Here Are Some Hilarious Cartoon Jokes That We Didn’t Understand When We Were Kids
When you were a kid watching your favorite cartoon, did your parents ever laugh too loudly at jokes you didn’t think were funny? That’s because you were too young to understand the meaning of this word, but now that you’re an adult, it’s time to rediscover the comedic gems you missed the first time around.
Apply cold water to burned area
Even though he was the fastest man on the planet, he couldn’t avoid Hawkgirl’s savage burn, which he hadn’t seen coming. When we first saw this episode of Justice League, we didn’t understand what she was saying.
Apply Cold Water To Burned Area
Her theory is that his ability to move at such a fast pace explains why he struggles to invest in his romantic life, and his expression in the second panel says it all.
‘I was an accident, too’
Professor Utonium had chosen three ingredients for the perfect little girl – sugar, spice, and everything nice – but by accidentally adding chemical X to the mix, he created the little superheroes we all know and love, as told in each episode of The Powerpuff Girls.
‘I Was An Accident, Too’
In this episode, Bubbles introduces the Professor to her new friend Robin, and things get too real, too fast. When the young girl learns that the professor made the PPG by accident, she says, “Don’t worry, Professor, I was an accident, too.”
A family show
A list of jokes we missed as kids would almost certainly include a few from the hilarious Animaniacs. Many of their references made us go “whoosh!” when we were young and innocent because that show is known for adult humor.
A Family Show
Perhaps we were too preoccupied with the colors to notice that this joke didn’t make sense – they can’t give her the bird because it’s a family show? But we’ve finally figured it out.
50 Shades of Bravo
Farrah Fawcett appeared as a guest star on Johnny Bravo in a 1997 episode, which we were too young to appreciate at the time. She introduces herself as Little Suzy’s cousin and attends the young lady’s birthday bash.
50 Shades Of Bravo
In this episode, which was more 50 Shades of Grey than Charlie’s Angels, she’s playing pin the tail on the donkey with the kids when she suddenly recalls the last time she was blindfolded.
It’s the pause that does it
It’s not always about what you say, but how you say it that counts. In a Halloween episode of “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?” – who, by the way, was voiced by Jenny McCarthy – we meet Velma Dinkley’s cousin, Darcy.
It’s The Pause That Does It
Darcy responds, “Yep, I’m 18,” to Velma’s admission that she didn’t realize it was her birthday today. It’s the pause that does it, and while we didn’t know what that meant, Daphne did: the next shot was a close-up of her looking annoyed.
Dr. Bill’s ‘Bad Parent Test’
This is a fun two-in-one because we were all that clueless when we were kids. To begin with, it’s obvious that this episode of Fairly Odd Parents was a parody of Dr. Phil, but we doubt that the target audience for this cartoon had ever heard of the name “Dr. Phil.”
Dr. Bill’s ‘Bad Parent Test’
In the “Bad Parent Test,” Dr. Bill mentions children who use a lot of toilet paper and tells their parents to leave them alone, which Timmy does. We can see what Timmy was looking for in that toilet paper, and it’s rated G, so that’s good.
TMI, Grandpa
In this episode of Rugrats, Grandpa had the opportunity to rekindle his romance with his long-lost love, Morgana, and we wish we could root for him, but grandpa shared far too much.
TMI, Grandpa
While showing Chuckie and Tommy the VHS tapes of Reptar Come Home and Reptar Redux, he told them about Lovely Space Vixens. He added, “That’s for after you go to bed.” It’s a little much, Grandpa. TMI!
No relation
In the Noah’s Lark episode of Animaniacs, Buster and Babs Bunny, Pinky and the Brain, and even Indiana Jones made cameo appearances (the Indiana Jones films were directed by Steven Spielberg, who also produced Animaniacs).
No Relation
“Let’s hope not,” Noah says, “it’s a children’s show.” However, the “whoosh!” moment here involves the two rabbits, who introduce themselves as “Buster and Babs Bunny” right before boarding the ark.
