Cartoons aren't just for kids. From the late 1990s and all through the early 21st century, TV saw a meteoric rise in animated shows aimed at adults. Channels like Comedy Central, Adult Swim, and later streaming services like Netflix and Hulu catered to a new audience who understand that animation isn't strictly for Saturday mornings.
Contrary to popular knowledge, animation was an adult-oriented medium at first. Before the Hays Code in 1922, the first cartoons were actually quite risque. With the advent of television however, shows like The Flintstones (yes, really) popularized using animation and outlandish settings – in The Flintstone's case, prehistoric times – to poke fun at contemporary times.
