The 'Very Special Episode' TV Trope (Part 1) | 10 Animated TV Shows Explored

Подписаться 2,1 тыс.

Просмотров 68 тыс.

50% 1

In this video, we dive into the powerful trope of the "Very Special Episode" in animated series. While cartoons are often remembered for their humor, fun, and light-hearted adventures, there are times when they took a deep dive into serious real-world issues. From grappling with the loss of loved ones to dealing with bullying, mental health, and substance use, these animated episodes left a lasting impact on viewers.
In Part 1 of our exploration, we’ll focus on animated shows that tackled these heavy topics. We’ll take a look at episodes from beloved series such as:
- Gargoyles - "Deadly Force" where a tragic accident with a firearm sends shockwaves through the clan.
- Hey Arnold! - "Helga on the Couch," as Helga finally opens up about her troubled family life.
- The Chipmunks - "Cookie Chomper III," which deals with the heartbreak of losing a pet.
- Rugrats - "Mother’s Day," where Chuckie comes to terms with the loss of his mom.
- Teen Titans - "Haunted," as Robin battles psychological trauma and unresolved guilt.
- Static Shock - "Jimmy," highlighting the devastating effects of school violence and Richie’s injury.
- The Proud Family - "Who You Callin’ a Sissy?" as Michael faces bullying for being different.
- As Told by Ginger - "And She Was Gone," exploring poetry, depression, and the disappearance of a classmate.
- Bobby’s World - "The Music," where Bobby confronts the death of his beloved crossing guard, Abe.
- Captain Planet and the Planeteers - "Mind Pollution," addressing the dangers of addiction through a powerful metaphor about substance use.
These episodes, though sometimes difficult to watch, were pivotal in teaching young viewers important lessons about life, loss, and the importance of empathy. Though animated, these shows didn’t shy away from addressing tough topics that resonated with both kids and adults.
*Trigger Warning:* This video contains discussions about serious topics such as self-harm, substance abuse, bullying, death, and trauma. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the appropriate resources for help.
As always, if you enjoy nostalgic deep dives like this, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell to stay updated on all our future videos. Let us know in the comments which “Very Special Episode” hit you the hardest and if we missed any of your favorites!
#Cartoons #VerySpecialEpisode #Animation #Nostalgia #StaticShock #TeenTitans #Rugrats #HeyArnold #Gargoyles #AsToldByGinger #TheProudFamily #BobbysWorld #CaptainPlanet #Childhood #SeriousCartoons #LetsRunItBack #NostalgicTV

Опубликовано:

27 сен 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 551

@angbandsbane 7 дней назад

For the Rugrats one, that one line has stuck with me for years. "What if he misses her?" "Then you can miss her together."

@MegaSpideyman 6 дней назад

Was it about Chuckie's mother?

@angbandsbane 6 дней назад

@@MegaSpideyman Yep. If memory serves, Chaz had taken all the pictures down and didn't talk about her because he didn't want to make Chuckie sad. (Though thinking back as an adult, I guess it broke his heart too)

@MegaSpideyman 6 дней назад

@@angbandsbane Ah, I see. Who said 'Then you'll miss her together"?

@angbandsbane 6 дней назад

@@MegaSpideyman Deedee

@cassandraspoelhof3752 6 дней назад

And then this was expanded upon even further in the movie “Rugrats Go To Paris”. That movie was so sweet. I definitely remember watching that movie a lot growing up. The scene with the wedding at the beginning when all the kids dance with their moms aside from Chuckie is so sad especially the way he hugs Chaz’s leg sadly.

@tmntfangirl4700 7 дней назад

There’s also an episode of Teen Titans called Troq where it deals prejudice/racism. The Teen Titans team up with an alien hero named Val-Yor and he shows immense prejudice towards Starfire because she’s a Tamaranean. Despite the prejudice against her Starfire still helps him and in the end the team see just how two faced he is. The moment between Starfire and Cyborg was powerful because he understands how she feels and the ending shows just how strong Starfire really is.

@LetsRunItBack 7 дней назад

Luckily, I have it on my list and that episode will be featured in a future video.

@willienelson1245 4 дня назад

"Of course I do. I'm part robot."

@DarciousMaluki День назад

one of my faves. just how hurt she is with "YOU DO NOT CALL ME THAT!" and they all thought it was a nickname he'd given her but it literally meant "nothing"

@tmntfangirl4700 День назад

@@DarciousMaluki Well it was easy to misunderstand when she first said ‘it means nothing’, because that normally means ‘it’s nothing, don’t worry about it’ not what Starfire later explains that he was calling her a nothing.

@sizablekoala6879 5 дней назад

Unlike multiple serious episodes in other shows like gun or drug PSAs where they are one-offs, a major thing about "Deadly Force" is that it had a long-lasting impact on the show. It takes multiple episodes for Elisa to recover, and Broadway becomes very protective of her. Making the message about the misuse of guns hit harder.

@TheAlby87Project 5 дней назад

Also Broadway go to furious mode when a gun is near him (you know, his eye pupils disappear when raging). Too bad Disney+ now censors some scenes of this episode (truth to be told, the message is intact, but the full body of Eliza and her blood on the ground now is just a closeup of her face)

@kidprime6863 5 дней назад

@@TheAlby87ProjectAnd now whenever he gets his claws a gun, he'll crush it without any hesitation.

@Justlookin48 4 дня назад

I also loved the detail in a later episode that Elisa locked up her sidearm as soon as she got home, before I believe even answering the phone.

@themisfitowl2595 2 дня назад

@@TheAlby87Project That image is seared into my brain still! I remember being a kid and hearing Broadway apologizing after the gun went off, saying he hoped he hadn't broken anything. That silence, and the sound of him calling her name just built up the horror of that discovery.

@outdoorscholar6016 18 часов назад

I miss when cartoons did proper gun safety bits, but I don’t think that episode could be made today without people whining about it being “anti-gun”.

@jordansantos7226 11 дней назад

I remember watching "Cookie Chopper III" as a kid and it's hitting different as an adult with a pet getting older

@baffledbrandon3132 10 дней назад

Hits even harder if you have actually been through the death of a beloved pet.

@Emiliodelgado25 10 дней назад

So did I a year ago

@bradyanderson6311 9 дней назад

Jordan, it's "chomper".

