12 Animated Shows Like King of the Hill You Must See

Created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, ‘King of the Hill’ chronicles the everyday lives of the Hill family living in the fictional city of Arlen, Texas. Hank Hill is a propane salesman who lives with his wife Peggy, a substitute teacher, their son Bobby, a wannabe comedian, and Hank’s niece Luanne Platter. Hank’s opinions typically align with the conservatives on the subject of God and country, yet he stays unpretentious and chooses to take a simple view of the world. He likes to hang around and drink beer with his friends, divorcé military barber Bill Dauterive, paranoid conspiracy theorist Dale Gribble, and easy-going philanderer Jeff Boomhauer.

Originally airing on Fox before being revived on Hulu, the animated sitcom brings out the humor in the conventional and mundane aspects of everyday life, while also depicting the ups and downs of working-class families. If the series has you hooked, here is a list of shows similar to ‘King of the Hill’ that you can consider for your next binge.

12. Clerks: The Animated Series (2000-2001)

‘Clerks: The Animated Series,’ also known as ‘Clerks,’ is an adult animated sitcom created by Kevin Smith based on his 1994 film of the same name. It picks up after the events of the movie, with Dante Hicks continuing to work at the Quick Stop, while his best friend Randall Graves works at the video store. The equation between the two remains unchanged, with the latter spending the greater part of his days coming up with schemes to get Dante into trouble. However, things get hairy with the arrival of a billionaire megalomaniac in town, Leonardo Leonardo. As Dante and Randall get swept up in crazy adventures, they get little support from slackers Jay and Silent Bob. Similar to ‘King of the Hill,’ the show paints a picture of the lives of working-class people in the small towns in the US.

11. Chicago Party Aunt (2021-2022)

‘Chicago Party Aunt’ by Chris Witaske, Jon Barinholtz, and Katie Rich centers around Diane Dunbrowski, a hairdresser who hates adulting and is always the life of the party, earning her the titular moniker. She stays in Chicago with her 18-year-old gay nephew Daniel Whiddington, who is having his doubts about going to Stanford University, worrying that he will not fit in with the cool, partying pupils. To help him overcome his fears and become self-confident, his mother Bonnie sends him to live with his sister, who is the coolest and most unapologetic person she knows. Diane takes the task to heart and gets into crazy scenarios with her nephew to help him grow into a strong, fearless person. Diane approaches life in her own unique way, much like how the characters of ‘King of the Hill’ deal with theirs.

10. Sit Down, Shut Up (2009)

Based on an Australian eponymous live-action sitcom, ‘Sit Down, Shut Up’ by Mitchell Hurwitz revolves around an eccentric group of teachers at a non-distinguished school in a small northeastern fishing town. The staff includes acting principal Sue Sezno, who loves to say “No,” the upbeat and oblivious vice principal Stuart Prozackian, the accomplished classroom instructor-turned-gym teacher Larry Slimp, the English teacher Ennis Hofftard, the science teacher Miracle Grohe, the German teacher Willard Deutschebog, the librarian Helen Klench, the flamboyant drama teacher Andrew Sapien, as well as the scheming custodian ironically named Happy. As they go about solving their day-to-day problems in the dynamic environment, the series mirrors the grounded setting of ‘King of the Hill.’

9. Home Movies (1999-2004)

From the minds of Loren Bouchard, Brendon Small, and Janice Burgess, ‘Home Movies’ follows eight-year-old Brendon Small, who aspires to be a filmmaker and has created more than a thousand homemade films with his family’s video camera in his spare time. Living with his divorced mother, Paula, and his adopted baby sister Josie, Brendon does not mind that his parents are not together, as many of his school friends face a similar situation. However, he does develop a bond akin to father and son with John McGuirk, his short-tempered alcoholic soccer coach. With his friends Jason and Melissa, Brendon makes his way through adolescence, life, and relationships. The genuineness of Brendon resonates with that of Hank Hill in ‘King of the Hill.’

8. Mission Hill (1999-2002)

‘Mission Hill’ by Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein chronicles the life of 25-year-old Andy French, a retail worker and aspiring cartoonist who stays in a loft in the titular Mission Hill area of the fictional city of Cosmopolis. Andy shares the apartment with his eccentric roommates Jim and Posey, as well as their dog, Stogie. An aspiring cartoonist, Andy does not have much luck when it comes to his career or love life. The situation is not improved when his teenage brother Kevin, who has previously had a sheltered life in the suburbs, moves in with him. As they struggle through the curveballs that life throws at them, they learn the importance of working together. The dynamic of the quartet is much like Hank, Bill, Dale, and Jeff in ‘King of the Hill.’

