Television series

DuckTales

Name: DuckTales
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Children
Released: 2017
Cast: Ben Schwartz, David Tennant, Danny Pudi, Bobby Moynihan, Kate Micucci

Treasure hunt
Light-hearted

DuckTales is a gleeful adventure comedy that treats globe-trotting treasure hunts with the same earnest energy as genuine character drama. It's a show that respects both kids and adults, mixing slapstick chaos with surprisingly moving family dynamics. Perfect for anyone who wants animation that's clever without being smug, and thrilling without being exhausting.

TVMaze rating

3.7

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love breezy treasure-hunting cartoons where the jokes land on sharp, quick banter and a family of ducks bickers its way through globe-hopping mysteries with real affection.

Skip it if you want a slow-burn story or grown-up stakes; the tone stays bright and goofy, the episodes are brisk, and the emotional beats are gentle rather than weighty.

What it asks of you: Sixty-nine episodes of about half an hour each, so it works in small bites; attention can wander between set pieces without losing the thread.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Gravity Falls2012

A small-town mystery box with real horror undertones, charming characters, and storytelling that respects your intelligence. It builds toward something genuinely consequential, with the same blend of humour and heart DuckTales nails.

But Ends after two seasons, which feels abrupt if you're hungry for more. Some mythology threads never fully resolve, which frustrates completion-minded viewers.

The Owl House2020

Colorful, adventure-packed, and willing to get genuinely emotional about found family and belonging. It has DuckTales' gift for making kid-friendly action feel genuinely consequential without becoming maudlin.

But The pacing stumbles occasionally, and some plot threads feel rushed in later seasons. The tonal shifts between comedy and drama don't always land perfectly.

Amphibia2019

A isekai adventure that earns its emotional beats through character work. Funny, beautifully animated, and genuinely invested in what it means to belong somewhere—or to leave it behind.

But Early episodes can feel thin while it's finding its voice. Some viewers find the protagonist annoying before her arc deepens.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from DuckTales

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Great Mouse Detective1986

Both are adventure stories that treat animal characters with complete seriousness while remaining fundamentally playful. Both prove that adventure entertainment doesn't need to condescend to either kids or adults.

A miniature masterpiece: gorgeously animated, witty, genuinely thrilling detective adventure. It has the same sense of adventure-comedy DNA as DuckTales but compressed into 70 minutes of pure craft and charm. Criminally underseen.

But It's darker than you might expect—there's real menace, and some younger viewers find the villain genuinely frightening. Also quite short, which leaves some wanting more.

Avatar: The Last Airbender2005

The gold standard: perfect pacing, character arcs that actually matter, and action sequences that thrill. It proves animation can be as narratively sophisticated as any live-action drama, with real stakes and genuine growth.

But The live-action Netflix film is widely disliked, so you may hear discouraging noise. The show itself is slow-burn; the first season takes time to establish stakes.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power2018

Subversive, gorgeously designed, and surprisingly profound about identity and redemption. It builds a mythology that feels earned, with action that's balletic and characterization that's nuanced.

But The art style is very stylised; if it doesn't click visually, the whole experience suffers. Also quite dark thematically for what looks like a kids' show.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power poster

The Dragon Prince2018

Epic fantasy adventure with genuine moral complexity—no easy villains, no simple solutions. Character-driven, visually striking, and unafraid to let consequences matter.

But The first season's animation budget clearly stretched thin; it smooths out later, but early episodes look choppy. Pacing drags occasionally when it's establishing lore.

Carmen Sandiego2019

A heist-adventure series that's smart, stylish, and genuinely fun. Quick-paced, globally flavoured, and willing to be both funny and cool without sacrificing either.

But It's lighter on character depth than DuckTales, prioritizing adventure momentum. Some find the episodic structure repetitive after a while.

Infinity Train2019

Beautifully crafted anthology-serialized series with real emotional intelligence. Each season explores a different part of a mysterious train, building dread and wonder in equal measure. Gorgeously animated.

But The tone shifts noticeably between seasons; some feel darker than others. Can be genuinely unsettling, which isn't everyone's comfort zone in animation.

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts2020

Post-apocalyptic adventure that never loses its warmth or sense of humour. Excellent character development, stunning world-building, and a genuine sense of discovery throughout.

But Three seasons total, ending relatively quickly. The animation style, while charming, is deliberately wobbly and won't appeal to everyone.

Arcane: League of Legends2021

Both understand that animation can carry complex emotional weight; both centre character relationships over plot mechanics. Arcane proves that animation isn't a delivery system for one demographic—it's a medium that can reach everywhere at once, just as DuckTales does.

Animation that looks like it was painted frame-by-frame, paired with storytelling of devastating emotional precision. It's about found family, power, consequence, and the way love and ambition can destroy each other. Astonishing on every level.

But It's structurally and tonally the opposite of kids' adventure—sprawling, adult, and sometimes genuinely brutal. If you want lightness, this will exhaust you. Also a League of Legends adaptation, which carries baggage.