well, not exactly) 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters' opening today, I thought it'd be appropriate to take a look at the unequivocal all time top 5 adult-themed cartoons. Most of these cartoons do have wide ranging age appeal, but there will be no 'Smurfs' or 'Gummi Bears' on the list, despite their obvious brilliance. Technicality, sorry.

So, without further ado, the All Time Top Five Adult Themed Cartoons.

5) 3 South - A hilarious show that was swallowed up in the abyss that is MTV. Never knew exactly when it was on (purportedly the 10 Spot, which was really any time from 10 pm - 1 am every night), never knew when it'd be a new episode, and never knew when or why it was cancelled. It just ceased to exist. But hey, plenty of new episodes of 'The Real World' every year! So that's good.

4) Aqua Teen Hunger Force - Sure, the episodes are only 11 minutes long. Sure there seems to be no real plot to speak of. And yes, it revolves around a giant milkshake, a giant floating packet of french fries, and a borderline retarded ball of meat. But isn't that where it's brilliance lies?

3) Family Guy - This one is sinking like a stone. I loved the old episodes before it got cancelled, but lately it just seems to be a shell of it's former self. Sometimes it's better to burn out quickly and let people wonder what might have been than to linger and show them. Still, eminently quotable and elicits at least a hearty laugh or two per episode, even if I sort of hate myself for laughing afterwards.

2) South Park - It's amazing that not only is this show still going strong, but it's quite possibly better than ever. Dead-on parodies of pop culture and life in general are always welcome, but the fact of the matter is that it would have been guaranteed this spot based on the Scott Tenorman episode alone.

1) The Simpsons - What can you say that hasn't already been said? It's clearly head and shoulders above the cartoon fray, having transcended mere cartoon or sitcom status and becoming a cultural icon. Bonus points for aging so gracefully (not that they it needs them). Quite possibly the best show ever. Period.

Really good Adult Themed Cartoons that didn't quite make the cut: Home Movies (animation too squiggly), Sealab 2021 (just missed), Robot Chicken (too new), Futurama (never got a fair shake, but a great show), Ren and Stimpy (just never liked as much as others), Space Ghost Coast to Coast (Adult Swim loaded with great ones) and The Critic (just never the same once it left ABC for Fox, oddly enough).