Top 20 Darkest Moments on Kids' Shows

#20: Sabretooth’s Flashback
“X-Men” (1992-97)

When the nineties “X-Men” show delved into the villainous Sabretooth’s past, it delved into a more troubling story than audiences might have expected. As Professor X tries to help the reckless mutant deal with his anger issues through psychic therapy, we get glimpses into his past. Graydon Creed Sr. is laughed at and tormented. When Professor X tries to dig deeper into the root of Sabretooth’s problems, walls quite literally block him out. While many mutants have experienced prejudice, the episode hints at some intense abuse Creed suffered, which has caused him to develop a deep fear and hatred of humanity.

#19: Chocolate Boy
“Hey Arnold” (1996-2004)

Sometimes when you love something, you have to know your limits. Unfortunately, this was a serious problem for the “Hey Arnold” character known only as Chocolate Boy. His obsession with chocolate led him down some dark roads. After he found himself dancing for some sweets and digging through garbage for them, he finally knew he needed some help. As he and Arnold work towards ending the infatuation, Arnold discovers that his problems originated with the loss of his nanny. Dependency can be a delicate subject, but the episode was able to tackle some serious themes in an entertaining yet respectful way.

#18: Trying to Be Perfect
“Courage the Cowardly Dog” (1999-2002)

Nobody is perfect, but that doesn’t stop Courage from trying to be. When Eustace essentially calls Courage a screw-up, it sets the cowardly dog on a dangerous path to prove his worth. To make matters worse, a character named the Perfectionist who appears to be a manifestation of his fears pushes him to try to reach impossible standards. The episode’s trippy dream sequences, which are par for the course for the surreal show, also add to the creepiness factor. Eventually, the episode wraps up with a touching moment where Courage finally accepts himself. He learns that we can always try to be better, but it’s okay to acknowledge imperfections.

#17: Mary Jane Evaporates
“Spider-Man” (1994-98)

You shouldn’t let the person you love slip through your fingers, and we mean that literally. In the last season of the “Spider-Man” animated series from the nineties, Mary Jane was revealed to be a clone. She’s then reduced into a puddle of water right in front of Peter’s eyes. Everything from the plot twist to the intense voice acting to the visual of Mary Jane slipping away makes this a disturbing scene. Unfortunately, the show’s run ended shortly after— meaning fans could not get much closure from the dramatic development. The unresolved plot thread is just an extra punch to the gut.

#16: Weirdmageddon
“Gravity Falls” (2012-16)

Let’s get weird. In the “Gravity Falls” three-part series finale, the gang has to stop the demonic Bill Cipher once and for all. The massive reality-altering event Weirdmageddon had its fair share of dark moments. Even the intro is creepier than normal, as Gravity Falls is transformed into an apocalyptic hellscape. All sorts of monsters start letting loose. The show had ventured into unsettling territory before, but rarely anything as doom and gloom as this. With the stakes higher than ever before, Dipper and Mabel can’t afford to lose. The crew is eventually able to beat Cipher, but it was a tall task to say the least.

#15: Ginger’s Poem
“As Told by Ginger” (2000-06)

Poetry, like all art, is open to interpretation. But with Ginger’s poem, it was hard for viewers to come up with anything other than one specific conclusion. When Ginger reads her emotional contest entry describing someone who wants to disappear, everyone believes it’s about her. Ginger’s teacher suggests she visit the school psychologist and soon people believe she may be experiencing depression. This episode’s sensitive subject is not something you might expect a kids’ show to address. But the episode’s ability to explore mental health in an honest and sincere way make it a standout.

#14: Mr. Turner’s Accident
“Boy Meets World” (1993-2000)

Despite being primarily known as a kids-and-teens’ show, “Boy Meets World” never shied away from tackling relevant issues and exploring bleak situations. One of the darkest times in the sitcom came when Shawn’s English teacher Mr. Turner gets into a nasty motorcycle collision that leaves him hospitalized. Mr. Turner recovers, but things weren’t looking good initially. It really seemed like Shawn was going to have to say goodbye to a character that acted as a father figure to him. While the rebellious Shawn was never portrayed as a very religious character, in an emotional moment, he pleads with God to not take Mr. Turner away.