Remembering Woodstock
Grandpa Phil never graduated from high school because the Great Depression forced him to drop out and work to support his family, according to the main character in this episode of “Hey Arnold!”
Remembering Woodstock
When Grandpa tries to persuade him to return to school, we learn a lot about his past – he admits he wouldn’t have many brain cells left after Woodstock. At the time, we thought this substance abuse joke was a little too advanced, but we now fully appreciate it!
Not anatomically correct
While Beast Boy and Robin examine the Titans-like puppets sent to them by the Puppet King, Robin admires how “they got all the details just right,” while Beast Boy is still skeptical.
Not Anatomically Correct
“Speak for yourself,” he says, making a face inside the puppet’s shorts, leading us to believe the dolls aren’t anatomically correct. “And taller,” he adds, but we all know what he means.
Open to debate
Due to its pop culture references, parodies, surreal humor, and awareness of the fourth wall, Freakazoid was one of those cartoons that drew attention to both children and their parents.
Open To Debate
Because the meaning varies depending on where you are in life, this is an example of a universal joke. Is Cosgrove some sort of jerk who believes that all women are vegetarians? Is he part of the LGBT community? That, however, is debatable.
Aw, Patrick
Spongebob Squarepants is Nickelodeon’s most popular show, with over $13 billion in merchandising revenue – but that’s not surprising. The characters are interesting, and the jokes are appropriate for all ages.
Aw, Patrick
“Patrick, your genius is showing / Where?!” Even as adults, it’s nearly impossible not to laugh at this exchange, even if it isn’t the most sophisticated form of humor we’ve ever seen.
50 bucks extra
Making cartoons that appeal to people of all ages is difficult because the jokes must be equally enjoyable for both children and adults, and here’s an example of something that works brilliantly.
50 Bucks Extra
After Dexter fired Dee Dee, Candi was hired to play a troublesome older sister. A child would hear the conversation above and think it’s just a normal business transaction, but an adult would learn more about Candi’s profession.
This little piggy went to market
Since not all children understand where food comes from, most of us probably didn’t notice this unspoken joke the first time we saw the adventures of Practical, Fiddler, and Fifer.
This Little Piggy Went To Market
Even so, we all know that ham and sausages don’t just appear out of thin air, so when we saw the Three Little Pigs’ father’s photos on the wall as adults, we had mixed feelings – we wanted to laugh out loud while also telling them, “sorry, guys!” ”
Reaching for a high five
This Powerpuff Girls episode’s entire concept is fantastic for adults. Buttercup, Bubbles, and Blossom’s old enemies, the Rowdyruff Boys, are once again a threat in The Boys Are Back in Town, and they must face off in battle.
Reaching For A High Five
While we watch the boys shrink in size until HIM shouts at them for not defeating the girls and they simply disappear, the adults watching this scene can’t help but laugh when Blossom smiles like that – it almost looks like she’s reaching for a high five!
Finger prints
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot Warner are the Warner siblings who always have the funniest lines that make us wonder, “how did they let THAT be part of a cartoon for children?”
Finger Prints
Take, for example, their infamous “fingerprints” joke. Dot is dispatched to look for prints (as in, clues), but instead finds Prince. Yakko tells her“No no no, finger prints.” Then there’s the inappropriate part, which was reportedly improvised by the actress who voiced Dot – “I don’t think so.”
What an interesting name
Since the writers of Rocko’s Modern Life were aiming their show at both kids and adults, it’s full of innuendos that kids missed but made their parents laugh out loud.
What An Interesting Name
Rocko is terrorized by a strange doctor in the episode Flu-In-U-Enza, who insistently tells him to turn his head and cough. The doctor is later revealed to be an escaped mental patient, but we’d like to point out that his name was “Dr. Bendova.”
Not very subtle
After Johnny Bravo finds himself on a remote island surrounded by beautiful Amazons, he thinks he’s found his dream come true, until the powerful warriors reveal their plans for him.
Not Very Subtle
They intended to sacrifice him to their volcano in a specific way, but Johnny didn’t quite fit the bill. We’re sure a lot of parents laughed but were then worried about having to explain why it was so funny to their children.
