Few creators have shaped modern adult animation quite like Seth MacFarlane. With a career spanning decades, his signature blend of satire, cutaway humor, and unapologetic commentary has influenced not just audiences, but an entire generation of animated storytellers. From launching cultural mainstays to redefining what primetime animation could get away with, Seth MacFarlane has long been at the center of the genre’s evolution.

What makes his perspective especially compelling is how deeply embedded he is in the medium itself. As the mind behind Family Guy and American Dad!, among others, Seth MacFarlane has both studied and shaped the landscape he now reflects on. So when he weighs in on the greatest adult animated shows of all time, it is not just opinion, it is insight from someone who helped build the playbook.

That is exactly why fans leaned in when Seth MacFarlane was asked to name his personal Mount Rushmore of adult animation, because if anyone “knows ball” in this space, it is him.

In a recent interview with Complex News, Seth MacFarlane sat down with Jordan Rose to break down his top four picks, and his answer was as self-aware as it was definitive. At the top of his list, he placed The Simpsons, crediting it as the blueprint for everything that followed.

“You know I think anyone who's being honest would say The Simpsons. I mean, it's like they rewrote the rule book for all of us,” Seth MacFarlane said during the interview with Complex News.

While MacFarlane crowned The Simpsons, he gave the title of his Mount Rushmore to Family Guy.

  MacFarlane went on to emphasize The Simpsons' massive influence, adding that without it, shows like Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, and many others simply would not exist in their current form.  

 The final lineup, The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad!, and Bob’s Burgers, felt less like a hot take and more like a reflection of the Fox-era animated sitcom dominance that helped define the genre.

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Based on his picks, it is clear Seth MacFarlane values both influence and longevity, but his perspective extends far beyond just ranking shows.

Seth MacFarlane is not just an animation pioneer, he’s a major force across TV, film, and streaming. In the same conversation with Jordan Rose, Seth MacFarlane also spoke about how technology is changing entertainment, including the use of AI in Ted Season 2. While he is open to using new tools, Seth MacFarlane made it clear that AI has its limits, especially in comedy. He believes humor is deeply human, something that comes from instinct, timing, and real-life experience, which technology cannot fully replace.

"We tried CGI traditional where you construct the face to look like he did in the '90s... We tried makeup, we tried prosthetics, and eventually it was AI... We don't want people focused on that [the VFX]. We want people focused on the jokes, on the fact that you think this is Clinton." he said in the interview. 

He also reflected on the longevity of Family Guy, suggesting that the show could continue even beyond his direct involvement. It is a testament not just to the series’ staying power, but to the kind of creative foundation he has built, one that can evolve with time while still holding onto its core identity.

Seth MacFarlane’s Mount Rushmore may feel personal, but it also doubles as a snapshot of how adult animation became what it is today, equal parts trailblazing and self-referential. And if this list proves anything, it is that the conversation around the greatest animated shows is far from settled.

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What do you think of Seth MacFarlane’s Mount Rushmore list? Let us know in the comments!