#13: Deadly Force
“Gargoyles” (1994-97)

Would you ever expect a show about enchanted gargoyles to do an entire episode around gun safety? That was the focus for “Deadly Force.” When Broadway, a film-fanatic gargoyle, gets his hands on his police officer friend Elisa’s gun, he accidentally shoots her. The episode doesn’t hold back on the gruesomeness. While Broadway was mostly to blame, the episode also puts fault on Elisa since she didn’t properly store her gun. Because of the sensitivity of the topic, this episode has been considered one of the most controversial. Disney stopped it from airing, and censored certain scenes before allowing it to be re-aired.

#12: Squidward Attempts to End Things
“SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)

This episode really isn’t the most appropriate for children. When SpongeBob asks Squidward what his happiest memory is, Squidward realizes he doesn’t have any. The realization causes him to slowly unravel. Even though SpongeBob tries to help create some cheerful moments, Squidward ends up entering a deep depression. The character was never the most enthusiastic resident of Bikini Bottom, but this seemed like a new low. If his struggle wasn’t unfortunate enough, the show seems to imply that he might attempt to take his own life. Even though this doesn’t happen, a sleep-deprived Squidward tying a rope and talking about how it might help is definitely not kid-friendly.

#11: Ace’s Death
“Justice League Unlimited” (2004-06)

It might seem to just be a show about superheroes fighting villains, but “Justice League Unlimited” introduced a level of sophisticated storytelling that ranks it among the all-time greats. During the second season episode “Epilogue,” we got one of the most gut-wrenching moments in the DC Animated Universe. When the League has to stop a telepathic metahuman named Ace, Amanda Waller briefs them about the danger. Ace’s deteriorating health threatens to create psychic backlash, which would result in mass casualties. Batman volunteers to take Ace down, but he doesn’t resort to violence. Instead, he comforts Ace and sits with her until she passes. The heartbreaking scene shows Batman’s gentler side as he comforts the troubled character in her final moments.

#10: Zim Steals Organs
“Invader Zim” (2001-06)

The alien Zim tries his best to blend in with humans on earth. But when he is sent to the nurse’s office, his rival Dib points out that the alien lacks human organs. Zim decides to steal as many organs as he can to fool the nurse. The scenes of the alien hunting down his fellow students would fit perfectly in a horror film. On top of that, the stolen organs are replaced with objects that disfigure the bodies of his victims. But in the end, it’s Zim’s bloated body that succeeds in both fooling the nurser and unsettling any kids who see it.

#9: Speed Demon
“The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)

Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup spend a lot of time using their powers to save the city of Townsville. When they get a vacation after a day of kindergarten, they eagerly race home. However, they move fast enough to accidentally travel fifty years into the future. They discover their absence has ruined the city while their creator and friends have been twisted beyond recognition. It leads up to a scene where everyone in Townsville, including the new evil overlord, blames them for leaving. We bet younger audiences were thankful for just having chores, because this sequence gave the heroic kindergarteners a heavy dose of responsibility.

#8: Covering Up Murder
“SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)

Who hides a dead body under the sea? SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs thought they did. The duo attempts to get revenge on a health inspector with a disgusting burger. Before he takes a bite, the inspector chokes on a fly. Believing the burger killed him, SpongeBob and Krabs try to bury the body in secret. This entry might’ve ranked higher if the health inspector had actually died. In reality, the inspector keeps getting knocked unconscious, leading to a series of darkly hilarious scenes. Despite the humor, the idea of the innocent SpongeBob carrying out and covering up a murder took this series into some dark waters.

#7: Over the Edge
“The New Batman Adventures” (1997-99)

Barbara Gordon lives a dual life as both the daughter of the Police Commissioner and the heroine, Batgirl. Her split identities come to an end when the villain Scarecrow surprises Barbara and pushes her off a building where she falls. The death itself is surprisingly realistic and scary, especially the sound of her landing on the hood of a car. And the fact that it’s her father’s car adds another layer of horror. Fortunately, it’s later revealed that Barbara’s death was a hallucination caused by Scarecrow’s fear gas. Although we know it’s fake, the death of Batgirl may have looked and felt all too real to kids.

