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While theWalt Disney Companymay have a reputation for create some of the most lightsome , sport - filled children ’s entertainment of all time , they ’ve also had some amazingly dark animated series over the years . Across its huge and varied history , Disney has occasionally endeavour to research fledged themes and boundary - promote concepts in severalmasterful animated goggle box appearance . From dystopian hellscapes to intelligent spoof of writing style from time gone by , Disney has had some unambiguously dark serial .
Many of thebest Disney animated showstackled serious dependent topic as unseasoned viewers were confronted with important themes around growing up , the trial of adolescence , and even the dreadful shock of totalitarian authorities . Not all Disney shows were aimed at nestling , and some animated serial were more adult - oriented in nature . With one of the most interesting catalogs of telecasting shows there has ever been , Disney has consistently surprise watcher with shockinglydark yet compelling TV show .
10Tron: Uprising (2012 - 2013)
19 Episodes
The earth realise in theTronfranchise already had drab undertones as it explore the terror of being trapped inside of a practical world , yet the animated seriesTron : Uprisingtook things even further and felt more like a hacker dystopian drama than a kids ’ sketch . determine in between the outcome of the filmsTronandTron : Legacy , the mature themes , acute atm , and oppressive undertones brought to mind major grownup - orient franchises likeThe Matrix .
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As a serial publication that expanded upon the franchise ’s lore , Tron : Uprisingaddressed root word of despotism as the ruthless dictator Clu had taken over the Grid . With a premise based on rebelling against the forces of an dictatorial organisation , the immature programmer Beck challenge the brutal military occupation of the urban center of Argon . With topics such as PTSD , survivor ’s guiltiness , and ego - doubtfulness come up regularly , Tron : Uprisingwas far darker than anyone expected it to be .
9DuckTales (2017-2021)
3 Seasons
While the originalDuckTalesTV series from the eighties featured mostly lighthearted risky venture , the show was notably gloomy after it was boot in 2017 . WhileDuckTalesstill focus on Scrooge McDuck looking after his grandnephews Huey , Dewey , and Louie , the thematic undercurrent of the series were notably darker than anything that come before . Even the set - up of this reboot started with Scrooge and Donald reconnecting after being estrange for ten years , a character backstory that threw child viewers directly into the deep end regarding family trauma and unexpressed , festering emotional infliction .
Although there were still plenty of fun adventures inDuckTales , the show was not afraid to tap into psychic trauma , expiration , experiential dread , and even psychological repugnance at times . A choice example of this was the instalment “ Whatever Happened to Della Duck ? ” which severalize the story of Donald ’s sis , Della , being lose in space and left cold , isolated , frightened , and hungry . Della ’s disappearance also meant that Donald had to bring up her kid aloneas he carried the psychic trauma , stress , and concern about what happen to his sister .
8Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series (1996 - 1997)
26 Episodes
The Mighty Ducksmovie was a live - activity Walt Disney production about a ragtag hockey squad study the values of teamwork as they were coached by a self - centered Minnesota lawyer learn his own lifespan lessons . With this assumption in mind , the fact thatMighty duck : The Animated Seriesshook up its premiss to explore foreign duck’s egg warriors fighting an oppressive reptilian empire in a sci - fi dystopiawas improbably freakish .
Mighty duck : The Animated Series follow a group of field hockey - loving ducks from the planet Puckworld who pursue the nefarious Dragaunus to Earth . Stranded in Anaheim , California , they form a ice hockey team and stay on their battle against Dragaunus while set about to bump a way of life back home .
Within the superhero premiss ofMighty Ducks : The alive Serieslay surprisingly sullen undertones as the ducks ' homeworld , Puckland , was savagely conquered by the reptilian Saurians , led by the evil overlord Dragaunus . With most of their species wipe out or enslaved , Mighty Ducks : The AnimatedSeries direct warfare and displacement all twine up in a kid - friendly package .
7Recess (1997 - 2001)
6 Seasons
Recesswas a beloved animated serial bring about by Walt Disney Television Animation that deal with the political sympathies of the schoolyard . While there were plenty of lighthearted episode around the daytime - to - day trials and visitation of simple school , the trueness was thatRecesswas never afraid to dig deep into serious topics . With some surprisingly dark and serious moments , many of the good episodes ofRecesstackled themes of government command , psychological manipulation , and desolation for its stave and students .
At metre , the problem the child faced inRecessfelt more like something out of a warfare movie , as Principal Prickly ’s totalitarian rule showcased military - similar oppressiveness and almost dystopian undertones for pupils trapped in schoolhouse in against their will . From the dreaded solitary travail of detention to the brainwashing that occurred when a new evaluation organisation was introduced , Recesssatirized the bleakest aspects of the schoolhouse experience . WhileRecessdealt with matured base , this was part of its charm and its bequest as one of the cleverest kids ’ shows ever made .
6Doug (1991 - 1999)
7 Seasons
WhileDougwas a seemingly innocent slice - of - life animated serial that explored the zany hijinks of its title character , buried underneath the Earth’s surface were some surprisingly dark moments . As a reference , Doug was awkward and had difficulty voyage his transition from childhood into adolescence and all the trials and tribulations that this make for up . With episodes exploring societal anxiety , estrangement , and even form conflict , Dougdidn’t sugarcoat the teen experienceand actually addressed issues that feign real young people .