@princessmarlena1359 9 дней назад

I knew someone who went through something similar upon rescuing a stray kitten. He tried to care for the kitten, but the poor little guy passed away from feline leukemia.

@Milky-kz8rr 6 дней назад

Never saw the show but I was well aware of Cookie Chomper III. It hits different after losing a pet the same way.

@dreamer9398 9 дней назад

Man, I missed these type of cartoon I feel like a lot cartoons nowadays aren’t allowed to explore serious topics. Even when they try, most of it feel watered down

@gekirobo8720 8 дней назад

I blame twitter and the rise of purity culture for this.

@AlwaysADekaranger 7 дней назад

And even the parents too

@guillermoolivaiii9550 7 дней назад

Are you serious?? Steven Universe has covered 'Toxic Relationship Abuse", "Bullying", and "Distrust". Also, it covered "Neglect/abandon" as a major element in its film and some parts in the series.

@Archimedes-v2o 6 дней назад

@@guillermoolivaiii9550yea a lot of people gloss over SU for some reason

@fusionsigh 5 дней назад

That’s just one she though, we need more then just one or two shows that do that,

@_AshB45_ 7 дней назад

Hey Arnold also had an episode regarding Helga's parents' favoritism towards her sister and how it affected their relationship. And there was also that Christmas episode that centered around Mr Kim and his lost daughter.

@LetsRunItBack 7 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestions, I put it on the list for future videos!

@kidprime6863 5 дней назад

I also remember that Olga eventually revealed her vulnerabilities to Helga and wishes she could be free just like her.

@Veelasiren 6 дней назад

It goes over most kids heads, but it's obvious to adults that in Hey Arnold!, Helga's neglectful mother is a severe alcoholic. To a kid she appears to be just a weird parent, but her confused state, slurred speech, and constantly talking about, making, and drinking her "milkshakes" is so dark for a kid's show.

@soullessprincess6473 3 дня назад

Helga was honestly the victim her family was so toxic and broken it wasn’t her fault she had it bad from the start

@canaisyoung3601 2 дня назад

It was smoothies, and they wrote it off in such a way that Helga's mom could also be suffering from depression because she's married to Big Bob and missed out on being the woman she wanted to be in life.

@Veelasiren 2 дня назад

@@canaisyoung3601 Yes, I mixed up milkshakes and smoothies. Craig Michael Bartlett wrote, directed, created, and produced the Nickelodeon television series Hey Arnold!, and he confirmed in the interview Nick Alive that Mirim is "definitely an alcoholic" That's why Bob mentions her having to do community service, and when Arnold sees Mirim drop Helga off at school asks when she got her license back. Helga tells him she doesn't, but she's got to go to work cause she's helping out at Bob's Beepers.

@mayln163 День назад

As a kid I always thought she was lazy

@Tekirai День назад

My mom legit said: ohh she’s (Miriam) your father

@leibgarde6144 11 дней назад

I also remember a "serious" episode in BraveStarr called the "The Price". In this the viewer followed Bravestarr who tried to stop a drug dealer ring while a boy comes in contact with the drug and gets addicted. The episodes end on a grim note especially for this kind of a show. Bravestarr can arrest all drug dealers and stop the business but finds the boy dead do to a overdose.

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

Thanks for sharing, I just added the episode to my list for a future Part of the series.

@leibgarde6144 11 дней назад

@@LetsRunItBack Happy I could help.

@JStryker47 11 дней назад

@@leibgarde6144 *due to an overdose, not do.

@hannahmabbott7370 10 дней назад

There is a segment at the end of the episode where Bravestarr does a psa about how drugs are bad. The series was made by filmation so yeah it had to have a life lesson. What's haunting about this is that he does the PSA from beside the boy's grave! There is also a scene in the episode where we see the effects of the drug called spin on miners and its horrifying!

@BryonYoungblood 10 дней назад

@@hannahmabbott7370It's also done so well because how it is meant to show real dangers with drugs and how sad it is for Bravestarr as well as 30 and the others too.

@CBright7831 8 дней назад

The moment I spotted Alvin & the Chipmunks in the thumbnail, I knew which episode was going to get a mention. That episode is etched in my memory from childhood, and now, in my late 30s, I still refuse to rewatch it. My beloved cat, my best friend, succumbed to kidney failure last year and I still don't want another pet after enduring that loss. It's a truly heartbreaking experience, so cherish the time and memories that you have with your pets while they are still around. 😥🌈😿

@LetsRunItBack 8 дней назад

I've lost several pets over the years also. It is heartbreaking each time since they become part of the family.

@beauwalker9820 6 дней назад

I actually liked episodes like that as a kid, where it shows your favorite characters sad, and dealing with sad issues. Really humanizes them, and shows they are capable of other emotions.

@monster0sinful561 5 дней назад

I had a few pets in the past some of them I gave it away and some died but the one pet that I used to own that deeply affects me was my dog. I had him ever since elementary school years all the way until 2021 (the year he passed away due to health problems). This November mark his 3rd anniversary of his passing, it still hurts and I break down when I think about him occasionally. I currently have four cats and I love them all equally and I know for a fact that it will affect me much greater since all four of them love me. I don't want to think the day when one or all of them die, I'm spending my time with them before that happens.

@ringinasmith5940 6 дней назад

The Penguins of Madagascar had a serious episode, The Red Squirrel. Basically the penguins meet their idol, Buck Rockgut, who's hailed as the great American penguin hero who took down The Red Squirrel back in the sixties. Now he believes Red is back and believes literally anyone can be a Red Squirrel spy, even if he has no real proof he locks almost the entire zoo up just based on his own gut instinct. Finally Private's had enough and brings up how ridiculous Buck is immediately assuming anyone is a spy simply because he thinks the Red Squirrel is still plotting against him. I didn't catch it at first, but this episode is about just how ridiculous the Red Scare from the sixties was and how you should never let your paranoia get the best of you

@LetsRunItBack 5 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestion, have it in my notes for a future video!

@AR-xd3dp 10 дней назад

You forgot for the gargoyles episode the reason why Broadway was messing around with the gun,he had seen a western earlier and was acting out some of the scenes. Plus Elisa also admitted fault in the matter by saying"I should've been more careful on where I left it"

@Ironman875 8 дней назад

There were 2 more episodes of Captain Planet, "Teers in the Hood," tackled the issue of gang violence, and "A Formula for Hate" which discusses the issues of AIDS.

