Television series
Unikitty!
- Comedy
- Light-hearted
A bubbly animated series about a rainbow unicorn-cat ruler determined to keep her kingdom impossibly happy. It's chaotic, surreal, and surprisingly smart about the psychology of toxic positivity, wrapped in Cartoon Network's trademark hyperactive visuals. Best for kids who like weird humour, though parents might find the relentless energy exhausting.
If you liked this
Adventure Time: Distant Lands2020
Shares Unikitty's blend of whimsy, emotional depth, and genuine stakes beneath the absurdity. A world that feels lived-in, populated by characters you'll actually care about despite the candy kingdoms and talking dogs.
But Eleven seasons is a commitment, and the early episodes are notably looser than what you'd want. The tone shifts dramatically as it goes, which some find brilliant and others find scattered.
The Owl House2020
Equally inventive with its world-building and character animation, but adds real emotional weight to its relationships. Funny, colourful, and unafraid to let things matter. Proves kids' animation can be both silly and genuinely moving.
But It got cancelled before its planned ending, which stings. The final season is compressed, and some plot threads feel rushed because of executive decisions, not creative ones.
Craig of the Creek2018
Warm, imaginative, and structurally tight in ways that feel effortless. Each episode finds genuine adventure in small spaces. The animation is expressive without being exhausting, and the humour lands for all ages.
But If you're craving the caffeine-fuelled chaos of Unikitty, this is deliberately gentler. It's wholesome in a way that might feel slow if you're used to constant motion.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Unikitty!
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Inside Out2015
Both explore the psychology of emotional regulation through visual metaphor, but Inside Out argues that Unikitty's approach to enforced happiness is actually psychologically dangerous. It's the argument *against* the show you love.
An animated film that weaponizes its colourful, playful premise to explore genuine emotion and the danger of suppressing sadness. It looks like a kids' film but thinks like a therapy session. Pixar at its best.
But The core message—that feeling sad is necessary and valid—directly contradicts Unikitty's philosophy, which might feel heavy-handed if you're looking for pure fun rather than subversion.
More like this (6)
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power2018
Explosively creative character design, genuinely funny, and beneath the sparkly action is a surprisingly complex story about power, loyalty, and what it costs to always be right. The animation is gorgeous and the jokes land.
But The early seasons are lighter than later ones, so it can feel like tonal whiplash. And if you're not invested in its overarching plot, some middle episodes drag.
Infinity Train2019
Uses surreal, painterly animation to explore real psychological themes. Every episode generates fresh ideas and genuine creepiness alongside its humour. It respects your attention and keeps surprising you.
But It's darker and more unsettling than Unikitty, and the anthology format means you'll sometimes get episodes that don't quite land. It was also cancelled early, leaving threads untied.
Amphibia2019
A girl stuck in a frog world sounds simple, but it builds into something genuinely affecting. The character work is exceptional, the humour is consistent, and it earns its emotional moments. Colourful without being draining.
But The first season takes time to find its voice, and if you need constant high-energy chaos, the character-focused episodes might feel slow to you.
Gravity Falls2012
Mystery, humour, genuine scares, and heart. Every episode plants seeds; rewatching reveals how carefully constructed it all was. A show that trusts its audience and plays by rules it establishes.
But Only two seasons means the ending arrives abruptly. Some mysteries are left deliberately vague, which feels intentional but might frustrate you if you wanted clearer answers.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts2020
A post-apocalyptic adventure that somehow stays joyful without being naive. Gorgeous creature design, genuine diversity in its cast and storytelling, and a protagonist who chooses optimism as an act of resistance rather than ignorance.
But The post-apocalyptic setting is sometimes darker than the animation style suggests, which creates tonal tension some viewers find jarring rather than effective.
Made for Love2021
Both deal with the performance of happiness and the psychological cost of controlling an emotional narrative—but Made for Love plays it as horror rather than comedy, showing what forced positivity looks like from the inside.
A dark comedy-thriller about a woman escaping her tech-billionaire husband's obsessive control. It's surreal, often hilarious, visually inventive, and beneath the weirdness is genuine stakes and character development. Binges in a breath.
But It's live-action and aims for an adult audience, so the tonal shift is massive. The humour is darker and sometimes cruel. Only two seasons, and it ends definitively rather than wrapping neatly.
People
Writing
- Ed SkudderCreator
- Lynn WangCreator