Saagar Kote
Created by Andrew Law, Netflix’s ‘Dang!’ is an animated sitcom about three Chinese American siblings whose very different approaches to adulthood repeatedly throw them into chaotic situations in NYC. Eunice and Andrew, both in their 20s, share a small apartment in Chinatown while struggling through their respective corporate careers. Eunice still relies heavily on her older brother, while anxious Andrew tries to navigate his own problems. Their routine is disrupted when their older sister Ruthie, a successful lawyer in her thirties, suddenly turns up after her seemingly perfect life falls apart. While Ruthie reconnects with her siblings, Andrew and Eunice introduce her to their carefree way of living.
Even as Ruthie attempts to teach her siblings how to handle adulthood, she must bear the weight of her own choices. Stuck between their individual struggles and the trouble they constantly create together, the siblings must figure out how to survive in the city without letting their differences damage their bond. These animated shows, similar to ‘Dang!,’ explore the absurdities of life and relationships, while also featuring eccentric characters.
8. The Boondocks (2005-2014)
‘The Boondocks’ follows brothers Huey and Riley Freeman as their very different personalities turn their new suburban home into a constant source of conflict. After moving from Chicago to Woodcrest, the boys live with their grandfather Robert, who becomes their legal guardian and hopes to spend his later years in peace. 10-year-old Huey is socially and politically driven, while 8-year-old Riley embraces rap music and contemporary Black culture. Their opposing worldviews repeatedly clash with those of the eccentric residents of the mainly white, middle-class neighborhood.
Robert struggles to keep control as the brothers provoke those around them and create trouble of their own. With Aaron McGruder providing the creative vision, the adult sitcom is based on his eponymous comic strip. The Freeman brothers approach life from radically different perspectives, much like the siblings in ‘Dang!’ do. In both shows, family members are simultaneously the source of support and disruption, driving the stories’ chaos.
7. F Is for Family (2015-2021)
‘F Is for Family’ draws inspiration from the childhood experiences of Bill Burr, who co-created the series with Michael Price. It centers on Frank Murphy, an angry veteran whose demanding job at the airport leaves him struggling to support his family while he deals with constant stress. At home, his wife Sue looks for a life beyond her responsibilities as a mother, while their three children navigate the difficulties of growing up.
Set in the 1970s, the adult sitcom follows the Murphy family through arguments, setbacks, and the pressures of work, marriage, and parenthood. When each family member deals with their own frustrations, everyday problems repeatedly spill into their relationships, causing trouble and laughs. ‘Dang!’ and ‘F Is for Family’ both find humor in the realities of life, including work, relationships, responsibilities, and family disagreements.
6. Bob’s Burgers (2011-)
In ‘Bob’s Burgers,’ Bob Belcher tries to keep his struggling burger restaurant afloat alongside his wife Linda and their three children, Tina, Gene, and Louise. The food is better than the competition’s, but the family is threatened by rival restaurateur Jimmy Pesto, who draws customers away. Meanwhile, the Burger restaurant’s unusual location and the children’s misadventures lead to distractions. Tina is preoccupied with finding love, Gene brings his own eccentric energy, and Louise is mischievous. The creative team of Loren Bouchard and Jim Dauterive brings this sitcom, which follows the Belchers as they repeatedly turn everyday life into crises. Tina, Gene, and Louise are very different from one another and constantly get into trouble, much like how ‘Dang!’ portrays the lives of Eunice, Andrew, and Ruthie.
5. YOLO (2020-2025)
‘YOLO’ revolves around best friends Sarah and Rachel as their very different ideas of how to have a good time repeatedly pull them into bizarre situations across Wollongong, Australia. Sarah wants to find love, while Rachel is driven by a hunger for partying, making their friendship a constant source of both support and conflict. Their adventures take them through a strange land populated by eccentric nomads. Even when their choices cause them to disappoint each other, Sarah and Rachel remain close, hoping to find meaning. Created by Michael Cusack, the Australian-American adult sitcom is loosely adapted from his web series of the same title. Along the lines of ‘Dang!,’ the show surrounds its characters with unusual people and bizarre situations. The two shows navigate similar emotional crises, while being set in radically different environments.
4. Chicago Party Aunt (2021-2022)
‘Chicago Party Aunt’ is a sitcom that centers on Diane Dunbrowski, a carefree hairdresser, and her 18-year-old nephew Daniel Whiddington, who puts his plans for Stanford University on hold for a gap year. When Daniel moves into Diane’s apartment, he finds himself trying to work out what he wants from the future while his aunt pushes him toward her far less conventional way of enjoying life. Their opposing views repeatedly shape the situations they get into, with friends, neighbors, and the city becoming part of their adventures.
Despite their differences, the unlikely pair gradually learns from each other as they navigate their shared life. With Chris Witaske, Jon Barinholtz, and Katie Rich providing creative inputs, the show captures the essence of ‘Dang!’ through its vivid character motivations. Diane refuses to embrace a conventional way of life, while the Dang siblings each have distinct ideas about what adulthood should look like.
3. The Life & Times of Tim (2008-2012)
‘The Life & Times of Tim’ is a Steve Dildarian creation that follows Tim, an ordinary man in his 20s whose attempts to live responsibly rarely prevent his life in NYC from becoming complicated. He lives with his girlfriend, Amy, and as he shuttles between work and personal life, he repeatedly finds himself in awkward situations. Tim is frequently left carrying the blame when the questionable choices of those around him cause problems. While he tries to maintain stability and satisfy the expectations of those closest to him, even seemingly routine experiences unravel into embarrassing mishaps. Tim must now deal with everything on his own and control the madness. The adult sitcom turns Tim’s seemingly ordinary life in NYC into a source of trouble, similar to how ‘Dang!’ turns NYC into a battleground for the Dang siblings, who are prone to chaos at every turn.
2. Close Enough (2020-2022)
With J. G. Quintel, Sean Szeles, and Calvin Wong serving as creators, ‘Close Enough’ follows Josh and Emily, a married couple in their early thirties whose attempts to manage parenting, careers, and relationships make their lives disorderly. Living in LA with their young daughter, Candice and their divorced friends Alex and Bridgette, Josh and Emily deal with the pressures of adult life. Routine domestic problems become bizarre adventures, sending the characters into encounters with fantasy events beyond their imaginations. As their everyday responsibilities collide with increasingly unusual circumstances, the friends and family members try to keep their lives from completely falling apart. The adult sitcom, akin to ‘Dang!,’ is a commentary on the realities of adulthood in the modern world and the complex emotional dynamics between family members.
1. Tuca & Bertie (2019-2022)
Creator Lisa Hanawalt’s ‘Tuca & Bertie’ is a sitcom based on her webcomic ‘Tuca the Toucan,’ and tells the tale of two bird friends whose opposing personalities shape how they deal with adulthood and the art of self-discovery. Carefree toucan Tuca moves between temporary jobs while trying to maintain stability after giving up alcohol. In contrast, anxious song thrush Bertie holds down office work while pursuing her ambition to build a career in baking. Living in the same apartment complex, the pair remains closely connected even as their personal struggles take them in different directions and force them to manage emotional insecurity.
Their friendship becomes the thread linking their experiences as they confront relationships, trauma, and the true meaning of life. ‘Dang!’ and ‘Tuca & Bertie’ depict the journeys of their characters through the flaws and contradictions of their lives. Relationships and complex emotional bonds drive the stories forward. Tuca and Bertie remain deeply connected despite their differences and individual struggles, much like the Dang siblings.
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