Top 10 Hidden Things in Cartoons That Will Ruin Your Childhood

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#10: The Kanker Sisters Are Even More Awful than We Remembered
“Ed, Edd n Eddy” (1999-2009)

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Even as kids, we knew that The Kanker Sisters were pretty awful; they were feared and avoided by the other characters for good reason. But while we thought this was general kid meanness, we now look back and realize how much darker their actions actually were. They’re so obsessed with the Eds that they’ll resort to non-consensual behaviors to get them. The poor guys have been through the mill with these three, subjected to unwanted kisses and even getting hypnotized into becoming their pets. We get that kids get crushes, and children still seem yucky at that age, but this is a whole other level of torment. No wonder the Eds are so afraid of them.

As kids, how many of us even questioned the premise of this show? Cow and Chicken’s parents didn’t, so why would we? This probably also made it easier to sneak in several jokes that would go straight over a child’s head. For instance, did you ever really think about what delicacy the characters ate? Apparently, it’s perfect for people who don’t like to dine out on nuts, and it’s not suitable for vegetarians. In another episode, a group of stereotypical biker women called “the Buffalo Gals” gather together and chomp down on carpets. Yes, that really happened. Unsurprisingly Cartoon Network opted to ban this episode over its covert sexual imagery and offensive generalization of lesbians.

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#8: Becoming Legal
“What's New, Scooby-Doo?” (2002-06)

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In this Halloween themed episode, we meet Velma’s cousin Marcy. She shakes up the group’s dynamic by flirting with Fred and throwing dig after dig at Daphne. In one scene, she talks about getting ready for the Masquerade ball since she was elected Corn Princess. We learn that Marcy’s birthday falls on Halloween and that this year she’s turning 18. As she reveals this fact, she slyly turns to look at Fred. The hesitation between “legally” and “vote” tells us that democracy isn’t what’s on her mind at all. And if you’re still unsure what we mean, just look at Daphne’s face. She can certainly read between the lines, and she ain’t happy.

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#7: Dexter Gets a New Assistant
“Dexter's Laboratory” (1996-2003)

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When Dexter has enough of his sister Dee Dee, he holds auditions for her replacement. Ultimately, he chooses Candi, a voluptuous blonde who knows her worth. When Dexter asks her to dance, she tells him it will cost him extra. Sure, that seemed fair enough at the time; you provide a service and deserve to be paid. But now we realize that this wasn’t just about workers’ rights. We know that Candi’s an actress since she quits when she discovers the job won’t get her any screen time. But while waiting for her big break, perhaps she’s also been dabbling in another adult profession…? Speaking of mature moments, remember when Dexter’s neighbor had “Dad’s Trophy” slapped across her backside?

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#6: Happy Accidents
“The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)

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If you thought “The Powerpuff Girls” was always sugar, spice, and everything nice, think again. We all know that the adorable crime-fighting sisters resulted from a lab accident. In one episode, Bubbles relays this story to their friend Robin, who gets the wrong end of the stick. After meeting the girls’ father, she reassures the Professor that he’s not alone since she’s the result of an accident, too. While Professor Utonium’s error involved a Chemical X spillage, Robin’s parents’ accident involved a different kind of discharge that resulted in mixing X and Y. At least the results were incredibly cute! Before we move on, let us also leave you with this image of The Mayor licking a Pussy…Cat.

This classic 90s cartoon was never afraid of pushing the censorship envelope, but they did it so slyly that it often went over our innocent little heads. One classic example comes from an episode that parodies Agatha Christie's murder mysteries. Yakko channels Hercule Poirot and orders his sister to dust for prints; only she mishears him and strolls in carrying music icon Prince. His attempts to clarify don't go down any better, although they might've caused a few raised eyebrows from older audiences. We guess prints and prince do sound quite alike, but following the word "finger," they have vastly different interpretations. Prince gives Dot a knowing smile, but she throws his hopes (and him) out the window.

Looking back at this series, did you ever notice that Helga’s mom Miriam always seems to be either making or drinking a smoothie? And based on some of her other prominent qualities, we don’t think she was on a health kick or smoothie cleanse. Think about it: Miriam seems prone to slurring her words; she’s often off-balance and disorientated and tends to pass out. There’s even one incident where Arnold asks Helga if her mom got her license back. Yeah, we’re pretty sure Miriam was adding a secret ingredient to her beverages. No wonder Helga looks for love elsewhere, although that "girlhood" quote sounds like it belongs in a romance novel rather than a kid’s cartoon.

This modern stone age family has entertained children for several decades. While we’d consider it a kids’ show today, it aired during prime time, meaning it often featured content for an older audience. Back in its early days, an ad that was integrated into the show promoted a cigarette company called Winston. In one version, Fred and Barney comment on their wives’ endless chores, but rather than help, they hide out, and that’s when Barney offers his friend a smoke. Admittedly this was a different time, but since cigarette adverts were banned in 1971, this has been outdated and shocking for a long period. It’s almost unfathomable that this was ever permitted on a family-friendly show.

A show about babies, what could be more wholesome than that? Well, a lot of things if “Rugrats” is anything to judge by. The show wasn’t afraid of risqué humor from Tommy’s screwdriver, Grandpa Lou’s penchant for lonely alien vixens, or this phallic graffiti. However, we also learned a little something, like the anatomical differences between Phil and Lil and what gets cut after a baby’s birth - the latter in a feature film. However, the most shocking detail is in its portrayal of grandpa Boris. It received backlash from The Anti-Defamation League, who likened the depiction of this Jewish character to those seen in Nazi propaganda. Even so, the episode celebrating Chanukah received an overwhelmingly positive response from most outlets.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Playduck Magazine, “Tiny Toon Adventures” (1990-92)
How Did This Joke Even Duck Past Censors?

Patrick Covers His “Genius,” “SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
Well, This Explains a Lot

“Nice S,” “Superman: The Animated Series” (1996-2000)
Sorry, Did We Hear That Correctly?

A Life-Changing Banana, “The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” (2002-06)
Anyone Else Getting “American Pie” Vibes?

“The Fastest Man Alive,” “Justice League” (2001-04)
Speediness Isn’t Always the Most Desired Quality

Looking back at “Rocko’s Modern Life,” it’s hard to believe this was a children’s show. So much racy content made it past the censors that we have to wonder if Nickelodeon was an appropriate home. For instance, remember when they play a game of spank the monkey? Or when Rocko goes fruit picking and grabs the wrong pair of berries? And here’s a question: What exactly is this new job Rocko gets hired for in the episode “Canned?” The posters around him suggest an X-rated response that he practically confirms with his subsequent dialogue. We have no idea how the creators snuck something so blatant into the episode without anyone raising the censorship alarm. But we’ll never look at Rocko in the same way again.