Top 20 Cartoon TV Plot Twists Nobody Saw Coming
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Cartoon TV Plot Twists You Didn't See Coming. For this list, we’ll be looking at the animated scenes that caught viewers completely off-guard, for better or worse. Needless to say that if you haven’t seen any of these jaw-dropping moments, there WILL be spoilers. Which plot twist threw you for a loop? Let us know in the comments…. Just be sure to say “Spoiler alert.”
#20: Will Harper
Top 10 Cartoon TV Plot Twists You Didn’t See Coming
“Young Justice” (2010-13; 2019; 2021-22)
Near the end of “Young Justice’s” first season, Roy Harper was finally welcomed into the Justice League. However, fulfilling his dream just unravels one plot twist after another. First of all, he was unknowingly a sleeper agent programmed to infiltrate the League. What’s even more shocking… he wasn’t the real Roy Harper. In reality, he was a clone to replace the actual Speedy who was abducted years before the series started. After he found the real Roy, the clone eventually retired from being a hero and left to make a new life for himself as Will, showing that although he was created for nefarious purposes, he could rise above all that and forge his own identity.
#19: April
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“DuckTales” (2017-21)
Throughout the “DuckTales” reboot, we believed that Webby’s only family was her “grandmother,” Mrs. Beakley. However, the series finale changed everything Webby thought about her life. For starters, Beakley isn’t really her grandmother; she found the infant Webby and took her in for her protection. But the biggest twist of all – Webby is actually a clone made from the DNA of Scrooge McDuck. For years, Webby idolized the McDucks and they became a surrogate family to her. But to find out not only that she’s related by blood to her idols - and that Scrooge himself is her genetic father - really takes the cake. It just goes to show how deep a familial bond can really be.
#18: Unicron the Destroyer
“Transformers: Prime” (2010-13)
In the Season 1 finale of “Transformers: Prime,” a planetary alignment is having a strange effect on the Earth. Natural disasters are popping up left and right, and a volcano is erupting… Dark Energon? But Dark Energon is rumored to be the blood of the Cybertronian god of chaos, Unicron; so why would it be pumping out of the Earth? In a shocking turn of events, Unicron HIMSELF is the Earth’s core. When he was defeated eons ago, the Earth was formed around his dormant body, and only an unlikely alliance can assure that he never awakens again. This was a very unique way to bring Unicron into the series and only strengthened the connection between Earth and Cybertron.
#17: Cartman’s Real Father
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“South Park” (1997-)
Remember when Cartman had Scott Tenorman’s parents killed and tricked Scott into eating their remains? It’s a testament to how twisted Cartman can be… but the story doesn’t end there. Years later, Scott gets his revenge on Cartman by dropping a major bombshell. He is actually Cartman’s half-brother… meaning that Cartman unknowingly murdered his own father. One of the show’s biggest mysteries was who Cartman’s father was… well, we got our answer in the most gruesome of ways. Naturally, Cartman is horrified, not because of his own actions… but because this means he’s half-ginger. Even when facing the consequences of his horrific deeds, Cartman may never change.
#16: Nibbler & Fry
“Futurama” (1999-2003; 2008-13; 2023-)
We all know Fry’s story, but what if his cryogenic freezing was no accident? Fry getting sent to the future was actually a calculated plan by Nibbler. He made the prank call that brought Fry to the lab, and he caused Fry to trip and fall into the freezer. The only reason he did all this was because Fry was the only one who could save the future from a massive threat. Even though Fry doesn’t like being used, a lot of good came out of Nibbler’s interference. He found a better life in the future and the woman of his dreams, Leela, so in a way, meddling with his past was the best thing to ever happen to him.
#15: Aku & Ashi
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“Samurai Jack” (2001-04; 2017)
Ashi was part of the Daughters of Aku, a cult of assassins dedicated to the demonic dictator himself with one singular goal – to kill Samurai Jack. However, traveling with Jack allows her to break away from Aku’s influence… but it turns out her connection to the demon is deeper than even she knows. In reality, she IS Aku’s daughter, biologically; his demonic essence being a part of her since childbirth. This means that not only does she possess Aku’s powers, but their connection allows him to use her as a puppet to try and slay Jack for good. Fortunately, Ashi manages to break free, and her new powers enable Jack to finally put an end to Aku’s terror.