Not cool, Fred
Whenever it comes to jokes that only adults get, they are usually inappropriate because they are too insinuating, but they can also be stereotype-y. Let’s take a look at this one.
Not Cool, Fred
If we’re lucky, most children didn’t understand or were influenced by Fred’s dated remark that the desert reminds him of a woman because “it goes on and on and on,” and if we’re lucky, most children didn’t understand or were influenced by his dated remark. Fred, you’ve got to be better than that.
Donkey didn’t get it
When Shrek and Donkey arrive at Lord Farquaad’s enormous castle, the ogre asks his four-legged companion, “Do you think maybe he’s compensating for something?” ” in the most “Did you get it? huh, did you?” way possible.
Donkey Didn’t Get It
Donkey, on the other hand, was all of us as children, because we didn’t understand what Shrek was saying. Donkey is most likely still perplexed. Lord Farquaad, what’s up? When you first realized “Farquaad” sounded like a bad word, how old were you?
Shattered dreams
In this scene from the episode Future Lost, the creators of Fairly Odd Parents were not afraid to put grownups in an awkward position by making them laugh much harder than the children.
Shattered Dreams
Timmy picks up a small object and asks his father about it. He responds, “That? That’s my Tiny Box of Dreams,” Timmy then drops it, causing it to break beyond repair. He apologizes, but his father tells him that his dreams were shattered years ago and that he shouldn’t be concerned. Then he gets too real.
That ground shake
Except for one line delivered by the Genie, who, let’s face it, is also the best part from the original movie – thank you, Robin Williams, and RIP – Aladdin and the King of Thieves didn’t get nearly as much attention as the original Aladdin.
That Ground Shake
When the ground begins to tremble, Genie says casually, “I thought the Earth wasn’t supposed to move until the honeymoon.” Even though children would not understand, he was clearly referring to the marital act.
Consider yourself lucky
Perhaps you were too young to appreciate The Rugrats Movie when it first came out in 1998, but did you know that the song “This World is Something New to Me” has been covered by a number of well-known singers?
Consider Yourself Lucky
Patti Smith, Beck, Iggy Pop, Lenny Kravitz, Lisa Loeb, and Jakob Dylan are among the people who voice the unnamed newborn babies in this scene, but we couldn’t figure out who said the hilarious line above.
Good at multiplying
Zootopia is a great example of an animated film that appeals to both children and adults, thanks to its comedic timing and clever jokes that appeal to people of all ages.
Good At Multiplying
“I am just a dumb bunny, but we are good at multiplying,” Judy boasts as she counts the fine she’s about to give Nick in this scene. Adults will recall that Judy has 275 brothers and sisters, so they are indeed very good at multiplying.
A little privacy, please
When Jane is telling Professor Porter about her first encounter with Tarzan in Tarzan, she becomes engrossed in her drawing of him, describing his eyes, which she believes are exceptional, and you can almost see her blushing.
A Little Privacy, Please
Professor Porter, Jane’s father, teases her by asking if he should give them (as in, Jane and the blackboard) some privacy, and the moment is amusing but also kinda weird.
Caught in the act
Monica enters the hotel room to surprise Chandler, which reminds us of the Friends episode. He was watching adult programming when he abruptly changed the channel to a nature show, leading her to believe he “gets his jollies to Jaws.”
Caught In The Act
Children wouldn’t understand, but SpongeBob was basically pulling a Chandler when he was watching TV and looked pleased, but changed the channel when Gary walked in. Gary, hopefully, was as confused as the rest of the audience.
Too familiar with vegetables
Ratatouille is a charming animated film about a rat who aspires to be a chef, with the inspiring message that we can achieve anything we set our minds to. The writers, on the other hand, managed to counteract the sweetness with some amusing lines that appealed to an older audience…
Too Familiar With Vegetables
…This one included, in which Chef Skinner yells at Linguini, “one can get too familiar with vegetables,” and we wonder if he’s ever seen such a scene in the pantry, and that’s why he was so harsh with Linguini.
