10 Best Animated TV Shows About Aliens

Summary

• Alien-themed animated TV shows offer a unique blend of visuals and deep narratives, often exploring existential themes in creative ways.
• Critically acclaimed series like The Midnight Gospel and Solar Opposites showcase the creative heights that animation can achieve, blending humor with insight.
• Despite some shows being underrated or canceled prematurely, the impact of these alien-centered animations on pop culture cannot be denied.

No style can more powerfully represent extraterrestrial life than animation, and as such, there have been plenty of amazing animated TV shows about aliens. Whether they follow otherworldly creatures coming to Earth to interact with mankind or showcase creatures traversing the vast recesses of the galaxy, aliens have long been fodder for animated TV series. While some were criminally underrated shows that ran for just one season, others were long-running classics that have become entrenched in popular culture.

The best animated shows of all time blend spectacular visuals with insightful narratives, and plenty of great animated TV shows about aliens have done just that. From vastly idiosyncratic visual representations to creatures who mimic the same innate tendencies of humankind, animation can reach creative heights that are often impossible in the realm of live-action television. With this in mind, these incredible alien-based animation shows all have something unique to offer.

10 The Midnight Gospel (2020)

The Midnight Gospel features an alien traversing the multiverse

One great animated series that viewers have forgotten about is The Midnight Gospel. An insightful mix of comedian Duncan Trussell’s unique worldview and Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward’s iconic animation style, The Midnight Gospel only ran for one season before it was canceled by Netflix. This was truly disappointing, as this unique series blended deeply philosophical concepts with the animated adventures of Clancy Gilroy, an alien spacecaster interviewing creatures across the multiverse.

What made The Midnight Gospel so unique was the way it blended audio from the real podcast The Duncan Trussell Family Hour while simultaneously showcasing richly imaginative alien worlds through its animation. The Midnight Gospel was unlike anything else on Netflix, as a strange mix of its two disparate aspects complimented each other perfectly. With vibrant visuals and illuminating philosophical discussions, The Midnight Gospel was a hidden gem for lovers of experimental animated series.

9 Jeff & Some Aliens

Jeff & Some Aliens features three aliens studying one human

Jeff & Some Aliens was sadly canceled by Comedy Central after just one season. This was hugely disappointing at the time for those who tuned in for this engaging animated sitcom about the world’s most average human being observed and often helped by a group of three inquisitive aliens evaluating the entire human race based on Jeff’s behavior. With plenty of unique insights into human nature and a surprisingly philosophical sense of humor, this series flew under the radar and never got the attention it deserved.

As a show created by Sean Donnelly and Alessandro Minoli and based on their previous TripTank sketches, Jeff & Some Aliens usually revolved around Jeff solving problems with the help of an alien device. This would rarely go his way, and the consequences of Jeff’s ill-thought-out actions often had dire consequences for himself and those around him. With plenty of moral lessons around the woes of human existence, Jeff & Some Aliens had more to say about mankind than it did its otherworldly creatures.

8 Solar Opposites (2020 – Present)

Solar Opposites features a family of aliens who crash-landed on Earth

Before Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland’s career was halted by sexual assault allegations, he created the alien-based sci-fi sitcom Solar Opposites with Mike McMahan. With plenty of Roiland’s absurd and semi-improvised style of humor, Solar Opposites starred the aliens Korvo, Terry, Jesse, and Yumyulack, who crash-landed on Earth and made it their new home. As a charming, often sincere look at the ridiculousness of human existence, the alien’s hilarious experience of life on Earth mixed strong writing with edgy humor and enjoyable sci-fi ponderings.

As an insightful mix of Rick and Morty and The Third Rock from the Sun, Solar Opposites has carved out its identity and managed to keep its quality high even after Roiland’s departure at the end of Season 3. While the aliens’s experiences on Earth are the primary focus of Solar Opposites, this animated series also told parallel narratives, such as the captured shrunken humans who they have imprisoned in a terrarium known as The Wall. With plenty of irreverent humor, Solar Opposites has used its alien characters to shine a light on very human concepts and themes.

7 Futurama (1999 – Present)

Futurama features a future where humans live alongside aliens

This beloved sci-fi sitcom from The Simpsons creator Matt Groening has been intermittently telling alien stories for the past quarter of a century. As a show that has been canceled and revived numerous times, the haphazard release of new seasons and specials has not dimmed Futurama’s iconic legacy one bit. Through clever storytelling and impressive attention to detail, Futurama was an inventive and funny look at an imagined future in the 31st century.

While Futurama primarily follows Philip J. Fry, a delivery driver who was cryogenically frozen for 1,000 years, he’s surrounded by several alien characters, such as the lobster-like Dr. Zoidberg, whose unique anatomy and culture serve as the basis for several episodes. As the Planet Express crew traversed the known universe in Futurama, they also encountered many other alien creatures that helped populate the series’ unique world. As a funny and often biting piece of satirical animation, Futurama has endured for decades despite the production challenges it has faced.

6 Steven Universe (2013 – 2019)

Steven Universe features a group of magical aliens called the Crystal Gems

Adventure Time writer Rebecca Sugar told her own coming-of-age story when she created the beloved Cartoon Network animated series Steven Universe. With a half-alien, half-human title character, this enjoyable musical series featured Steven learning the ways of the magical Crystal Gems as he sought to protect their Homeworld from the threat of their own kind. With an impressive amount of worldbuilding and detailed lore behind it, Steven Universe explores LGBTQ+ themes throughout its five seasons, as well as a movie and the epilogue series Steven Universe Future.

