Cartoons That Haunted Our Childhoods
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
As a kid, nothing was better than that first day of Summer. Waking up on what used to be a school day, plopping on the couch, and watching cartoons with a bowl of cereal. Now that warmer days are finally upon us, we've curated a list of horror cartoons to get you in the Summerween spirit!
Gravity Falls
It wouldn't be a true horror cartoon list without Alex Hirsch's Gravity Falls. The goofy and ghoulish animated series broke out of the "children's show" box early on, capturing the hearts of people of all ages. If you haven't ripped the bandaid off yet, picture David Lynch's Twin Peaks, merge it with José Rivera and Karl Schaefer's Eerie, Indiana, and turn it into a quirky cartoon!
Batman Beyond
Though not explicitly Horror, Batman Beyond takes everything you knew about the infamous billionaire vigilante and turns it on its head. Colorful, futuristic, brutal, and extremely stylized. We're no longer rooting for the men in power. We're on the side of club kid and anti-capitalist, Terry McGinnis. The darker themes and styles made this selection a no brainer for the list. And who can forget about that theme song?!
Scary Godmother
Nothing beat Cartoon Network when it came to spooky specials. Creator Jill Thompson gave us Hannah Marie to see ourselves in. Walking us through our own fears with tenderness, kindness, and excitement.
Invader Zim
You didn't think we would forget Jhonen Vasquez's cult classic of the 2000s, did you? Invader Zim was not just a quirky cartoon; it became an entire cultural phenomenon. We're talking myspace profiles, THE Gir hoodie (you know exactly what I'm talking about), and references made in media to this day!
Toonsylvania
Do you remember DreamWorks' first animated series, executive produced by Steven Spielberg? Yes, you read that right. You may remember the show from the Fox Kids channel back in the 90s (or you remember the commercial before Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein on VHS). It was unfortunately cancelled after only 2 seasons due to low ratings, but it's remembered by fans as a total fever dream.
Courage the Cowardly Dog
Speaking of fever dreams. Courage the Cowardly Dog has remained popular since the 1996 pilot. Having been nominated for an Academy Award, the show was greenlit for its very own series that would last until 2002. Courage remains so special because of its unique delivery of surrealism, dark humor, and exceptional animation.
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
Maxwell Atoms' dark comedy has aged like fine wine. Though it has its nostalgic appeal, many fans look back on the 2000s cartoon as an underrated masterpiece. Campy, funny, and full of little nods to pop culture. Similar to Gravity Falls, you can choose to hunt for clues and hidden meanings throughout the show or put it on as a comfy watch.
Scooby Doo
I think we'd be crazy not to include any Scooby Doo. Mystery Inc. has been around since the 1960's. From shows and films to the live action features, Scooby Doo in any format is an absolute must for ringing in Summerween!
Tales From the Cryptkeeper
Based on the comic (turned live action TV show), Tales from the Crypt, the cartoon stripped away the gore and profanity for a kid friendly horror experience. Each episode, we're taught a lesson through the terrifying lens by the Cryptkeeper. Though Tales from the Cryptkeeper is a mild version of its live-action sister, we're still given creative and well planned out scares.
Aaahh!!!! Real Monsters
You may remember this horror comedy from Nickelodeon's renaissance of the 90's. Appearing alongside hits like Rugrats, Doug, and The Ren & Stimpy Show. Following a group on monsters through New York City. Aaahh!!!! Real Monsters is remembered to this day for their off putting creature design, cozy atmosphere, and toenail currency.
Beetlejuice
Developed by the legendary Tim Burton, the animated adaptation of Beetlejuice took us on a ride through the mortal world with Lydia and Beetlejuice. Just like the live action film, Beetlejuice: the Animated Series relied on physical comedy and gags as its comedy structure. The quirkiness of the show made it an instant classic in the early 90s.
Casper
Our friendly ghost has been around since 1945! He's featured in Harvey Comics, short films, TV shows, and live action movies. Casper has transcended his media and become a household name for over 80 years.
The Addams Family (1992)
Our last pick belongs to the creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky. That's right! We're talking about the infamous Addams Family cartoon. The macabre family dates back to the 1930's. Chances are, you've seen cross overs or references with every title of this list.
