In the crowded battlefield of streaming services, one platform is quietly emerging as the hero for animation fans — Tubi. While competitors are hiking prices and slashing their cartoon catalogs, Fox’s free, ad-supported service is going in the opposite direction: giving viewers exactly what they want.
Whether you’re nostalgic for Saturday morning classics or craving bold new adult animation, Tubi Cartoons in 2025 are redefining what free streaming can offer. From timeless favorites to hidden gems you won’t find anywhere else, Tubi is proving that you don’t need a subscription to enjoy world-class animation.
If you’re looking for the ultimate guide to free animated shows in 2025, look no further — Tubi is where the best cartoons live.
The Streaming Wars Have a New Champion
The entertainment industry is in the midst of a seismic shift. As Variety reports, major media conglomerates like Warner Bros. Discovery are restructuring their entire business models, splitting into separate entities to navigate the turbulent waters of modern streaming. In this chaos, classic animated content has become collateral damage, with beloved shows being pulled from premium platforms and locked away in corporate vaults.
But here’s where Tubi’s story gets interesting. While subscription services battle “subscription fatigue” and hemorrhage content, ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) platforms are experiencing explosive growth. According to Rolling Stone, free streaming services like Tubi, YouTube, and Pluto TV are winning the war for viewers by offering something revolutionary: quality content without the monthly bill.
The numbers don’t lie. Consumers are tired of juggling multiple subscriptions, each costing $10 to $20 per month. Tubi’s model—free access supported by occasional ads—is resonating with audiences who remember when television didn’t require a credit card. And nowhere is this more apparent than in the platform’s animation strategy.
Tubi’s Animation Boom: How the Free Streamer is Winning the Cartoon Wars
Tubi’s strategy is simple yet brilliant: give the fans what they want, when they want it, for free. As major players like Warner Bros. Discovery have controversially removed iconic titles from their services, Tubi has swooped in to give these orphaned classics a new home. The most significant example of this is the acquisition of a massive library of classic Looney Tunes shorts, which were unceremoniously dropped from HBO Max in March 2025.
Caption: Classic Looney Tunes shorts have found a new home on Tubi after being removed from HBO Max
Credit: Warner Bros./Tubi
According to a report from Yahoo Entertainment, Tubi acquired an incredible 789 classic shorts, making it the new go-to destination for Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and the whole gang. This wasn’t just a business transaction—it was a rescue mission for American animation history.
This move has paid off handsomely. Samuel Harowitz, Tubi’s head of acquisitions, revealed that Looney Tunes is already one of the top 10 best-performing series on the platform by total viewing time. “On its own, Looney Tunes is a huge win for us,” Harowitz told Vulture. “Classic animation is one of the biggest fandoms that we serve on the platform.”
The Nostalgic Viewing Experience
Tubi isn’t just hoarding content; it’s presenting it in a way that resonates with fans on an emotional level. Instead of a simple library of individual shorts that viewers must hunt through, Tubi has organized the cartoons into roughly chronological “seasons,” presented as 30-minute “episodes” containing three or so shorts each. This format mimics the experience of watching cartoons on linear TV—the way millions of us grew up consuming animation.
Even more impressively, ads only appear between segments, never interrupting the middle of a short or cutting off a punchline. This thoughtful approach shows that Tubi understands its audience. “In my mind, AVOD and FAST is ad-supported TV in a different candy wrapper,” Harowitz explained. “I get to experience it through the eyes of my kids but also evoke the same emotional response I remember as an 8-year-old sitting in front of a CRT Toshiba TV.”
The platform has also made sure to use restored versions of many cartoons that had been painstakingly cleaned up for Warner Bros.’ Blu-ray and DVD collections. Animation historian Jerry Beck, who worked on those physical releases, is thrilled that the restored classics are now accessible to a wider audience. “In a way, I’m kind of glad that they took them off HBO Max and allowed other networks to use them,” he said, “so we can all see them.”
New Tubi Originals: What’s Coming in 2025
Beyond its impressive library of classic cartoons, Tubi is also investing heavily in original animated content. The platform isn’t content to simply be a repository for nostalgic favorites—it’s actively creating new stories that could become the classics of tomorrow. 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for the platform, with two major new series set to debut.
RoboForce: The Animated Series
Get ready for a blast from the past! Tubi is rebooting the nostalgic 1980s toy line RoboForce with RoboForce: The Animated Series. This six-episode, half-hour animated sci-fi series is set to premiere in April 2025 and comes with some serious star power behind it. The series is a collaboration between The Nacelle Company (the masterminds behind the hit docuseries The Toys That Made Us) and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions.
