Animation series 24 series

Animation lets a series go anywhere, and the lazy ones use that freedom to do less: a joke every ten seconds, a face that never changes, a world that resets each week. The good ones use it to do more. What we are judging is whether the people who drew the thing take it seriously, whether a horse actor or a propane salesman is allowed to be sad, and whether the writing would still hold up with the pictures switched off. Our shelf leans towards American comedy, with a strong showing from Japan when the giant robots turn inward.

Start with BoJack Horseman, 91, a sitcom about depression that earns the word; The Simpsons, 88, best in its early stretches; and Over the Garden Wall, 86, a children's fairy tale that will frighten you and is over in an evening. After those, try Neon Genesis Evangelion, if you have patience for a programme that does not quite finish.