Adult Animation Revolution: ‘The Amazing Digital Circus’ Series Retrospective

While the show’s success broke YouTube records and caused a fair amount of online drama, it’s important to remember why so many viewers (myself included) resonated with the series. The Amazing Digital Circus filled a need for audiences who wanted an intimate animated adventure. While many of us were hooked by the mystery of the Digital Circus, ultimately it was the characters and their internal journeys that sustained the narrative.

What’s truly amazing is how the show was able to connect with viewers, young and old, without resorting to sex, violence, or shock content. It’s a program that never talked down to its audience or pandered to the lowest common denominator. The incorporation of queer themes was organic and felt true to lived experience.

Overall, it doesn’t surprise me that a sharply written original series should be met with world-wide success. What’s more surprising is why we don’t have shows like The Amazing Digital Circus green-lit on traditional networks. There’s an underserved demographic of young adult cartoon fans. If traditional networks are to learn anything from the show, it should be to allow for these types of stories to be told. Glitch Productions understands how to create programs that resonate with the next generation. Here’s hoping that  The Amazing Digital Circus is just one of many seminal cartoons to come.