Cartoon Outrageous Secrets That Will Shock You

Cartoons are the stuff that childhoods are composed of, says the narrator.

All people must grow up, though, and reality teaches us that not everything is as it seems—even in cartoons!

Thus, we'll be revealing a few obscure facts today, from the mind-blowingly obvious practical secrets of animation to the strange explanation for the Simpsons' yellow color.

We'll also look at the adult gags you may have missed in SpongeBob, along with a few dark hypotheses and interpretations that, be warned, might permanently damage your favorite childhood cartoons.

Please bear with me as I divulge some of the most bizarre and sinister cartoon secrets that you won't believe to be real!

Daddy Problems.

"The Simpsons" has undoubtedly earned its spot in pop culture's hall of fame since its 1989 premiere.

"The Simpsons" is a never-ending source of entertainment, combining funny satire with relatable family life events and even occasional future predictions.

It goes without saying that throughout its lengthy history, a few odd mysteries have surfaced, with some astounding hypotheses seeking to explain them.

Take the matter of Ralph Wiggum's true father, for example.

I know you're saying, "But Chief Wiggum is Ralph's father," but you might be mistaken.

Really, when you consider it, there is hardly any similarity between the two.

Although Ralph's mother Sarah's eyes and nose are comparable to hers, he doesn't seem to have inherited Chief Clancy's ruggedly attractive good looks.

So the question is, which Springfielder is Ralph's father if Wiggum isn't?

Fans have, however, been keeping an eye out for one gentleman-caller for some time now: Chief Wiggum's colleague Eddie!

And that makes sense—so naturally, he and Sarah would know each other.

In addition, Eddie and Ralph's hairstyles are remarkably same.

Of course, this is all just speculation, though.

Yes, up until lately, that is.

But the show creators really addressed the claims in "Lisa the Boy Scout," a season 34 episode.

- Eddie is Ralph's father, I know that!

Take a close look at that hair!

No, Clancy, it's not true, I promise!

- My son's breath has a cat food odor.

Alright, I understand.

That's all, then! - [Narrator]

Ralph's father is, in reality, Eddie.

Sarah looks like she needs to explain herself!

But hold on, it turns out that the clip we just saw comes from an episode that isn't officially regarded as canon, so it was just a self-aware joke, according to The Simpsons Wiki.

Thus, the riddle appears to remain unsolved as of right now.

Thankfully, though, for a little piece of mind, there's no doubting that my dad is my dad—we're exactly alike!

Secrets of the Trade.

Cartoons aren't meant to be realistic by definition.

How many opulent pianos have you recently been crushed by, really?

I said too much too quickly.

But aside from sky-falling pianos, there's something really unnatural about the fingers in old cartoons.

Just observe that most of your favorite cartoon characters have four numbers.

Surely this has to have a purpose, doesn't it?

Well, when animation was still relatively new in the early 20th century, it was an extremely expensive procedure.

Disney's 1928 seven-minute short "Steamboat Willie" actually cost more than $87,000 when adjusted for inflation!

While Pixar films today can cost up to $100,000 per minute of animation, Disney has many more resources at its disposal than it did in the days of "Steamboat Willie" and the films are far more sophisticated.

Disney animators had to be frugal back then.

They discovered that by drawing with one fewer finger, they could save a tonne of time and a tonne of money.

Part of what makes old cartoons look like cartoons is their cost-effectiveness.

The cost and effort of realism was simply too great, thus characters were simplified visually.

Similar short cuts have even been made by animators more recently; one example is Ursula the octopus, which has only six tentacles rather than eight.

Interestingly, animators have also determined that five fingers just don't look right, as cartoon fingers must be big enough to be seen individually.

Walt Disney also admitted that he didn't want to see Mickey Mouse's hands resemble bunches of bananas if he had five fingers.

But what's up with those gloves, and what about Mickey's hands?

What is he concealing?

Tattoos on the hands that are hidden?

Magical ice powers hidden?

Green, rotting, swollen claws from a mysterious rodent disease?

No, no, and no.

There are a few official explanations for why iconic cartoon characters like Mickey wear white gloves, even though it's possible that his fingers look really strange inside those gloves.

Drawing gloves was quicker and easier than the four fingers scenario, which eventually resulted in lower costs.

You see, I don't have hands because they pose a number of time-consuming issues, such joints and nails.

Conversely, gloves provided animators with a simple and uncomplicated means of expressing hand gestures without having to worry about minute details.