#14: Hawkgirl’s Real Mission
“Justice League” (2001-04)
While Hawkgirl claims that her coming to Earth was an accident, she becomes one of the founding members of the Justice League. However, in Season 2, we learn the true motives for her arrival. She’s a military spy for her people, the Thanagarians, scouting the planet in preparation for a massive invasion. While she redeems herself in the end, the damage is already done – she lied to her friends and sold out the planet that saw her as a hero. After that, the only honorable thing she can do is leave the League behind. She returns to them eventually, but it takes a while to restore her good name with the League and the public.
#13: Zuko’s Grandfather
Aang vs Zuko
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)
For the longest time, Zuko is sure that defeating Avatar Aang would help him realize his destiny. But one earth-shaking discovery shakes his entire worldview. First, we learn how his paternal great-grandfather, Sozin, betrayed his childhood friend, Aang’s predecessor, Avatar Roku. But almost everyone knows THAT story. What Zuko DIDN’T know was that Roku was his maternal great-grandfather. Suddenly, Zuko’s inner struggle becomes much clearer – both his great-grandfathers’ conflict symbolizes his own inner turmoil between deciding which path to follow, good or evil. If any good comes out of this existential crisis, it’s that it finally sets Zuko along the path of redemption to help Aang finally end the war.
#12: Project Batman Beyond
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“Justice League Unlimited” (2004-06)
It turns out that Terry and Bruce’s relationship goes beyond a teacher-student bond… Terry is actually Bruce’s biological son. For context, Amanda Waller secretly used Bruce’s DNA to alter Terry’s father’s reproductive system, ensuring that his son would be a worthy successor as Batman. She even schemed to have Terry re-live the tragedy that kickstarted Bruce’s crime fighting career. While her plan didn’t go as intended, Terry would eventually become the new Batman; not as Bruce’s carbon copy, but as someone truly worthy of carrying out his legacy. This episode serves as the conclusion to “Batman Beyond’s” story, and it ends the tale on a high note by giving Terry and Bruce the satisfying endings they both deserve.
#11: The Utrom Shredder
Top 20 Best TV Plot Twists You Didn't See Coming
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2003-09)
During a brawl at T.C.R.I., the Turtles band together to bring the Shredder down, only to be greeted by a nasty surprise – Shredder is actually a fugitive Utrom alien. This little pest went on a rampage against his fellow aliens, and then escaped to Earth where he took on his faux identity – inspired by the legend of the ACTUAL Shredder of old - and vowed to conquer the Utroms… and anyone who got in his way. While he’s technically not the genuine article, he took this stolen identity and made it his own as the Turtles’ most formidable and ruthless adversary –it’d be safe to say that he WAS the one true Shredder.
#10: Ice King’s Past Life
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“Adventure Time” (2010-18)
Finn and Jake come across a video diary about the Ice King and make a jaw-dropping discovery about their wizarding nemesis. 1,000 years ago, Ice King was a normal human named Simon Petrikov whose life was transformed the day he found the magic crown – he was gifted with ice powers, but his sanity completely crumbled. This adds a DEPRESSING new depth to the icy, princess-chasing psychopath – he once had a normal life, a beautiful fiancée –who he ironically called his “princess”- and was even best friends with a young, not-yet vampire queen Marceline. Tragically, there’s little hope for him remembering the happier life he once led.
#9: The Butterfly Family Secret
Top 10 Best TV Plot Twists You Didn't See Coming
“Star vs. the Forces of Evil” (2015-19)
It turns out that Eclipsa Butterfly, the Queen of Darkness and Princess Star’s supposed ninth great-grandmother, had a monster hybrid daughter – and yet she does not show up in the Butterfly Family scroll. The Butterfly matriarchs hope to squeeze the truth out of the Magic High Commission at Eclipsa’s trial… but what they find out is a doozy. Eclipsa’s daughter was to inherit the throne, but she was switched at birth with another baby. Having been kept in the dark for so long, Star is horrified to learn that she may not be actual royalty… and that her family stole the throne from its true owner… but would giving it back later REALLY help things?
#8: Slade’s Apprentice
“Teen Titans” (2003-06)
In Season 2, we get to meet Terra, a superpowered teenage girl who struggles with controlling her abilities. She disappears for most of the season before returning to join the Titans, now fully in control of her powers. However, what they don’t know is that Terra had a little help from their archnemesis, Slade. He taught her to control her powers; in exchange, she became his spy to destroy the Titans from the inside. While we don’t condone her betraying her friends, try to understand – she was emotionally volatile and desperate, which led her down a path of self-destruction. She eventually makes amends for her sins… but at a heavy cost.
