Top 20 Most Violent Cartoons
#20: “Arcane” (2021-)
Top 10 Moments in Arcane Act I
This Netflix show is based on “League of Legends” and perfectly toes the line between accessibility to non-fans and pleasing die hard players of the game. It’s also very, very violent. Within the very first episode, the brutal details of a brawl between teenagers is shown with tons of detail. The fights only grow more graphic as the series goes on. Deadly weapons like guns and knives are often used and naturally result in bloody injuries. And in nearly every episode, someone ends up in a lot of pain or dies in a horrible way. Ironically, the “League of Legends” game is very tame in regards to its on-screen violence. “Arcane” clearly wanted to up the ante when adapting the digital story.
#19: “The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)
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Just because a show is made for children doesn’t mean it can’t be violent. Airing on Cartoon Network, “The Powerpuff Girls” follows three child superheroes who protect the city of Townsville from evil. The series is masked in the typical cuteness that accompanies Cartoon Network shows. However, it’s also centered around the very act of fighting and defeating criminals. The city often wrecked during the battles. And the show isn’t shy about depicting the carnage. Additionally, the Powerpuff Girls also routinely kick the crap out of their adversaries in extended and close up scenes. Some people say “violence is not the answer.” “The Powerpuff Girls” would all disagree.
#18: “Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
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When it first began, “Family Guy” was basically a slightly meaner “Simpsons.” But as it’s progressed, the show has become increasingly darker. Not only has it drawn controversy by exploring touchy subjects, but it’s also gotten more barbaric. The violence in the series has become increasingly more gruesome and gory. It’s not uncommon to turn on a random episode and see a character with a broken limb or someone losing blood. And if it’s a chicken fight episode, a viewer better buckle up. The show also divided audiences for how it depicts domestic violence as well. If the intention is to shock or unsettle viewers, then the writers have certainly succeeded.
#17: “Axe Cop” (2013-15)
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Based on a webcomic by brothers Malachai and Ethan Nicolle, this show follows an ax-wielding police officer who prefers beating down criminals instead of simply arresting them. And he gets creative. Axe Cop of course uses his titular weapon when he can. But if all else fails, he has no problem delivering beatdowns to any sentient being that gets in his way with his bare hands. Admittedly the entire premise is hilarious from start to finish. And while the violence is unrealistic, it does depict every axe cop rampage with as much detail as possible. We wouldn’t advise getting on this bad cop’s bad side.
#16: “Looney Tunes” (1930-69)
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This iconic series has long been recognized for its high level of slapstick comedy. It’s so iconic that most people probably think of it when they hear the phrase “cartoon violence.” “Looney Tunes” featured all of its characters getting hurt in highly stylized and unrealistic ways. Comically giant weapons, explosives and hard falls were all par for the course. While the injuries would be extremely painful and unquestionably fatal in reality, it’s great comedy in their world. “Looney Tunes” gets away with it by shying away from blood and quickly showing that the characters can bounce back from these hard hits. But while it may not be that graphic, violence is definitely a core part of the Looney Tunes formula.
#15: “Archer” (2009-)
This animated sitcom from FX has long been a critical darling and is often praised for its animation and writing. While some seasons have different themes, “Archer” is mostly a parody of the espionage genre and features the wacky agents of the International Secret Intelligence Service. As you can imagine, non-stop violence comes with the territory. Henchmen are routinely shot and killed. And the show isn’t afraid to resort to intentionally over-the-top methods to elicit gasps and disbelieving laughs. There are tons of quite nasty injuries featured in the series that are definitely not for the faint of heart. Then again, we guess secret agents are bound to see some unpleasant stuff.
#14: “Mr. Pickles” (2014-19)
Top 10 Most Violent Cartoons
“Mr. Pickles” follows a border collie that is owned by the Goodman family. They all live in a seemingly quiet little city called Old Town. However, while Mr. Pickles is out and about, he attacks and slays random civilians. Mr. Pickles later uses their remains to build new and horrifying creations that are 100 times more horrifying than Frankenstein’s monster. As you can probably imagine, Mr. Pickles is a bit sadistic. The sheer amount of crimes he commits against his victims would probably earn him a dozen life sentences. It seems like every episode finds a new way to shock viewers by showing how many sick ideas Mr. Pickles has.
