The 40 most popular british animation TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


The Amazing World of Gumball
2011 · UK
The life of Gumball Watterson, a 12-year old cat who attends middle school in Elmore. Accompanied by his pet, adoptive brother, and best friend Darwin Watterson, he frequently finds himself involved in various shenanigans around the city, during which he interacts with various family members: Anais, Richard, and Nicole Watterson, and other various citizens.


Peppa Pig
2004 · UK
Peppa Pig is an energetic piggy who lives with Mummy, Daddy, and little brother George. She loves to jump in mud puddles and make loud snorting noises.


Thomas & Friends
1984 · UK
Thomas & Friends is a British children's television series, which had its first broadcast on the ITV network on 4 September 1984. It is based on The Railway Series of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. These books deal with the adventures of a group of anthropomorphised locomotives and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Wilbert told to entertain his son, Christopher during his recovery from measles. From Series one to four, many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.


Ben 10
2016 · UK
With the fifth offshoot of the "Ben 10" franchise, the animated series returns to its roots and its original name, bringing 10-year-old Benjamin "Ben" Tennyson, his cousin Gwen, and Grandpa Max back to life on a new summer vacation journey. As in the original, the stories in the remake of the series also spin around an alien wristwatch called "the Omnitrix," with the help of Ben can turn into ten different aliens, which come up with different supernatural powers. He fights enemy aliens and experiences with his grandfather and cousin the most exciting vacation imaginable.


Octonauts
2010 · UK
Follows an underwater exploring crew made up of stylized anthropomorphic animals, a team of eight adventurers who live in an undersea base, the Octopod, from where they go on undersea adventures with the help of a fleet of aquatic vehicles.


Shaun the Sheep
2007 · UK
Shaun the Sheep thinks and acts like a person in a barnyard, which usually gets him into trouble. The farmer's sheepdog, Bitzer, tries to keep Shaun and his friends out of trouble. The farmer is oblivious to the humanlike features of his flock, who are like one big, happy family.


Bob the Builder
1999 · UK
Bob the Builder and his machine team are ready to tackle any project. Bob and the Can-Do Crew demonstrate the power of positive thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and follow-through. The team always shows that “The Fun Is In Getting It Done!”


Mr. Bean: The Animated Series
2002 · UK
The animated daily trials and tribulations of clueless yet clever loner Mr Bean (aided by his best friend Teddy of course!) as he stumbles from one mishap to the next, always finding complex solutions to the simplest of problems.


Fireman Sam
1987 · UK
Follow the adventures of fireman Sam and his colleagues as they protect the citizens of the Welsh town of Pontypandy. Whenever the alarm sounds, brave Sam and his co-workers can be counted on to jump into a fire engine, hop onto a helicopter, or even launch an inflatable lifeboat to battle blazes, mount rescue missions, or provide medical attention to those in need.


PJ Masks
2015 · CA
Connor, Greg and Amaya are normal kids by day, but at night they activate their bracelets, which link into their pajamas and give them fantastic super powers, turning them into their alternate identities: the PJ Masks! The team consists of Catboy (Connor), Gekko (Greg) and Owlette (Amaya). Together, they go on adventures, solve mysteries, and learn valuable lessons. Watch the first six seasons of PJ Masks now on Disney+!


Hey Duggee
2014 · UK
Animated preschool series about a clubhouse that is run by a big dog called Duggee.


The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!
2010 · UK
The Cat in the Hat is back -- and this time, he's teaching Sally and her brother, Nick, some awfully nifty things to think about!


Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom
2009 · UK
The friendship between fairy princess Holly and Ben Elf in an enchanted magical kingdom of elves and fairies.


Numberblocks
2017 · UK
Learn how much fun counting can be with the Numberblocks - a fun-loving group of numbers who work together to solve problems big and small.


Rolie Polie Olie
1998 · UK
Rolie Polie Olie was a children's television series produced by Nelvana, distributed by Disney, and created by William Joyce, Maggie Swanson, and Anne Wood. The show centers on a little roly pollie who is composed of several spheres and other three-dimensional geometric shapes. The show was one of the earliest series that was fully animated in CGI, and the first CGI animated preschool series.Rolie Polie Olie now airs in reruns on Disney Junior. Rolie Polie Olie won a Gemini Award in Canada for "Best Animated Program" in 1999. The show also won a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Special Class Animated Program" in 2000 and 2005. William Joyce won a 1999 Daytime Emmy for Best Production Design for this series. The show has a vintage atmosphere reminiscent of the 1950s and early 1960s, with futuristic elements.