@LetsRunItBack 8 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestions! I added "Teens in the Hood" to the list for future videos since already have the other episode on it , but I forgot about that 1.

@neptune04 3 дня назад

Honestly speaking as someone who grew up it he 80s and 90s props for Captain planet for having the courage to do an episode on Aids. Many children's shows wouldn't do episodes about it back then.

@hayleyyeager8008 9 дней назад

I remember an episode of Teen Titans with Starfire faces Val-Yor, a racist superhero who call her kind troqs which means “nothing”. I love the fact that Starfire tells this to Cyborg first because he knows what it’s like to be judged how one looks because he probably experienced it long before he became a cyborg.

@LetsRunItBack 9 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestion, I have it on the list for future videos in this series.

@Catilena1890 8 дней назад

It's one of my favorite episodes because it has an actually realistic depiction of racism. Val-yor stayed racist throughout the entire episode even when Starfire saved him, and he doubled down when he got called out on it. There was no "Oh you saved my life I like Tamaranians now. I was wrong sorry fam." and that was super refreshing.

@hayleyyeager8008 8 дней назад

@@Catilena1890 Yeah because she knows that there are those who won’t change their views and those who don’t judge by how one looks. That’s what it is in today’s society too.

@tamaraclaw 7 дней назад

The episode is titled "Troq"

@caiawren6100 6 дней назад

Yup, as I recall dude went “guess you’re one of the good ones” or something. So glad the group collectively told him to him to gtfo after that.

@fettmanplays4170 7 дней назад

Another great one is "The Thank You Note" from Life With Louie. The episode basically is about Louie procrastinating writing a thank you note for his grandma after she sends him a gift, to where she passes away before Louie can write it, so he starts asking around about the afterlife to religious leaders as a form of closure.

@LetsRunItBack 7 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestion, I put it on the list for a future video!

@canaisyoung3601 2 дня назад

Man, there are a lot of "Life With Louie" episodes I've never seen. I only remember the one where Louie and the family save up money to buy Andy (the dad) a new car, the one where the neighborhood is flooding and a black family stays over, the one where Louie deals with a bread/gluten allergy, and one where Andy and the mom stay over an elderly relative's house and the mom gets sick.

@libramoon1582 11 дней назад

For live-action shows tackling serious topics here's an memorable episode: In "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", Will's deadbeat father visits, only to walk out on him again. In a powerful moment, Will goes on a emotional rant about his father never being in his life and breaks down with his uncle comforting him

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

Already on the list for it, thanks for the suggestion however. If you ever think of more you're always welcome to share. 😎

@elijahbrown3551 11 дней назад

@@LetsRunItBack Sesame Street had an episode about death when Mr. Hooper’s real life actor died. That’s so Raven had an episode about Racism.

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll add them to my list for future episodes (Most likely Part 4 since already working on Part 2, and Part 3 will be cartoons again)

@maxacorn 10 дней назад

"how come he don't want me, man?" a child should never have to ask that of their parents, no matter how old either of them are.

@Thundarr100 10 дней назад

Don't forget about the episode where Carlton accidentally takes an overdose of speed that he found in Will's locker because he thought that they were vitamins. Or the episode where Will was shot when he and Carlton get mugged.

@djlamar2 7 дней назад

Sometimes modern series do this too. Example: My little pony friendship is magic had an episode called "Perfect pear" where its not technically indicated that it was touching on loss till the end but it still did. And then in "Crusaders of the lost mark" it dealt with bullying

@LetsRunItBack 7 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestions, I have put them on the list for future videos!

@sonicfanboi9619 11 дней назад

That Alvin and the Chipmunks episode hits different to me now because of the amount of pets that I have loss over the years

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

I'm sorry for your loss with them. I understand since I have lost several myself over the years also.

@sonicfanboi9619 11 дней назад

@@LetsRunItBack I'm sorry for your loss

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

Thank you.

@TheOriginalScribbleStudios 6 дней назад

Not a tv show but the goodbye scene of all dogs go to heaven for the unfortunate fate of the young actress

@LetsRunItBack 6 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestions, I put them in my notes for future videos! Probably won't be in this particular series but I do have a idea for a certain video to put it in I plan to make.

@keithtorgersen9664 4 дня назад

@TheOriginalScribbleStudios, yeah it was rumored the Burt Reynolds had such a hard time recording that last line because it was after Judith had been killed, and allegedly when Charlie said “I’m so very sorry” it wasn’t in the script. So heart breaking.

@TheOriginalScribbleStudios 4 дня назад

@@keithtorgersen9664 pretty sure it was confirmed

@neptune04 3 дня назад

Honestly after reading what happened to the poor girl I can't even watch that movie or i'll be a wreck.

@keithtorgersen9664 2 дня назад

@@neptune04 I didn't remember or re-discover that fact until recently. Now it changes that whole scene.

@newelljoseph5060 9 дней назад

90s Proud Family: Family oriented show that tackles social issues in a positive way that uplifts everyone 2020s Proud Family: Racist Echo-Chamber that demonizes all but a select few in a toxic way

@SuperSpieth 8 дней назад

True! 👍

@Gundam4 8 дней назад

Sums it up

@comettamer 8 дней назад

Sad but true

@Thollis1987 8 дней назад

True. I couldn't continue watching it.

@DanialTarki 8 дней назад

LOL @ The Saints Row Deckers Gang Symbol.

@comettamer 8 дней назад

Rugrats took what Alvin and the Chipmunks helped build to a whole other level. I also appreciate how Rugrats later did the concept of step parents and a blended family well, with Kira and Kimi entering the picture. As for Gargoyles, it was cool to see Broadway realizing he had the power to affect at least some change, and using it to atone for his actions as he felt was right.

@SwordsmanScrapper 11 дней назад

I remember all of these episodes! Although the episode about racism in Static Shock stood out to me way more. The one about Richie's dad? I felt like it had a good message but it was really depressing because back then I was naive and thought 'kids were excluded from racism nowadays!'

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

It will be in a future part. Most people recognize that episode more, which is why I chose the "Jimmy" episode for this video instead.

