Cartoons That Blatantly Ripped Off Other Cartoons
In the animated world, it is not unusual to find a host of underrated cartoons - in fact, the 2000s created plenty of them. With so many shows being released on a regular basis, it is easy to overlook genuinely great series. At the same time, another truth needs to be stated: a lot of cartoons rip each other off.
While some similarities are more subtle or less obvious than others, there's also a plethora of shows that are unabashed in their belief that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” A show sharing elements with another doesn't automatically make it bad, but it definitely does draw some comparisons between the two.
From Johnny Test to Kung Fu Dino Posse, let's take a look at the animated shows that shamelessly took cues from other successful shows that came first.
- 1456 VOTES
'Miracle Star' Ripped Off 'The Amazing World of Gumball'
- Photo:
- Sanyuan Group
- Cartoon Network
The 2011 Cartoon Network series The Amazing World of Gumball is all about cat Gumball Watson who gets up to all sorts of shenanigans with his adopted brother and BFF, a fish called Darwin. On the other hand, the Chinese series Miracle Star is about the goat Miao Li Xing and his pet frog Gua-Gua's adventures. Now, these two premises could relate to thousands of other series since the concept of anthropomorphic animal friends is nothing new in animation.
The similarity in this case goes far beyond the lead characters, though. Miracle Star has faced accusations of lifting entire stories and jokes from The Amazing World of Gumball, to the point that the latter poked fun of it in an episode titled "Copycats." It's a rare case of a ripoff being so blatant that the original show feels a need to call attention to it.
- Photo:
Scooby-Doo is a dynasty that has received a number of different adaptations across all forms of media, but the premise stays largely the same, following a group of teenagers who travel around with a dog named Scooby-Doo in a van called the Mystery Machine. The group uncovers scammers and fraudsters who try to present themselves as ghouls and ghosts.
Hot off the heels of the original 1969-70 cartoon Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Hanna-Barbera created another similar series titled Goober and the Ghost Chasers. The 1973 show follows the same formula as Scooby-Doo, as three teenagers travel around with their talking dog Goober - who has the ability to turn invisible - and solve mysteries involving ghosts. Goober has a tendency to speak more clearly (and in more sarcastic quips) than Scooby-Doo, but it seems he didn't charm viewers as much, since the show ran for only one season and hasn't had a shred of its predecessor's enduring popularity.
- Photo:
If someone hears about Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty and Unikitty! for the first time, it's normal to react with confusion. Not only do the names sound ridiculously similar, but the lead characters also look remarkably alike in design and color scheme. 2017's Unikitty! came first, centering on the titular unicorn-cat hybrid who rules Unikingdom and wants happiness to reign. She does everything she can to stop Master Frown from Frown Town from taking over and making matters glum.
The 2019 copycat Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty's plot revolves around the magical cat Felicity who is also part rainbow, part butterfly, and part unicorn (like in the name). She and her friends go on a variety of magical adventures around the city of Mythlandia. While Unikitty! features surrealist humor, Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty plays it far more straight like a traditional cartoon. The former show ran for a total of three seasons, while the latter had only one, perhaps proving that while some similar concepts can work, copying an existing show to such a strong degree doesn't pay.
- 4350 VOTES
'Kung Fu Dino Posse' Ripped Off 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is probably one of the most ripped-off cartoons in the history of animation. After the animated series had a successful 1987 debut building off of the comic books and action figures already available, many others wanted a slice of that success. Yet, none of the TMNT ripoffs were quite as blatant as 2009's Kung Fu Dino Posse.
While the protagonists of this show aren't named after Renaissance painters, the resemblance to TMNT's central premise of a group of reptilian friends using martial arts against bad guys is overwhelmingly clear. Kane, Lucy, Jet, and Chow are resurrected dinosaurs who have studied martial arts and use their skills to protect the innocents. Swapping out turtles for dinosaurs doesn't make this any less obvious than what it is. Though there's still a charm to this breezy takeoff, its lack of originality is likely part of why it only got one season.