It was related to color as well.

Due to the lack of widespread use of color TV until the 1960s, cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse were initially created in black and white.

Due to the fact that Mickey is primarily black, it made logical for him to have white hands that contrast with his black torso. This is really visible in "Steamboat Willie" when Mickey was without gloves.

Furthermore, Walt disclosed in his 1957 biography that the purpose of the gloves was to give Mickey, the rodent, a more human appearance.

Apparently, the red pants were insufficient!

With four fingers removed, is there anything that these three well-known cartoon characters have in common?

Yes, as I'll explain, everything they have around their necks is purposefully done.

The iconic cartoon character "Tom and Jerry" was first conceived in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.

After establishing Hanna-Barbera Studios in 1957, the two started producing hit after hit song.

A few of the titles were "The Jetsons," "Scooby-Doo," "Yogi Bear," and "The Flintstones."

The unexpected addition of neckpieces allowed Hanna-Barbera to streamline operations when it was pushing the envelope to the limit.

Hanna-Barbera found that they could get away with animating only the head and utilizing the same static drawing for the body while characters were standing still if they placed something around the neck to separate the head from the body.

Just observe how Betty and Wilma's heads are the only objects moving, separated by their necklaces, while their bodies remain motionless.

Not bad for an intelligent guy, huh?

These iconic cartoonists were unquestionably true masters of the expression "why work harder when you can work smarter"

Vibrant Characters.

The distinctive look of the "The Simpsons" family contributes to their iconic status.

But do you really know why their heads are fashioned like that and their skin is yellow?

The Tracey Ullman Show's producer James L. Brooks suggested in 1985 that Matt Groening adapt his comic book strip "Life in Hell" into brief animations.

Matt made the decision to create some new characters instead, fearing that doing so may mean he had to give up ownership of his existing ones.

According to the anecdote, he started sketching after being left waiting for a meeting for more than an hour one day.

He says he built "The Simpsons" family during that time, which was mostly based on his own.

Homer and Margaret were the names of Matt's biological parents.

In addition, he had an elder sister named Patty and two younger sisters, Lisa and Maggie.

It can also be argued that Matt is actually Bart.

Not only does Matt seem to match the naughty role, but he also created a novel in high school with Bart Simpson as the primary character.

Naturally, Groening's family didn't resemble the Simpsons all that much.

If they did, to be honest, I would be very worried.

But why, even in comparison to other Springfieldians, do The Simpsons have such peculiar looks, hairstyles, and head shapes?

It sets them apart from other Springfield residents in addition to making them memorable to us, the viewer.

Since they are the main characters, they have the most unique designs, which are hard to find in any other characters.

The true riddle, though, is why are they yellow?

How come their skin tone isn't normal?

Why not red or blue, or some other random color?

Not only is it a striking hue that lends the show a memorable, unique appearance, but Bart, Lisa, and Maggie lack a defining line separating their skin from hair.

The designers decided to go with yellow since they thought it could pass for both skin and hair.

Rather similar to me.

Despite my appearance, I have a ton of hair—it's just white!

♪ Where are you from, Scooby-Dooby-Doo? ♪ - [Narrator] Since debuting on television in 1969, "Scooby-Doo" has well-earned its legendary reputation.

Many TV shows, films, and spin-offs have been produced during this time, all contributing to the extensive canon of Scooby knowledge.

With the exception of the most recent "Velma" show, which we won't discuss, they've all been pretty damn entertaining.

But did you know that the biggest narrative shock of the entire series may have been revealed in the 2010 spin-off "Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated"?

The true nature of Scoob as an Annunaki is made clear in the series.

You ask, what is that?

According to the show, the Annunaki are a race of extraterrestrial beings, some of whom are benign and others of whom are pure evil who wish to wipe out humanity.

The barrier between the Annunaki's world and ours weakens during a cosmic event known as Nibiru, which happens every few thousand years and allows the Annunaki to visit Earth.

It's interesting to note that since the Annunaki lack a physical form of their own, they take on the bodies of different animals when they come to Earth, explaining why mythical and ancient intelligent beings exist.

And none other than Scooby-Doo is one of these animals!

Indeed, according to the lore of the 2010 television series, Scooby-Doo is an actual extraterrestrial.

Arrrggh!

Therefore, even though it's probably fair to presume that our old friend Scoob is a decent Annunaki, we can't be certain he's not also an evil Annunaki who's been hatching a plan to destroy the planet!