@Red-Wolf-Ben 10 дней назад

I love Gargoyles, but I really think the Captain Planet episode hit the hardest, seeing how it had a kid actually die ON SCREEN, in plain sight. Pretty heavy stuff! Has that even happened in any other kids/all-ages cartoon? (Not counting adult animation like Rick and Morty, specifically kids/all-ages.)

@BryonYoungblood 10 дней назад

And it's so sad due to how hurt Linka was seeing Boris OD like he did as well as how Kath Soucie reflected that. 😢

@nicklundy9965 10 дней назад

BraveStarr "The Price" is also another one

@Red-Wolf-Ben 10 дней назад

@@BryonYoungblood Yeah, if I remember correctly, he was her cousin. And they seemed pretty close too... those poor kids. 😪

@Red-Wolf-Ben 10 дней назад

@@nicklundy9965 I don't really know that show, so I'll have to look into it. Thanks!

@BryonYoungblood 10 дней назад

@@Red-Wolf-Ben That's right, Boris was Linka's cousin and she was super close to him.

@supersizesenpai 4 дня назад

I remember starting to feel something during that Alvin and The Chipmunks episode till my cousin said "Why would pets have pets?" I couldn't stop laughing and now that is all I think about whenever this episode comes up. 🤣🤣🤣

@robertcarrillo9365 10 дней назад

The Fat Albert episode on gang violence was also deep, especially for a Filmation cartoon.

@firelightyear 2 дня назад

Do you think that another Filmation cartoon like He-Man also dealt with serious real life issues ?

@Ranitagoyle 6 дней назад

Static Shock had many great episodes that taught lessons. Two really stood for me. S1E8 "Sons of the Fathers" really showed how racism can be explicit and implicit (Richie's Father did both in the episode, if I remember correctly) and S2E5 "Frozen Out" dealt with homelessness (how they are treated) and mental illness. Great vid! I will check out part 2!

@LetsRunItBack 6 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestions, I put them in my notes for future videos!

@PixarShark 11 дней назад

Great video!! ❤ Not gonna lie, I was shocked to find out that Richard Horvitz voiced Jimmy in that Static Shock episode. He did SO WELL at sounding so unhinged yet scared and I’ve always known him best as comical characters like Zim and Billy.

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

Thank you, I'm happy you enjoyed it.

@fynnthefox9078 10 дней назад

I always think Moxxie when Jimmy is onscreen lol

@haw-chaw-chawcalypse 6 дней назад

I’d say at least a tenth of the Hey Arnold! episodes deserve a place on the list. The Pigeon Man struck me as particularly melancholy, as it was a show of humanity for the homeless-everyone has a story: a great message for kids-, and a further example of Arnold’s good character.

@jinakaye 6 дней назад

I remember most of these, but the Captain Planet episode hit hard because Linka was also taking drugs and saw the effects first hand by experiencing the loss of her cousin. The blend of both peer pressure & addiction running in the family hits different as an adult from when I watched that episode as a kid. I recently watched the “Jem” drug episode and it still holds up today. People forget the character who got addicted was experiencing the trauma of losing her family. I wish they had talked about that more than the dealer pretending to be a friend (even though that's how they were able to get him arrested). I don't remember this particular “Static Shock” episode (as my local station could have blocked it), nor do I remember the episode with Jimmy's dad people keep mentioning. I might need to see the series again!

@WyntheRogue 5 дней назад

Static shock also tackled the issue of teen homelessness with the vagrant bang baby girl with ice abilities and how the homeless are treated as a whole.

@octobagel 12 дней назад

THIS ONLY HAS 212 VIEWS ?? god this deserves so many more

@godemperorofmankind3578 12 дней назад

I surprised such a quality video has so few views

@AnthonyDAurizio-qj5ui 11 дней назад

Give it time, and I can guarantee a lot of viewers will beef up the views that it deserves

@Vek_Zythe 3 дня назад

I watched most of these shows at one point. I was about 7 when the Bobby's World episode first aired. I never forgot how upset I was. Not only at the fact that Abe died but watching Bobby's grieving process. The song at the end also hit me hard, too. I guess a show about a kid with an overactive imagination meant more to me than I thought.

@JohnSmith-zw8vp 11 дней назад

I can't bear to watch that Cookie Chopper III episode, it's just too sad :,(

@donatellohamato748 8 дней назад

Me too, specially after losing a pet

@amandalicorne7769 4 дня назад

I'd like to note that the characters remembered that episode of Gargoyles too! From then on Broadway absolutely hated guns and Elisa chanfed the way she stored her gun. Instead of leaving it with her belt when she hung it up like she did prior to that episode she took it out and put it in a locked gun box

@KMoneyisGV08 6 дней назад

...If you should do a follow-up with even MORE toons, I do agree about Bravestarr's "The Price" or He-Man's "A Friend in Need" being included. However, "Captain Planet..." also had ANOTHER very special episode dealing with a young boy being shunned for struggling with HIV/AIDS which could be a worthy contender for another list of very special toons. Thank you for sharing these by the way. The "Rugrats" and "Proud Family" episodes hit HARD!

@LetsRunItBack 6 дней назад

Thanks for watching and for the suggestions, I put them on the list for future videos!

@christmashake8968 11 дней назад

Episodes like this are very, VERY easy for cartoon and/or kid's shows to do wrong, since it often requires a significant amount of maturity and humility to write and depict them even in adult shows, let alone shows geared towards kids. If told in too dumbed-down, too trauma-exploiting, or too condescending of a way to kids, it can be an INSUFFERABLE experience. But if it's told with respect towards the growth and intelligence of all possible viewers, ESPECIALLY kids...there are few more beautiful or moving experiences in television.