Caption: RoboForce: The Animated Series premieres on Tubi in April 2025
Credit: Tubi/Nacelle Company/Seven Bucks Productions
The series, written by industry veterans Gavin Hignight (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012, Transformers: Cyberverse) and Tom Stern (Freaked), is set in 2089 Detroit. It follows the obsolete RoboForce, who get a second chance at heroism when a new line of advanced robots turns on humanity. The premise cleverly mirrors real-world anxieties about artificial intelligence and automation while delivering the action-packed robot battles that fans crave.
As reported by Deadline, Hiram Garcia, President of Production at Seven Bucks, is excited to bring the franchise to a new generation. “I was a fan of RoboForce as a child and look forward to captivating new and old fans alike while building upon the strong momentum of our animation division,” he said. The series is directed by Brian Volk-Weiss, with music composed by Matt Margeson (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Rocketman) and Andrew Brick Johnson (Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures).
Breaking Bear: Mob Drama Meets Yogi Bear
Tubi is also beefing up its adult animation slate with Breaking Bear, a parody of mobster dramas that sounds like Yogi Bear meets The Sopranos—and yes, it’s exactly as wild as it sounds. The series boasts an absolutely stacked voice cast, including Brendan Fraser (The Whale), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek), Elizabeth Hurley (The Royals), and Josh Gad (Frozen).
Caption: Breaking Bear brings a star-studded voice cast to Tubi’s adult animation lineup
Credit: To The Stars Media
Created by Julien Nitzberg (The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia), the series follows a dysfunctional family of bears who turn to a life of crime to save their forest from frackers, mobsters, and a psychotic wolf pack. As they spiral deeper into the criminal underworld, they face off against biker gangs, an egomaniacal news anchor, and their own spectacular talent for self-sabotage.
According to Deadline, Tubi’s Chief Content Officer, Adam Lewinson, describes the show as a “wild, no-holds-barred send-up of classic mob sagas—from Scarface to Goodfellas—as a dysfunctional crew of bears crash headfirst into the world of crime, all in a desperate bid to save their forest. It’s bold, it’s chaotic, and we’re here for every outrageous second.”
With a cast and concept this good, Breaking Bear is poised to be one of the most talked-about animated shows of 2025. The series is produced by Evoke Entertainment (Creepshow, Day of the Dead) and Tom DeLonge’s To The Stars Media (Monsters of California). For more on the latest developments in television animation, check out the comprehensive coverage at The Hollywood Reporter.
A Treasure Trove of Classic Cartoons: The Best of Tubi’s Free Animation
While the new originals are exciting, the heart of Tubi’s appeal for cartoon fans is its incredible library of free classic animation. If you grew up on Saturday morning cartoons or spent afternoons glued to Cartoon Network, Tubi is a dream come true. The platform has become a digital time capsule, preserving decades of animated history that might otherwise be lost to the whims of corporate restructuring.
Looney Tunes: That’s All, Folks!
The crown jewel of Tubi’s animation library is undoubtedly its collection of classic Looney Tunes shorts. With 789 shorts available, you can spend countless hours watching Bugs Bunny outsmart Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote fail spectacularly to catch the Road Runner, and Daffy Duck get his beak blown off in increasingly creative ways. These aren’t just cartoons—they’re pieces of American cultural history, featuring groundbreaking animation techniques, sophisticated humor, and timeless characters.
The fact that these restored classics are available for free is a game-changer for animation fans, educators, and parents looking for quality content for their kids. Many of these shorts were directed by legendary animators like Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, and Bob Clampett, whose influence can be seen in virtually every animated production made since.
More Saturday Morning Favorites
Beyond Looney Tunes, Tubi offers a smorgasbord of other classic cartoons that defined generations. You can find episodes of Tom and Jerry, the timeless cat-and-mouse chase that needs no introduction. There’s The Flintstones, the stone-age sitcom that pioneered prime-time animation. And for fans of heroes in a half-shell, the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series is ready to transport you back to the late ’80s and early ’90s.
Caption: Tubi offers a vast library of kids’ cartoons and family-friendly animated content
Credit: Tubi
The platform also features other beloved properties like My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Strawberry Shortcake’s Berry Bitty Adventures, and The Pink Panther. Whether you’re a fan of old-school Hanna-Barbera productions or classic Nickelodeon shows, Tubi has you covered.
Anime: A Hidden Gem
What many viewers don’t realize is that Tubi has quietly assembled one of the most impressive free anime libraries available in the United States. The platform offers complete series of iconic shows like Naruto, Sailor Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, InuYasha, and Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex.
