Kids shows aren't always just for kids. Every once in a while, a TV show pops up one one of the major kids' TV networks that appeal to the younger and older audiences. Here are seven TV shows meant for kids that are popular among adults too.
1. Girl Meets World
Hailing from the all popular '90s sitcom Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World is a spin-off set in the present day that follows the teenage daughter of Cory and Topanga and her group of friends who “take on the world”. Fans of Boy Meets World have followed the spinoff since its start in 2014, many of which are well above the Disney Channel’s target audience.
2. Gravity Falls
Riddled with mystery and adventure, Gravity Falls was a series created by Alex Hirsch for the Disney Channel and eventually Disney XD. It centered around twins Dipper and Mabel Pines who discover the mysterious secrets in the town of Gravity Falls. The series has received positive feedback from fans of all ages, ranging from little kids to college students to even full blown adults. Fans have created social media pages dedicated to theories about the show. People across the world have even worked hard to decipher the hidden codes within the show and have followed the series from its start in 2012 until it finished it’s run this past February.
3. Steven Universe
Following a young half boy half “gem” and his three “gem” compatriots, Steven Universe is an underrated show from Cartoon Network that has a following from an older fan base. Ever since the show began its run in 2013, fans have been in awe of the series, loving everything from its unique soundtrack to the many themes that have been displayed. Some of these said themes relate to the LGBTQ community, which is rare to find in a kids show. Steven Universe’s fandom is so large, some consider it to be the most popular show on Cartoon Network.
4. Avatar: The Last Airbender
One reason this show seems to be popular among older audiences is the animation style, which is very similar to an anime style, something that nowadays is more popular with millennials. Besides animation style, this surprisingly dark kids’ show gained a massive popularity during its run and is still somewhat relevant today, thanks to the sequel series Legend of Korra.
5. Danny Phantom
This show ended nearly 10 years ago, but “phans” of Danny Phantom still haven’t up hope on the series making a possible return. Multiple online petitions have been created to bring the series back and since 2013, there have been rumors that the show will resume production at Nickelodeon. To add to that, despite the fact that the people who grew up on Danny Phantom are adults now, Butch Hartman himself said in a YouTube video that Danny Phantom is considered to be his most popular show, even though the Fairly Odd Parents has been on the air for much longer and is still in production.
6. Lab Rats
Having creators who wrote for That 70s Show can really help boost approval ratings among the older demographics. Disney XD’s hit sitcom Lab Rats has had no trouble drawing in older viewers, despite being on a kids’ network. Another thing that was appealing about the series was that there was something for everyone to like. There was a blend of comedy, drama, action, and all around good storytelling. A look at the premiere ratings for each episode reveals they fared pretty well in the 18-24 demographic range for a series that’s on a not-so-well-known cable channel.
7. SpongeBob Squarepants
Since 1999, SpongeBob Squarepants has been a delight for everyone. It’s certainly Nickelodeon’s trademark series and it has done a good job with appealing to older audiences. Proof of such is that in 2016 when the first generations who watched SpongeBob as a kid are now in college or young adults. So whenever these said generations watch the show today, it’s still an enjoyable watch and to add to the merriment, they’re now old enough to understand the adult jokes that flew over their heads so many years ago.