@marcellaacone7085 11 дней назад

Some of these shows are unknown to me; at first, I thought it was a video only about substances abuse. Then, I discovered there was more. I remember some episodes that hit very hard. One was in "Jem and the Holograms" series, and was about privacy: a girl in Jem's band had got a personal diary in which she put all her thoughts, not all of them all flowers and glitters. But some other girl opened and read it. And I also know that there was also an episode about drug abuse and addictions. About this video, I did not know there was a cartoon series called "Hey, Arnold"; it reminds me of the TV series "Different Strokes", in Italy known as "Il mio amico Arnold - My friend Arnold". Are those series related? And there was a special episode in "Different Strokes" too. At the very beginning of the episisode, Mr Drummond, Kimberley, Willis and Arnold reccommended the viewer to watch the episode together with their parents or some adults they trust; I did not call any of my relatives, even if I was at my Gran's. And the episode started with this young guy, a boy a bit too old to be a friend for Arnold and he came to the Drummond's house with a VHS. It was a cartoon, but a kind of cartoon that a kid should never watch; the older guy was amazed and laughed, while poor Arnold was uneasy and he just wanted all finished. The viewer saw the scene from behind Arnold's house's TV, so we did not see anything, but Arnold described, in horror, what he saw. Then Mr Drummon knew everything and kicked the bad guy (and his cassette...) away. When I told my parents that people from the show told me to call some adults, they asked me why; I could not answer. But I got this: certain kind of shows are not made for kids and it's not inclusive to put them in that situation. I was with Arnold when he blushed ten times and tried to run away from the couch, uneasy and on panic.

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

Hey Arnold and Different Strokes aren't related. You should try to watch Hey Arnold someday since it is a very good show and mature at time. Different Strokes will be in the next video since it is always the 1st show I think about when this trope comes to mind. 😎

@marcellaacone7085 11 дней назад

@@LetsRunItBack - Thank you for the answer. And, well, I don't know if we've got "Hey Arnold" here in Italy. Maybe I can watch it but it has got a different name. Must look for it. 🙂 I will wait for the next video about those special episodes, because when I watched them I was totally unprepared on almost all topic they were talking about. I was a bit out of the world at that age. Not much different in present day, but it's another story.

@Irishstile 10 дней назад

What about the episode of Captain Planet, where the local town folks, find out that a young man has AIDS?

@LetsRunItBack 10 дней назад

It's on the list for a future video in this series 😎

@bajanyaoikaizer6902 10 дней назад

I swear when I was younger, that scum gave the virus to the kid and caused that whole mess. In fact, every episode woth scum was super deep

@sarephynemelendy4386 5 дней назад

I remember watching deadly forces with my brother when we were younger, when Broadway pulled out the gun my brother and i both felt that anxiety. We were taught how to be safe with guns and firmly told they were not toys. For us, if something's clearly not a toy we didn't have business being around it without an adult.

@dcapitan7 4 дня назад

"My Enemy, My Friend" from the original She-Ra animated series was pretty dark. Hordak, the series' antagonist, was if I remember correctly, poisoned through a spell and condemned to die. The only way that the spell would be broken is if someone would actually shed tears for him. While he was painfully suffering _no one_ neither his allies nor enemies would shed a tear for him. In fact, this was celebrated. The "good guys" were just as cold as the evil characters. She-Ra found this sad and shed tears for Hordak, saving him.

@LetsRunItBack 4 дня назад

Thanks for the suggestion, I have it in my notes for a future video!

@djinsanity3575 6 дней назад

These episodes need to be seen by all. Not just to learn but to help grow. Its something modern cartoons are missing. Thank you for reminding us all why these episodes are so powerful and needed in life

@jamesmoss3424 11 дней назад

I feel bad about Jimmy in that Static Shock episode.

@JStryker47 11 дней назад

@@jamesmoss3424 Even worse is the fact that real life bullies aren’t being given their due, nay… way overdue, punishments.

@jamesmoss3424 11 дней назад

@@JStryker47 I agree with you on that.

@Scavenger24-zr9kl 4 дня назад

Yeah. It was all Nick's fault that Richie got shot by Jimmy. He and his idiot friends were the ones who fucked it up!

@jamesmoss3424 4 дня назад

@@Scavenger24-zr9kl that's right.

@RADFILMS-z6h 11 дней назад

If you do a part 2, you should talk about "It's never too late" from Batman: the animated series

@RADFILMS-z6h 11 дней назад

You should also do "April 9th" from Arthur

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

They will be considered for Part 3, since Part 2 will be live-action shows. I added your suggestions to my list for Part 3 😎

@RADFILMS-z6h 9 дней назад

Thank you!

@RADFILMS-z6h 9 дней назад

Also, If you're doing live action, you should totally cover the "When Families Grieve" special from sesame street

@MSGSlayer1 7 дней назад

I can't remember the title at the top of my head, but another honorable mention from Batman deals with child exploitation, when the Dark Knight hunts down a sewer rat who hoards children to do his bidding.

@Rosewolf29 7 дней назад

I remeber watching the static shock gun episode. It pointed out if you notice people getting bullied or if someone mentions they know where they can get a gun, you need to speak up. There was another drug episode, in Bravestarr, where the coyote characters were selling a drug called spin to kids and one died. The other kid didn’t want to take it and didn’t say anything until it was too late.

@LetsRunItBack 7 дней назад

The BraveStarr episode will be in the next video I make. I'm interested in watching it for the 1st time since many of you suggested it

@Rosewolf29 7 дней назад

@@LetsRunItBack its a really good episode with a sad but important message at the end.

@Sly88Frye 8 дней назад

This was a really great video and I'm glad it showed up in my recommendations. Honestly you can make an entire list of such episodes from just the show Hey Arnold alone. There's a lot of episodes with these emotions and messages. Great video!

@LetsRunItBack 8 дней назад

Thank you, I'm happy you enjoyed the video, and hopefully my future videos like this will also entertain you.

@americancreepshow 5 дней назад

Theres also the Ozzy and Drix episode about smoking where Nicotine is personified as a villain called Nick-O-Teen who slowly possesses Hector's mind and makes it difficult for Hector's brain to say no when offered a cigarette by peers which also shows peer pressure and hector hiding the fact that he smoked from his mom, ultimately when it seemed like Ozzy and Drix couldn't do anything to stop it and Nick was going to keep him hooked, Hector just says no out of nowhere and it really shows the power of saying no and that even something very addictive like Nicotine can be overcomed

@LetsRunItBack 4 дня назад

Thanks for the suggestion, I have it in my notes for a future video!

@itsrectimemedia 8 дней назад

Phil LaMarr said they wanted to keep Static Shock grounded, instead of referring those episodes as Special ones.

@jacobdrolet4262 9 дней назад

Amazing video of special episodes of cartoon shows that tackle serious issues,fantastic job.

