10 Times Kids Cartoons Dealt with Death
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VOICE OVER: Patrick Mealey
WRITTEN BY: Amanda DeMel
Hey kids! Time for an unfortunate reality check... Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most sensitive discussions of death in kids' TV cartoons. Major plot points will be discussed, so consider this your spoiler warning! Our countdown includes moments from shows "Hey Arnold!", “Pokémon Origins”, “Star Trek: The Animated Series” and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most sensitive discussions of death in kids’ TV cartoons. Major plot points will be discussed, so consider this your spoiler warning! Did any TV shows help you grieve? Let us know in the comments!
Big Henry only appeared in one episode in a minor role, but he left an impression nonetheless. When challenging Pacifica to a golf-off, Mabel and Dipper find out that the mini golf course is maintained by a race called the Liliputtians. One Liliputtian is named Big Henry, who lives in the mining-themed hole. Mabel’s ball gets stuck in the mining hole when a deadly gas leak is discovered. The only way for the game to go on is for someone to block up the leak . . . and Big Henry volunteers for the greater good, despite objections from multiple sources. As he passes out from the gas, he retrieves a picture drawn by a Liliputtian child and sheds a tear. Audiences were pretty teary-eyed by his sacrifice too.
Simon Laurent was one of the main antagonists of the series, along with Grace Monroe. They lead a raiding group called the Apex, and they believed that the train belonged to them. Although Grace eventually experiences a change of heart and realizes the evil of the Apex mission, Simon does not. He actually sees her change as a betrayal. An all-out battle follows, with Simon attempting to kill Grace and eventually going insane. It ends with the Ghom sucking out Simon’s life force. Grace soon afterward ends the Apex, showing that people actually can change for the better.
#8: “Yesteryear”
It’s hard when a pet dies. It’s harder when that pain is written off by others. In this episode, Spock goes back in time to prevent his own death. He ends up helping his younger self cope with a fatal injury to his beloved pet sehlat named I Chaya. It’s too late for a healer to cure I Chaya, so young Spock faces a choice: prolong his pet’s painful life or end I Chaya’s suffering. He chooses to let the pet go; a difficult but logical choice. Adult Spock later talks to Captain Kirk about his grief. Kirk doesn’t understand how a pet can mean so much to some people. But children do understand how important pets are, and Spock spoke right to that.
Did you know there was a clone trooper with disabilities? Relegated to custodial work in the Kamino clone facility, Trooper 99 could have been an insignificant extra. But he used his extensive knowledge of Kamino’s layout to help during a droid invasion. When some junior cadets find themselves unable to find the rest of their group, Trooper 99 quickly directed them to a safe route to the barracks. He then helps Captain Rex and Commander Cody save Tipoca City. However, his end came too soon, as a battle droid shot him while he was trying to get more supplies. His noble death was commended by Captain Rex, and his legacy lived on in the name of the Clone Force 99, composed of other genetically mutated clones.
Before Aang was the Avatar, a bender from the Fire Nation named Roku was. Roku had been friends with Fire Lord Sozin, though tension formed between the two when Sozin revealed his imperialistic intentions. After years without contact, Sozin comes to help his friend when Roku’s island is consumed by a volcano. However, as Roku falls in the smoke, Sozin leaves him to die, believing it will be an opportunity for the Fire Nation to advance. Aang takes this story as evidence of people’s capacities for goodness and evil, as well as their potential for redemption. Jet is another character who was once merciless, but who changed for the better. Unfortunately, he gets brainwashed and then killed, leaving his friends and the core gang to mourn over his end.
The story of Cubone and its mother Marowak is old news for Pokemon fans, but viewers got many more details about them in this 2013 episode. When Cubone was a baby, two Team Rocket members tried to capture it and Marowak for their evil purposes. Marowak fought off the enemies long enough for her child to get away, but Cubone saw Team Rocket retaliate by killing Marowak. Cubone, understandably, has trouble trusting others after this. Some time later, Pokemon trainer Red saves Mr. Fuji, the man who adopted Cubone, from Team Rocket. Seeing that her child is finally safe, Marowak’s spirit passes on, Cubone calms down, and people begin to visit the once-haunted Pokemon House to pay respects to their dead Pokemon.
