1. Ren & Stimpy
If you grew up watching Ren & Stimpy, you probably remember it being chaotic and gross, but looking back, it was downright disturbing. The show was infamous for its extreme close-ups of oozing wounds, unsettling sound effects, and a level of violence that makes Tom and Jerry look tame. Ren, the high-strung and often unhinged chihuahua, frequently snapped into fits of rage, sometimes physically attacking Stimpy in ways that felt way too intense for a kids’ show. The humor leaned heavily on bodily functions, with entire episodes dedicated to things like eating lint or picking boogers. Some of the gags were so graphic that Nickelodeon actually censored certain scenes shares Collider.
There was also an underlying darkness to the characters that made some episodes genuinely uncomfortable to watch. Ren’s psychological instability was played for laughs, but in hindsight, it often felt more disturbing than funny. One episode, “Man’s Best Friend,” was actually banned for its level of violence, showing Ren brutally beating another character with a paddle. The show’s adult humor and grotesque animation style made it feel more like something that belonged on late-night TV rather than a Saturday morning cartoon block. While it’s still remembered fondly by many, it’s clear that Ren & Stimpy was never really meant for kids.
2. Rocko’s Modern Life
At first glance, Rocko’s Modern Life seemed like a harmless cartoon about a wallaby navigating the ups and downs of adulthood. But when you go back and watch it, you realize just how much inappropriate humor was packed into every episode. Rocko worked as a phone operator at a company called “Hotline,” which was heavily implied to be an adult call service. The show also featured countless suggestive jokes, like when Rocko’s best friend Heffer gets “milked” by an automated machine in a way that seems way too inappropriate for a kids’ show. There were entire episodes dedicated to topics that would never make it past today’s censors shares Vanity Fair.
Beyond the adult humor, the show also had a cynical, sometimes even dark tone that set it apart from other cartoons of its time. The characters constantly struggled with issues like unemployment, greedy corporations, and existential crises, making it feel more like a satire of adult life than something meant for children. Even the villains, like Rocko’s cranky neighbors, the Bigheads, had relationships and problems that were way too mature for a young audience to fully grasp. It’s no surprise that Rocko’s Modern Life has gained a cult following among adults who appreciate just how much it got away with.
3. Animaniacs
Animaniacs was one of the smartest and wittiest cartoons of its time, but that also meant it was filled with jokes that were far from kid-friendly. While the show often parodied pop culture and history, it also included some pretty risqué humor that slipped past young viewers. One of the most infamous moments came in a joke about “fingerprints,” which Dot misunderstood in a way that was definitely inappropriate. The Warner siblings were constantly causing chaos, and their interactions with adult characters often had a weirdly suggestive edge. There were plenty of moments that would leave an adult raising an eyebrow while their kids laughed along, completely oblivious adds Mental Floss.
Beyond the suggestive humor, the show also had a level of slapstick violence that could be surprisingly intense. Characters were frequently squashed, electrocuted, or thrown from great heights, all in the name of comedy. It was all played for laughs, but in today’s climate of more cautious children’s programming, it would likely be considered too much. The fast-paced humor and clever writing made it a hit with all ages, but there’s no denying that Animaniacs often toed the line of what was appropriate for a young audience.
4. The Flintstones
It’s easy to forget that The Flintstones was originally intended for an adult audience, which explains why some of its themes and jokes feel out of place for a family-friendly cartoon. The show casually featured smoking, drinking, and outdated gender roles that would raise some eyebrows today. Fred Flintstone was often depicted as a hot-headed husband who treated his wife, Wilma, more like a servant than a partner. There were even episodes that implied infidelity, with some pretty bold jokes about characters sneaking around behind their spouses’ backs.
The show also had product placement that wouldn’t be acceptable for a kids’ show today. Fred and Barney famously appeared in cigarette commercials for Winston, something unthinkable by today’s standards. Alcohol consumption was also a common theme, with the characters frequently shown drinking and even getting drunk in certain episodes. While The Flintstones remains a beloved classic, it’s definitely a reminder of how much children’s television has changed over the decades.
5. Gargoyles
Gargoyles was one of the most sophisticated animated series of its time, with deep storylines, complex characters, and a darker tone than most other kids’ shows. However, this maturity also made it feel far more adult than what most children were used to. The show frequently tackled themes of betrayal, revenge, and loss, making it feel more like a Shakespearean drama than a Saturday morning cartoon. The villains weren’t just goofy bad guys; they were often manipulative, violent, and driven by deeply personal motives. Some episodes even dealt with issues like gun violence and police corruption, making it feel much more serious than a typical animated series.
