Cartoons are all about creating a fanciful world full of imagination for children. Fun stories of confessing your love while riding on a magic carpet, hanging out with a dog who can talk, or having new adventures every day during summer vacation are pure magic for children and children at heart.
While we appreciate those childhood memories, cartoons are entertaining in a different way when rewatched as an adult. You tend to realize things you didn’t think about when you were a kid. From Arthur wearing earphones that don’t fit his ears to SpongeBob soaking dishes when he lives underwater, to pretty much anything the classic Disney princesses did in their lives, this list will make you laugh and wonder, “why didn’t I see that before?”
How can he listen to music?
Arthur Read is the protagonist of the series Arthur. He loves reading books and spending time at the library. He’s an average school kid who has an obsession with spelling contests. In the photo below, Arthur appears to be enjoying some music, but do you notice what’s wrong with this picture?
Arthur is wearing a pair of headphones, but they’re not directly placed on his ears. Doesn’t this defeat the purpose of having headphones? Taking it a step further, his glasses are not supported by anything. Normally, our ears support our eyeglasses, but not in Arthur’s case!
Father’s Portrait
In Disney’s version of The Three Little Pigs, Fifer, Fiddler, and Practical Pig are constantly targeted by the Big Bad Wolf, who wants to eat them for dinner. So, these brothers do everything they can to protect themselves from the villain.
Finally, their plan was a success; however, in the last scene of the short film, while they are partying, the shot reveals a cameo from the pigs’ father. Their dad wasn’t lucky enough to survive the wolf’s attack. The portrait labeled “father” is proof.
Mastering Asian utensils
Using chopsticks is challenging, especially for those who did not grow up in an Asian household. It takes time to become an expert at eating with chopsticks. However, Bubbles, of the Powerpuff girls, seems to be a guru who can work magic with utensils.
While this would be an amazing skill to master if you had hands without fingers, it would be impossible to handle chopsticks this way without the help of a little magic. Nevertheless, we are amazed by Bubbles’ interesting superpowers.
Stuck in a cage?
The Smurfs is an all-time favorite cartoon, and to be honest, it’s nice that they created a remake of this cartoon for the younger generations. However, when you closely examine this cartoon, you start to notice that some things are a bit….off.
The image above shows that they appear to be trapped in a cage, but the spaces between bars are clearly big enough for them to escape. Why don’t they just walk out? If we think about it, does the creator of the Smurfs wants us to see it in a literal sense, or should we dig deeper for some kind of metaphorical meaning? Excuse us while we go dust off our copy of Foucault’s Discipline and Punish.
Underwater physics
Physics is a branch of science that explores the laws of matter and the universe as we know them. It’s the branch of science where Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and others made discoveries that changed the world forever. But, as intelligent as these scientists were, we’re pretty sure cartoon physics would stump them.
Spongebob’s world does not abide by the same laws of physics as our own. For example, one of his friends, Sandy, is a natural land animal, so she uses a special suit whenever she is with her friends. Conversely, when Spongebob visits his friend in her air-filled home, he wears a helmet so that he can breathe. But how can we explain Spongebob blowing bubbles through a helmet? Only cartoon physicists know.
What species are Pluto and Goofy?
Goofy and Pluto are characters from the Mickey Mouse series. Both appear to be dogs, but one is human-like while the other is dog-like. How can this be the case?
This has to be one of the funniest moments in animation. What’s interesting is how the audience just accepts the situation. Both children and adults fail to question this. Of course, it could never happen in real life. Some people say Goofy is a horse, not a dog. However, this still leaves us with questions. Who has ever seen a horse wearing pants and walking a dog?
Ducks eating chicken
Donald Duck acts as the little ducks’ dad while serving a roast chicken for dinner. As a child, you wouldn’t overthink it, as it happens most of the time in a family dinner setting. However, as you grow up, its meaning seems darker.
