Some comics disguise difficult topics as children’s entertainment. Here are some popular anime shows that feature dark, depressing, and painful content throughout their runtimes. Which one is your favorite?
1. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Beautiful, quirky, and a great voice actor, Avatar: The Last Airbender It covered slavery, genocide, totalitarian governments, and racism. Not to mention the detailed depiction of psychological abuse regarding Azula and Zuko. This show is great to watch as a kid, and even better to watch as an adult.
2. Adventure Time (2010-2018)


Colorful and funny…a horror-survival series packaged as a children’s show set in the apocalypse? Yes. adventure time He frequently mentioned the “mushroom wars” that occurred in the past. It’s not a stretch to think that the mushrooms Finn and the others are talking about are mushroom clouds from nuclear weapons.
3. Pinocchio (1940)


Although the 1940 film was marketed as a children’s cartoon, many children, including my uncle, confessed to being scared of the film as children, especially the donkey scene.
One of the workers in the story specializes in turning little boys into donkeys who serve the men. It is heartbreaking to see children turned into donkeys and animals crying out for their parents and wanting to go home.
4. Popeye (1933-1942)


Popeye He loves spinach, is a strong man, and loves his girlfriend Olive Oyl and his child Sweepy. Popeye punches another man, Bluto, or Brutus, who tries to take advantage of the olive oil. The overarching theme of Popeye is standing up for who you love and what you believe in.
5. The Amazing Misfortune of Flapjack (2007-2010)


If you remember this show, you deserve a gold star. Although it is not well known, TFlapjack’s incredible misfortune We talked about poverty, trauma, and addiction that children feel. Although the comedy softened the impact, viewers still remember the dark atmosphere of this cartoon.
6. Hi Arnold! (1996-2004)


Most of the characters in this comic have mental health issues or family conflicts. For example, Helga lived in a mentally neglected house, while Stoop Kid maintained depression that caused agoraphobia. Furthermore, Mr. Hyun was also a refugee who lost his daughter in the war.
7. Casper the Friendly Ghost (1963-1964)


Although he refused to provide the original manga, casper the friendly ghost In the adaptation of the story that follows the manga, there is also a back story that the boy died from pneumonia while playing outside in the cold. The boy died, he decided he would rather be friends with humans than other ghosts, and his life became a lonely quest.
8. Over the Garden Wall (2013)


One of the best animated shows ever created centers around two brothers, Wirt and Greg. They find themselves waltzing through the woods, not knowing how they got there or how they escaped. They frolic in the forest and befriend the bluebird and the woodcutter. The boys are in a dream-like state after death.
9. The Last Unicorn (1982)


This ’80s movie focuses on King Haggard, who wants to eradicate unicorns from existence. A brave unicorn stands up for his race and enlists the help of a wizard to save the unicorn race from extinction. One person online joked that the film caused trust issues.
10. Brave Little Toaster (1987)


in brave little toaster, Five home appliances have thoughts and emotions, and are constantly watching over the people living in the house. Throughout the film, viewers witness terrifying events such as dark thoughts from the vacuum cleaner, nightmares where the toaster itself gets electrocuted, and an AC unit chasing its wrath in an unfortunate scenario.
11. Bambi (1942)


Unlike other movies and shows on this list, bambi There are no set villains or villains. Instead, Bambi and his friends are at the mercy of nature. A fire starts due to human negligence, a hunter harms Bambi’s mother, and severe weather threatens the lives of all other forest animals. Seeing cute animals at the mercy of reality creates a sense of helplessness.
12. Secret of NIMH (1982)


An animated work about widows was a big hit.in The secret of NIMH, Mrs. Brisby must emigrate and protect her children from a farmer’s plan to destroy her home. The children recently lost their father to cat food, and one of the youngest mice has a cold, making it even more difficult for the mother to carry out the move.
13. All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)


Movies and TV series that feature dogs usually result in tearful viewing parties. That also applies to this movie. At the beginning of the film, a bulldog gambler named Carface kills Charlie, the owner of a German Shepherd casino, but Charlie returns thanks to a magic clock to take revenge on his killer. The plot that permeates this film involves manipulation, lies, and gambling.
14. Gravity Falls (2012-2016)


gravity fall It has a loyal following due to its tightly woven story and complex plotline. The main plot revolves around two children, Dipper and Mabel, who move in with their estranged uncle one summer. They discover a strange diary containing codes and secret messages about a strange town.
The show first deals with death, blood, and secret societies.
15. Fairy Odd Parents (2001-2017)


Ten-year-old Timmy Turner spends his days surrounded by his best friends Chester and AJ, and a terrifying babysitter named Vicki. His aloof parents leave Timmy’s upbringing to Vicky, so the child turns to a magical godmother who will grant his wishes and spend time with him.
16. Farthingwood Animals (1993-1995)


When humans invade their homes, animal herds have to move to new locations. Fans say the comic never shied away from showing how cruel nature can be. Other watchers argue that if children don’t watch the show, they’ll miss out on important information about birds.
17. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)


This popular derivative work Star Wars The series delves into the backstories of Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars. The characters experience racism, brutal violence, war crimes, and soul-rending death.
18. Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)


Some of the major plotlines running through this show were death and resurrection, and the idea of being stuck in limbo, unable to accomplish either. The animators drew the scenes on black paper rather than traditional white paper to soften the overall dark atmosphere of the show.
19. 101 Dalmatians (1961)


Disney has released a live-action backstory for the film’s antagonist. 101 Dalmatians, Cruella. The villain in this anime wants to kidnap puppies, kill and skin them, and make fur coats out of the spotted puppies. So she decides to hire two men to do her dirty work.
20. Watership Down (1978)


You remember the story about the rabbit, right? After one rabbit has a vision of impending house destruction, the rabbits leave their original home in search of a new home. This story throws viewers directly into the horror surrounding nature’s unforgiving actions.
21. Invader Jim (2001-2002)


Viewers are seduced by the idea of a cute alien learning to blend in with humans, but it turns out that the alien Jim hates Earth, humans, and everything they do. Naturally, he decides to conquer the world so he doesn’t have to deal with the parts of it he doesn’t like.
22. Smurfs (1981-1989)


The wizard Gargamel seeks to conquer the Miniature Smurfs, a group of blue humanoids who occupy the mushroom house. Depending on his mood, the wizard may want to feed the Smurfs, use their bodies as material to make gold, or trap them all to become the strongest and most geeky wizard. yeah.
23. Duck Story (1987-1990)


Triplet duck brothers Huey, Dewey, and Louie wander around their room playing pranks on their parents, but one day they take their joke too far. The boys place a firecracker under their father’s chair. After their father is taken to the emergency room, their mother sends the boys to live with relatives. The parents never appear again.
24. Peter Pan (1953)


premise of Peter Pan It’s strange. In short, Peter kidnaps a young boy and convinces Wendy to come along as her mother. And the adult pirates who tried to stop Peter’s antics were considered the bad guys!