10 Fantastic Animated Spin-Offs Shows You Should Stream Now

The release of Hulu’s excellent Predator: Killer of Killers proves that animation is well suited for the epic sci-fi franchise. While the Predator movies were loaded with plenty of violence, so much more delicious carnage was made possible through computer animation. There was more freedom to stage more elaborate locations, action sequences, and gallons of blood and guts.

The allure of Killer of Killers made me curious about what other franchises can benefit from animation. While there are not too many animated spin-off films, there’s no shortage of cartoon spin-off shows available to stream. So if you were inspired by Killer of Killers, or just want to see more animated excitement branching off from your favorite films, these are the spin-offs you need to see.

10

I Am Groot

OK, so it’s a wide turn from Killer of Killers, but if you couldn’t get enough of tiny Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, the mini monster gets his mini-adventures in I Am Groot. This collection of short films features the sci-fi escapades of the tiny tree character who can only say “I am Groot.” The plucky tree gets into adventures that could be as simple as taking a bath or as complex as saving the universe.

Much like the character, I Am Groot is a short and sweet animated series. The scenarios are ideally suited for the adorable character, and they never outstay their welcome. Created by Kirsten Lepore of Adventure Time fame, the show is cute enough for a mini-binge-watch on a rainy afternoon.

9

Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite shifted gears from a live-action comedy movie to a satirical animated series. The cartoon continues the tongue-in-cheek humor of Michael Jai White’s Black Dynamite, a 1970s vigilante trying to clean up streets littered with crime. His wild misadventures continue as he deals with drugs, taxes, racism, and a young Michael Jackson.

Played up with absurdity and knowing commentary, the Black Dynamite cartoon continues to serve as a parody and a love letter to blaxploitation films. Although it is played for its ridiculous nature, the series boasts a dynamic anime style that resembles The Boondocks with more polished action and style. If you loved the movie, you need to see the cartoon, mainly since it features returning actors Michael Jai White, Tommy Davidson, and Cedric Yarbrough.

8

The Pink Panther Show

The Pink Panther is a classic comedy, with Peter Sellers playing Inspector Jacques Clouseau, but the animated sequence featuring the literal Pink Panther cartoon character stole the show. The Pink Panther Show gave that cartoon character his show to indulge in more silent hijinks. The Inspector is still present, but he’s treated more like a hapless victim of the panther’s sly nature and Roadrunner-esque escapades.

With a faithful musical score replicating Henry Mancini’s unforgettable theme song, The Pink Panther Show ultimately became more prolific than the numerous Pink Panther sequel films that followed. The many slapstick adventures of the trouble-making panther have made him a key figure in the history of Saturday morning cartoons. His antics remain a lot of fun, as his scene-stealing nature has continued for decades in reboots and reprisals.

7

Godzilla Singular Point

Set in a futuristic Japan, engineer Yun Arikawa and graduate student Mei Kamino experience strange signals in different locations. Their investigation leads them to discover a threat to the universe. The only hope for Earth might be the giant monster Godzilla, or it could be the end as the beast is theorized to bring about the end of days.

Singular Point uses the Godzilla franchise to tell an anime story that is equal parts sci-fi thriller and destructive giant-monster action. Godzilla fans will be pleased to see how the show incorporates Shōwa-era characters, such as the winged Rodan and the superhero Jet Jaguar. As a spin-off anime, Singular Point will give giant monster fans what they love with an intriguing story they deserve.

6

What If…?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe takes wilder swings in the many universes of What If…?. Each episode features alternative storylines from the Marvel movies. Some of them are clever, such as role switches to make T’Challa become Star Lord instead of Black Panther, while others go down darker roads like Doctor Strange destroying his universe after enduring loss. The familiar events of the MCU are reimagined in computer animation that remains true to the previously established characters, all excellently narrated by The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright).

What If…? is one of the more daring Marvel TV shows for going against continuity and convention. There’s some iconic retooling of characters, as with Peggy Carter becoming a British version of Captain America (who would later appear in the Doctor Strange sequel as such). There are even some shocking aspects, such as the brutalization of many heroes in the zombie episode (which is getting its own spin-off). Whats If…? is a unique detour of a spin-off series that takes the MCU’s continuity and shakes it up in cartoon form.