7. Beavis and Butt-head (1993-2011)

Mike Judge’s ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ is about the everyday exploits of the two titular teenagers. The two slackers living in the fictional town of Highland, Texas, are known for their dim-wit, apathy, and lowbrow humor, as well as their love for hard rock and heavy metal music. They go about their day by playing hooky in high school, pulling pranks, trying to get laid, as well as making immature and sarcastic comments on viral videos and pop culture sensations. While the misfits may be self-destructive fools, their antics are profoundly funny and bring to mind the daily lives of the characters in ‘King of the Hill.’

6. Daria (1997-2002)

Created by Glenn Eichler and Susie Lewis Lynn, ‘Daria’ focuses on the titular character, Daria Morgendorffer, who prefers to enjoy a peaceful existence at Lawndale High School. She is successful in her efforts, with even the teachers struggling to remember her name. According to Daria, she prefers a solitary existence, not because she suffers from low self-esteem, but simply because she cannot tolerate her airheaded peers, including her sister Quinn and the cheerleader Brittany. The only exception to this phenomenon is her best friend Jane Lane, who always makes herself available when Daria needs to talk. Daria’s observational and insightful takes on seemingly everyday stuff serve as a reminder of Hank’s character in ‘King of the Hill.’

5. The Great North (2021-)

Helmed by Wendy Molyneux, Lizzie Molyneux, and Minty Lew, ‘The Great North’ is set around the Tobins, a family in Alaska led by the patriarch, Beef. As a single dad, he works hard to keep his family close together, which comprises his artistic daughter Judy and her three brothers. The latter includes older brother Wolf, who is engaged to Honeybee, middle brother Ham, and the youngest, Moon. Often going through life with her head in the clouds, Judy finds herself attracted to the local mall rather than the fishing boat. In the absence of her mother, she seeks guidance from her new boss, Alyson, and her imaginary friend, Alanis Morissette. Similar to ‘King of the Hill,’ the show focuses on family life with a patriarch at the helm.

4. Bob’s Burgers (2011-)

‘Bob’s Burgers’ by Loren Bouchard and Jim Dauterive follows third-generation restaurateur Bob Belcher, who runs the titular hamburger joint in the fictional shore town of Seymour’s Bay, New Jersey. A proud blue-collar worker, Bob believes his burgers speak for themselves, and he often creates offbeat varieties to keep it fresh for his customers. He enjoys the support of his loving wife, Linda, and their three children, even though at times Linda gets worried about the business not doing well. The challenges that Bob faces include harassment from a health inspector who used to be Linda’s ex-boyfriend. However, he manages to keep going forward. Much like ‘King of the Hill,’ the show highlights the everyday life of the resilient working class.

3. Bless the Harts (2019-2021)

From the minds of Emily Spivey and Christy Stratton, ‘Bless the Harts’ revolves around the titular Harts, a Southern family struggling to achieve the American dream while doing their best to make ends meet. The family is headed by single mother Jenny Hart, who works as a waitress in the small fictional town of Greenpoint, North Carolina. She is often at odds or in cahoots with her lottery scratcher-obsessed mother, Betty, and her intelligent daughter, Violet. Wayne Edwards has been Jenny’s loyal boyfriend for a decade and is a surrogate father to Violet. While the family has financial challenges, they are ready to face any situation with the support of each other. Like ‘King of the Hill,’ the show finds humor in the simple lives of ordinary people.

2. The Goode Family (2009)

Helmed by ‘King of the Hill’ creator Mike Judge along with John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, the series follows the titular family, who are obsessed with doing the “right” thing environmentally, politically, and socially. Residing in the fictional town of Greenville, California, they face the struggles of the working class as they strive to hold themselves to the highest of the liberal standards. The series satirizes both the stereotypical liberal and conservative mindsets, and much like ‘King of the Hill,’ provides a commentary on the challenges faced by everyday Americans.

1. F is for Family (2015-2021)

Set in the 1970s, ‘F is for Family’ by Michael Price and Bill Burr is inspired by the latter’s life. The stand-up comedian voices the central character, Frank Murphy, a short-tempered veteran living in the suburbs with his wife, Sue, and their four children. He works at the airport and often shouts and rants, making generous use of profanities. As the series presents the nostalgic details of life in the 1970s, it invokes a simpler time that is envisioned in ‘King of the Hills.’ Both shows have the protagonists going through the ups and downs of life while being very vocal about it.