The show’s darker elements weren’t just in the storytelling—there was also a surprising amount of violence. Characters were frequently stabbed, shot at, and even killed, with some scenes feeling genuinely intense. The animation style and gothic atmosphere only added to the serious tone, making it feel closer to something like Batman: The Animated Series rather than a traditional kids’ cartoon. While it’s still regarded as one of the best animated series of its era, there’s no denying that Gargoyles was far from your average children’s show.
6. Cow and Chicken
If you thought Ren & Stimpy was weird, Cow and Chicken took that bizarre humor to a whole new level. The show featured surreal, often unsettling imagery, including the infamous “Red Guy,” a devilish character who was always naked and up to no good. Many of the jokes were oddly suggestive, with one particularly infamous episode featuring a biker gang of women called the “Buffalo Gals,” which was so blatantly inappropriate that it was later banned from airing. The humor leaned heavily into the absurd, with entire storylines that felt more like fever dreams than typical kids’ programming.
Beyond the inappropriate jokes, the show’s humor was also incredibly mean-spirited at times. Chicken, in particular, was constantly humiliated, tormented, or put in incredibly uncomfortable situations. The show reveled in its weirdness, and while that made it a hit among certain audiences, it also meant that a lot of the content was probably too much for younger viewers. Watching it now, it’s clear that Cow and Chicken was pushing boundaries in ways that few cartoons dared to do.
7. Johnny Bravo
At first glance, Johnny Bravo seemed like a harmless comedy about a clueless musclehead trying to impress women, but looking back, it’s surprising how much inappropriate content slipped through. Johnny’s entire personality was built around hitting on women, often in a way that would be considered harassment today. He never took no for an answer, constantly following women and using cheesy pickup lines that wouldn’t fly in modern children’s programming. The show often played this off as humor, with Johnny getting his comeuppance in slapstick ways, but it still sent some questionable messages about persistence in relationships.
The humor didn’t just stop at Johnny’s antics—there were plenty of adult jokes that kids wouldn’t have understood at the time. From risqué wordplay to references about the characters’ love lives, the show wasn’t afraid to throw in some eyebrow-raising material. There was even an episode where Johnny mistakenly walked into a women’s self-defense class and got mercilessly beaten for laughs. While the show remains a nostalgic favorite, its themes of objectifying women and outdated gender roles make it feel a little out of place by today’s standards.
8. Ed, Edd n Eddy
For a show about kids running around their neighborhood trying to scam each other, Ed, Edd n Eddy had some strangely dark and inappropriate moments. The show’s humor leaned into physical violence, with the characters often getting brutally hurt in ways that seemed way too extreme for a cartoon. Jawbreakers were treated like some sort of addictive substance, with the kids scheming and lying just to get their next fix. Even the animation style, with its wobbly lines and exaggerated expressions, added to the show’s unsettling energy.
The weirdest part of the show, though, was its underlying tone. There were plenty of moments where things felt oddly eerie, like the infamous “Lost Episode” theory that suggested the kids were actually in some kind of purgatory. The Kanker Sisters also added an uncomfortable layer to the show, as their aggressive advances toward the Eds often came off more creepy than comedic. While Ed, Edd n Eddy was undeniably funny, some of its themes and humor would probably be toned down if it were made today.
9. Courage the Cowardly Dog
This show was straight-up nightmare fuel for kids, no matter how brave you thought you were. Courage the Cowardly Dog followed a tiny, anxious dog trying to protect his oblivious owners from terrifying monsters, ghosts, and interdimensional horrors. Some of the villains, like the unsettling “Return the Slab” ghost or the creepy barber, were so terrifying that they haunted kids’ dreams for years. The show thrived on disturbing imagery, with unsettling animation styles, eerie music, and stories that felt more like something out of a horror anthology than a kids’ show.
But beyond the scary visuals, the themes of the show were surprisingly mature. There were episodes that hinted at loneliness, loss, and even psychological abuse, with Courage constantly living in fear of the world around him. His owner, Eustace, was verbally abusive and cruel, often treating Courage with outright hostility. Some episodes even had tragic endings, leaving kids with a lingering sense of unease rather than a feel-good resolution. While it was an unforgettable show, Courage the Cowardly Dog might have been a little too intense for its young audience.