This Thanksgiving dinner could fill your mind with dark thoughts and questions. Does this mean they are cannibals? If you ever had to explain cannibalism to a child, this could be a good example to get the message across without scaring the kid. However, we recommend avoiding such topics if at all possible!
Language barriers
Tarzan is an underrated Disney movie. It has excellent cinematography, good music, and a decent storyline. However, we must question this logic because he spends the first part of the movie using “animal language,” and when he does start to learn English, he speaks with an American accent.
How can Tarzan learn to speak from a British girl but end up speaking American English? Is this supposed to be how American English started? Well, that kind of talk could spark another war between the Brits and Americans. We don’t want that, but this cartoon's logic definitely left us with some questions.
Powerful earphones
Just like Arthur Read, Mr. Krabs also has magnificent earphones. However, if you look deeply into the photo, Mr. Krabs’ earphones are sitting on the sides of his eyeballs. To be quite honest, this seems more uncomfortable than Arthur’s case! Can you imagine someone doing this in real life?
He seems to be enjoying himself, but what kind of messed up logic is this? From a child’s perspective, there appears to be nothing wrong with it. But as an adult, everything changes. Can Mr. Krabs share where he bought these earphones?
Beach, please
Have you had a chance to watch Tom and Jerry? This is one of many old cartoons that still gives entertainment to children. Those endless fights and chases between a cat and a mouse will always produce a wholesome smile and giggle.
Yet, just like all the other cartoons, perspectives change when you grow up. Adults might want to question the logic of Tom and Jerry. Tom seems to be naked for most of the episodes, especially when he and Jerry are at home, but when they go to the beach, they wear colorful swimsuits. Maybe the creator just wanted to add some flavor to the show. Fashion week, anyone?
Spongebob is fond of washing dishes
Another Spongebob logic alert! As we can see in the picture, the famous sponge uses a cloth to wash dishes. So, adults wonder if Spongebob can use himself to wash the dishes – we think the answer might be no.
Another funny thing that happens under the sea? He’s soaking the glasses, spatula, and other kitchen utensils inside a bowl with water and soap, but since they are already underwater, everything should be soaked!
The smartest boy cannot get hold of his sister
Dexter’s Laboratory follows the plot of an enthusiastic boy-genius with a hidden science laboratory in his room full of inventions, which he keeps secret from his clueless parents, who are only referred to as "Mom" and "Dad." However, there is just one problem – his sister. His extroverted sis, Dee dee, always foils his experiments.
While Dexter has one of the most advanced laboratories in the world, equipped with time machines and laser beams, he is still unable to keep his nosy sister out. Perhaps it’s time for Dexter to admit that she’s more competent than he is since she can always bypass his security.
Prince charming might not be so charming
Cinderella is a typical fairy tale story. An unfortunate woman who is tasked with serving her stepmother and stepsisters just wants to find true love and be genuinely happy. As with all fairy tales, Cinderella finds the love of her life. However, there are some challenges before her “happily ever after” arrives.
Prince Charming fell in love with Cinderella at the ball, but he inexplicably couldn’t remember her face. Strangely, he decided that the best way to find her again would be to put a shoe on every girl in the kingdom. That’s a challenging way to find your princess, isn’t it?
Aquaman and his weird way of saving people
Superheroes are still trending in the 2020s. Though the concept of superheroes is completely fantastical, every superhero story is popular. There are even massive cosplay events created for the fans of these superheroes.
Aquaman seems to be a typical superhero, but he has a strange way of saving people. Yet, here he is, riding those fishes a) like it’s reasonable, b) like it’s necessary, c) like it’s helpful. Imagine if these superheroes were real, with these types of extraordinary abilities. Would there be peace?
Theory of relativity
Albert Einstein reiterated that Time is Relative. This explains the concept of the Special Theory of Relativity - in other words, the rate at which time passes depends on your frame of reference. This can explain why the Simpsons Children don’t grow up.
Maggie, the youngest of the Simpson Family, has been a one-year-old for decades. Maybe time passes faster for the Nahasapeemapetilon family because they’re so busy with the eight kids. Oh well, truly time is relative.