Hamato Yoshi, better known as Splinter, was the sensei and adoptive father of the Turtles. He imparted great wisdom to the brothers, including telling Leonardo that he will lead the Turtles from the heart one day. But during an intense battle with Super Shredder, Splinter is fatally stabbed. The team carries his body to the Shellraiser while a montage of cherished memories appears on the screen. It’s a heartbreaking farewell, reminding us of all the good times. In the final season of the series, however, everyone gets to say goodbye to Splinter’s spirit before he returns to the afterlife for good.
This episode opens with Grandpa narrating the adventures of Arnold’s missing parents. Then Parents Day tournament weekend comes around at school, and Arnold is upset because he only has his grandparents. His friends and his grandparents’ enthusiasm about the tournament can’t get him excited. Grandpa eventually tells Arnold the truth about his parents: they went to save a group of sick people in Central America, but their plane was lost and no one saw them again. Although upset by this news, Arnold is grateful for the truth and realizes that his grandparents’ love is actually enough for him. In a TV movie released in 2017, though, we learn that his parents did survive, and they all reunite.
Abe is the crossing guard for Bobby’s school, and he quickly becomes a positive influence for Bobby. Specifically, he tells Bobby that he can find beauty in seemingly trivial things. One day, Abe isn’t at his job. The new crossing guard tells Bobby that Abe died, leading the boy’s father to explain that Abe is sadly gone forever, but his memory will live on in what he taught Bobby. Thanks to Abe’s lesson, Bobby is able to face and pass a difficult test. While death is sad, this episode teaches kids that the memories can also be beautiful.
Chuckie’s father was a prominent character on the show, but where was his mother? Her absence was obvious. We don’t get an answer until the fourth season. While the other babies are working on gifts for their mothers, Chuckie is sad because he doesn’t have a mother. This leads the group to look for one for him, which of course doesn’t work out. We later learn that his mother had a terminal illness and died shortly after Chuckie was born. However, she is still with Chuckie in all the good things, like the trees, the wind and the grass.
#10: “The Golf War”
Gravity Falls” (2012-13)Big Henry only appeared in one episode in a minor role, but he left an impression nonetheless. When challenging Pacifica to a golf-off, Mabel and Dipper find out that the mini golf course is maintained by a race called the Liliputtians. One Liliputtian is named Big Henry, who lives in the mining-themed hole. Mabel’s ball gets stuck in the mining hole when a deadly gas leak is discovered. The only way for the game to go on is for someone to block up the leak . . . and Big Henry volunteers for the greater good, despite objections from multiple sources. As he passes out from the gas, he retrieves a picture drawn by a Liliputtian child and sheds a tear. Audiences were pretty teary-eyed by his sacrifice too.
#9: “The New Apex”
“Infinity Train” (2019-21)Simon Laurent was one of the main antagonists of the series, along with Grace Monroe. They lead a raiding group called the Apex, and they believed that the train belonged to them. Although Grace eventually experiences a change of heart and realizes the evil of the Apex mission, Simon does not. He actually sees her change as a betrayal. An all-out battle follows, with Simon attempting to kill Grace and eventually going insane. It ends with the Ghom sucking out Simon’s life force. Grace soon afterward ends the Apex, showing that people actually can change for the better.
#8: “Yesteryear”
“Star Trek: The Animated Series” (1973-75)
It’s hard when a pet dies. It’s harder when that pain is written off by others. In this episode, Spock goes back in time to prevent his own death. He ends up helping his younger self cope with a fatal injury to his beloved pet sehlat named I Chaya. It’s too late for a healer to cure I Chaya, so young Spock faces a choice: prolong his pet’s painful life or end I Chaya’s suffering. He chooses to let the pet go; a difficult but logical choice. Adult Spock later talks to Captain Kirk about his grief. Kirk doesn’t understand how a pet can mean so much to some people. But children do understand how important pets are, and Spock spoke right to that.