A Cubist joke
This has to be one of the most underappreciated moments in Toy Story, so we’re just going to share it here because more people need to know about it. Look!
A Cubist Joke
We see you, sir, and we love this quip about Pablo Picasso and the general appearance of his Cubist paintings, even if the younger half of the Toy Story audience didn’t have the vocabulary to appreciate what Mr. Potato Head did here.
Bruce’s DNA
When Terry McGinnis found out the truth about his birth and biological father in Justice League Unlimited, it was a dramatic moment, but there was also some comedic relief to the scene.
Bruce’s DNA
Terry makes a face when Amanda Waller says that “Bruce’s DNA was easy enough to obtain” because there were samples all over the city, but she assures him that she didn’t mean that. Granted, we’d all think the same as adults, but she was referring to Batman’s blood from all the fights he’d gotten into.
The usual things
Cogsworth, the loyal servant and friend from Beauty and the Beast, was all about helping his master in any way he could, including giving him some much-needed advice on how to treat a lady.
The Usual Things
Cogsworth got a little too real when he listed things that men usually give a woman, such as chocolates, flowers, and “promises you don’t intend to keep,” and he wasn’t lying.
Counting heads
Here’s an example from The Flintstones, an animated sitcom that first aired in 1960, for anyone who thinks that only the new generation of cartoons has inappropriate jokes.
Counting Heads
When Barney and Fred go costume shopping, the former specifies that he wants something that makes him appear tall. “How about another head?” asks the latter, to which we are told, “Another one? What do I need three of them for? ” You do the math.
Sugar Honey Iced Tea
Every once in a while, we’ll come across a joke in an animated film that neither the kids nor those grown ups will understand. One of those instances is this one.
Sugar Honey Iced Tea
If we’re really honest, we had no idea what Marty’s expression meant in this scene where he’s running towards Alex, then realizes he should be running the opposite direction, so he turns around and exclaims, “Sugar Honey Iced Tea!” ” Take a closer look at those initials! That’s exactly what he meant.
Playduck
These jokes from our childhood cartoons were sometimes so subtle that they didn’t require any dialogue; all you had to do was look at the screen and pay attention to the characters’ movements.
Playduck
Daffy Duck opens an issue of Playduck, a magazine that is obviously a spoof of a certain real publication that shows something other than ducks, in this Tiny Toons Adventures episode. Bugs Bunny gives him a stern look and takes the book from his grasp, only to read it himself.
Call IX-I-I
We wish more people would give Hercules a chance because it is such an underrated Disney film. The plot is well-told, the songs are catchy, and the characters are engaging. Except for the fact that they portrayed Zeus as a loving family man, it’s nearly flawless. Children, on the other hand, would not be aware of this.
Call IX-I-I
What else would they be unaware of? The significance of this amusing scene, in which these two urge people to dial IX-I-I – or 911 if you know Roman numerals.
Bless you, newlyweds
Emperor’s New Groove has so many memorable scenes that it is truly an animated film for people of all ages to enjoy. This is a favorite moment, though it is most likely reserved for adults.
Bless You, Newlyweds
Even when Pacha says they’re on their honeymoon, the waitress probably doesn’t care, but she says something that any newlywed couple would say: “Bless you for coming out in public.” The moment isn’t particularly amusing for the kids, but the adults understand what she’s saying.
A hidden message (lol)
Many of the jokes on this list can be thought of as “hidden messages,” but this one isn’t one of them, is it? However, this scene from Dexter’s Laboratory’s Nuclear Confusion episode is not what it seems.
A Hidden Message (lol)
When Dexter goes to the Neighbor Lady’s house to look for the third clue, he notices that Dee Dee has left him a message on the lady’s pants. Adults, on the other hand, can’t stop themselves from laughing at it.
Tonight on KNIGHTS
We don’t take the Shrek movies for granted because they are a gift to all of humanity. From us to you, here’s a hilarious scene from the second installment of the green saga.