#13: “The Ren & Stimpy Show” (1991-96)
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While the “The Ren & Stimpy Show” wouldn’t be out of place on an Adult Swim line-up today, it definitely stood out back in the early ‘90s. Airing alongside the likes of “Rugrats” and “Doug,” “Ren & Stimpy” was one of the very first Nicktoons. But it distinguished itself from the other shows with its inclusion of violent scenes. It immediately garnered controversy from parent groups for its gross and over the top content. While some scenes were censored after their release, the “Man's Best Friend” episode was completely banned due to a violent sequence. After the show’s original run ended, it doubled down on the gruesome content when it continued on Spike TV. But the short lived series also faced criticism for going too far.
#12: “Superjail!” (2008-14)
This Adult Swim series seemed concerned with provoking its viewers above all else. The story takes place inside a prison you do not want to end up in. At any given moment, viewers might see a character suddenly subjected to horrible torment or a vicious act of violence. And the surreal animation meant that the writers could get very creative on how the prisoners were punished. The series firmly belonged to the splatter subgenre and carried a TV-MA rating for its extreme and extensive use of violence. Torment, dismemberment and internal organs are all featured here and animated in explicit detail. While this series is definitely inappropriate for young audiences, it may be hard for older viewers to stomach too.
#11: “Æon Flux” (1991-95)
Top 10 Unexpectedly Violent Moments in Cartoons
A very unique and avant-garde series, “Æon Flux” aired on MTV throughout the early ‘90s and earned universal acclaim for its imagination, characters, and themes. Set in a dystopian future, the series follows the titular assassin as she carries out various missions inside the Orwellian city of Bregna. Æon Flux proves that she’s a professional hitwoman by demonstrating her deadly talents as often as possible. Ironically, Æon Flux actually dies herself in many episodes, which further adds to the endless havoc. A live action adaptation was later made with Charlize Theron. However, it was not well received and was not nearly as graphic as the animated show was.
#10: “Harley Quinn” (2019-)
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After Margot Robbie and “Suicide Squad” further popularized Harley Quinn in the mainstream, the character got her own animated series. At the start of the series, the clown themed villain tries to become a notorious bad guy that isn’t tied to the Joker. Harley’s journey takes her to some very violent places. She has no problem brutally beating down enemies with weapons like her mallet. However, Harley’s allies are routinely more gruesome than she is. King Shark in particular uses his sharp teeth in a variety of horrifying ways. And whenever the Joker’s around, fans prepare for someone to suffer horribly. If young fans want more of Harley, they should probably stay clear of this show until they’re much older.
#9: “Tom and Jerry” (1940-67)
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This show is in the same family as “Looney Tunes,” concerning the wacky adventures of a cat named Tom and a mouse named Jerry. This franchise loves to remind viewers that those two animals aren’t exactly friendly with each other. It is relentlessly violent, featuring loads of chases and acts of aggression. Of course, it’s all done in a humorous and family-friendly manner, so the discomfort is kept to a minimum. The series and its extreme level of violence was later spoofed in “The Simpsons,” with Itchy and Scratchy standing in for Tom and Jerry. But the original duo still deserves props for unabashedly embracing its brutal nature.
#8: “The Boys Presents: Diabolical” (2022)
Top 10 Most Violent Moments in the DC Animated Universe
Anyone who has seen “The Boys” knows that it contains some pretty gnarly visuals. Its animated spin-off program features stories set in and outside of the main show’s continuity. If any fans were worried that the animation would blunt the visceral impact of the show, their fears were quickly brushed aside. This spin off is every bit as merciless and nauseatingly violent as its predecessor. Expect to see a lot of things that are normally inside a human body on full display. Additionally, the animation allows the writers to depict gruesome acts in even more gory detail. You could say that it’s truly diabolical.
