Looking for some cute cartoons the whole family will enjoy to watch together this summer? Hoopla has a variety of shows available from Cartoon Network including everything from the Powerpuff Girls to Ben 10. I wanted to take a look at five of my favorites (and yes childfree adults who love animation will enjoy them too).
Amazing World of Gumball
(TV-Y7)
The Amazing World of Gumball is one of my son’s favorite shows, but for Gen X and Millennial Parents there are plenty of hip references (everything from music videos to the Golden Girls) for you to enjoy while watching with your kids. Gumball will appeal to fans of The Simpsons with its loving but dysfunctional family, but what makes it unique is an interesting look that merges different styles of animation from traditional hand drawn to stop motion.
We Bare Bears
(TV-Y7)
We Bare Bears stars a talking grizzly bear, polar bear, and panda bear as they go on adventures and cause trouble in the human world around the San Francisco Bay Area. Their nemesis of course is a famous koala bear. Some episodes flashback to when the bears were young cubs and first became friends often with touching moments that will resonate for those who have also created their own found families.
Steven Universe
(TV-PG)
Steven Universe is about a half human/half alien boy and the Crystal Gems who are guardians of humanity. The show is often embraced for showing that super heroes can have diverse body types and love comes in many forms (it was the first animated series to win a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids & Family Program in 2019). For Halloween one year, my family dressed up like Steven and his parents Greg and Rose Quartz.
Adventure Time
(TV-PG)
One of my favorite shows from Cartoon Network, Adventure Time, stars Finn, one of the last humans, in a post-apocalyptic world featuring a candy kingdom, an ice king, and my personal favorite- a guitar playing vampire queen. Finn’s loyal side kick is Jake, a dog with magical powers. You can check out my previous Adventure Time post when I was discussing Fan Fiction. If you like your high fantasy with a helping of quirky surrealism than check this one out.
Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy
(TV-Y7)
What if the Grim Reaper was one of your besties? Shenanigans occur on both sides of the spirt world when Billy and Mandy befriend the coolest Grim Reaper around in the Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. Looking for more gothy cartoon fare; also checkout Canadian fave Ruby Gloom which is also available from Hoopla.
What are your favorite family friendly cartoons? Share them in our comments!
Written by:
Aimee Harris
Head of Information and Digital Services
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 