Top 10 Dark Facts About The Cartoon Network That Will Shock You

The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005)
While the fight scenes could get intense in The Powerpuff Girls, the show still knew how to keep the brand safe for the younger audience. However, when the series was conceived, creator Craig McCracken had a slightly more mature vision for Townsvilles heroes. They were originally called the Whoopass Girls, and instead of Chemical X, the extra ingredient was a can of whoopass. The girls didnt have their unique personalities and our heroes didnt just beat up the bad guys they finished the job. Only one short of the concept was ever fully animated before the Whoopass Girls became the Powerpuffs audiences know and love.

Dexter's Laboratory (1996-98; 2001-03)
Seen as a crown jewel in Cartoon Networks golden age, Dexters Laboratory still managed to find itself in hot water thanks to two banned episodes "Dial M for Monkey: Barbequor" and "Rude Removal." It was rumored that Barbequor was banned for having one of its characters portrayed as a hurtful stereotype. In reality, the episode was likely pulled due to Marvel claiming copyright infringement on the episodes parody of the Silver Surfer. While the mix-up for "Barbequor" was understandable, the reason for Rude Removals shelving was as plain as day. It was deemed too crass for Cartoon Networks taste and rarely saw the light of day until 2013, when it was uploaded online.

Young Justice (2010-13; 2019; 2021-22)
Given its critical acclaim, one can only imagine how disappointed DC fans were when Young Justice was first canceled. Rumors swirled that it was axed because it had more female viewers than the targeted male audience. Co-developer Greg Weisman confirmed this wasnt the case but the actual reason wasnt any better. Mattel helped fund the show through merchandising, but they werent happy with the toy sales. The company dropped out, forcing Cartoon Network to cancel the series after its second season. Corporate greed threatened to kill the art, but the show was eventually brought back to life through streaming services.

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Censorship is something that many cartoons have to face one way or another. Even if shows hide their more mature jokes well, not everything can sneak through. In Australia, they tend to crack down hard on censoring Cartoon Networks programs. Along with the usual violent or lewd imagery, they tend to remove or edit anything that sounds like cursing. You probably wont hear anyone calling someone a sucker in Oz. Additionally, theyve been known to remove instances of characters dating, no matter how innocent it is. It doesnt help that the cuts can get too obvious at times, especially when they take a chunk out of the episodes runtime.

Steven Universe (2013-19)
Fans of Steven Universe still praise the series for its art style and themes of acceptance, which might make this next entry a little surprising. The original print of the Steven Universe: Art & Origins book featured concept art for an unused character named Concrete. Fans took note of how Concrete resembled a racist caricature and were understandably angered and confused. Series creator Rebecca Sugar apologized for the drawing, calling its creation careless, and took full responsibility for the material making it through the approval process. The character was removed from subsequent printings of the book.

Rick and Morty (2013-)
Anyone who says cartoons dont leave an impact is obviously unaware of the great Szechuan Sauce debacle of 2017. In the Rick and Morty episode "The Rickshank Rickdemption," Rick mentions how much he's obsessed with the promotional sauce McDonalds made in 1998. Soon, the concept became a meme and fans became obsessed. McDonalds brought it back for a short time. Unfortunately, this marketing stunt turned into pandemonium as a few bad eggs caused riots to break out over the coveted sauce. The sauce returned a few more times thankfully without the uproar but it just goes to show how out of hand a meme can get.

Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994-2004; 2006-08)
One of the more unique gems in Cartoon Network history, Space Ghost Coast to Coast was an animated parody talk show featuring live-action celebrity guest stars. However, its honestly a miracle the show got made at all, since the studio wouldnt give them any money for production. To make up for this, the creators had to rely on recycled footage from the original Space Ghost cartoon. Additionally, the celebrity guests on the show sometimes found the concept a little TOO bizarre, so the interviews had mixed results. In one infamous case, the Bee Gees interview only had around 19 seconds of usable footage because they couldnt take it seriously at all.

Teen Titans Go! (2013-)
Despite its long-term success, many viewers cant help but compare Teen Titans Go! to the original Teen Titans. Many argue that the spin-off is inferior to its critically acclaimed predecessor. Believe it or not, the voice actors allegedly shared these sentiments when the show was first announced. Having voiced their respective characters for so long, some had their doubts about the new series and may have even suggested dialogue tweaks to lines that felt out of character. But all worked out for the best because in the final output, the actors chemistry blends well with the shows irreverent humor.

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (2004-09)
On the whole, the colorful and zany Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends is one of Cartoon Networks strongest programs. But where did the shows concept come from? Series creator Craig McCracken has said that he was inspired by when he and his wife adopted two dogs from an animal shelter. Bringing his new dogs home caused McCracken to wonder about their history. Eventually, he decided to explore those ideas with imaginary friends, and the rest was history. While it isnt a dark show, knowing the origins of it could put it in a new light.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000-15; 2023-)
In 2007, Adult Swims Aqua Teen Hunger Force caught the attention of the media but not in a good way. To promote the shows upcoming movie, LED displays depicting the Mooninites were set up in several cities, including Boston. However, the displays were mistaken for explosives, and the city went into a panic. The accidental bomb scare wound up costing Turner Broadcasting and guerilla marketing group Interference, Inc. Former Cartoon Network VP Jim Samples even resigned from the company in the aftermath. The show made an episode in response to the incident, but never aired it for obvious reasons. Some fans marked this as the end of Cartoon Networks golden age, all thanks to one small marketing campaign.


What cartoon moment shocked you as a kid? Let us know in the comments.