#7: “South Park” (1997-)
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Ever since its debut back in 1997, “South Park” has been the subject of criticism and controversy. While most of the heat is centered around its profane humor, the show is also not shy about depicting violence. It is quite frequent, and it’s often depicted in a comically graphic fashion. Even casual fans know that the character Kenny’s deaths were played for laughs. In the early seasons, it felt like he died in virtually every episode. And most of his deaths are ridiculously exaggerated for comedic purposes. Outside of that joke, “South Park” pushes its animated style to the absolute limit to subject its characters to cruel and unusual treatment.
#6: “Robot Chicken” (2005-)
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A stop motion sketch show created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, “Robot Chicken” can be just as violent as its many Adult Swim contemporaries. The stop motion series crams a lot of short sketches into the average episode. Thanks to this format, there’s plenty of opportunities for violence. The filmmakers put their stop motion characters through hellish scenarios on a constant basis. Even the cutest cast members are not safe from meeting a terrifying end. Over the course of “Robot Chicken’s” run, characters have died in pretty much every horrific way imaginable. While many may look like action figures and clay sculptures, their torment can still feel visceral.
#5: “Castlevania” (2017-21)
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One of the most popular and successful video game franchises ever, “Castlevania” has earned consistent acclaim since its debut in 1986. The animated series based on the game that began airing on Netflix in 2017 has certainly done its source material justice. The show features bloodthirsty vampires and demons that absolutely don’t hold back their dark impulses. By the time some of these vicious creatures are done with their victims, there’s often little left to bury. It’s almost a given that one character will have some blood on them that isn’t theirs by the end of a conflict. If you can handle the sickening detail, this highly acclaimed vampiric series will keep you coming back for more.
#4: “Metalocalypse” (2006-13)
Serving as a parody of the heavy metal subculture, “Metalocalypse” follows a death metal band called Dethklok as they find themselves in outlandish situations. The genre has often been associated with violent content and graphic imagery. So, “Metalocalypse” parodies those associations by ramping up the gory content to a ludicrous degree. Graphic violence is the norm throughout this show, featuring rivers of blood, loss of limbs, and shocking acts of depravity. Put simply, it’s one of the most violent cartoons ever made. It’s like a Cannibal Corpse album cover come to life. Well, come to animation, at least.
#3: “Happy Tree Friends” (1999-2016)
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We wonder how many kids were falsely lulled into watching “Happy Tree Friends” before receiving the nightmare of their lives. A web series that found success on YouTube and G4, the show presents itself as an innocent programa on the outside. The characters are cute and cuddly anthropomorphic animals who go about their lives like innocent children. However, their day quickly escalates into chaos, and these characters die in the most painful ways imaginable. The deaths are truly heinous and are animated in explicit detail. There’s just something depraved about watching adorable little animals die in unbearably agonizing ways.
#2: “Rick and Morty” (2013-)
Top 10 Brutal Deaths on Rick and Morty
Emerging as one of the most popular animated shows of the 2010s, “Rick and Morty” has earned consistent acclaim for its writing and animation. The adventurous show follows the titular characters as they traverse through alternate dimensions and throughout space. This duo’s adventures just so happen to be filled with blood and death. In one adventure, they go to a purge planet and slay tons of enemies with reckless abandon. Rick has also blown up or wrecked several societies while leaving. And both characters themselves had to endure gruesome injuries that were thankfully fixed with advanced science. No matter what dimension these Rick and Morty are in, they’re sure to leave a trail of blood.
#1: “Invincible” (2021-)
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Anyone who dreams of being a superhero might change their mind after watching this gory program. Created by Robert Kirkman of “Walking Dead” fame, “Invincible” follows the trials and tribulations of a young hero named Mark who is just starting to get into crime fighting. Unfortunately, his early days of heroics are extremely harsh. Mark is beaten within an inch of his life in graphic detail on multiple occasions in season 1. Bystanders and other heroes are also subjected to brutal demise and extraordinarily painful looking injuries in every episode. Unlike some other shows on this list, most of the harsh content isn’t played for comedic effect. “Invincible” really wants to show that being a superhero can be a bloody and very violent job.