Disney Magic
Old Disney movies are so nostalgic. They have this certain magic; whenever you watch these films, you can also feel the pure love between the princesses and princes. As children, we fall under the spell of Disney’s magic.
One stereotypical example of Disney Magic is the film, Snow White. As children, we might think it’s romantic when the prince kisses the princess, especially when it brings her back to life. However, growing up, you realize this is not the norm at all.
Siblings or a couple?
Creators and cartoonists have the freedom to choose what the characters will look like. Cartoons like Spongebob, Arthur, Pokemon, and more are designed with the creative juices of the creators. However, for some reason, they frequently draw married couples who look suspiciously similar.
Some of them could easily pass as twins because of their uncanny resemblance. For example, look at the Dinkleberg family from The Fairly Odd Parents and even the Houten family from The Simpsons - both could pass as siblings before you would think they’re married couples.
Si, soy Dora
Dora the Explorer is a cartoon series that is well-loved by kids. It follows the adventures of Dora and her best friend, a monkey named Boots. However, while children enjoy the show and parents appreciate its educational value, people might feel confused about some of the details.
Yes, Dora is multilingual. She speaks six languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Dutch, but it seems that she can’t locate things that are right next to her. Some adults also might find that sitting in front of the TV while answering Dora’s questions can be uncomfortable.
Minnie Mouse and her phobia
Minnie Mouse is a famous character created by Disney. She is the long-term sweetheart of Mickey Mouse - with dozens of series together ever since Walt Disney was established. However, some comics or series showed that Minnie is scared of mice - which raises an eyebrow to its viewers and readers.
We can’t see the facial expression of the little mouse on the floor, but we can tell that the mouse was surprised by Minnie’s reaction. Minnie’s response, on the other hand, “Eeek! A mouse,” shows that she is…. afraid of mice. So, is Mickey Mouse also afraid of mice?
Do they have hair?
The Simpsons are known for their dark humor and conspiracy theory episodes, which is part of why the public likes them. Created in 1989, the show still continues to air to this date. With 34 seasons, The Simpsons remains at the top of its game.
In one of the episodes of The Simpsons, Bart had a question about his hair. He didn’t know where his hair started. There was no visible division between his head and his hair. “Where’s the border?” he asked, as his siblings started to panic. The image above made us question if they have hair or not, especially considering that their skeletons mimic the exact shape of each of their hair styles.
Rock, Paper, Scissors!
Rock, paper, scissors is one of the most played games by kids and adults. Pairs usually play this game, but as the years went by, the game developed into a multiplayer game. Because it is well-known worldwide, it’s not surprising that it's present in kid’s shows.
We couldn’t help but laugh out loud in confusion when this scene from the PowerPuff Girls was released. The three superheroes play “rock, paper, scissors” with their fingerless hands and say, “scissors beat paper!” Poor Bubbles somehow lost to Buttercup.
Not a perfect fit, for sure!
Cinderella’s glass slipper was created by the Fairy Godmother. The glass slipper was magically designed so that Cinderella would have something to wear at the royal ball. The idea of the entire outfit was that it was a perfect fit, and it also perfectly matched Cinderella’s aura, the color code of her gown, and her accessories.
Unfortunately, the whole Cinderella persona at the ball would disappear when the clock struck midnight. As Cinderella flees the castle, one of the glass slippers falls from her foot and is left behind on the stairs. This can only mean one of two things: it wasn’t a perfect fit……or maybe she had very sweaty feet.
Not a good example
Some Disney movies meant for children are not actually very child friendly, and we hope parents are aware of this. Older princess films are more focused on the romantic aspect and prince charming idea, rather than the educational content.
One classic example is the Sleeping Beauty movie. Everyone knows kids should be taught not to talk to strangers, but the princesses in the film seem to have skipped this vital lesson. If this movie were created now, it would surely be a trending topic on Twitter.
What’s your skincare routine?
