View source for Animated series

{{short description|Set of animated works with a common series title}}
{{for|the technology|History of animation}}
An '''animated series''' is a set of [[Animation|animated]] works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These [[episode]]s should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have either a finite number of episodes like a [[miniseries]], a definite end, or be open-ended, without a predetermined number of episodes. They can be broadcast on [[television]], shown in [[movie theatre]]s, released [[direct-to-video]] or on the [[internet]]. Like other television series, films, including animated films, animated series can be of a wide variety of [[List of genres|genres]] and can also have different [[demographic]] [[target audience]]s, from [[male]]s to [[female]]s ranging [[Children's television series|children]] to [[adult animation|adults]].

==Television==
{{see also|Lists of animated television series}}
Animated [[Television show|television series]] are regularly presented and can appear as much as up to once a week or daily during a prescribed [[Broadcast programming#Time slot|time slot]]. The time slot may vary including morning, like [[saturday-morning cartoon]]s, prime time, like [[List of American prime time animated television series|prime time cartoon]]s, to late night, like [[late night anime]]. They may also be broadcast on weekdays ([[weekday cartoon]]s) or only on weekends.

The duration of each episode varies depending on the series. Traditionally, series are produced as complete half-hour or nearly half-hour programs; however, many are produced as animated [[Short film|shorts]] of 10–11 minutes, which can also be paired with other shorts to fill a set time period. If pairing between two or more shorts is done, then said shorts may be called "segments". If on television 15-20 minutes based on commercial time. A full half hour would cut into advertisement time frames. Note that Netflix and other streaming companies that don't show commercials may require a full 30 minute cartoon the length depends on the company that airs the cartoon. There are also some short series with a length of approximately five minutes; these have recently become more common in [[anime|Japanese animation]].

They are sometimes grouped together according to [[Television broadcasting|network]] programming demands. Thus a particular series may appear in a number of formats or time blocks.

Animated television series had historically been used for [[comedy]], like the [[cartoon]]s, a piece of art, usually developed for humorous intent, and so, called cartoon series. However, more recently animated television series have fallen into other genres, such as [[Action fiction|action]] / [[Adventure fiction|adventure]] series like ''[[Speed Racer]]'' and ''[[G.I. Joe]]''.

The first animated television series was ''[[Crusader Rabbit]]''.

[[Animated sitcom]]s first appeared in the 1960s, with ''[[The Flintstones]]'' (1960–1966), followed by ''[[The Jetsons]]'' (1962–1987).

From 1972 to 1974, [[Hanna-Barbera]] produced ''[[Wait Till Your Father Gets Home]]'', an adult-oriented Animated sitcom in the style of ''[[All in the Family]]''.

===Broadcast network===
The 1980s and 1990s was a renaissance of the animation [[children's television series]] and [[adult animation|adult's television series]]. Various [[broadcast network]]s and media companies began creating television channels and formats designed specifically for airing cartoon and anime series. Companies that already had these types of formats in place began to revamp their existing models during this time. Most of the animations were American based or Japanese Anime. Examples of current networks are:
{{columns-list|
* [[Adult Swim]]
* [[TV Tokyo]] (Japan)
* [[AT-X (TV network)|AT-X]] (Japan)
* [[Kids Station]] (Japan)
* [[Tokyo MX]] (Japan)
* [[Tooniverse]] (South Korea)
* [[Aniplus]] (South Korea)
* [[AniBox]] (South Korea)
* [[Anione]] (South Korea)
* [[Cartoon Network]]
* [[Discovery Family]]
* [[Nickelodeon]]
* [[Nick Jr.]]
* [[Nicktoons (TV channel)|Nicktoons]]
* [[TeenNick]]
* [[Disney Channel]]
* [[Disney XD]]
* [[Disney Junior]]
* [[Treehouse TV]] (Canada)
* [[Boomerang (TV network)|Boomerang]]
* [[Cartoonito (American programming block)|Cartoonito]]
* [[Teletoon]] (Canada)
* [[Universal Kids]]
* [[CITV]] (UK)
* [[CBeebies]] (UK)
* [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] (UK)
* [[PBS Kids]]
* [[Pop (British and Irish TV channel)|Pop]] (UK)
* [[Tiny Pop]] (UK)
* [[ABC Kids (Australia)|Abc Kids]] (Australia)
}}
During the 1990s, more mature content than those of traditional cartoon series began to appear more widely, extending beyond a primary audience of children. These cartoon series included ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[The Ren & Stimpy Show]]'', ''[[Rocko's Modern Life]]'',  ''[[Beavis and Butt-Head]]'', ''[[King of the Hill]]'', ''[[Duckman]]'', ''[[South Park]]'' and ''[[Family Guy]]''. Canadian computer-animated series ''[[ReBoot]]'', which began as a child-friendly show, shifted its target age group to ages 12 and up, resulting in a darker and more mature storyline.<ref name="animag">Hetherington, Janet L. "As Mainframe's technology reaches adolescence, there's a 'ReBoot' Renaissance". ''[[Animation Magazine]]'' #59. Vol. 11, Issue #8, September 1997.</ref>

=== Classification ===
* Completely original
** TV Animation: [[Mobile Suit Gundam]], [[Neon Genesis Evangelion]], [[Tenchi Muyo!]], ...
** web animation

==Theatrical==
{{see also|List of animated short series}}
Animated series shown in [[movie theatre]]s include the ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'' [[animated cartoon]] [[short film]]s that appeared in movie theaters from 1940 to 1967.

==Video==
{{see also|List of animated direct-to-video series}}
[[Direct-to-video]] animated series include most Japanese [[original video animation]]s (OVAs). The first OVA series (and also the first overall OVA) was ''[[Dallos]]'' (1983). Almost all [[hentai]] (pornographic) [[anime]] series are released as OVAs.

==Web series==
Animated web series are animated series designed and produced for [[streaming provider|streaming services]] and called "web series". 
Examples include ''[[Happy Tree Friends]]'' from 1999 and ''[[Eddsworld]]'' in 2004.

They can also be released on [[YouTube]], such as [[Asdfmovie]], which debuted in 2008.

{{portal|Animation|Cartoon}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Animation}}
{{Media series}}

[[Category:Animated series]]
[[Category:Television genres]]