Television series
Samurai Pizza Cats
A gloriously absurd 1990 anime about three anthropomorphic cats in samurai armour who fight crime from inside a pizza restaurant in Little Tokyo. It's visually chaotic, stuffed with jokes that swing wildly between silly and genuinely clever, and designed to make you laugh rather than think. Perfect for anyone who likes their action cartoons to wear their ridiculousness proudly.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you grew up on Saturday morning hero cartoons and enjoy them being gently mocked, with a cheerful absurdity that treats a fast-food headquarters as a perfectly reasonable superhero base.
Skip it if you want a serious, tightly plotted adventure, since this is a loose, joke-first romp where the stories matter less than the silliness and the modest 1990s syndicated animation look.
What it asks of you: Half-hour episodes, 54 of them in one season, so it dips in easily, though the gags stack up best when you binge a few in a row.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles1990
Shares the same DNA: animal heroes, martial arts, a base of operations, goofy humour mixed with real stakes. If you loved the TMNT's blend of action and wisecracks, this hits very similar notes with even more anarchic energy.
But The animation quality is inconsistent and the pacing can feel scattered. Episodes sometimes feel like they're held together by sheer enthusiasm rather than tight writing.
Inspector Gadget1983
Both are syndicated cartoons where the plot is almost secondary to the character comedy and absurd setpieces. That same spirit of controlled chaos where incompetence and luck are as important as actual heroics.
But It's more heavily comedy-focused and less action-driven. If you came for samurai sword fights, you'll get more gags about malfunctioning devices.
Danger Mouse2015
A masked hero and his eccentric sidekick fighting ridiculous villains from a secret HQ. The same Saturday-morning energy, the same irreverent humour, the same willingness to be completely silly in service of entertainment.
But Deliberately corny in a way that doesn't always land. Some jokes feel strenuously forced, especially if you're watching as an adult.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Samurai Pizza Cats
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Urusei Yatsura1981
Both are comedies built on cascading absurdity and ridiculous premises treated with complete sincerity. Urusei Yatsura is the template Samurai Pizza Cats was working from: take the genre, keep the action beats, bury them under jokes.
The grandfather of comedic chaos anime: romance, aliens, shapeshifters, time travel, and constant fourth-wall breaks all smashed together. If you loved the 'everything is acceptable if it's funny enough' philosophy, this is where it comes from.
But Considerably denser and longer—episodes build jokes that require paying close attention. The humour is often surreal in ways that won't land if you're watching casually or not familiar with 80s anime conventions.
More like this (8)
Batman: The Animated Series1992
Proof that 90s action cartoons could work at multiple levels. The action is genuinely well-choreographed, the humour lands for kids and adults, and the villains are memorable. A masterclass in balancing comedy and stakes.
But Takes itself much more seriously. If you want that anything-goes comedy chaos, this show is too disciplined and too dark.
DuckTales2017
Adventure cartoons with animal characters, treasure hunts, and comedic supporting casts. The same Saturday-morning spirit of 'let's just pile on the chaos and see what sticks,' though with slightly more narrative coherence.
But Slower paced and more sentimental. It's got heart where Samurai Pizza Cats has pure manic energy.
The Jetsons1962
An absurdist take on a familiar setting—in this case, a futuristic suburb instead of a pizza restaurant. That same philosophy: take the mundane and make it ridiculous, populate it with weird characters, find humour in the contradiction.
But Much gentler and more wholesome. The comedy is gentler, the pacing slower, and it lacks the edge and visual frenzy.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe1983
Syndicated action cartoon with heroes, villains, absurd technology, and an absolute commitment to its own silliness. Both shows understand that the fun is in how seriously they take their ridiculous premises.
But The animation is stiff and the dialogue often wooden. The humour is less intentional and more accidental.
Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers1989
Animal characters, detective work, a scrappy team dynamic, and genuine affection underneath the jokes. Slightly more competent than our pizza cats but that same scrappy spirit of making it work against the odds.
But More earnest and less anarchic. If you want pure zaniness, this feels almost grounded by comparison.
The Garfield Show2009
Animal protagonist, comedic focus, and willingness to prioritise gags over logic. Similar DNA in terms of what animators thought would entertain kids who wanted jokes more than plot.
But Relies heavily on a single character's personality rather than ensemble dynamics. Much less visually inventive and harder to watch as an adult.
The Secret of NIMH1982
Both trust that animal heroes can carry a story, but Secret of Nimh shows what happens when you lean into visual artistry and dramatic weight instead of jokes. A different answer to the same question.
An animated feature that proves animal characters in action scenarios can have real visual sophistication and genuine emotional weight. The animation is stunning, the world-building is intricate, and it never condescends to its young audience.
But Serious and sometimes genuinely dark. There's barely any comedy—it's all mood, mystery, and stakes. Nothing like the pizza cats' anarchic humour.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners2022
Both are animated action comedies, but Edgerunners shows how far the form evolved in 30 years. A genuine spiritual successor that took everything the pizza cats represented and gave it actual craft, depth, and consequences.
A 10-episode anime that proves syndicated cartoons don't have to be stupid. It's visually inventive, narratively complex, hilarious, heartbreaking, and structured like a short novel rather than episodic filler. Modern proof that animation aimed at younger viewers can demand intelligence.
But Deals with heavy themes—poverty, exploitation, drug addiction, mortality. The tone shifts violently from comedy to tragedy. Not escapist fun the way Samurai Pizza Cats is.
