The Awesomes is an animated superhero parody created by Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker. It follows a less-than-ideal group of superheroes who take over after the world's greatest heroes retire. Like Archer, it plays with genre tropes and focuses on a team of often dysfunctional characters. It features a strong voice cast including Meyers, Ike Barinholtz, and Taran Killam. While perhaps not as sharp or distinctive as Archer's humor, it offers a lighthearted take on the superhero team concept with a focus on comedic mishaps and character dynamics.

Superjail! is perhaps the most visually and narratively chaotic show on this list, hailing from Adult Swim. Set in a bizarre, surreal prison located inside a volcano that's also in another dimension, the show is known for its incredibly fluid, hallucinatory animation and extreme violence. While it lacks Archer's sharp dialogue and plot structure, it shares the adult target audience and a commitment to pushing boundaries with its bizarre characters and non-stop, often grotesque, visual gags. It's a sensory overload of dark comedy and surrealism.

Metalocalypse is an Adult Swim show centered around Dethklok, a fictional death metal band that is the most popular and influential cultural force on Earth, while also being incredibly inept outside of playing music. The humor is very dark, leaning into the extreme violence and over-the-top nature of metal culture. While different in theme from Archer, it shares the adult animation space, a commitment to absurd scenarios, and a cult following. The show features impressive animation for the concert scenes and voice work from co-creator Brendon Small (known for Home Movies).

The Tick is an animated superhero parody based on the comic book character. Like Archer, it takes a specific genre (superheroes) and exaggerates it for comedic effect, focusing on a large, naive, incredibly strong hero and his moth sidekick. While not spy-focused, it shares the adult animation space (the 90s version aired on Fox Kids but had a sophisticated wit, while later live-action versions leaned more adult) and a love for satirizing genre conventions with quirky characters and outlandish plots. It's a fun, self-aware take on the superhero world.

Danger Mouse is a classic British animated series that, like Archer, is a parody of the spy genre. It follows the adventures of the world's greatest secret agent (a mouse!) and his hamster sidekick, Penfold. While significantly more family-friendly and less adult than Archer, it shares the core concept of lampooning spy tropes with a strong comedic sensibility. The original series from the 80s is known for its narration, fourth-wall breaks, and silly villains. A modern reboot also exists, continuing the tradition of high-stakes, low-logic espionage missions.

Created by Matt Groening, Futurama is a beloved sci-fi animated comedy with a huge heart and incredibly smart writing. While the setting and premise (a 20th-century delivery boy frozen and waking up in the 31st century) are vastly different from Archer's spy world, it shares a love for clever jokes, pop culture references, and a core cast of dysfunctional but endearing characters. The show excels at blending high-concept science fiction with relatable human (and robot, and alien) emotions. It has a dedicated fanbase and is known for its surprising emotional depth alongside the rapid-fire gags and visual humor.

Bob's Burgers might seem softer than Archer on the surface, but it shares a crucial link: H. Jon Benjamin voices the lead character, Bob Belcher! Created by Loren Bouchard (who also worked on Home Movies, featuring Benjamin), the show centers on the quirky Belcher family running a struggling burger joint. The humor is more wholesome and character-driven than Archer's spy parodies, focusing on the family's bizarre dynamics and everyday mishaps. However, it has the same commitment to strong voice acting, witty dialogue, and creating a world populated by eccentric, lovable characters. If you enjoy H. Jon Benjamin's delivery, this is a must-watch.

BoJack Horseman stands out in the world of adult animation for its incredible depth and emotional complexity, often hidden beneath layers of Hollywood satire and animal puns. While it doesn't have the action-packed plots of Archer, it shares a sharp, witty script and a focus on deeply flawed, often self-destructive characters. The humor is dark and observational, and the show isn't afraid to tackle serious themes like depression, addiction, and the nature of fame. It's a show that evolved significantly over its run, becoming one of the most critically acclaimed animated series of all time, offering a different kind of richness compared to Archer's spy antics.

Rick and Morty is a phenomenon in adult animation, known for its incredibly smart (and sometimes overly complex) sci-fi concepts, dark humor, and dysfunctional relationships. While not focused on spies, it shares Archer's love for rapid-fire jokes, meta-commentary, and putting its main characters through increasingly ridiculous and dangerous situations. The animation is dynamic, and the voice acting (particularly Justin Roiland, who voiced both titular characters in earlier seasons) is iconic. It's a show that can be both incredibly funny and surprisingly bleak, pushing the boundaries of what animated comedy can be.

Another Adult Swim gem from the same era and creative minds as Harvey Birdman, Sealab 2021 takes footage from the obscure 1972 Hanna-Barbera cartoon Sealab 2020 and completely recontextualizes it with new, wildly inappropriate dialogue and storylines. The result is a show that is utterly nonsensical, hilarious, and a pioneer in the style of absurdist, character-driven adult animation that would pave the way for shows like Archer. The characters are insane, the plots are non-existent or utterly bizarre, and the humor relies heavily on sharp, often improvised-sounding dialogue and unexpected cutaways. It's pure, unadulterated silliness.

From the early days of Adult Swim, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law offers a similar brand of absurd, quick-witted humor and a love for classic animation tropes, much like Archer's spy parodies. The premise is simple but brilliant: Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters are now adults dealing with legal troubles, and former superhero Harvey Birdman is their lawyer. The comedy comes from seeing characters like Fred Flintstone, Scooby-Doo, and Yogi Bear in ridiculous courtroom scenarios, all voiced by a fantastic cast. It's a clever deconstruction of nostalgia and a showcase for rapid-fire jokes and surreal situations. It shares a lineage of creators and humor styles that influenced the creators of Archer.

The Venture Bros. is an absolute masterpiece of adult animation that shares Archer's love for parody, dysfunctional families, and deep lore. It starts as a satire of classic adventure cartoons like Jonny Quest but evolves into a complex, serialized story with incredibly well-developed characters, even the seemingly throwaway villains. The writing is incredibly sharp, filled with obscure pop culture references, scientific jargon, and hilarious character interactions. The animation quality is superb, and the show isn't afraid to get surprisingly emotional or dark amidst the comedy. It's a show that rewards repeat viewings and deep dives into its intricate universe.

Before Archer gave us Sterling Malory Archer, Adam Reed and Matt Thompson brought us Frisky Dingo. This show is essential viewing for Archer fans, as it's practically the spiritual predecessor. It follows the bizarre conflict between a billionaire superhero, Awesome X, and his arch-nemesis, Killface. The humor is just as dry, character-focused, and absurdly funny as Archer, with many of the same voice actors (like Amber Nash and Lucky Yates, who voice Pam and Dr. Krieger!). The animation style is nearly identical, and you can see the direct lineage in the pacing and comedic timing. It's shorter-lived but packed with brilliant, quotable moments that perfectly set the stage for their later hit.

Alright, let's start with the main event! Archer is the gold standard for spy-comedy animation. Created by Adam Reed, this show masterfully blends witty, rapid-fire dialogue with ridiculous espionage plots and dysfunctional characters you can't help but love (and sometimes hate). H. Jon Benjamin absolutely kills it as Sterling Archer, the world's most dangerous and self-absorbed spy. The animation style is slick, and the show constantly reinvents itself with themed seasons, taking the characters from a spy agency to Miami Vice, pirates, and even space. If you haven't seen it, prepare for a barrage of callbacks, running gags, and some of the funniest insults ever written for television. It's a truly unique beast in the animated landscape.