Top 10 Secretly Dark Cartoons

This beloved cartoon might’ve had a colorful palette and a variety of humorously eccentric characters, but every now and then the show delved into some dark territories. The “Speed Demon” episode showed a bleak future where Townsville descended into apocalyptic anarchy. The citizens are all driven mad and believe that the Powerpuff Girls abandoned them to die. That’s not the only grim episode the show’s done. In “Twisted Sister”, the girls gain a fourth sister named Bunny. You’d expect this new addition to their family to be a tender moment, but instead it’s deeply tragic. Because of Bunny’s deteriorating health, her body fell apart and she died in an explosion of light. Guess it’s not always about sugar, spice and everything nice here.

The turtles have been in a fair share of dark stories. In fact, the comics they first debuted in weren’t even meant for kids! But still, we didn't expect this show to be as gritty as it turned out. When the heroes in a half shell returned to TV screens in 2003, viewers saw a more rough-around-the-edges group of turtles than the ones they may’ve remembered from the ‘80s. The turtles were designed to look more imposing and there were more stakes to the storylines. Characters even died! Storylines like “City at War” kept the story grounded in gritty plots. Although there’s a lot of humor to be found, the show never shied away from more mature elements.

Right off of the bat, things felt different with the “Mystery Incorporated” show. For starters, it didn’t shy away from subjecting characters to horrifying fates. It might’ve also had the darkest things we’ve ever seen the Scooby Doo gang deal with. Most “Scooby Doo” shows emphasized hijinks and delivered some entertaining spooks. But “Mystery Inc” dived deep into unnerving monsters, chilling violence, and the dark history surrounding Crystal Cove. It also set up plots that spanned entire seasons as opposed to simply freak-of-the-week stories. And these storylines culminated with the gang fighting a creature capable of destroying the entire universe. Yeah, this is definitely one of the most epically unhinged “Scooby Doo” cartoons.

If you want a show that features incredible action and cool superheroes, “Static Shock” has got you covered! At the same time, you’ll get an intricate look into complicated societal problems. “Static Shock” wasn’t just about punching bad guys and saving the day. It regularly addressed troubling societal issues like poverty, gun violence, and racism. In “Sons of the Fathers”, Virgil finds out his best friend Ritchie’s dad is a racist. And in the episode called “Jimmy”, an angry student threatened to do harm with a sidearm that didn’t belong to them. Each and every time the show got up-close and personal with dark issues, it offered well thought out solutions to real problems.

At first glance, “Ed, Edd n Eddy” may seem like a kids’ cartoon about three friends getting into mischief. However, this show is jam packed with mature humor and themes. “The Day The Ed Stood Still” is an especially grim episode. When Ed tries masquerading as a monster, things get to his head and he attacks other kids savagely. The show also features the antagonistic trio of the Kanker sisters. Despite all having crushes on the Eds, these schoolyard tormentors go through great lengths to harass and even assault them. But the boundary-crossing Kankers are far from the only issues. With Eddy willing to sink to low depths to profit off of other kids, each episode reminds you that the protagonists aren’t that heroic.

If you really think about it, the concept of “Ben 10” is terrifying. Don’t get us wrong, it’s super cool! But willingly turning yourself into alien creatures who range from mildly harmless to downright horrifying is definitely intense. And with villains that come out of the woodwork every episode, the threats that Ben faces only level up. He’s fought everything from mummies to krakens. Not to mention a world conqueror named Vilgax. Additionally, Zs’Skayr also looks so haunting he might as well be from the works of H.P. Lovecraft. AS the show progressed, Ben even ended up killing several of his villains. We get that there’s a lot at stake, but these are definitely situations that no 10 year old should be going through.

This cartoon didn’t just teach us about scientific concepts. We also learned that a quirky educator with access to a magic school bus can be a dangerous combination. Looking back on the show, it’s clear that Ms. Frizzle wasn’t the most responsible teacher. She constantly put her students in jeopardy with her elaborate field trips that put her students in mortal danger. And we seriously doubt that she got permission slips for all her reckless outings. While the light tone and constant jokes may make the show seem like a light romp, don’t be fooled. There’s no chance that you would actually want to risk taking a ride on Ms. Frizzle’s bus.

How can a show with such an upbeat protagonist and bright color palette ever get dark? Ask a “Steven Universe” fan. Although the series starts out with fun stories about alien gems fighting monsters, the series gets darker as we learn more. It turns out the whole conflict arose from a planet wide civil war that caused many innocents to lose their autonomy. If the themes weren’t heavy enough, the show also features plenty of frightening imagery. The physical and emotional trials wear down on the characters as the series goes on. While Pearl struggles with issues of abandonment, Steven’s rough childhood catches up with him. The show’s mature underbelly is a great example of why you shouldn’t judge a bright book by its cover.

“Spongebob Squarepants” has delved into a surprising amount of disturbing territory. In “Nasty Patty”, Spongebob and Mr. Krabs think they’ve killed the health inspector with food poisoning. In a panic, they attempt to dispose of the body and cover their tracks. While the health inspector turned out to be okay, their commitment to the plan was disturbing. But that’s not as dark as the show gets. Multiple characters struggle with depression in unnervingly realistic ways. In one episode, Plankton tries to harm himself after his personal fears are constantly exploited. There’s also plenty of body horror to go around. You might want to think twice before diving down to the pineapple under the sea.

“Hey Arnold!” regularly tackled serious problems and somber situations. Chocolate Boy’s strong attachment to the sweet treat was handled like a substance use disorder. Throughout the show, it was heavily implied that Helga’s mom had an alcohol dependency issue. Mr. Hyunh even gets separated from his infant daughter during wartime. Stories like “Pigeon Man” also stuck with fans. Shortly after he appears, vandals trash the man’s home. The incident deeply saddens the Pigeon Man so much that he leaves the city entirely. Thankfully, a rumor that he was flying to his demise was shot down by the show’s creator. But the downbeat ending of his story was just another example of how mature “Hey Arnold!” could get.