It’s easy to ignore a lot of things when you’re a kid spending time watching cartoons. Most of the time, as a kid, the story and the cinematography are fascinating. Yet, as an adult, you might notice many things that shouldn’t be in a movie or series.
A classic example is Disney's Tarzan. He was raised in the jungle by apes, yet he has no body hair and shows off his always-smooth skin. We need Tarzan to drop that skincare routine and tell us what conditioner he uses because his locks always look amazing!
How much is your electric bill?
We didn’t overthink this as kids, especially since children are usually unaware that everything in life costs money (can we go back in time and warn our little selves not to grow up because it’s full of responsibilities and bills?) Still, as adults, this seems to be a questionable one.
How did Dexter’s parents not know about his secret lab? There was an episode where his mom was shocked by how much the electric bill cost, and she paid the electrician in pennies. So how can Dexter’s equipment be an electricity saver?
The father of gravity sighs
One good thing about growing up in today’s society is that we had cartoons to entertain us. We thank the heavens above because animated cartoons were not a thing back when Isaac Newton was alive. After all, Sir Isaac Newton, the scientist who developed the theory of universal gravitation, would probably not agree to rewrite the laws of physics.
Take Looney Tunes as a classic example of this law of physics. This is an episode starring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. A running gag from the series involved the Coyote falling from a high cliff – but gravity usually didn’t kick in until he looked down. We think Mr. Newton would surely give an enormous thumbs down to this episode.
Tale as old as time…. as long as you are locked up
Walt Disney Company is the famous creator of many fairy tale stories. With their timeless Disney Princesses - Belle, Aurora, Ariel, Cinderella, and others- they are more focused on developing the happy ending. This is understandable since films at that time were for pure entertainment only. But, as time passed, movies and TV shows paved the way for educational material.
Beauty and the Beast is supposedly a story about how looks don’t matter, but maybe we have been looking at the wrong message all these years. Was the “tale as old as time” actually about Belle being locked up in a castle with a stranger?
How is this pokemon holding another pokemon?
Pokemon started as a game but was eventually adapted into a TV series and even a movie. In Pokemon, humans, known as Pokemon Trainers, catch and train Pokemon to battle other Pokémon for sport. Currently, there are 900+ Pokemon species that trainers can catch.
While the game and shows kept the viewers entertained, there were some questions raised by the fans. How is Zubat holding Squirtle? For example, he doesn’t have hands or feet, and it almost looks like Squirtle is superglued to him, which would probably be pretty painful to manage once they reached their destination.
Good disguise, ninjas
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is one of the most popular animated series in television history. It follows Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael, four turtle brothers trained in ninjutsu who fight evil in New York City.
The show’s episodes are entertaining, as they should probably be. But one thing that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles devotees are questioning is that they wear masks over their eyes. The turtles’ goal is to keep people from identifying them – giant mutant turtles who live in the New York sewers. Oh well, maybe they are gaining strength from their mysterious masks?
Dinglehopper
Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a curious one. Of course, she is fascinated by everything related to the human world, but indeed, we never thought how little sense it makes that she’s so dazzled by a Dinglehopper (aka fork) when it looks so much like something she’s seen all her life.
Her father, King Triton, owns a mighty trident, which looks similar to a fork but is much more impressive and enormous. Perhaps finding magic in the little things is an excellent trait, but she seems to go a bit overboard on this one.
How to sneak up on your parents
Sneaking up on anyone while they are sleeping should not be done by children, especially those in kindergarten. However, older cartoons are more focused on entertaining kids.
From the Powerpuff Girls show, Buttercup, Blossom, and Bubbles are sneaking past Professor Utonium’s room while he’s sleeping. You can see they’re tiptoeing, but we know they can float in the air. We would never walk again if we could fly! We never tolerate sneaking, but if we were going to be sneaky in this situation, we’d be floating right on by, feet far from the ground.
Until when?