One of the most darkly real thing aboutDougwas that its main lineament was more than just simply timid , as he actually suffered from genuine anxiousness and self - esteem issues . With a heroic desire to fit in and being surrounded by other riotous characters , Dougwas almost uncomfortably introspective in the way it tackled serious themes . Although Doug originally ventilate on Nickelodeon before moving to ABC , the show was later acquire by Disney and branded in re - run asDisney ’s Dougfor season 5 to 7 .
5Clerks: The Animated Series (2000 - 2002)
6 Episodes
While the crude comedy of the filmmaker Kevin Smith and stoner image like Jay and Silent Bob may not be the first thing masses mean of when it comes to Disney animated shows , the accuracy isClerks : The Animated Serieswas co - produced by Walt Disney Television Animation . As Disney ’s second grownup invigorate television series afterThe PJs , the show vent on ABC but was sadly canceled after just two instalment with the persist four being burn off on Comedy Central .
This brief story was a real disgrace , asClerks : The Animated Seriesfeatured sharp authorship , Smith ’s signature wit , and a great type design by Stephen Silver , known for his work onKim Possible . With morose themes , meta - witticism , and vituperative satire of mod media , Clerkswas too out or keeping for kids ’ yet never got its due from grownup viewer . As a forerunner to the humor of afterwards shows likeArcherorRick and Morty , Clerks : The Animated Serieswas really out front of its metre .
4Fillmore! (2002 - 2004)
2 Seasons
As a parody of law play from the seventies , the Disney seriesFilmore!addressed serious themes of justness , persecution , and moral dilemmas . With Cornelius Fillmore as a juvenile delinquent with a record , this young offender had a choice : either become a safety patrol officer or drop the ease of elementary schooltime in custody . With noir - style recital and a hardboiled crime aesthetical , Filmore!pushed its minor viewers out of their puff zoneand had more in common withThe Big SleepthanThe Mickey Mouse Club .
WhileFilmore!was presented as a spoof of police procedurals , the writing was so ripe and acute that it stand as a licitly compelling offense serial . As a former troublemaker - turned - hero , Cornelius Fillmore had a quality backstory that bestow depth to his role , ensuring that law and order prevailed in the schoolyard . As one of the most mature animated series Disney ever made , Fillmore!was never afraid to make out with dark subject affair and cerebration - provoking topics .
3Gravity Falls (2012 - 2016)
Lynchian surrealism and Lovecraftian terror are n’t just associated with Disney animated series , althoughGravity Fallssomehow managed to give both of these things in a way that connected with young viewers . As the story of Dipper and Mabel Pines , twins visit their Grunkle Stan at his tourer gob Mystery Shack in the fictional town of Gravity Pines , this serial divvy up with idea of paranoia , existential dread , mind control , and the battle against an unstoppable cosmic entity find the universe .
While the early episodes ofGravity Fallsslowly introduced audience to its world fulfill with paranormal and supernatural threats , as the serial publication get along over its two seasons , thing set out increasingly dark . This all came to a nous with the concluding confrontation against Bill Cipher , a really terrific antagonist deflect on taking over world and creating a chaotic , post - apocalyptic waste where time , cathartic , and saneness no longer subsist . With an intensity rarely seen on nestling ’s television , Gravity Fallswas a boundary - crowd kid ’ show .
2The Owl House (2020 - 2023)
WhileThe Owl Housemay first appear like a lighthearted fantasy story , beneath its fun sense of adventure place topics of revulsion , existential apprehension , and psychological injury . What began with a 14 - twelvemonth - quondam girl named Luz Noceda accidentally stumbling upon a portal to another world soon grew into a serial publication search rebellion , oppression , and dark effect of unbridled power within the Demon Realm . With mature themes and compelling case , The Owl Housewas a show that could be enjoyed by witness of all ages .
One notable illustration ofThe Owl House’sdark nature was the Boiling Isles , a fancy setting create from the corpse of a jumbo , dead Titan . As a high society built on the genuine rot flesh and bones of a supernatural public figure , this told looker all they involve to know aboutThe Owl House’swillingness to go to dark places . Add to this the emotionally intense subject of oppressiveness and race murder running through the show , and the result was a amazingly dark Disney series .
1Gargoyles (1994 - 1997)
Disney truly storm audiences with the expected dark of their 1990s classical kids ’ seriesGargoyles . As the account of enchanted gargoyle rouse from their sleep after being petrified for a thousand years , Gargoylessaw these creature reawakened in advanced - day New Yorkto become the metropolis ’s secret nighttime protector . With complex and histrionic tale and story arcs , Gargoylestapped into Shakespearean theme as it endeavored to turn to fairytales , religion , and mythology .
With such rich thematic deepness , Gargoyleshad earn its condition as a cult classic in the years since it aired and suffer as a modern Gothic fairytale with a unique gumption of style . There was a horse sense of seriousness support the story ofGargoylesthat meant it stood asunder from other , more lighthearted kids ’ shows that were airing at the same fourth dimension . WhileDisneyhas had mickle of show that were amazingly dark , Gargoylesstood out and has remain to charm viewer more than 30 geezerhood since it first premiered .
Custom image by Yeider Chacon.
Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series follows a group of hockey-loving ducks from the planet Puckworld who pursue the villainous Dragaunus to Earth. Stranded in Anaheim, California, they form a hockey team and continue their battle against Dragaunus while attempting to find a way back home.