Tonight On KNIGHTS
KNIGHTS, a spoof of the real-life show COPS, is a television show from Far Far Away. Those knights do the same things as the cops in COPS, but with a Shrek twist: they “pepper spray” Shrek with a pepper shaker and find catnip on Puss, despite his protests.
A different type of baked potato
Even adults might not have picked up on this one because it was so subtle. Mike and Sully are running through a frat house in Monster’s University, and there’s an interesting-looking character in the background.
A Different Type Of Baked Potato
A potato-like monster sits alone on a chair, looking extra “chill,” if you know what we mean. Someone in a frat house who appears to be extra chill? What’s up with your droopy eyelids? That’s right, he’s a baked potato.
South of the Equator
This is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene in Ratatouille, so if you haven’t seen it yet, we recommend watching the video online because it makes the scene even funnier.
South Of The Equator
Linguini has trouble getting his words out when he tries to confess to Colette that Remy, a rat, has been controlling him all this time and is the true source of all the delicious food he’s been cooking. When he says he has “this tiny, little…”, he gets stuck, and Colette takes a quick look at… his area south of the Equator.
Did Pixar go too far?
Pixar films are known for being packed with cool details that entice viewers to watch them again and again. Every time you watch it, you notice something new: a character from another film, a pop culture reference, or a clever but difficult-to-understand joke.
Did Pixar Go Too Far?
You might not get this joke the first time you watch Toy Story; you might not even get it the second time. That Barbie leg toy with the fishing rod? She hooks things, right? So that makes her a (fill in the blank).
Not a berry
Even though this isn’t the most sophisticated of jokes, we’re pretty sure a lot of kids didn’t get it the first time the Hut Sut Raw episode of Rocko’s Modern Life aired.
Not A Berry
Rocko is picking berries when he grabs one that is dangling a little too low – but as soon as he pulls on it, a bear leaps out of the bush, whimpering and clutching his crotch. It wasn’t a berry, that’s for sure. That scene was eventually cut by Nickelodeon.
The box of tissues
This is a scene from The Amazing World of Gumball that gets funnier every time you watch it, so if you haven’t seen it yet, go to your search engine right now and look it up.
The Box Of Tissues
Gumball enters Banana Joe’s room at the most inconvenient time possible – Banana Joe’s expression, as well as the box of tissues he keeps next to his computer, say it all. Gumball had no option but to shut the door and leave.
Note to self
We shouldn’t be surprised that some of the jokes in Ed, Edd, and Eddy weren’t exactly appropriate for children, given that the show was about three boys trying to survive adolescence.
Note To Self
Another one of those blink-and-you-miss-it moments, which is probably for the best – imagine a kid who had time to read all of those notes and then asked their parents about them. “Walk don’t run”and “lock door” are all fine, but “Don’t touch yourself”?
The birds and the bees
Roger’s magenta cat, Stinky, is brought to light to be a female in the first episode of Doug Funnie’s third season, and she gives birth to a litter of three kittens.
The Birds And The Bees
Everyone was taken aback by this, but it appears Roger was unaware of more than the cat’s gender. As the preceding exchange implies, the character is about to learn about birds and bees (and the kittens).
Male bonding
There’s a joke about one of the characters’ orientations in the eighth episode of Rugrats’ third season, but it’s so subtle that kids missed it because they didn’t have the repertoire, and adults would miss it today because they’d be scrolling on their phones instead of looking at the TV screen.
Male Bonding
When they’re looking for a replacement babysitter in The Last Babysitter, the DeVilles are out because, according to Sty, Betty is in Vegas for the weekend and Howard is camping with his “male bonding” group, and his hand gesture says it all.
Part time job
Cow and Chicken is a cartoon that is frequently described with adjectives like “grotesque,” “surreal,” and “eccentric,” so there were bound to be some jokes we didn’t get when we were young.
Part Time Job
They pushed it a lot, like in the Part-Time Job episode when Cow wants to sell her milk to buy herself some toys. “Dr. Junk, professor of milk,” she said, adding that she’d be honored to “squirt” for him.