Danger Mouse
2015 · UK
Danger Mouse is back saving London, saving the World and, most importantly, saving Penfold in brand new and fantastically absurd, energetic adventures.


The Cramp Twins
2003 · DE
The story of a pair of non-identical twin brothers, Lucien and Wayne, who live with their hygiene-crazed mother and their western/country-crazed father in a small town called Soap City. Lucien is a delicate, nature-loving boy, while Wayne is a rough antisocial bully, whose only interest in life is junk. Naturally, some conflicts will ensue.


Thunderbirds Are Go!
2015 · UK
Remake of the hit 1960s television show. In the 21st century, Jeff Tracy, a former astronaut, amasses a colossal fortune and decides that he must use it to benefit others. His answer to this desire is to create International Rescue, a unique private emergency response service equipped with customized designed vehicles and equipment that enable the organization to react to any crisis whether it be in sea, air, land, or space. Jeff's five sons volunteer to operate as the pilots and field agents, as well "Brain" who acts as the teams engineer. In addition, Jeff's friend, Kyrano and his daughter Tanusha aka Kayo (based on the original series Tin-Tin character) agree to be the support staff. In addition to the field team, IR also maintains an intelligence network with Lady Penelope and her ex-con chauffeur, Parker as the chief agents in this arm.


Thunderbirds
1965 · UK
Thunderbirds is a 1960s British science-fiction television series which was produced using a mixed method of marionette puppetry and scale-model special effects termed "Supermarionation". The series is set in the 21st century and follows the exploits of International Rescue, a secret organization formed to save people in mortal danger with the help of technologically advanced land, sea, air and space vehicles and equipment, launched from a hidden base on Tracy Island in the South Pacific Ocean.


Simon's Cat
2008 · UK
Simon's cat follows the silent-movie-like adventures of a cat and his owner and lots of others.


The Creature Cases
2022 · FR
Special agents Sam and Kit hop the globe with their sleuthing skills, science facts and cool gadgets to solve the animal kingdom's many mysteries.


Pingu
1986 · CH
Playful penguin Pingu lives with his family in Antarctica, where he often finds himself caught up in mischievous high jinks with his pal Robby.


Chuggington
2008 · UK
Koko, Brewster and Wilson are three young, adventurous trainee "chuggers", learning about working on the railway in the town of Chuggington, with the help of the railway controller, Vee, the older engines, and their human friends.


The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball
2025 · UK
Welcome back to Elmore, where the laws of reality are a joke, and family life is anything but ordinary. Whether he's battling an evil fast-food empire, facing off against a sentient AI in love with his mom, or trying to stop Banana Joe from wearing pants — Gumball Watterson drags his brother Darwin, sister Anais, and the rest of the town of Elmore along for the ride. With even wilder stories, bigger twists, and surreal humor, the show is so amazing that they had to rename it!


Jungle Junction
2009 · US
Set deep in the heart of an unexplored, road-filled Jungle, the show features a group of fun-loving animals on wheels and aims to help preschoolers develop their pre-literacy skills, as well as encouraging them to care about the environment.


Horrid Henry
2006 · UK
Life is not fair! Horrid Henry feels that the rest of the world is against him and he wages a constant war against the adults. Like any headstrong young boy, he is determined, relentless, he doesn't hold back and he never admits defeat! He will stop at nothing to outwit the enemy and teachers, relatives and babysitters avoid him at all costs.


Wacky Races
2017 · UK
Wacky Races (2017) is a reboot of the classic 1968 Hanna-Barbera animated series, bringing a fresh, modern take on the original premise while retaining much of the core essence that made the original show so beloved. The 2017 version, created by Warner Bros. Animation, aired on the Boomerang network and introduced a new generation to the zany, high-speed races of the characters. In this updated series, the characters from the original Wacky Races return, but with a more contemporary style and new backstories. The vehicles are also revamped with more advanced technology and a few new additions to the roster, though the classic ones like Dick Dastardly’s Mean Machine and Penelope Pitstop’s Compact Pussycat are still present.


Make Way for Noddy
2002 · UK
Noddy, a wooden boy who lives in Toyland, introduces social concepts. He has big musical adventures with his friends and a very big imagination.


Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
2023 · JP
Scott Pilgrim meets the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers, only to find out her seven evil exes stand in the way of their love.


Robotboy
2005 · FR
Robotboy is the latest creation of the world renowned scientist Professor Moshimo. Due to fears that Robotboy would be stolen by his arch-enemy Dr. Kamikazi and his main henchman Constantine to be used to take over the world, Professor Moshimo entrusts Robotboy to 10-year-old Tommy Turnbull, his biggest fan. While being protected by Tommy and his two friends Lola and Gus, or "G-man" as he calls himself, Robotboy learns how to behave and act as if he were a real boy.


Lily's Driftwood Bay
2014 · UK
Follow the imagination of Lily, a five-year-old hunter, as she creates a world of adventure and friendship from treasures she finds washed up on the beach.


Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service
2008 · IE
The world’s favourite Postman is back and delivering more than ever. Postman Pat has been promoted to the post of Head of Special Delivery Service. Equipped with his pilots license and a host of new transport options, Pat delivers in hard to reach places, from the top of a mountain to the middle of the sea anything from a giant ice block to a runaway cow!


League of Super Evil
2009 · CA
League of Super Evil is a Canadian animated television series inspired by the sketch "Once Were Heroes" by Ryan Harper-Brown, co-created by Philippe Ivanusic-Vallee, Davila LeBlanc, Peter Ricq, developed by Asaph Fipke, and produced by Nerd Corps Entertainment in conjunction with YTV. On YTV, it premiered on March 9, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. ET. The show is airing on Nickelodeon in Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and on Cartoon Network in most of Southeast Asia, India, Australia, New Zealand, The United States, CBBC in United Kingdom and Canal Plus, Canal J, and Gulli in France. The first season consisted of 26 episodes. The second season consisted of 13 episodes. In total, 52 episodes have aired. In Latin America, it is aired on Disney XD. The second season started airing in Canada in September 2010 and the third season aired from June 2012 to August 2012. The series ended on August 25, 2012.


Gadget & the Gadgetinis
2002 · CA
Having been recruited by an elite international peacekeeping group called the World Organization of Mega Powers (WOMP), Inspector Gadget is now Lieutenant Gadget, and fights crime with a pair of mechanical assistants called Gadgetinis, who are small robot versions of the Inspector created by his niece, 12-year-old Penny (due to Brain retiring from active duty).


101 Dalmatian Street
2019 · UK
Follow the adventures of eldest siblings Dolly and Dylan, their Mum Delilah and Dad Doug, and their 97 younger brothers and sisters as they embark on urban adventures and extreme sibling rivalry. Together, the pups explore growing up and finding their own spot inside the biggest, messiest, furriest blended family ever.


The Story of Tracy Beaker
2002 · UK
Tracy Beaker is a 10-year-old girl who has been placed in a children's home. Tracy makes new friends along the way and causes mischief wherever she goes.


Danger Mouse
1981 · UK
Danger Mouse, the world's greatest secret agent, and his side-kick Penfold work to foil the evil schemes of Baron Greenback.


Go Jetters
2015 · IE
Go Jetters follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes, Xuli, Kyan, Lars and Foz, as they travel the globe with their friend and mentor Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn. Together they save the world's most famous landmarks from the mischievous meddlings of their nemesis, Grandmaster Glitch.


Hero:108
2010 · FR
With a war between humans and animals in full swing, humanity's only hope now is a team of warriors who work for the peacekeeping organization Big Green in the land of Hidden Kingdom.


The Mr. Men Show
2008 · US
The Mr. Men Show was an animated television series based on the original Mr. Men and Little Miss books created in the 1970s, 80s and 90s by British author Roger Hargreaves and his son Adam Hargreaves. Adapted from the published source material into a television variety program, The Mr. Men Show features comedy sketches, pantomimes, dance numbers and music videos. The TV series is directed by Mark Risley and executive produced by Eryk Casemiro & Kate Boutilier. Original score and songs are composed by Jared Faber. Season 1 first aired on February 4, 2008 and Season 2 aired on September 8, 2009.
British television's defining habit is the short series — six episodes, one writer, a finite story. That structure produced the modern prestige miniseries and a format catalogue the rest of the world keeps adapting.
Animated television covers everything from long-running adult satire to prestige anime. It's a format where a distinctive visual voice can survive far longer than in film, and where some of the sharpest writing on TV lives.