5

Skull Island

Spinning off from Kong: Skull Island, this animated series further explores the dangers of the monster island where King Kong resides. The show picks up in the 1990s, where a shipwrecked crew must endure the terror of the island. As they fight for survival, they’ll also encounter the dominant giant ape, Kong, who may or may not be an ally in their quest to escape.

Developed by horror lover Brian Duffield (No One Will Save You), Skull Island boasts an anime-inspired style and more giant monster action. There are plenty of oversized crabs and hawks that target the mercenaries and scientists forced into this mysterious location. And, yes, in case you’re wondering, not everybody makes it out alive from this dangerous mission.

4

Star Wars Vintage: Clone Wars

Taking place between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars Vintage: Clone Wars explores the various battles between the cloned Stormtroopers of the Republic and the robotic armies of the Confederacy. There’s more of the buddy-dynamic between Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, but there’s also plenty of room for Stormtroopers and Jedi to take the lead. Not to be confused with the popular Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series that came in 2008, this show, told through 25 micro-episodes, relies more on action than dialogue, making for an intense and fast-paced Star Wars cartoon.

Genndy Tartakovsky made this show his own with a distinct, angular style and visually impressive combat sequences, as much as his work on the classic ’00s cartoon, Samurai Jack. It’s hard not to be impressed with Mace Windu’s campaign, where he obliterates an entire army and uses Jedi martial arts on the aggressive robots. Although visually stirring for the combat alone, the series also serves a greater purpose by expanding Anakin’s journey and tying into the opening of Revenge of the Sith, answering the question of why General Grievous had that cough.

3

Men in Black: The Series

The sci-fi comedy Men in Black was built for a TV series, focusing on how the covert organization dealt with alien threats. The high-spirited Agent J and straight-faced Agent K return in this series, tackling more secret alien operations. Joined by Agent L and ordered by Chief Zed, they’ll protect the streets of New York City with their high-tech weaponry and memory-erasing tools to maintain secrecy.

Men in Black: The Series took the Ghostbusters route of expanding the film’s premise. While the series does retool the events of the film (K somehow didn’t retire in this story), there was more room to expand on the characters, providing more backstory for Agent J and engaging in more fun activities with the aliens, such as Frank the Pug and The Worms. The buddy-cop dynamic was alive and well in cartoons like this, even if the cops were hunting down fugitives from other planets. It’s a great show that sometimes gets forgotten among all the other great cartoons of the 1990s.

2

The Real Ghostbusters

Following the first Ghostbusters movie, The Real Ghostbusters continued the adventures of the ghost-hunting entrepreneurs on Saturday mornings. The cartoon pits the shlubby misfits against more paranormal threats that haunt New York City. They’ll handle far more monstrous spirits while better befriending the hungry ghost, Slimer.

The cartoon felt like a natural extension of the movie, considering one of the episodes takes place directly after the film’s events. While Slimer evolved into a more endearing mascot than a gross-out glutton, the series remained relatively faithful to the characters, portraying Egon as an obsessive nerd and Peter as the dry-witted comedian. With voice performances and a theme song echoing the original, busting still feels good in cartoon form.

1

Tron: Uprising

Taking place before the events of Tron: Legacy, the side story Tron: Uprising answers the question of how The Grid turned into a police state. As Clu’s forces dominate the digital domain, the young mechanic Beck wants to strike back for the murder of his friend. He’ll get a first-class lesson in rebellion from the injured Tron, teaching the next generation of warriors to fight for what is right.

Framed with fitting CGI animation, Uprising uses the digital landscape of Tron to weave a compelling tale of rebellion. There are stakes to the struggle fought with deadly discs and high-speed cycle chases, set against lush backdrops of deep blacks and neon striping. The series also boasts some fantastic voice performances from Elijah Wood as Beck and Bruce Boxleitner reprising his role as Tron, making better use of him than Tron: Legacy. So if you wanted to see more of the actual Tron in Tron, this sci-fi action show will satisfy that digital thirst.

There really is no limit to what can be done with animation, and spin-offs are a great way to showcase the medium’s potential. You can spend more time with the characters and explore more of their world. Cartoons are no longer just for kids and can be a fascinating way to continue stories that seem to have ended at the cinema, but live on through TV.

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