@LetsRunItBack 9 дней назад

Thank you, I'm happy you enjoyed it.

@johnwheelan3703 7 дней назад

These were all great episodes. My favourite episode was one of brave stars. It was called the price. In it it showed the effects of substance abuse. A child was taking a drug cold spin. I thought that they would get to the child before he died but I was wrong. The child was dead and his friend, who promised to say nothing was wracked with guilt. The mother of the dead child was in tears. I'll never forget this episode because it left a mark on me. It's even made me cry.

@LetsRunItBack 7 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestion it is on my list for a future video!

@johnwheelan3703 7 дней назад

@@LetsRunItBack you're very welcome. I'm going to subscribe so I'll catch it.

@LetsRunItBack 7 дней назад

@@johnwheelan3703 Thank you for subscribing, it will be in the very next video btw.

@johnwheelan3703 7 дней назад

@@LetsRunItBack that sounds absolutely wonderful and you're very welcome.

@angelagokool9514 10 дней назад

Here are some episodes that deserve a spot on this list: Tiny Toon Adventures, One Beer. Now, I know that it was controversial and was therefore banned from the series but hear me out: It got the point across. As drastic as it was, it perpetuated the message that underage drinking is dangerous. It was part of the "Elephant Issues" segments. Animaniacs, A Gift of Gold. Not only was this a beautiful and touching story about protecting the environment, but it also dealt with the significant issue of homelessness, especially when we see an impoverished young boy and his family celebrating his birthday, and he keeps the final scrap of gold wrapping paper, after her long, arduous journey. Also, Jim Cummings doing his Winnie-the-Pooh voice gave it an added touch. Pinky and the Brain, Inherit the Wheeze. In this episode, Brain had been subjected to the controversial studies of nicotine addiction on animals, thus causing his addiction. Just like One Beer, it was drastic enough to prove its point. Also, the parody of Lucky Charms commercials is pretty wild!

@LetsRunItBack 10 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestions, I added them to a list to for future videos in this series 😎

@eddierascalhaskell4954 10 дней назад

One Beer still cracks me up. The message was heavy but they hit the right tonality.

@spaceforce-girlforcejjwest2048 5 дней назад

So many complain about "woke" now but its nothing new, these important eps were needed, they even saved lives. People make fun of its all just TV but its much more. Instant sub on this. One you missed was Batman TAS were he saves a kid who was playing chicken. "You play chicken, you fry!" Batman warned him. We need these types of eps more than ever now. If we don't start caring about each other again. Well, we just won't be a people worth saving anymore.

@LetsRunItBack 5 дней назад

@@spaceforce-girlforcejjwest2048 That episode of Batman TAS will be in the next video 😎

@froggofood2307 11 дней назад

this was genuinely so well done. I’m gonna subscribe and wait for part two. these were genuinely great picks! still baffled that this has so few views

@LetsRunItBack 11 дней назад

Thank you. I'm happy you enjoyed it, and I will do my best to give the same or better quality for part 2. This is a newer channel, so it's kinda understandable why there aren't more views. Over time, as the channel grows, it's a chance the views will come in, however.

@lycanthis9963 4 дня назад

Okay, I knew about the gun episodes in this video, but the Captain Planet one! They straight up have a character die of a drug overdose?! 1) How did the network allow that to air? and 2) Why aren't there more cartoons that tackle those issues? Heavy as they are, that's something that's VERY important for kids to learn, especially for those growing up in a drug filled environment.

@Pablo-312 9 дней назад

Fun fact: Jimmy is voiced of Richard Horvitz of Invader Zim, Billy and Moxxie fame. If only modern cartoons can take notes on these…

@XOTICXPATRIATE 7 дней назад

Wow what a world of difference we have from the cartoons of back then to what sort of stuff we got now.

@swedichboy1000 11 дней назад

A perfect example as to why nineties cartoons were infinitely superior to the shit kids see these days.

@RADFILMS-z6h 9 дней назад

This man is based. And I completely agree with him.

@beauwalker9820 6 дней назад

In some ways, they still had some flaws, but admittedly they conveyed their morals better without coming off as preachy, or politically biased. (Like the "Skeleton remote" episode of "O.K. K.O." which didn't handle gun issues as well as Gargoyles did.)

@roxassora2706 5 дней назад

@@beauwalker9820I kinda agree.

@davidekstrand8544 6 дней назад

I’ve comment before on another video, and I know that this is about TV, but I’ll say this here to. Terry Gilliam says that “the truly great filmmakers make you go home and think about it.” From his description, Hayao Miyazaki certainly fits that description with both his animation and that his films can be enjoyed by families, but also are deep and very thought-provoking.

@LetsRunItBack 6 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look it up and put it in my notes for a future video! Due to being anime, I will try to work on something including it when colab with my brother since he is much more into anime then me. This way I give it the respect it deserves, since I do know he watched some of his films.

@Eveningkiss 3 дня назад

The Captain Planet episode about HIV hit me hard. Back in the 80s and early 90s I was terrified I would get HIV and die. It was scary AF. The episode made the disease easier to imunderstand and a little less scary for a 3rd grader

@GayleColson 5 дней назад

Double Dragon once had a serious drug addiction story. In it, the evil Shadow Master tries to corrupt Metro City by releasing a powerful designer drug on the streets. The Dragon Master, Billy Lee is addicted by force; but with the help of his brother and the other Dragon Master, Jimmy Lee, Billy recovers from addiction. But at the show's climax, Billy confronts the Shadow Master; and attempting to foil him, the villian offers him the drug. For a second Billy appears conflicted, then announces his freedom from addiction. The story ends on a triumphant note. I wish it could all be that easy.

@LetsRunItBack 5 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestion, I put that episode in my notes for a future video.

@MemoirsofaGamer1982 9 дней назад

Ooooh. What a cool new channel. I'm here for it. I'll share with all my retro friends

@LetsRunItBack 9 дней назад

Thank you, I'm happy you're enjoying the content 😎

@rwbymoonrose3417 9 дней назад

This was great! You described them perfectly! There is one you missed though, but it’s from the 80’s so I don’t blame you. There’s an episode of Jem called alone again that also tackled drug abuse. Captain Planet might have done it better, but the Jem episode is just as good too. Especially since it was geared more towards girls and also displayed things like a weak self esteem and how that and peer pressure or wanting someone to like you can be used as tools by the wrong people. Thanks again so much!