10. The Powerpuff Girls
For a show about three adorable superheroes, The Powerpuff Girls had some pretty questionable moments. While the action was fun and exciting, some of the villains were surprisingly dark, like HIM, a creepy, devil-like figure with an unsettling voice and mannerisms. The show also had some oddly mature jokes, like the time Bubbles misunderstood the word “machiavellian” as something inappropriate. Miss Bellum, the curvaceous assistant whose face was never shown, was another odd inclusion for a kids’ show—she was clearly meant to be a play on old-school secretary tropes, but in a way that wouldn’t fly today.
The violence was also surprisingly intense, with the girls frequently beating their enemies to a pulp—literally. Some episodes featured bruises, black eyes, and even missing teeth after particularly brutal fights. And then there was the infamous “Secret Recipe” episode, which featured the girls accidentally eating a character. While The Powerpuff Girls remains a beloved classic, it’s definitely one of those shows that feels different when you watch it as an adult.
11. Tiny Toon Adventures
While Tiny Toon Adventures was meant to be a more kid-friendly version of Looney Tunes, it had plenty of moments that wouldn’t pass today’s standards. The humor was filled with slapstick violence, which wasn’t uncommon for cartoons at the time, but some of it got a little too extreme. One of the most infamous examples was the banned episode “One Beer,” where the characters actually got drunk, stumbled around, and ended up driving off a cliff. It was meant to be a lesson about the dangers of alcohol, but the way it was presented made it feel more like a bizarre joke than a serious message.
Beyond that, the show had plenty of jokes that only adults would understand. From references to pop culture scandals to suggestive humor, Tiny Toon Adventures often felt like it was toeing the line between a kids’ show and something meant for an older audience. The show also leaned heavily into exaggerated gender stereotypes, which wouldn’t fly in today’s more progressive media landscape. While it’s still a fun watch, some of its humor definitely hasn’t aged well.
12. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
While Scooby-Doo is considered a timeless classic, it had some elements that wouldn’t quite work today. The most obvious issue was the way the show portrayed drug culture—Shaggy was an obvious stoner stereotype, with his constant munchies and laid-back attitude. While it was never outright stated, the implications were strong enough that the character has become synonymous with that trope. The show also had a surprisingly high number of jokes about ghosts and spirits that, by today’s standards, might be considered too dark for younger kids.
Then there was the way Daphne was constantly portrayed as the “damsel in distress.” She was frequently captured and needed rescuing, reinforcing outdated gender roles that modern kids’ shows actively try to avoid. The villains also often had creepy or overly elaborate disguises, which, in retrospect, made some episodes feel more unsettling than fun. While Scooby-Doo is still an enjoyable classic, some of its themes and character portrayals wouldn’t hold up in today’s entertainment landscape.
13. Pink Panther and Sons
The Pink Panther franchise was known for its stylish, silent comedy, but when Pink Panther and Sons came along, things got a little strange. The show followed the Pink Panther’s kids, but it often leaned into some pretty questionable humor. Some episodes had weirdly suggestive moments, including jokes about romance that felt more suited for an adult audience. The animation style was also oddly psychedelic at times, which made certain sequences feel trippy rather than fun.
The show also struggled with identity—it never quite knew if it wanted to be a slapstick comedy or a moral lesson for kids. As a result, some of the episodes had conflicting tones, making it feel disjointed. The humor sometimes bordered on mean-spirited, with characters engaging in pranks that felt less funny and more cruel. While it’s a lesser-known entry on this list, Pink Panther and Sons definitely had some odd moments that wouldn’t fly in today’s kids’ programming.
14. The Smurfs
On the surface, The Smurfs seemed like a harmless, whimsical cartoon about tiny blue creatures living in a magical forest. But when you dig a little deeper, some of the themes feel a bit odd. The show had an oddly patriarchal setup, with only one female Smurf—Smurfette—who was originally created as a pawn by Gargamel before being “redeemed” by magic. That whole premise alone is a little questionable.
Beyond that, the show had some surprisingly dark themes. Gargamel’s constant attempts to capture and eat the Smurfs were unsettling, and some of the episodes had eerie, almost horror-like elements. There were also plenty of weirdly suggestive jokes, including some moments where the characters’ relationships felt a little too ambiguous. While The Smurfs remains a nostalgic favorite, there’s no denying that some of its ideas wouldn’t make it into a modern kids’ cartoon.