Well, he could have got away with it too if those intrusive show writers hadn't given him a totally made-up origin narrative!

Closet Siblings.

Easter eggs abound in contemporary Disney films in the form of subtle hints and allusions to previously released and planned features.

Usually hiding in the background, these are virtually invisible to the untrained eye!

Some of these Easter eggs lead devoted fans to speculate that particular films had to take place in the same time period.

I sense a tune starting to play to get things started.

♪ Let go, please let go! ♪-[Narrator] Many thanks, many thanks.

In any case, "Frozen" is the focal point of this idea, in case you missed it.

Numerous hidden details are there in this 2013 box office hit, including Rapunzel from "Tangled" making a guest appearance—naturally, without haircut.

However, one secret is noticeably darker and a little harder to discover.

The parents of Elsa and Anna are shown in the movie traveling on a ship, where they eventually perish.

Though it's implied that Elsa and Anna's parents perished at sea, this may not be the case!

One popular myth holds that they actually washed up on a tropical island.

They would begin a new life there and have a little child.

Unfortunately, a leopard would finally devour them, leaving their helpless infant orphaned.

However, in a bizarre turn of events, the infant would grow up among apes!

Wait, wait, wait, fast-forward—isn't that just Tarzan's storyline?

implying that Tarzan is truly the brother of Anna and Elsa?

Yes, indeed!

Even though there isn't much to no in-movie evidence of this, don't jump to the conclusion that Redditors with too much free time are just making up some theory or schmeory.

Chris Buck shared it, in fact—he co-directed both of the films!

The two scenarios don't quite line up, as Disney fans—that is, people without lives—have dutifully pointed out.

especially with reference to the settings, era, and character designs.

Chris clarified up front that none of the films' official canon applies to this argument; it is simply his own opinion.

Even still, it's entertaining to consider a potential connection between "Tarzan" and "Frozen"!

Imagine, if you will, that your parents indeed survived the shipwreck and hey Elsa and Anna, excellent news.

Oh, but before you get too enthusiastic, a leopard ate them savagely.

However, there is good news: you have a brother!

The bad news is that he was reared by apes and hurls his own human crap at the diners at dinner.

Alright, let's go!

The Code of Pixar.

Keeping with the movie-related Easter egg theme, A113 is arguably one of the best and most sought-after ones available.

This mysterious code is hidden deep in CGI in practically every Pixar picture if you look closely enough.

But what does it really mean?

We have to go back to Pixar's beginnings to find the solution.

The likes of Brad Bird, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and John Lasseter fostered the Pixar spirit.

All of these people are former students at the esteemed California Institute of Arts.

Furthermore, they train in the same classroom (A113) as a large number of upcoming Pixar animators.

Yes, it was a small, dark room, but it was also the location where Pixar would practically start.

The amusing custom of hiding A113 in Disney movies is said to have been started by Brad Bird with "The Brave Little Toaster" from 1987.

This custom persisted as Pixar grew, making an appearance in the first film produced by the company, "Toy Story".

Thus, A113 is a tribute to the studio's modest beginnings rather than some sort of secret subliminal code!

Thus, look for it in the next entertaining Disney or Pixar film that you enjoy.

The Nemo Reality.

Alright, so everyone has watched "Finding Nemo" from Pixar.

However, did you realize that "Finding Nemo" would be significantly less kid-friendly if it were based more genuinely on the actual rules of nature?

I'll paint you a picture, but be warned—things are going to get really scary.

Coral and her nest of unhatched eggs were devoured by a barracuda as Marlin and his spouse were gazing at the deep blue.

Wait, there was still one.

Nemo is the name of Marlin's ray of hope.

The only thing left for Marlin to do was to become a woman when Nemo was born.

And when Nemo matured into a fish of his own, his mother Marlin made the unimaginable suggestion that it was time for the two clownfish to start a family of their own.

Hold on, hold on, cut, cut!

Yes, that may have been the worst story I've ever had to tell.

Nevertheless, this is essentially how things would have happened in the wild.

Clown fish, you see, are sequential hermaphrodites, which means that although they are all naturally male at birth, they can change to become female when necessary to fit into their social structure.

The previous breeding male partner will switch sexes to replace the group's breeding female in the event of her death, much like with Coral in Finding Nemo, and mate with its own male progeny.

Whoa, it makes sense why Marlin was in such a rush to locate Nemo.

Has anyone have the number for Child Protective Services?

Secrets of Sponge Bob.

Under the sea, who lives in a pineapple?