Available On:
free
- 5352 VOTES
The 1997 animated series Recess follows a group of fourth-graders who navigate the political battlefield known as school, keeping themselves and others safe from all the playground threats. Undoubtedly, the appeal of the series lies in the colorful and likable characters such as T.J., Mikey, Ashley, Gretchen, and Gus.
Released in 1999, Detention pretty clearly takes its cues from the prior series, shining the focus on a group of sixth-graders who do everything possible to avoid detention, even though they find themselves failing and serving time. Like Recess, it boasts a fun cast of characters, such as Shareena, Emmitt, Jim, and Gug, though it ran only for a single season. Considering the setting, the general school shenanigans, and lessons about friendship, it's easy to draw comparisons between the two shows, though Recess remains the more widely remembered of the pair with a six-season run.
Available On:
$1.99
$1.99
- Photo:
Created by Rugrats creators Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó in the same animation style, the 1999 Nickelodeon cartoon Rocket Power follows four pals - Otto, Reggie, Twister, and Squid - as they take up a bunch of extreme sports such as skateboarding.
Loosely based on the life of former pro skateboarder Rob Dyrdek, the 2012 show Wild Grinders follows a similar format. This time around, Lil' Rob, his dog Meaty, and pals like Goggles and Emo get up to a bunch of skating-themed mischief. It isn't too difficult to imagine Wild Grinders and Rocket Power sharing the same thrill-seeking fanbase, and they didn't directly compete, airing almost a decade apart. Still, Rocket Power is generally the first show people think of when considering cartoons about skateboarding.
- 7375 VOTES
A community of cute tiny creatures who go about their daily lives and love to make music - this premise can describe either 1981's The Smurfs or 1984's Snorks. Interestingly, Snorks is confirmed to be an intentional copy which came about because of a legal battle regarding the rights to The Smurfs.
As the story goes, businessman Freddy Monnickendam negotiated with Smurfs creator Peyo to secure an animated show for the characters. Unfortunately, they had creative differences, which resulted in a legal dispute. Due to this, Monnickendam decided to create a rival show after buying the rights for Snorks from artist Nic Broca; he then took the IP to Hanna-Barbera to create a brand-new series about the underwater-dwelling creatures to challenge the Smurfs' popularity. While Snorks might never have had the timeless appeal of The Smurfs, it still left its mark on a generation of viewers.
- Photo:
Airing for two seasons between 2005 and 2006, the Kids' WB series Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island centers around a happy-go-lucky coconut named Coconut Fred who lives on an island where everyone is a fruit and is able to imagine anything into reality. There's a surrealist quality to the humor and animation that draws an instant parallel to another fan-favorite series of the time.
The much more infamous series SpongeBob SquarePants follows a sponge who lives under the sea and works at the Krusty Krab restaurant. Though it's a children's series, the humor in SpongeBob is sharp and filled with tongue-in-cheek double meanings for adults. While the happy coconut wasn't able to become as universally beloved or recognized as SpongeBob (which is still going strong since its 1999 debut), his show clearly takes some influence from the cheerful undersea fry cook.
- 9276 VOTES
It should come as no surprise that 1986's SilverHawks shares many similarities with 1985's ThunderCats since Rankin-Bass Animated Entertainment and Pacific Animation Corporation worked on both animated series. When ThunderCats debuted, it was likely meant to be a challenger to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - especially in terms of selling toys - as it tells the fantastical story of cat-like aliens who flee their dying planet Thundera and set up shop on Third Earth. There, they fight evil Mutants and the mummy sorcerer Mumm-Ra who try to wreak havoc on their new home.
Like ThunderCats, SilverHawks is also set in space as a ragtag group of bionic-enhanced heroes fight an evil alien crime lord named Mon*Star. The action-packed show even features a lot of the same voice actors who star in the feline-centric series. While SilverHawks didn't get the level of attention or lengthy run that ThunderCats did, it carved out its own loyal fanbase who believe it deserves to be mentioned in the same conversation as other beloved '80s animated series.