@LetsRunItBack 9 дней назад

Thank you, I'm happy you enjoyed the video. Don't worry I didn't forget the Jem episode, since it will be in Part 3. Each part will cover 10 episodes, so many had to be held back for future videos I do.

@rwbymoonrose3417 9 дней назад

@@LetsRunItBack Ah, understandable. Thanks so much! Oh! It might be cool if you did a list like this with anime! I know tons of shows that tackle difficult topics!

@saturn1177 4 дня назад

Remember when kids shows actually had emotional moments and teach us deep lessons hards to understand as a kid, while now modern cartoons are........

@KasumiKenshirou 7 дней назад

I never saw Bobby's World, but it sounds like they actually had a recurring character that had been on the show before die. Most of these shows, including live action ones, will involve someone's best friend or uncle or something that was never mentioned before and will never be mentioned again for their "very special episodes". Some "very special episodes" I can think of: Similar to the Bobby's World episode, Sesame Street had Mr. Hooper die when his actor died in real life, and Big Bird learned about death. After Robert Kennedy was assassinated, Mr. Rogers addressed it on his show. Mr. Belvedere had an episode about AIDS. One of Wesley's friends (who was never mentioned before or since) got AIDS from a blood transfusion. Everyone is afraid that they can catch it just by being in the same room and parents want the kid to be banned from the school. Mr. Belvedere then provides facts about the disease, telling the family that you can't get AIDS that way. It's not mentioned in the show, but these misconceptions about AIDS were put out into the world by Anthony Fauci during an interview in the early 80s. Walker: Texas Ranger had an episode about AIDS, too. I've never seen the whole thing, just the clip where the kid says, "Walker told me I have AIDS". (Since I haven't seen it, I have no idea why Walker was the one to tell him this rather than his parents or a doctor.) Diff'rent Strokes had an episode with a pedophile bike shop owner. There was a Family Ties episode where Tom Hanks plays Michael J. Fox's alcoholic uncle who slaps him around.

@LetsRunItBack 7 дней назад

A couple of those are in the 2nd video I made which is the episodes on Mr Belvedere and Diff'rent Strokes! For the others I have put then in my notes to put in future videos. Thank you for the suggestions!

@undeadladybug7723 5 дней назад

I doubt shows now could get away with darker topics like this. I mean, freaking Turning Red was "controversial" because it made it clear puberty is a thing.

@rulerzreachf4n34 4 дня назад

"Cookie Chopper III" actually messed me up as a child. I watched it once and SOBBED so hard I never watched it again 😭

@Seru_Omen 4 дня назад

I liked that Deadly Force had a long-lasting effect on Broadway. From that point on in the show, he'd specifically target enemies that pulled guns.

@americancreepshow 5 дней назад

Batman Beyond dealt with a few great episodes like this, there was "Hooked up" which deals with VR fantasy and is an allegory for hallucinogenic substance abuse and being forced to face reality even when its hard, theres "Golem" which tackles a kid who is bullied at school and by his father until he decides to use a machine to commit violence against his tormentors, and "Earth Mover" that deals with having no parents and a character's legal guardian being responsible for that loss. And thats just a few, the show really was well written for its time and tackled a lot of serious issues

@LetsRunItBack 4 дня назад

Thanks for the suggestions, I have them in my notes for future videos!

@nickmontoya3001 5 дней назад

I remember the show Life With Louie, and Louie's grandma passes and his way of greaving was reading up on like reincarnation until his mom explains more about death, but at the end the mom confines in her husband (who didn't like the mother in law because she would tease him) that even he gave her kind words about the passing...but he was back at acting like he was when he saw the expense of the funeral

@LetsRunItBack 5 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestion, I have it in my notes for a future video!

@ZachNimmo-w7a 8 дней назад

I play "Deadly Force" whenever a mass shooting is reported on news

@thaismagalhaes5928 9 дней назад

If you are going to make a part 2 about cartoons, you should include Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.

@LetsRunItBack 9 дней назад

Definitely will be doing Cartoon All-Stars in a future video. 😎

@GreyWolfLeaderTW 3 дня назад

You even have pure action animated series that handled some more severe subject matter in "That One Special Episode". One of my favorite shows, SWAT Kats, directly addressed the subject of collateral damage in crime fighting/warfare in the episode "Razor's Edge", which is interesting because it is a subject rarely touched upon in action/military themed shows aimed at younger audiences, and also one that is directly in-line with the theming and already more mature style of the series, wherein sometimes bad guys k!'ll civilians (and some one-off foes are even slain themselves). Razor is the RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) of the SWAT Kats and thus the guy charged with shooting weapons at the crooks they take down. On one mission, he accidentally hits a warehouse with a missile and injures an innocent elderly couple passing by. It shakes him up naturally realizing that he and T-Bone can get innocents hurt and forms the central emotional and conflict crux of the episode's story. A revelation later in the episode also ties in an additional theme about false flags and their use in propaganda made by actors of ill-intent (something quite relevant in the modern era regarding a certain ceaseless conflict in the Middle East). I won't say more, because it would be spoiling the surprise plot twist later in the episode, but it's still a gutsy thing for a TV series about vigilante superheroes to address that their actions can have accidental negative consequences.

@LetsRunItBack 3 дня назад

Thanks for the suggestion, I have it in my notes for a future video! I won't be in the very next video, but I will get to it since I'm already deep into the next video and only have 10 spots for each part, but I promise I will get to, and cover it.

@EliteSmorechannel 5 дней назад

I remember the Gargoyles one and it probably being the first time I saw blood in a cartoon.

@sarahmcmann5253 11 дней назад

I remember the Alvin and the Chipmunks episode 😭

@leovazquez6188 5 дней назад

Fun fact:not only chuckies mom is another part of "the very special episode" but this is also a creepypasta

@carolinecheney 7 дней назад

I never watched the Alvin And The Chipmunks show (aside from the christmas special) but I know what it's like to lose a pet. I've grown up with that knowledge since I've had cats either run off, get sick and die or get under the car hood and die. And ive had dogs my whole life that would ALWAYS get hit by cars.