#7: “ARC Troopers”
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-20)Did you know there was a clone trooper with disabilities? Relegated to custodial work in the Kamino clone facility, Trooper 99 could have been an insignificant extra. But he used his extensive knowledge of Kamino’s layout to help during a droid invasion. When some junior cadets find themselves unable to find the rest of their group, Trooper 99 quickly directed them to a safe route to the barracks. He then helps Captain Rex and Commander Cody save Tipoca City. However, his end came too soon, as a battle droid shot him while he was trying to get more supplies. His noble death was commended by Captain Rex, and his legacy lived on in the name of the Clone Force 99, composed of other genetically mutated clones.
#6: “The Avatar and the Fire Lord”
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)Before Aang was the Avatar, a bender from the Fire Nation named Roku was. Roku had been friends with Fire Lord Sozin, though tension formed between the two when Sozin revealed his imperialistic intentions. After years without contact, Sozin comes to help his friend when Roku’s island is consumed by a volcano. However, as Roku falls in the smoke, Sozin leaves him to die, believing it will be an opportunity for the Fire Nation to advance. Aang takes this story as evidence of people’s capacities for goodness and evil, as well as their potential for redemption. Jet is another character who was once merciless, but who changed for the better. Unfortunately, he gets brainwashed and then killed, leaving his friends and the core gang to mourn over his end.
#5: “File 2: Cubone”
“Pokémon Origins” (2013)The story of Cubone and its mother Marowak is old news for Pokemon fans, but viewers got many more details about them in this 2013 episode. When Cubone was a baby, two Team Rocket members tried to capture it and Marowak for their evil purposes. Marowak fought off the enemies long enough for her child to get away, but Cubone saw Team Rocket retaliate by killing Marowak. Cubone, understandably, has trouble trusting others after this. Some time later, Pokemon trainer Red saves Mr. Fuji, the man who adopted Cubone, from Team Rocket. Seeing that her child is finally safe, Marowak’s spirit passes on, Cubone calms down, and people begin to visit the once-haunted Pokemon House to pay respects to their dead Pokemon.
#4: “Requiem”
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2012-17)Hamato Yoshi, better known as Splinter, was the sensei and adoptive father of the Turtles. He imparted great wisdom to the brothers, including telling Leonardo that he will lead the Turtles from the heart one day. But during an intense battle with Super Shredder, Splinter is fatally stabbed. The team carries his body to the Shellraiser while a montage of cherished memories appears on the screen. It’s a heartbreaking farewell, reminding us of all the good times. In the final season of the series, however, everyone gets to say goodbye to Splinter’s spirit before he returns to the afterlife for good.
#3: “Parents Day”
“Hey Arnold!” (1996-2004)This episode opens with Grandpa narrating the adventures of Arnold’s missing parents. Then Parents Day tournament weekend comes around at school, and Arnold is upset because he only has his grandparents. His friends and his grandparents’ enthusiasm about the tournament can’t get him excited. Grandpa eventually tells Arnold the truth about his parents: they went to save a group of sick people in Central America, but their plane was lost and no one saw them again. Although upset by this news, Arnold is grateful for the truth and realizes that his grandparents’ love is actually enough for him. In a TV movie released in 2017, though, we learn that his parents did survive, and they all reunite.
#2: “The Music”
“Bobby’s World” (1990-98)Abe is the crossing guard for Bobby’s school, and he quickly becomes a positive influence for Bobby. Specifically, he tells Bobby that he can find beauty in seemingly trivial things. One day, Abe isn’t at his job. The new crossing guard tells Bobby that Abe died, leading the boy’s father to explain that Abe is sadly gone forever, but his memory will live on in what he taught Bobby. Thanks to Abe’s lesson, Bobby is able to face and pass a difficult test. While death is sad, this episode teaches kids that the memories can also be beautiful.
#1: “Mother’s Day”
“Rugrats” (1991-2004)Chuckie’s father was a prominent character on the show, but where was his mother? Her absence was obvious. We don’t get an answer until the fourth season. While the other babies are working on gifts for their mothers, Chuckie is sad because he doesn’t have a mother. This leads the group to look for one for him, which of course doesn’t work out. We later learn that his mother had a terminal illness and died shortly after Chuckie was born. However, she is still with Chuckie in all the good things, like the trees, the wind and the grass.
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