I apologize for it.

Anyway, "SpongeBob SquarePants" has been a cultural icon since it first appeared on our televisions in 1999.

However, it appears that the show may be more than just the antics of one foolish little sponge.

Did you realize, for instance, that the program genuinely serves as a large metaphor for environmental issues?

At least, such is one theory's interpretation.

Let me clarify. Online theorists claim that each character personifies a distinct facet of global warming and more general societal challenges.

SpongeBob is a symbol of sea pollution because he looks more like a kitchen sponge manufactured by humans than a sponge that occurs naturally in the sea.

In the meantime, Patrick, SpongeBob's pal who is exceedingly foolish.

Is mayonnaise used as a tool?

He is meant to symbolize society's ignorance of pollution and climate change, according to the narrator.

He does, after all, figuratively and literally dwell under a rock.

The greedy Mr. Krabs, on the other hand, is a representation of the large companies, which are the primary producers of pollution.

Hi, I enjoy having money.

-And lastly, Squidward, who is arguably the most relatable SpongeBob character.

Oh please, please, I am soulless.

This misunderstood cultural demon is supposed to stand for liberalism because of his enlightenment and artistic inclinations, which are frequently disregarded, if not mocked, forcing him to work for a company he despises.

Squidward, keep going; it's all part of the job.

There are other clues in the show that might genuinely support this, even though this socio-political and ecological commentary is all theoretical and not included in the canon of the program.

Just look at the homes in Bikini Bottom, for instance.

Really, what are they exactly?

Some people do say that they resemble automobile mufflers.

Possibly indicating that Bikini Bottom's inhabitants are forced to dwell in human waste due to the area's extreme pollution!

Do you believe any of this to be true?

I'm sure that everyone is wondering why SpongeBob lives in a pineapple.

The late Steven Hillenburg, the creator of the program, clarified that although the show's plot frequently appears haphazard, it is actually quite well-planned.

For example, a lot of the visual iconography draws inspiration from Polynesian and Hawaiian culture, and interestingly, pineapples frequently appear as reoccurring motifs in the art and fabrics of these nations.

In addition, though, Steven described how he believed SpongeBob would just enjoy the scent of a pineapple!

Yes, I get that, but in the same way, I'd prefer to live inside of a pot of Wendy's chili.

Now that we've arrived to Squidward's modest dwelling, we can observe how he resides in what appears to be one of the well-known Easter Island head statues.

It's still unclear how one of those wound up underwater, but it's intriguing to note that Squidward's house most likely has a hidden underground body!

The Easter Island statues, although being called only heads, have buried torsos! This means that our friend Squidward most likely has a really rough basement!

Of all the properties in Bikini Bottom, the Krusty Krab is not just peculiar, but also unsettling.

The Krusty Krab may be the town's favorite fast-food restaurant, but it has a sinister side.

This is the Krusty Krab's foundation, and it's what you're currently viewing.

Are you aware of what it is, too?

Yes, it is a crab trap. However, why would Mr. Krabs, who is a crab, choose to live in a crab trap?

That's when the situation becomes complicated.

Plankton and fans have been itching to discover the Krabby Patty's Secret Formula for more than 20 years.

And the recipe says the burger is created from, quote, "Imitation crab meat" after it was purportedly posted on Nick.com and then taken down.

The usual ingredient in imitation crab meat is ground whitefish, which has some unsettling implications in and of itself. However, because the Krusty Krab is actually a crab trap, I'm not sure that this is imitation crab meat and not the real deal.

Is Mr. Krabs a cannibal then?

Although the show's producers have more recently asserted that Krabby Patties are genuinely plant-based, there isn't enough data to make that determination.

However, I doubt that I would be shocked if this money-loving crab labelled some grossly false ingredients; would you?

Disney Retrospective.

Disney has a history of recycling the odd concept or two.

I mean, one of them is to be raised from the grave by deeds of pure love.

Unfortunately, I tried the classic Disney trick with my hamster numerous times, but it didn't work at all.

The thing to remember is that Disney has recycled not just storylines but even actual animation!

Not convinced by me?

Look it over.

That's really amazing, huh?

Even when the proof is obvious, why is the question still unanswered?

It's said that when Disney films like "Robin Hood" were released in the 1970s, the studio was in dire straits and turning to vintage animation as a low-cost means of survival.

This isn't entirely accurate, though, as creating and organizing additional movement sequences would have taken more time.