#6: Robin’s Hallucinations of Slade
“Teen Titans” (2003-06)

Some people can’t escape their past. After Robin looks at a mask of his defeated nemesis Slade, he begins to see the villain everywhere. Robin becomes obsessed with trying to capture his foe, but keeps getting beat up. When he asks his teammates for help during a fight, they reveal that Slade isn’t there. Robin’s struggle against an invisible enemy who keeps hurting him has strong parallels to real life mental illness. If the show’s younger audience didn’t get the metaphor, then the sight of their hero beaten and desperate was still hard to watch. Either way, this imaginary foe left a dark mark.

#5: The Earth Queen’s Death
“The Legend of Korra” (2012-14)

“The Legend of Korra” may have played for kids on Nickelodeon, but it had plenty of mature moments for its older fanbase. One of its darkest scenes came from Zaheer, a villain who could manipulate air. Zaheer aims to rid the world of Avatar Korra. When Earth Kingdom soldiers capture Korra, he convinces the Earth Queen to deliver the avatar into his clutches. But after their deal falls apart, Zaheer suffocates the queen by bending the air out of her lungs. Her red face and literal grasp for air are nightmare-inducing images. It’s a horrifying execution that’s sure to disturb younger viewers with its absolute brutality.

#4: Stepney Almost Gets Scrapped
“Thomas & Friends” (1984-2021)

Getting lost can be scary at any age. For a train, it can be deadly. After tank engine Stepney works into the night, he gets confused by fog and takes a wrong turn that takes him into a scrapyard. While his passengers run for help, two diesel engines come along and force him into a smelter shed to destroy him. Is the message here that getting lost can lead to a horrible death? Or that bullies can do whatever they want to a defenseless person? Judging by Stepney’s terrified voice, the message doesn’t matter. He wanted to live and fans wanted a lighter episode.

#3: Steven’s Near Death Experience by Aging
“Steven Universe” (2013-19)

All Steven wants to do is celebrate some birthdays with his magical gem family. But when their lack of enthusiasm for parties makes him feel old, his magical powers begin to age him. By the end of the episode, he’s an old man on the edge of death. Seeing Steven withered and helpless is a horrifying sight. The moment becomes even more tragic as he tries to come to peace with his impending doom. If any viewers have watched an elderly loved one struggle through health issues, this scene may look all too familiar. Aging is inevitable, but it doesn’t always have to look this bleak.

#2: Mind Pollution
“Captain Planet” (1990-96)

The Planeteers have had to deal with more than just environmental issues. In one episode, the Planeteer Linka goes to visit her cousin Boris, only to find that he is hooked on a street drug called Bliss. Although she refuses his offers to sample Bliss, he sneaks a pill into her food. But his cruel deception isn’t the darkest part. Boris is later offered an entire bottle of Bliss if he’s willing to kill Planeteers. Once the pills arrive, Boris swallows all the drugs at once, overdoses and dies. Linka is left without a cousin and kids are left with a grim message about drug use.

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

Consequences of Drinking, “Tiny Toon Adventures” (1990-92)
The Cartoon Took a Terror-Inducing Approach to Warning Against Drinking & Driving

Dani Falls Apart, “Danny Phantom” (2004-07)
Danny Screams as His Clone Melts into Green Goo

Dani Falls Apart, “Danny Phantom” (2004-07)
Danny Screams as His Clone Melts into Green Goo

Ed’s Monstrous Transformation, “Ed, Edd n Eddy” (1999-2009)
A Costume Change Fuels a Villainous Turn for Ed

Azula's Breakdown, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)
Her Lust for Power Cost Azula Her Sanity

Jay Dies From an Overdose, “BraveStarr” (1987-88)
This Was an Up-Close Look at the Destructive Effect of Substance Use

#1: Extinction
“Dinosaurs” (1991-95)

Series finales don’t get much darker than this. “Dinosaurs” was a kid-friendly sitcom about the daily life of talking prehistoric creatures. In the last episode, Charlene Sinclair discovers that a bug species was killed off by a corporation’s poison. When the company responsible is exposed, they place her father Earl in charge of fixing things. However, his attempts to solve the problems keep causing ecological disasters and irreversible damage to the environment. By the end of the episode, there’s no food, no sun and no hope left. This series was supposed to be a comedy, but there’s nothing funny about its depressing ending.

Is there a serious moment we missed? Let us know in the comments!