Anthropomorphism is a literary device that assigns human characteristics to nonhuman entities like animals or inanimate objects. One good example of this is Bugs Bunny. Since he is an anthropomorphic character, it makes sense that he would exhibit behaviors that are limited to people.
But even though we treat him as an anthropomorphic character, we can’t stop thinking of this scene where he shaves his beard. How does he even know where his beard ends and the rest of his fur starts? We can’t stop thinking about that now.
Family is not about having the same species
Mr. Krabs and Pearl Krabs from Spongebob have perhaps the most unusual father-daughter relationship since he’s a crab and the father of a teenage whale. We have to assume that Pearl got her looks from her mother, although her identity and history were never made clear in the series.
We think that maybe Pearl is adopted. If this is true, Mr. Krabs deserves to be a father. Even though he and Pearl aren’t part of the same species, he still gives the love and care that Pear deserves. Aww!
Identification cards should be helpful
It might be funny if our real-world identity documents were like this one from Hey Arnold!, a series about a 4th grader living with his grandparents. It would be difficult to be identified with this kind of information.
In case you can’t read it, the document says, “Name: Arnold. Born: Yes.” Just imagine if people had this kind of ID in real life. We think it would spark a funny (and weird) conversation.
Justice is served!
Courage the Cowardly Dog is about a dog who lives with an elderly couple in a farmhouse in the middle of Nowhere. In each episode, the trio was on a supernatural type of adventure. The series is known for its dark, surreal humor and atmosphere. Le Quack is one of the show's antagonists and is known to be a French con artist.
In the show, he is a duck who always tries to steal large amounts of money. Described as decisive and skilled, this specific episode shows that he got arrested and handcuffed by the cops. This made us think that Le Quack could definitely escape, knowing that the handcuffs are twice the size of his wrists…we mean, wings.
I wanna be where the people are
Times have certainly changed. Today’s princess movies focus on family love, making your dreams come true, independence, and the bond between siblings.
Unlike before, the concept of movies is centered around a character whose purpose is to find the love of their life. A perfect example would be Ariel, who changed everything about herself and left her family and friends to try to be with a man she didn’t even know.
Indescribable feeling…
A Whole New World is an all-time favorite Disney song from Aladdin. It gained so much attention from the masses and led to many different song covers. The duet of Princess Jasmine and Aladdin makes the song even more romantic and out of this world.
In one scene where Aladdin is asking Jasmine to ride the carpet, she replies with the question, “is it safe?” It’s comical because Jasmine already has a tiger as a pet. However, we might understand this one - maybe Jasmine is new to flying, and she grew up with her pet tiger. New experiences are indeed overwhelming!
Good questions by Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz
Phineas and Ferb is a family series that focuses on the brothers Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher, who are between eight and ten years old. The boys create and start new (often unrealistic) projects daily during summer vacation. The subplot contains Phineas and Ferb’s pet platypus, Perry, and his antagonist, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.
In this episode, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz asked a great question we had never thought about before. In case you can’t see it, he wants to know why we only ever see skulls in the desert, but not the whole skeleton. Well, we don’t know the answer either.
If you yell, you’ll get stronger
When you’re a kid and watch Dragon Ball, you are usually involved with the characters’ journey and are amazed at their superpowers. But when watching as an adult, you might realize something weird about them – why do they always yell?
While we don’t understand the logic of how yelling actually makes you stronger, in a way, we realize that maybe it’s the characters’ way of increasing their power - the same way athletes sometimes scream while completing a difficult move.
One chocolate shake, please!
The Fairly OddParents follows the adventures of Timmy Turner, a 10-year-old boy with two fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda, who grant him seemingly unlimited wishes to solve his everyday problems. It’s nice to have fairy godparents who can give you anything at any time of the day, don’t you think?
In reality, Timmy could wish for the end of any illness in the world. We understand that Timmy is just a child, and sometimes, children don’t want to be noble and selfless. But maybe having fairy godparents also has its limits. So we get Timmy on this one; a chocolate shake and unlimited chips would be the priority!