@chumbusi8147 4 дня назад

You knew you were in for some good shit if there was a very special episode

@mandiemills88 8 дней назад

I loved the show gargoyles And that episode is the one I remember the most because it kinda traumatized me at a very young age because I feel that's the 1st cartoon where a character actually could have died and it was very real at that time for me.

@star-boltlover9609 9 дней назад

I remember "Haunted". I guess the message went over my head 😥

@chrisc6857 7 дней назад

As good an episode as 'Haunted' is, the ptsd message is kind of diluted by the reveal at the end that Robin was under the effects of a hallucinogenic gas the mask sprayed on him.

@Melaniemoments.18 11 дней назад

I cried when cookie chomper lll died! 😢

@DerrickTenney 8 дней назад

For Teen Titans, there’s another episode that deals with prejudice.

@LetsRunItBack 8 дней назад

I know which episode you're talking about, and it's and the list for the future.

@Jon_from_LI 5 дней назад

If you're familiar with the Chimpunks cartoon from the 80s, there were a few special episodes. Also mentionable are the Chipmunks Reunion episode (meeting their biological mother) and of course The Wall (about the Berlin Wall).

@LetsRunItBack 4 дня назад

Thanks for the suggestions, I put them in my notes future videos!

@princessmarlena1359 9 дней назад

I remember many of these episodes and these shows. There was even with Fat Albert speaking out on the issue of gangland violence, and how a kid lost his brother to it. That kid wanted to kill those responsible, but Fat Albert talked him out of it. There was also a Jem and the Holograms episode addressing drug use, and how the newest Starlight House resident girl Laura Holloway became addicted.

@LetsRunItBack 9 дней назад

Thanks for sharing, I actually have both those listed for a future video 😎

@eascec8374 10 дней назад

I wonder how many NBC stations actually did refuse to air "Cookie Chopper III".

@d4n737 4 дня назад

Losing a pet is often more damaging than losing a human loved one. I did not mourn after my family as much as I have after my cats. Human death is treated with dignity. They get a funeral, a record of their death, an affirmation that they will be remembered. Cats? The moment one gets run over it stops being a living creature and turns into a piece of meat. No grave, no memorial... Nothing. It served it's purpose. And the driver won't get any consequence, at least no more than they would for minor property damage. That's how much an animal's life is worth to humans.

@Robert-ht7om 4 дня назад

This and what live action series did was fine, but nowadays you see things like this almost all the time and it delivers the message without being subtle or a natural part of the story always feeling like they attack you.

@hotshot104 4 дня назад

The rugrats in Paris movie hit hard. I still remember the song “I want a mom that’ll last forever” perfectly

@LetsRunItBack 4 дня назад

Thanks for mentioning that movie, it gives me a idea for a future video

@supersizesenpai 4 дня назад

Chuckie's mom was kind of a baddie. Chez really knocked it down with the 2 hottest women in the series. They made Chez kind of comic relief-esq character but he was really the chad of the series.

@blargblarg5657 3 дня назад

Damn, I remember that Chipmunks episode.

@simsgirlgem 11 дней назад

Oh I loved gargoyles I watched it with my dad

@jesserivera2043 6 дней назад

Oh man, these shows had SO many VSE's. A Formula for Hate in Captain Planet was buck wild for addressing HIV and its distinction from AIDS in a time where HIV-related discrimination against gay men was at an all time high. And Trok from Teen Titans. If you know you know.

@LetsRunItBack 6 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestions, I put them in my notes future videos!

@Princess_Cheese 4 дня назад

It’s not mentioned in the episode but in the Static episode “Jimmy” I assume he’s on the autism spectrum. I’m on the spectrum myself so I’m able to recognize common symptoms: social anxiety, focus on a few certain people or just a few close friends, obsession with a certain subject, etc…

@AllyBee-vi5gv 11 дней назад

I actually never saw the Gargoyles episode until the first season was released on dvd. I remember watching the episode right after it and it shows Elisa on crutches but I never knew why because the episode was banned from tv.

@JStryker47 11 дней назад

Did you see the episode where the Captain assigns Matt Bluestone to be her partner? During the conversation, she says to the Captain, "Getting shot was just an accident."

@andrewgoeing2701 11 дней назад

Thankfully it's also on Disney Plus, albeit with a minor edit or two (they cut the shot of Eliza lying down next to a puddle of her blood, but keep other shots showing her blood later on).

@jameswolf133 4 дня назад

BraveStarr had ‘The Price’ an anti-drug episode in which the user died. For its day, that was shocking.

@LetsRunItBack 4 дня назад

It will be in the next video, I'm working on 😎

@AgentMonochrome 4 дня назад

There was another Captain Planet episode (A Formula for Hate) where rumors were going around that a person had HIV. There was also a Static Shock episode that dealt with racism

@LetsRunItBack 4 дня назад

Both are in my notes for future videos. Thanks for suggesting 😎

@victoriajohn7079 8 дней назад

You have a fantastic voice 🤩

@bobmuzaik 6 дней назад

i wouldn't put "helga on the couch" in the very special episode category because it didn't seem like an out-of-place psa. it revealed some crucial lore to the series, mainly why helga's in love with arnold. i'd say the same for "mother's day" except there's a more noticeable tone shift compared to the rest of rugrats "haunted" is definitely not a vse, it's just moving the plot along and it's about as gritty as other teen titans episodes. i'd argue "troq" is a better contender because it specifically tackles racism and slurs.

@chimmyinfernape9189 6 дней назад

The serious episode I remember the most was from chaotic called shifting sands. Where the whole episode was based off racism. It’s such a solid message and easy to explain to kids

@LetsRunItBack 6 дней назад

Thanks for the suggestion, have it in my notes for a future video!

@ladysilverwynde 5 дней назад

I don't remember the Alvin and the Chipmunks episode and I'm really glad I don't. I'm a cat person and that would have wrecked me. The Smurfs had a similar episode where Smurfette had a pet mouse named Squeaky. Squeaky saved her from a house fire, but the poor little mouse died not long after, so Smurfette was told about death. She was so upset she ran away, fearing she would lose one of her friends. Episode upset me as a kid and would probably reduce me to a bawling heap as an adult.

@LetsRunItBack 5 дней назад

Thanks for mentioning the smurfs episode, I just put it in my notes in a future video