#7: The Truth About Amon
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“The Legend of Korra” (2012-14)
In her early days as the Avatar, Korra found herself up against the mysterious Amon – a revolutionary planning to equalize Republic City by taking away all benders’ bending abilities – thanks to some unknown “mystical” power. However, after learning bits and pieces of his family history, it’s revealed that Amon is a bender himself - a bloodbender – and his “gift” is actually a bloodbending technique that severs bending abilities. While his image is a complete lie, his mission was real – he grew to HATE bending after being pushed too hard as a child by his father, and the pressure turned a once innocent kid into a cold and calculating political terrorist.
#6: Timmy’s Secret Wish
“The Fairly OddParents” (2001-17)
Timmy Turner has been put on trial for being the worst godchild in history. After a rocky start, it seems as though Timmy may have finally won the case… until Foop drops a major bombshell – Timmy made an illegal SECRET wish. The wish was that everyone would stop aging so he could keep his fairies… and it was made fifty years ago – meaning that it’s been five decades since the very first pilot episode where Timmy first got Cosmo and Wanda. This was definitely a unique take on the never-aging cartoon characters cliché… but it gets completely swept under the rug and resolved by the end of the episode – because status quo.
#5: Chad Is a Double Agent
“Codename: Kids Next Door” (2002-08)
Chad Dickson, aka Numbuh 274, was considered the best there was in the Kids Next Door organization… until he supposedly turned traitor in the wake of his 13th birthday. Since then, he became a recurring teenage villain, forming a heated rivalry with Numbuh 1… but had he REALLY betrayed his comrades? In the penultimate episode, it’s revealed that Chad was a double agent for the Kids Next Door, and that every time he and Numbuh 1 have clashed, he was secretly helping them from the sidelines – adding a new perspective to all of his “defeats.” As he departs – his loyalty no longer questioned, he leaves his former pupil one last cryptic clue.
#4: The Real Seymour Skinner
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“The Simpsons” (1989-)
Many say that THIS is where “The Simpsons” began to decline in quality. In the midst of his twentieth anniversary, Principal Skinner makes a shocking announcement… he’s been lying about his identity. In reality, he was a street punk who served in the platoon of the REAL Seymour Skinner, who became like a mentor to him. When his sergeant was declared dead, the faker ended up living Skinners’ life and dreams in honor of his memory. While some twists can be clever like the mystery of who shot Mr. Burns, this revelation on a well-developed character came out of nowhere, and we were expected to pretend that none of it ever happened afterwards.
#3: Mr. Poopybutthole
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“Rick and Morty” (2013-)
It’s another typical day in the Smith household. Rick and Morty’s family find themselves dealing with shapeshifting parasites that trick them with false memories of wild and zany friends and relatives… so, you know, business as usual. At the end of the episode, one of these strange friends, Mr. Poopybutthole, pops up again, and Beth shoots him thinking he’s just another parasite… but he’s no parasite. He’s real… and Beth mortally wounds him. Don’t worry, Mr. Poopybutthole survives and becomes a recurring face in the show. Still, this is a hilarious subversion of expectations, and the way it plays out is shocking both in the revelation and how horrifying and intense the reactions feel.
#2: The Author’s Identity
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“Gravity Falls” (2012-16)
Ever since the series’ beginning, one question has been on the minds of “Gravity Falls” fans: who wrote the mysterious journal that Dipper found? It turns out that the journal was just one of three, all chronicled by Grunkle Stan’s long-lost twin brother, Stanford Pines. Ford became obsessed with the supernatural activity surrounding Gravity Falls and wrote down all of his findings in three journals – only to leave them behind when he vanished through an interdimensional portal during a quarrel with his twin. The real payoff for this revelation was how cleverly hidden the mystery was – a few subtle clues in the background, plus a hilarious misdirection from the show creator himself.
#1: The Real “Rose Quartz”
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“Steven Universe” (2013-)
It was believed that Rose Quartz, the loving leader of the Crystal Gems and Steven’s mom, shattered Pink Diamond to protect Earth –with a few hints suggesting otherwise. In Season 5, however, we learn that Rose didn’t shatter Pink Diamond… Rose WAS Pink Diamond! She masqueraded as a Rose Quartz to spark up the rebellion, faked her own shattering to end the war, and forced Pearl to keep everything a secret. While it’s touching that Pink gave up her royal status and inspired countless gems to fight for Earth, she LIED to her own allies, pulled everyone into the crossfire of her fellow Diamonds’ wrath, and put everything the Crystal Gems believed in into question.
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