Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends.
Calvin and the Colonel.
Jonny Quest.
King of the Hill.
Futurama.
Beavis and Butthead.
The Simpsons.
Top Cat.
Family Guy.
Yeah, one of the best in TV. So many 80s references, it definitely has an adult component. This and Sponge Bob are my faves.
There’s a collection floating around of the 50 best animated cartoons ever. It includes gems like “One Froggy Evening,” “The Balance” and “Rooty Toot Toot.”
Any of the old Betty Boop stuff will please young and old alike.
Warner Bros has released several collections of Looney Toons. I’ve got 5 boxed DVD sets myself. It’s hard to go wrong with the Classics.
I’d second this. I’ll admit I’ve probably only watched about 1/3rd of the episodes but what I saw indicated it had a consistent 2 year story arc which had foreshadowing and satisfying reveals and payoffs on a consistent basis throughout the series. If a show like Lost had done half as well as SDMI in this regard it would be remembered with fondness rather than frustration.
As far as full length films are concerned, the plot of The Incredibles operates on several levels–adults can readily enjoy it.
Does anyone remember the mid-nineties semi-educational science fiction adventure cartoon series called Mighty Max? For a show based entirely off of the “for boys” spinoff of the Polly Pocket line of clamshell diorama toys, it was actually pretty engaging. I cried at the end when the chicken died 
I do—and I was mightily impressed (no pun intended), even at the time. The amount of characters dying in what I saw, and outside of the pilot or finale, and it being used as serious, heartfelt drama (or dark humor, in one case) was astonishing. I loved it.
Maybe a little too kiddish, but I always liked Rugrats, Doug, and Hey Arnold! Mostly for kids but definitely all three had some jokes that would go right over the kids’ heads.
On board with the Phineas and Ferb love. Curse you Perry the Platypus!
Another one for Sponge Bob Square Pants and The Clone Wars here.
My votes:
Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends
Invader Zim
Spongebob, first 2 seasons (you’ll either love it or hate it within a couple episodes)
Phineas and Ferb
Possibly one to keep an eye out for, if only for the WTF factor…Shezow, kids cartoon debuting now on the Hub Network, an Australian/Canadian series about a 12 year-old boy who finds a magic ring that turns him into a female superhero.
Only a few episodes appear to have been released so far. Googling “Shezow” seems to turn up a lot of discussion in the media.
I’m sure this is NOT what the OP is after, but I see no one has mentioned Roger Ramjet. Totally made for kids, but I always thought it had a cleverness to its lunacy, and it’s choppy animation had an appeal that I think is mirrored somewhat in Southpark today.
In more recent years, I’ve enjoyed watching Chibi Maruko (Japanese) with my kids. It’s not sophisticated or anything, but it has genuine charm and humor.
Add me to the list of Spongebob fans.
And I’ve also enjoyed watching Phineas and Ferb over my kid’s shoulders.
If it’s good enough for Jon Stewart I need feel no guilt.
The comments on the video itself are, well, sad. It’s the same attitude I hated as a kid - that while the commenter was a paragon of self-control, everyone else is a clueless drone that will do anything the magic picture box tells them. I don’t care how cool the character is, I don’t see a bunch of boys starting to cross-dress because of a cartoon.
Batman: TAS is excellent. Gargoyles is excellent. The 1990s X-Men is utter dreck (and I say that as someone who was a huge fan of it as a kid). It’s awful in every sense.
I tried watch Samurai Jack based on the hype I see it get. I’m three episodes in and I just think it’s not for me. Too many scenes feel stretched out; it’s the same action repeated or drawn out over a too-long period of time with no music and just sound effects. Feels very empty.
I think that was part of the charm, but if you don’t like what you’ve seen so far you probably won’t like the rest. But there are episodes where the art is just amazing.
I didn’t much care for the later parts of the show, seemed to run out of steam.
Just watched the entire run of Skyland (26 20 minute episodes) and I loved it! The 3D CGI cell shaded animation is beautiful and amazing for 2005? I think is when it aired.
It is very cliche filled and the childish quality grates a few times, but other than that it is a great scifi adventure show. It is the 23rd century and the Earth has shattered into floating blocks of land, sky pirates on flying ships are battling a evil empire.
:pNot original but a lot of fun and if you like animation or scifi it gives a great dose of entertainment.
animated zombie or no
George of the Jungle is multiage with some good jokes.
Rocky & Bullwinkle made lots of jokes for an adult level of background.
The Simpsons are an all age market.
All this time and nobody mentioned Samurai Pizza Cats?