Summary

  • Bob's Burgers, currently in its 15th season, boasts 295 episodes, becoming H. Jon Benjamin's most iconic role.
  • SpongeBob SquarePants, now in its 16th season, totals 332 episodes and remains a major cultural franchise.
  • South Park, approaching its 27th season with 328 episodes, is known for its unflinching satire of modern culture.

Western animated series have earned their stripes alongside Japanese anime and have produced some shows of exceptional quality over the decades. While many of these series are excellent, they often conclude—either by choice or by cancellation—after a few years. The lucky ones stick it out for a decade, often dealing with declining viewership numbers and the creative burnout of their writers.

Western Inspired Anime- My Hero Academia Excel Saga FLCL
7 Anime Inspired by Western Animation

Western animation is special in its own way and has inspired several anime.

It's a rarity for a series to hit the lauded 200-episode mark. It's even rarer for a series to persist beyond that point, and to do so successfully. While few animated series become more popular after reaching 200 episodes, these series have flown past that mark and continue to find success. These are the best Western animated series with more than 200 episodes to their names, ranked by their current episode totals.

9 Bob's Burgers

No. Of Episodes: 295

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Bob's Burgers
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Release Date
January 9, 2011
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Network
FOX
Cast
H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Dan Mintz, Larry Murphy, David Herman, Andy Kindler, Sarah Silverman, Dana Powell, Jeffrey Tambor, Nathan Fielder, Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, Toby Huss, Amy Sedaris, Jerry Minor, Eric Wareheim, James Adomian, Daveed Diggs, Stephanie Allynne, Lucy Davis, Peter Serafinowicz, Tiffany Haddish, Oscar Nunez, Steve Berg
Showrunner
Loren Bouchard
Seasons
16

There was a time, about a decade ago, when the voice of H. Jon Benjamin as Bob Belcher in Bob's Burgers was a distraction, as the actor was already highly recognizable due to his work on another hit animated series, Archer. How times have changed. Today, while Archer wrapped up its final season in 2023 to a middling reception, Bob's Burgers remains one of the most beloved shows in modern adult animation and is now undeniably H. Jon Benjamin's most iconic role.

On the verge of closing out its 15th season at the time of this writing, Bob's Burgers will have aired an impressive 295 episodes as of July 31st, 2025, on top of a feature film released in 2022. That's a remarkable number for any animated series, but it is especially noteworthy in today's era of short-fuse cancellations. Bob's Burgers has already gotten the go-ahead for a 16th season, so those numbers are only set to climb from here.

8 SpongeBob SquarePants

No. Of Episodes: 332

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SpongeBob SquarePants
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Release Date
May 1, 1999
Network
Nickelodeon
Showrunner
Vincent Waller, Marc Ceccarelli
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Cast
Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, Carlos Alazraqui, Paul Tibbitt, Dee Bradley Baker, Jill Talley, Tim Conway, Sara Paxton, Mark Fite, Mary Jo Catlett, Tom Wilson, Sirena Irwin, Lori Alan, Ernest Borgnine, Mr. Lawrence, Carolyn Lawrence
Seasons
16

It's hard to imagine a world without SpongeBob SquarePants. The unmistakable sea sponge is the star of movies, video games, books, comics, memes, and, of course, one of the most iconic children's cartoons of all time. The character of SpongeBob is only one piece of the puzzle, as his supporting cast—most notably Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, and Sandy Cheeks—are all just as iconic in modern pop culture.

Monster Hunter Wilds player creates Handsome Squidward in the game.
Monster Hunter Wilds Player Creates Handsome Squidward in the Game

A Monster Hunter Wilds player manages to recreate the character Handsome Squidward in Capcom's popular action roleplaying game.

At the time of writing, SpongeBob SquarePants has just kicked off its 16th season, the conclusion of which will bring the show to a 332 episode total, and it doesn't seem like it's stopping there. After debuting in 1999, SpongeBob is now 26 years old, and while its modern iterations may not hold quite the same appeal as the early episodes, SpongeBob is undeniably a major franchise and an unmistakable cultural figure.

