Ten People I'm Thankful For (in Animated TV)

Dan Castellaneta provides the voice for Homer Simpson. As legend goes, the first time he had to utter a scripted "annoyed grunt," Homer's "D'oh!" was born. Dan's performance as Homer is at once hysterical and heartwarming. Not to mention his versatility, since he voices other characters, such as Krusty the Clown. I can't imagine The Simpsons without Dan Castellaneta.

Sure, Matt Groening was the name that caught everyone's attention when Futurama premiered, but David X. Cohen has guided the out-of-this-world cartoon through Fox's timeslot roulette, cancellation, resurrection on Adult Swim, and now straight-to-DVD features, such as the latest, Bender's Game. His Ph.D. intelligence, geek knowledge and sparkling wit show in every episode.

Okay, so technically this entry includes two people, but this Robot Chicken team has taken action figures to places we've only dreamed about. Seth Green and Matthew Senreich originally bonded over their love for toys during an interview for Senreich's previous employer, Toyfare. Some animated shorts and studio shopping later, they've got a hit stop-motion animation series on Adult Swim. Their fondness of toys and knowledge of comic book and other characters allows for some very specific humor, that geeks like me can't get enough of.

To some, Matt Groening is the god of all animated TV series. Certainly, The Simpsons has surpassed anyone's expectations for a show that started as animated bumpers during The Tracey Ullman Show. Thanks to his quirky drawing and over-the-top family musings, The Simpsons has been on the air for over 20 years. Consider Simpsons merchandising and theme park rides, and Matt Groening has his own world-famous empire.

Mike Judge is the quiet, creative force behind Beavis and Butt-head and King of the Hill (technically a spin-off of Beavis and Butt-head), two of my all-time favorite cartoons. Though these two cartoons seem at opposite ends of the comedy spectrum--one subtle, one crude--they are both very funny and honest in their own rights. I moan to think King of the Hill may be off the air soon, but I'm looking forward to Mike Judge's perspective on being green in his new endeavor, The Goode Family.

Mitch Hurwitz won Emmy awards, but not ratings, for Arrested Development. The offbeat humor and laugh-and-you'll-miss-it speed of dialogue won me as a fan. Now Hurwitz is bringing his talent to animated TV with Sit Down, Shut Up, premiering in the spring of 2009. The cartoon will feature many of the actors I came to love on Arrested Development, such as Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. I'm on pins and needles, waiting for this new offering.

Stephen Hillenburg may have created the absorbent, yellow guy who lives in a pineapple under the sea, but Tom Kenny's vocal performance makes SpongeBob SquarePants the lovable character he is. His falsetto "Oh no!", his staccato laughter and his sweet line readings are enjoyed by children and adults alike, especially me.

If it weren't for Mike Lazzo (far right), Adult Swim would not exist. It was his idea to create a late night block of cartoons geared toward adults. Plus, thanks to Lazzo, we've enjoyed re-imagined cartoons, such as Space Ghost: Coast to Coast and Sealab 2021. Those cartoons were essentially created when Lazzo and company were looking for low-cost shows, recycling old cartoons into new cartoons. What started as a geeky, nostalgic look at cartoons that were canceled too soon has become a TV force, now considered its own network, even spawning movies such as Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters. Thank you, Mike Lazzo.

You may think I've included Seth MacFarlane on this list because he created Family Guy, American Dad and, coming soon, The Cleveland Show. But you'd be wrong. I've included MacFarlane on this list because of his prodigious vocal talents. He provides voices for not only Peter Griffin, but also Stewie Griffin, Brian and many voices on Robot Chicken. Let's consider his singing talents, especially on duets with himself when Brian and Stewie sing songs such as in "The Road to Rhode Island." How does MacFarlane produce a smooth baritone, a nasal buffoon and a lispy know-it-all? One word: talent.

Again, there are two people listed here, but they cannot be considered one without the other. Stone and Parker have created a phenomenon known as South Park. Eric Cartman's potty mouth paved the way for late night cartoons aimed at adults. When South Park premiered in 1997, Cartman and friends shocked audiences with their vulgar language and thorny topics. Now, fans have come to expect that and more from the animated show, which tackles politics, pop culture, religion and parenting in equally crude ways. What began as a viral video of Santa battling Jesus is now a long-running TV series, all thanks to the adolescent humor of Matt Stone and Trey Parker.