By blending elements of fantasy, musicals, and sci-fi into a rich coming-of-age tale, Steven Universe garnered a loyal fanbase and became an equally rewarding watch for children and adults alike. With a healthy mix of light-hearted adventures and complex, mature storytelling that delved into the psychology of its characters, Steven Universe struck a perfect balance between depth and entertainment. With episodes that delved into themes of gender and sexuality while also richly exploring the alien race known as Gems, Steven Universe was a uniquely endearing cartoon.

5 Dragon Ball Z (1989 – 1996)

Dragon Ball Z features an alien lead character

As one of the most essential series when it came to popularizing Japanese anime in the Western world, Dragon Ball Z was a Shonen anime that featured the alien Goku and his friends battling against many powerful enemies from across the universe. As a sequel to the earlier anime Dragon Ball, which was based on the manga by Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball Z explored Goku’s identity as a member of the alien race known as Saiyans. With a love for fighting and superhuman strength and powers, Dragon Ball Z began with Goku’s alien brother coming to Earth and informing of his heritage.

Over the course of several sagas and hundreds of episodes, Goku and the rest of the Z fighters must face alien enemies, including the ruthless intergalactic tyrannical planet destroyer Frieza. Dragon Ball Z has earned a reputation as among the most popular anime series of all time and has continued in the form of sequel series, video games, and widespread merchandise. As a true icon of Japanese media, Goku and many of the characters from Dragon Ball Z have become touchstones of modern popular culture.

4 Earthworm Jim (1995 – 1996)

Earthworm Jim featured a superpowered worm traversing the universe

Earthworm Jim was truly one of the most underrated video game TV adaptations, as it perfectly expanded upon the world of run-and-gun side-scrolling origins. With a talented voice cast, including the voice of Homer Simpson Dan Castellaneta in the title role, Earthworm Jim follows a simple worm who gained incredible superpowers using a powerful robotic supersuit. As an endless horde of often alien foes attempt to steal the suit and use it for evil, Earthworm Jim must defeat them and ensure the universe’s safety.

With a hugely impressive art style and animation, Earthworm Jim showcased a unique sense of humor over the course of its two seasons. With an engaging narrative, Earthworm Jim could appeal to children and adults alike as it maintained a high level of quality that mimicked the outrageous energy of its video game source material. As a true showcase of a video game adaptation done right, Earthworm Jim was an anomaly when compared to other lackluster adaptations of the 1990s, such as the infamous 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. movie.

3 Strange Planet (2023 – Present)

Strange Planet features aliens who highlight the absurdities of human traits and actions

Many may recognize blue alien beings seen in Strange Planet from the webcomic of the same name by Nathan W. Pyle. These unique creatures highlighted the absurdities of human experience as they discussed everyday behaviors using highly technical terminology in a hilarious side-eyed look at the wonderful complexities of modern life. This series was adapted into an Apple TV+ animated series with Pyle and Rick and Morty’s Dan Harmon as co-creators.

Thankfully, the TV version of Strange Planet managed to retain the essence of the original as the beings made astute observations that mimicked the trials and tribulations of human problems. With an engaging art style and plenty of dry wit, Strange Planet was a heartwarming delight. Although there’s merit to criticisms that it’s difficult to sustain the comic’s premise in the medium of long-form television, the characters in Strange Planet were so uniquely endearing that it’s easy to forgive its faults.

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2 Invader Zim (2001 – 2006)

Invader Zim features an alien who wishes to conquer and enslave mankind

Despite running for just two seasons, Invader Zim built a reputation as a cult classic and a highly underrated Nickelodeon animated series. As the story of an alien named Zim from the planet Irk, Invader Zim tells the humorous story of an extraterrestrial determined to colonize and enslave the human race. With strong animation, voice work, and writing, Invader Zim continually pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in children’s television.

In the years following the cancelation of Invader Zim, the series’ status only grew as it remained a popular property for video games, toys, clothing, and accessories. The unwavering interest in Invader Zim even led to a comic book continuation in 2015. This continued fascination among audiences with the alien creature also ensured that the series was revived for a feature film on Netflix titled Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus.

1 Final Space (2018 – 2021)

Final Space features an astronaut and his powerful alien friend

Final Space was a unique animated sci-fi series about an astronaut named Gary Goodspeed and his extraordinary alien friend Mooncake. With a dim-witted but endearing hero, Final Space saw the pair going on intergalactic adventures as they sought to save the universe from certain doom at the hands of the sinister, telekinetic alien Lord Commander. With stunning animation and a truly compelling narrative, Final Space blended comedy and drama over the course of its three seasons.

Sadly, Final Space was a victim of the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc., which meant that, despite its high quality, it was prematurely canceled. Luckily, viewers of the Adult Swim series will finally get to learn the conclusion with the impending release of the graphic novel Final Space: The Final Chapter. While Final Space has been advertised as a comedy, its dramatic elements truly made it stand out from other sci-fi alien animated series, as each character possesses complex trauma and pain that was explored throughout the series.