Caption: Tubi has become a go-to destination for classic anime series
Credit: CBR
For anime fans who remember the golden age of Toonami on Cartoon Network, Tubi is essentially offering a free version of that experience. These aren’t obscure titles or filler content—these are genre-defining series that introduced millions of Western viewers to Japanese animation. The fact that they’re available without a subscription to Crunchyroll, Funimation, or any other specialized service is remarkable.
Why Tubi’s Free Model is the Future of Streaming
The success of Tubi’s animation strategy isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s part of a larger trend in the entertainment industry that’s seeing free, ad-supported platforms gain ground against traditional subscription services. As Rolling Stone points out, consumers are experiencing “subscription fatigue” from juggling multiple services, each with its own monthly fee.
The math is simple: a household trying to access content from Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Paramount+, and Apple TV+ could easily spend $100 or more per month. Meanwhile, Tubi offers thousands of titles for free, supported by ads that are far less intrusive than traditional cable television commercials.
The AVOD Advantage
AVOD platforms like Tubi have several key advantages over subscription services:
Universal Accessibility: Anyone with an internet connection can watch, regardless of their financial situation. This is particularly important in regions where disposable income is limited or where paying for multiple subscriptions feels like an unaffordable luxury.
No Commitment Required: Viewers can dip in and out of Tubi without feeling tied down. There’s no fear of “wasting money” on unused subscriptions or forgetting to cancel a free trial.
Bigger Libraries: Subscription platforms must constantly invest in expensive original programming to justify their monthly fees. AVOD platforms can succeed with a mix of licensed content, user-generated material, and lower-cost originals, allowing them to offer more variety.
Better for Discovery: Without the pressure to “get your money’s worth,” viewers are more likely to explore new genres and take chances on unfamiliar titles. This creates opportunities for niche content to find its audience.
What This Means for Animation Fans
In an era where streaming services are becoming increasingly fragmented and expensive, Tubi is a breath of fresh air. The platform’s commitment to preserving and celebrating classic animation, while also investing in bold new original content, makes it an essential destination for any cartoon fan. By providing a massive library of high-quality animated shows for free, Tubi is not just competing with the big-name streamers; it’s carving out a unique and valuable space in the market.
The platform’s success also sends a powerful message to the entertainment industry: audiences value accessibility and variety over exclusive content locked behind paywalls. When Warner Bros. Discovery pulled Looney Tunes from HBO Max, they likely expected fans to simply do without. Instead, Tubi stepped in, and now those classic shorts are reaching a larger audience than ever before.
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, Tubi shows no signs of slowing down. The platform is in “active negotiations to ensure that Tubi can be the home of Looney Tunes for quite a while,” according to Harowitz. The company has also expressed openness to licensing future Looney Tunes content, including films like Coyote vs. Acme that were controversially shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery.
With original series like RoboForce and Breaking Bear on the horizon, Tubi is proving that free streaming doesn’t mean low-quality content. The platform is attracting top-tier talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and creating shows that can stand alongside anything on premium services.
For animation fans, the message is clear: bookmark Tubi, download the app, and get ready to rediscover your childhood favorites while discovering bold new shows. The golden age of free streaming animation is here, and Tubi is leading the charge.
Final Thoughts: A New Era for Cartoon Lovers
The streaming landscape of 2025 looks very different from what anyone predicted five years ago. While the major studios consolidate and restructure, platforms like Tubi are thriving by focusing on what actually matters: giving viewers the content they want in a format they can afford. For cartoon enthusiasts, this means unprecedented access to both nostalgic classics and exciting new originals.
So, if you’re looking for your next cartoon fix in 2025, look no further than Tubi. Whether you want to relive your childhood with classic Looney Tunes, explore the vast world of free anime, or discover your new favorite adult animated comedy, Tubi has something for everyone. And the best part? It won’t cost you a dime. In the battle for streaming supremacy, Tubi has proven that sometimes the best things in life really are free.
Resources
- https://deadline.com/2025/01/tubi-roboforce-the-animated-series-nacelle-dwayne-johnson-1236269574/
- https://deadline.com/2025/05/sarah-michelle-gellar-brendan-fraser-breaking-bear-cast-1236389422/
- https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/tubi-happy-looney-tunes-shorts-164510945.html
- https://www.vulture.com/article/looney-tunes-tubi-free-classic-cartoons.html
- https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/every-free-movie-tv-show-coming-to-tubi-in-november-2025/
- https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/warner-bros-discovery-split-what-happens-hbo-max-movie-studios-tv-networks-1236423363/
- https://www.rollingstone.com/culture-council/articles/avod-vs-subscriptions-why-free-streaming-winning-war-viewers-1235439087/