He’s doing what?!
We can easily picture this being an embarrassing moment for parents watching Rugrats with their children since they would bust out laughing as their children looked at them, confused.
He’s Doing What?!
Chuckie has been obsessed with his Boppo, an inflatable clown doll, and has stopped hanging out with his friends. His pals are worried about him because, as Phil put it, a youngster his age should be outside playing with his friends, not sitting alone in his room bopping his Boppo.
Specialty phone operator
Nothing says “adult reality” like what occurs in Rocko’s Modern Life’s Canned episode: Rocko loses his job at the Super Lot-O-Comics and has to find a new one in order to pay his expenses.
Specialty Phone Operator
The bit about Rocko working as a “specialty phone operator” that we didn’t catch was the part with the humor (wink wink). It’s very evident to us today what kind of phone job would necessitate the operator to say “baby, oh baby,” but what about when we were kids?
A joke for the decoder club
We have to think that writing for children’s cartoons is a dream profession for them, because they appear to like what they do. They get to be inventive, make hilarious jokes, and test the boundaries of what they can get away with.
A Joke For The Decoder Club
The writers even managed to sneak in a swear word in this ingenious scenario with an anagram for “IDKSC” in the Decode of Honor episode of Dexter’s Laboratory. Perhaps the smaller kids didn’t comprehend what Dee Dee was trying to say, but we knew.
Don’t drop them! (wink)
One may argue that we’re reading too much into this moment, but SpongeBob’s wink tells us otherwise: the writers understood precisely what they were doing, and the prison shower joke was intentional.
Don’t Drop Them! (wink)
SpongeBob is trying to persuade Gary to take a bath, so he claims they’re pirates who find a “chest” containing two “doubloons,” which are actually two bars of soap. He warns Gary not to drop them, which may simply be because they’re precious, but the wink is enough.
Where the sun doesn’t shine
Is it worth watching Animaniacs again? We believe we would enjoy the program even more now than we did as children. Every episode seems to contain an adult joke, and we can now appreciate the writers’ wit.
Where The Sun Doesn’t Shine
In the Slappy Goes Walnuts episode, the announcer goes into great detail about the squirrel’s actions. We learn that the “frisky little fellow” lives in the hollow of an ancient tree and hides his nuts “where the sun doesn’t shine on them.”
Those weren’t smoothies
We didn’t just miss adult-themed gags in these kids’ cartoons; we also missed adult-themed serious topics. How long did it take you to figure out that Helga’s mother wasn’t drinking smoothies in “Hey Arnold!”?
Those Weren’t Smoothies
She was usually tired and slurred her words after drinking a smoothie. In season three, we see her driving recklessly, and her driver’s license is eventually revoked. In one episode, Helga is also looked after by a nanny while Miriam is doing community service…
Size does matter
Indeed, Ice Age’s creators went all out, incorporating a size joke into a family-friendly animated film. To be honest, when one of your main characters is a massive mammoth, the opportunity for that kind of humor is obvious.
Size Does Matter
A tapir is furious with Manny the mammoth for causing traffic jams in this scenario, and Manny turns to him angrily and says, “If my trunk was that small, I wouldn’t draw attention to myself.”
That’s real smooth, Doug
An 11-year-old shy and insecure boy named Doug is not exactly a master of words, and he can be very awkward when he is around Patti Mayonnaise, his classmate and crush.
That’s Real Smooth, Doug
In the “Doug Gets Busted” episode, our hero says this while attempting to demonstrate his project for the school’s science fair –“the reason the lava keeps shooting up into the air is because… I love you.” Doug, you played it perfectly.
Definitely not for kids
We can only hope that the film’s stunning visuals distract children from paying attention to every word, because “that Oedipus thing” in Hercules would be an awkward joke to explain to a child.
Definitely Not For Kids
Of course, Oedipus is the Greek hero who, unaware of his true parentage, unwittingly fulfills a tragic prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother. That’s right, this isn’t your typical “Disney movie” fare.