1. Adventure Time (Cartoon Network)
Set in the possibly post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, this colourful television show follows the adventure of Finn the human boy and his stretchy dog companion Jake as they fight monsters, rescue Princess Bubblegum from the evil Ice King and protect the various people of Ooo from anything that may trouble them. While visually aimed at children, the writing of this show is very adult-oriented, intelligent enough that some of the more inappropriate joke will be missed by children, but clear enough that a group of stoned college kids will know when to laugh as well.

2. My Little Pony (Marvel Productions)
Never before has a show attracted the exact opposite of its target audience in such a public fashion as the Brony phenomenon, the devotion of many teen to middle-aged men to the cartoon. A bright, happy show created to sell Hasbro's toy line to young girls, the adventures of colourful horses learning about the joys of friendship have captured the minds of young children and older men alike.

3. Arthur (PBS)
A PBS show based on the books by Marc Brown, the growing up adventure of Arthur Read, his friend Buster Baxter and the rest of their family and classmates has been followed by children since its initial airing in 1996. As the original television audience has grown, many becoming parents themselves, the series has found a second life with a new generation, while still being fondly remembered by many in the colleged-age demographic.

4. Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Legend of Korra (Nickleodeon)
One of the most popular anime series of recent memory, the adventures of Aang and his comrades has drawn in fans of all ages. It tells the story of how the world's four nations — the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation and the Air Nomads — have been divided by war, and how only Aang, who has the power to control all four elements, can save the world. The series' three-year run was so successful that The Legend of Korra, a sequel series, debuted in 2012 to great success and was picked up for an initial 52 episodes.

5. Regular Show (Cartoon Network)
With a surreal, kooky design akin to Adventure Time, this program follows the misadventures of two roommates, Mordecai, the 6'3” blue jay, and Rigby, a raccoon half his size. The bizarre nature of the characters and the world that they are living in has attracted both children and adults due to a combination of innocent misadventure, subtle adult jokes, and a truly bizarre cast of characters, which includes a living gumball machine, a yeti, and a lollipop-shaped man.