The best animated series, according to hackers
10 animated series were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 3 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended animated series with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Love letter to classic Trek
Fans call it a love letter to classic Trek, with strong later seasons after a rough first season. Critics point to that weak opening season and visuals that felt distant.
Topical, sharp satire on current events
Sharp satirical animated comedy that people still recommend for its topical, transgressive episodes. Common caveat: recent seasons seem less funny and original to some.
Best video game adaptation
Widely praised animated series, often called the best video game adaptation; one critic finds its morality simplistic.
All 10 animated series, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | 24 | 4 | 86% | 7 | — | Approved |
| 2 | South Park | 22 | 10 | 69% | 9 | — | Approved |
| 3 | The Simpsons | 14 | 15 | 48% | 8 | — | — |
| 4 | Arcane | 13 | 1 | 93% | 8 | — | Approved |
| 5 | Neural Viz | 10 | 2 | 83% | 3 | — | — |
| 6 | Futurama | 8 | 1 | 89% | 5 | — | — |
| 7 | Rick and Morty | 7 | 5 | 58% | 4 | — | — |
| 8 | The Animatrix | 6 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 9 | Homestar Runner | 5 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 9 | Beavis and Butt-Head | 5 | 1 | 83% | 4 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same animated series in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to animated series that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.