7 South Park

No. Of Episodes: 328

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South Park
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Release Date
August 13, 1997
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Network
Comedy Central
Cast
Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mona Marshall, Jennifer Howell, April Stewart, Isaac Hayes, Eliza Schneider, Adrien Beard, Karri Turner, Sebastian Yu, Jessie Jo Thomas, Milan Agnone, Ronnie James Dio, Peter Serafinowicz, Jonathan Kimmel, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Castellaneta, Meat Loaf, Malcolm McDowell, Norman Lear, Tommy Chong, Gian Ganziano, Thom Yorke, Kyle McCulloch, Robert Smith
Showrunner
Trey Parker
Seasons
28
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As one of the raunchiest and most offensive cartoons ever made, it's a minor miracle that South Park survived its near-cancellation following its second season. The fact that this series is now heading towards its 27th season is nothing short of remarkable. This story about four small-town Colorado kids (and now one of their dads, Randy Marsh) getting into trouble, both small and cosmic in scale, has captured hearts for its unflinching and always timely critique of modern culture.

While technically, South Park currently has 328 episodes, this number does not account for its 27th season, which premieres this summer. Given that the shortest season of South Park comes in at six episodes, there's a good chance that, following season 27, the series will surpass 334 episodes at minimum, meaning it will just edge out SpongeBob SquarePants in total episodes by summer's end.

6 American Dad!

No Of Episodes: 388

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American Dad!
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Release Date
February 6, 2005
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WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
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Network
FOX, TBS
Cast
Seth MacFarlane, Wendy Schaal, Rachael MacFarlane, Scott Grimes, Dee Bradley Baker, Jeff Fischer, Curtis Armstrong, Patrick Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Carmen Electra, Peter Graves, Seth Rogen, Ron Lynch, John Krasinski, Lisa Kudrow, Elijah Wood, Eartha Kitt, Sandra Bernhard, Don Lake, John Carroll Lynch, Jennie Garth, Ally Walker, Diane Delano, Grant Heslov, Missi Pyle, Peter Lurie, Stacey Dash
Showrunner
Seth MacFarlane
Seasons
22

American Dad! Is something of a journeyman series, initially airing on Fox alongside its sister series, Family Guy, before moving to TBS following its eleventh season, where it aired for the next decade, concluding with its most recent twenty-first season and 388th episode. Going forward, the show will return to Fox for at least another four seasons, commencing with its twenty-second season.

Seth MacFarlane's irreverent cartoon about an oafish US Government agent housing a fugitive alien and a sentient fish amongst his otherwise normal American family has flown a bit under the radar compared to Family Guy. Still , the series has maintained a consistent and dedicated viewership for over twenty years. It has one of the most recognizable theme songs in the adult animation scene, and it continues to be one of the premier adult comedies on cable.

5 Teen Titans Go!

No. Of Episodes: 426

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Teen Titans Go!
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Release Date
2013 - 2025-00-00
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WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
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Network
Cartoon Network
Cast
Scott Menville, Greg Cipes, Khary Payton, Tara Strong, Hynden Walch, Fred Tatasciore, Alexander Polinsky, Larry Kenney, Enric Isasi-Isasmendi, Pete Wentz, William J. Regan, Cee Lo Green, Carl Burnett, Joe Trohman, Frank Enea, Andy Hurley, Patrick Stump, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Rachel Dratch, Zack Synder, Cree Summer, Patrick Wilson, Alex Brightman, Jessica DiCicco, Kenn Michael, P.J. Byrne, Jeff Bennett, Rodger Bumpass
Showrunner
Aaron Horvath
Seasons
9

As a spinoff of the hit Cartoon Network series Teen Titans, the comedic bent of Teen Titans Go! Initially turned off long-time fans of the IP. However, with some time to adjust to the change in tone and animation style, the series has not only matched but, in many ways, has surpassed its inspiration.

The adventures of Robin, Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, and Starfire have run for 9 seasons as of this writing, totaling 426 episodes and one feature-length movie. It has been renewed for a tenth season, and is currently the most popular iteration of the Teen Titans ever made, which may irk fans of the darker original series, but is undeniably a success for DC comics' TV slate.

4 Peppa Pig

No. Of Episodes: 433

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Peppa Pig
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Kids
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Release Date
May 31, 2004
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WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
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Network
Channel 5
Cast
John Sparkes, Lily Snowden-Fine, Morwenna Banks, Richard Ridings, Alice May, Frances White, David Rintoul, David Graham, Sarah Ann Kennedy, Andy Hamilton, Brian Blessed, Harley Bird, Ava Love, Oliver May, Amelie Bea Smith, Dominic Byrne
Seasons
8

Peppa Pig has the distinct advantage of its episodes only being 5 minutes long; outside of one ten-minute and two 15-minute specials. That means that, while its episode count surpasses all the shows listed previously at 433 episodes, its total runtime is much shorter. Nonetheless, this British preschool series remains one of the most popular kids' shows on TV.

