Cartoons have always had a unique way of entertaining audiences of all ages. While some are specifically designed for adult viewers, like ‘Family Guy,’ ‘American Dad,’ and ‘The Simpsons,’ others are meant for younger audiences. However, there are instances when children’s cartoons cross the line and delve into adult themes or political statements. Sometimes, this is a well-thought-out decision, while other times, it’s an unfortunate oversight. Let’s take a look at five kids’ cartoons that ventured into adult territory.
1. Animaniacs: War Jokes and Political Parodies
During the 1940s, Looney Tunes often incorporated war-related humor. Although ‘Animaniacs’ was marketed as a children’s show, it sought to capture the essence of classic Looney Tunes cartoons, which weren’t necessarily intended for young viewers. This cartoon made inappropriate jokes about real events and even featured a character called ‘Sodarn Insane,’ who was meant to represent Saddam Hussein.
2. Pinky and the Brain: Taking Aim at Bill Clinton
‘Pinky and the Brain,’ a spin-off series from Animaniacs, took things a step further with its jokes about Bill Clinton. The cartoon centered around a man who aspired to be a dictator and conquer the world. Clinton was depicted as an immature man who left his wife to handle business while he went out to have fun. The show even touched on specific issues, such as the impeachment scandal, with one episode showing Clinton with his pants down.
3. Rocko’s Modern Life: A Cautionary Tale of Consumerism
While many animated films attempt to warn children about consumerism, ‘Rocko’s Modern Life’ made it the primary focus of the entire series. The show aimed to teach children about the world they live in today, but sometimes went too far in its portrayal of reality. In one episode, Rocko even worked on a sex line – not exactly the type of content parents expect their children to watch in a cartoon.
4. Justice League: Tackling the Nazi Regime
Writers often feel compelled to include historical information about superheroes, especially when it comes to Golden Age characters and World War II. However, addressing the Nazi regime in children’s programming can be challenging. ‘Avenger: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ removed any Nazi content, causing controversy. In contrast, ‘Justice League’ retained all Nazi-related material, particularly in the season one finale.
5. Legend of Korra: Exploring Political Movements and Religion
While some cartoons boldly tackle issues related to a single political movement, ‘Legend of Korra’ went above and beyond by exploring various historical political movements each season. Some of the movements featured in the show included anarchist, liberationist, equalist, and fascist ideologies. The cartoon also delved into religion, another topic typically avoided in kids’ cartoons.
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