"Robin Hood" and "Winnie the Pooh" director Floyd Norman, a Disney animator, claims that Wolfgang Reitherman wanted to be safe and used animation he knew worked.

You see, the company effectively lost its guiding light when Walt passed away in 1966, and it showed when Disney's animation feature earnings started to drop.

By adhering to the classic charm, Wolfgang may have been attempting to recreate some of the Walt Disney magic.

For this reason, some movies from this era are straight-up clones of the studio's previous animated features.

It resembles some of the pointlessly nostalgic sequels that we see nowadays, but at least these Disney films were feigning originality!

Not Suitable for Children!

My mother loves to tell me that I should quit watching cartoons for kids and stop being a deadbeat!

Nevertheless, it so happens that a lot of cartoons for kids aren't really kid-friendly!

Mr SquarePants, our old friend, is the main suspect.

His nautical foolishness has frequently led to some very adult jokes throughout the series that, granted, we entirely missed when we were kids, but are still really spot-on now!

Just glance at this from the "Your Shoe's Untied" season 2 episode, if you will.

Gary, I was simply trying to find the sports channel!

Oh my God!

Of course, all that's visible is a dancing anemone, but given SpongeBob's extreme fear, we can presume that he was viewing something akin to a one-handed exercise video—that is, if you get what I mean.

Now for something similarly inappropriate for PG-7 audiences: enjoy this scene from "The Play's The Thing" season 7. Let's just clarify that those weren't balloons in case you didn't get the humor.

Whoa, Squidward looks great in latex! Who would have thought?

I'm not sure how the sponge's prophylactics managed to get past the censor, but I guess they just so happen to look like balloons.

Granted, Donald Duck has also been up to no good—it's not only SpongeBob!

And here's a trigger warning: you might never see him the same way.

It appears that Donald has just set up a tent there (entertaining music).

Fortunately, the unsettling scene from the 1947 short film "Wide Open Spaces" turns out to be a boulder that is piercing Donald's sleeping mat and beyond.

Even if the Disney animators have just damaged our childhoods, it's safe to presume that they had a good chuckle!

However, it wasn't just Donald's unsightly protrusions that created a comical scene in a Disney animated feature.

See these sausages in the background of the 1933 short film "Three Little Pigs"

Yes, the three small pigs are dancing while a picture of their father, who has been immortalized as a sausage, appears in the backdrop.

Yes, I have a picture of my late grandmother that looks just like that. May she rest in marshmallow bliss, Grandma.

Daddy Doodlebugz.

Now, you might not be as familiar with this next one if you're older than a millennial.

The plot of the 2007 Disney Channel animated series "Phineas and Ferb" revolved around two stepbrothers who would go on crazy constructions and adventures in each episode.

Although it's not a major narrative point, the fact that Phineas' biological father is never revealed to us during the series has left fans wondering who the mystery man could be.

The shape of Phineas's skull is clearly triangular; in fact, if you compare the silhouettes of Phineas and Ferb, you'll see that they both allude to their letters, P and F.

Although Phineas has a unique triangular head, Dr. Doofenshmirtz is another character with a similar head shape.

You know, the antagonist of the program who will do everything it takes to control the tri-state region?

Naturally, the first similarity may not be very noticeable, but observe how they both have triangular skulls and tiny hair growing out of the top.

The theory has even been expanded by fans to include Phineas's sister Candace.

She has a long neck and a slouch, and she and Doofenshmirtz are both lactose intolerant.

However, an estimated 68% of the population is likewise.

So, I assume the father of Phineas and Candace is still a long-necked triangular mystery for the time being.

Blue, Green, and Red.

We learn in the opening credits of "The Powerpuff Girls" that these superhuman girls were developed in a lab using sugar, spice, and other delightful things, along with the crucial Chemical X, which gave them their superpowers.

But there was apparently another inspiration behind the scenes, and it was from a Disney classic!

The three Powerpuff Girls, who are distinguished by their unique signature hues of green, blue, and red, each have unique personalities.

Which other well-known trio also uses these similar colors?

No, not "Sleeping Beauty" fairies Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Yes, the personalities of the Powerpuff Girls—the fierce, lively, and sweet ones—and those of the fairies also coincide.

Maybe you could even speculate that the fairies from "Sleeping Beauty" are actually the Powerpuff Girls as adults, having entered the medieval era via some sort of absurd MCU-esque time portal?

Stranger things happened on that show—I mean, for crying out loud, their primary enemy was a talking monkey!

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