Starring the titular Peppa Pig and her family, along with Peppa's friends who are portrayed by other animals, the series typically deals with mundane events like attending a playdate or going to camp. It's presented in such a way as to be accessible to children, so it won't be for everyone. That said, it remains one of the most popular series on TV, and after its purchase by Hasbro in 2019, became one of the company's foremost brands alongside Transformers, My Little Pony, and G.I. Joe.

3 Family Guy

No. Of Episodes: 444

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Family Guy
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Release Date
January 31, 1999
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Network
FOX
Cast
Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Mike Henry, Patrick Warburton, Kevin Michael Richardson, Rachael MacFarlane, Adam West, John Viener, Julia Sweeney, Michael York, Patrick Stewart, Scott Grimes, Will Sasso, Glen Powell, Arif Zahir, Waylon Jennings, Mary Kay Bergman, Ray Liotta, Abe Vigoda, Peter Frampton, Peter Gallagher, Ace Frehley, Betty White
Showrunner
Seth MacFarlane
Seasons
24

As a creative, Seth MacFarlane is a household name these days, in large part due to the massive success of his flagship series, Family Guy. While it may be somewhat derivative of The Simpsons, it's also something all its own; part clip show, part social commentary, part satire, and part stream of consciousness, all wrapped up in a raunchy comedy that's just close enough to PG to be palatable for Fox executives.

The-16-Best-Family-Guy-Episodes,-Ranked
The 16 Best Family Guy Episodes, Ranked

Although there have been plenty of great episodes over the years, the very best Family Guy episodes are in a league of their own.

Having just wrapped up its 23rd season, Family Guy's 444 episodes rank it as the most prolific show in MacFarlane's now extensive catalog. It might be hard to classify the antics of the Griffin family as "adventures," but their consistently irreverent antics have maintined their presence in popular culture, even if the series has dipped in quality since its heyday.

2 Thomas & Friends

No. Of Episodes: 584

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Thomas & Friends
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Kids
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Release Date
1984 - 2025-00-00
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Streaming
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Seasons
24

Considering the series debuted over 40 years ago, there's an argument to be made that Thomas & Friends is the most successful children's animated series of the modern era. Sure, it may not have the merchandise backing or the infatuation of today's children like it did with generations past, but there are decades' worth of now-adults in Europe and North America alike who can look back on their childhoods and find an image of Thomas the Tank Engine somewhere in their past.

With celebrity narrators as iconic as Pierce Brosnan, George Carlin, and Alec Baldwin, Thomas & Friends has a pedigree that few other children's shows can match. While the series officially concluded in 2021, amassing a grand total of 584 episodes, it was rebooted on Netflix shortly afterwards under a new subtitle, now known as Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.

1 The Simpsons

No. Of Episodes: 790

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The Simpsons
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Release Date
December 17, 1989
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WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
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Network
FOX
Cast
Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille, Gillian Anderson, Johnny Cash, Ed Asner, Betty White, Alex Rocco, Christina Ricci, Bret Hart, Joe Frazier, Ed Begley Jr., Helen Hunt, Bob Denver, Buzz Aldrin, Tom Kite, John Waters, Jack Lemmon
Showrunner
Al Jean
Seasons
37

The Simpsons ranking in the top spot here should come as no surprise. When it comes to Western animated series, it is almost always the ​​​​​​go-to example. Now in its 36th year on the air, without missing a single year in that span, the series' 790 episodes ​​​​​​easily rank it as the most successful cartoon to ever come out of the US.

From household names like Homer and Bart to iconic scenes like Skinner's steamed hams, The Simpsons defined an era of adult cartoon comedies in a way that no other series before it even came close to, and very few series have matched since. While word of mouth may suggest that the series isn't worth watching today, that's simply not the case. It may not hold a candle to its unimpeachable peak between seasons 2 and 10, and the seasons that followed struggled to match that same quality, yet it remains a consistently entertaining series, even in its most recent 36th season.

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Best Western Animated Series On Netflix, Ranked

For viewers who want to explore the world of animation outside of anime, check out these shows on Netflix.