The Ultimate Cartoon Showdown: The Simpsons vs Family Guy vs American Dad vs Futurama
There are TV shows you watch once and forget… and then there are animated icons. For decades, four have ruled the cartoon universe — The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, and Futurama.
They shaped pop culture, rewrote comedy, and made yellow skin and talking dogs completely normal. But which series truly rules? Let’s pit them against each other — and discover how you can bring their worlds to life in your very own custom cartoon.
Round 1: The Simpsons — The Yellow Blueprint
It all began in Springfield. Since 1989, Homer’s “D’oh!”, Bart’s pranks, and Lisa’s saxophone solos have kept generations laughing. The show’s golden era gave us clever satire, heartwarming stories, and one of the most recognisable art styles in history.
Strengths: Perfect balance of heart and humour, instantly recognisable characters.
Weaknesses: After 30+ seasons, even Homer might need a nap.
Verdict: The Simpsons didn’t just start the trend — it became the blueprint. Without it, the rest of this list wouldn’t exist.
💛 Want to see yourself in Springfield style? We’ve created Simpsons-inspired custom cartoons where families, couples, and even pets become part of that yellow universe. They’re hilarious, nostalgic, and always a hit as gifts. Contact us via the chat feature on our website and let's chat about ideas.
Round 2: Family Guy — The Chaos King
If The Simpsons was the pioneer, Family Guy was the rebel teenager who crashed the party with too much caffeine. Seth MacFarlane took the wholesome sitcom model and turned it upside down — with cutaway gags, unfiltered jokes, and a baby plotting world domination.
Peter, Lois, Stewie, Brian, and Meg redefined cartoon absurdity. One minute they’re singing Broadway tunes, the next they’re reenacting a Star Wars battle.
Strengths: No boundaries, no apologies, and endless pop-culture references.
Weaknesses: Sometimes it crosses the line — and then sprints past it.
Verdict: Wild, outrageous, and proudly over-the-top.
🎨 We’ve even made Family-Guy-style custom portraits — bold lines, exaggerated features, and plenty of attitude. Perfect for families who love humour with a bit of chaos. Contact us via the chat feature on our website and let's chat about ideas.
Round 3: American Dad — The Clever Cousin
At first glance, American Dad looked like Family Guy’s twin — but it evolved into something sharper. CIA agent Stan Smith, his free-spirited family, and Roger the shape-shifting alien have become cult favourites for their clever writing and satire.
Roger alone deserves a spin-off (and possibly therapy).
Strengths: Witty political humour, inventive plots, and surprisingly heartfelt episodes.
Weaknesses: Sometimes overshadowed by its louder sibling.
Verdict: The underrated genius of adult animation.
💥 Love American Dad’s clean style and bold character poses? We’ve created custom cartoon portraits in this look — crisp, colourful, and hilariously expressive. Think CIA-level cool with family-photo warmth. Contact us via the chat feature on our website and let's chat about ideas.
Round 4: Futurama — The Smartest Show in the Galaxy
Matt Groening’s Futurama took the same wit that built The Simpsons and launched it straight into space. With Fry, Leela, and Bender delivering packages across the galaxy, it mixed sci-fi, comedy, and surprisingly emotional storytelling.
Strengths: Smart humour, stunning animation, and the ability to make you laugh and cry in the same scene.
Weaknesses: Cancelled and revived more times than Bender’s liver.
Verdict: Proof that animation can be funny, philosophical, and futuristic all at once.
🚀 We’ve designed Futurama-inspired custom art, complete with glowing cityscapes, robots, and flying pizza boxes — a perfect choice for sci-fi lovers who want their own 31st-century adventure. Contact us via the chat feature on our website and let's chat about ideas.
Round 5: Art, Style & Storytelling
Each show carved out its own visual identity:
- The Simpsons: Classic, bright, instantly recognisable.
- Family Guy: Bold outlines and manic energy.
- American Dad: Slicker and more cinematic.
- Futurama: Rich colour, 3D depth, and stunning world-building.
That variety is exactly what makes custom cartoon art so fun. You can choose your universe — bright and wholesome, chaotic and bold, or futuristic and weird — and we’ll draw you right into it.
Round 6: Cultural Impact
The Simpsons practically invented modern satire. Family Guy made shock humour mainstream. American Dad quietly became the critic’s favourite. And Futurama? It taught us that cartoons could make us think (and cry about dogs named Seymour).
Together, these series reshaped television — and inspired artists everywhere, including us at Make Me A Comic. We’ve reimagined couples as Springfield neighbours, pets as Griffin-family extras, and entire workplaces as Futurama-style delivery crews.
Each new commission proves one thing: people don’t just watch these cartoons. They want to live inside them.
Round 7: So… Who Wins?
Honestly? They all do — in their own way.
- Best for nostalgia: The Simpsons
- Best for chaotic humour: Family Guy
- Best for satire: American Dad
- Best for story and emotion: Futurama
Each show has its own tone, message, and legacy. Together, they’re like the four elements of animation: heart, humour, chaos, and imagination.
From Screen to Sketchbook: Your Own Cartoon Universe
Here’s where it gets fun. You don’t have to choose which world you love most — you can join it.
At Make Me A Comic, we turn real people into illustrated characters in the style of their favourite shows. Want your family drawn like The Simpsons? Done. Prefer the Family Guy look? We’ve got you. Fancy yourself piloting a ship next to Bender? Say no more.
We’ve already made hundreds of examples — from yellow-skin family portraits to futuristic space crews — each one hand-drawn and personalised with your features, outfits, and even inside jokes.
Whether it’s a gift, a print for your wall, or your new profile picture, it’s guaranteed to get a laugh (and maybe a “Giggity”).
Bonus Round: Mario Kart Mania 🎮
Of course, not all our cartoons stay on TV — some speed straight onto the racetrack.
One of our fan-favourite custom pieces was a Mario Kart–inspired cartoon, where families and couples were drawn zooming through rainbow tracks, dodging shells, and laughing their way across the finish line. It’s a blast of nostalgia and energy — perfect for gamers, kids, or anyone who secretly knows they’d crush their partner in a race.
We can recreate that same Mario-style magic just for you — colourful karts, iconic backdrops, and a version of you mid-victory, grinning as you pass Bowser.
Final Thoughts: Animation Lives Forever
From Springfield to Quahog to the year 3000 (and even Rainbow Road), these worlds remind us why we love animation. It lets us exaggerate, dream, and laugh at ourselves in bold, unforgettable ways.
And that’s exactly what we do at Make Me A Comic: take your world, your family, your chaos — and draw it like it belongs in pop-culture history.