Available On:
$1.99
$1.99
- Photo:
In 2005's Robotboy, Professor Moshimo creates the titular robot. To prevent his creation from being corrupted by the evil Dr. Kamikazi, Moshimo sends Robotboy to leave with his biggest fan, 10-year-old Tommy Turnbull. Robotboy learns all about regular life and having a good time from Tommy and his friends, while having to step out to battle the bad guys every so often.
The basic premise for Robotboy is similar to the 2003-2009 series My Life as a Teenage Robot, which sees robot XJ-9 - or Jenny - living a dual life of being a hero and also trying to navigate being a teenage girl. The biggest difference between the shows is how Robotboy is aimed toward a younger audience; however, there's no denying how the series feel like they were built in the same factory.
- 11585 VOTES
Stop if you have heard this before: an animated series following a dysfunctional family with an oafish father, a gravelly-voiced mother, and three children including a boy, a girl, and a baby. The Simpsons might have kickstarted the era for adult-themed animated series on primetime TV, as it introduced the world to Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie in 1989. However, 10 years later, Family Guy took the beer-stained baton and ran with it as the Griffins (Peter, Lois, Chris, Meg, Stewie, along with their talking dog Brian) put their own spin on frenetic and hilarious family drama.
From the madcap situations to the unforgettable characters, The Simpsons and Family Guy are two peas in a pod. The shows even crossed over at one point, proving once and for all that it's okay to enjoy both for their slightly different styles of humor that take off from the same core concept.
Available On:
subscription
free
$1.99
$1.99
$1.99
- Photo:
Dexter's Laboratory is basically Cartoon Network royalty. The '90s cartoon follows boy genius Dexter, who conducts a variety of wild experiments in his secret lab, while his ditzy sister Dee Dee throws a spanner into the works and ruins his grand plans.
In 2005, Johnny Test debuted with a vey similar concept and animation style. It flips the script on the characters, though, as 11-year-old Johnny becomes the subject of experimentation for his genius twin sisters, Mary and Susan, who look an awful lot like Dexter - down to the spectacles and mannerisms. Since Johnny Test contains many similar visual gags and episode premises, it's easy to see why many fans draw comparisons between it and Dexter's Laboratory. At the end of the day, they are both fun shows for anyone who loves a little mad science.
Available On:
subscription
$1.99
$1.99
$1.99
- Photo:
The Ren & Stimpy Show didn't play around when it debuted in 1991. Following the adventures of the bonkers Chihuahua Ren and the daft cat Stimpy, the show embraces dark humor, clever puns, and humor that toes the line between adult and family-friendly, a tone which was relatively unprecedented and proved to be very popular.
In 1997, Cow and Chicken arrived with a similar formula. In this series, the titular characters are sister and brother - and no one knows how - who often encounter a devilish creature known only as the Red Guy. Like Ren & Stimpy, this show also pushes the boundaries - and gave censors more than a few headaches as it knew just how much to tease adult jokes without going over the line. Whether one considers this a ripoff of Ren & Stimpy or a flattering homage that appeals to the same fans, one thing is certain: without The Ren & Stimpy Show, Cow and Chicken would not have existed.
Available On:
$1.99
$1.99
$1.99
- 14707 VOTES
- Photo:
Without a shadow of a doubt, both Digimon Adventure and Pokémon captivated a generation of fans due to the similarity of their premises. An adaptation of the sensational video games, Pokémon kicked it all off in 1997 as it introduced fans to Ash Ketchum who wants to become a Pokémon trainer. On his journey to becoming a master, he's joined by friends and his own Pokémon, most famously his permanent companion, Pikachu.
Arriving two years later, Digimon Adventure sees a group of kids get transported to the Digital World and befriend digital monsters known as Digimon. By using their Digivices, the children are able to transform their Digimon into bigger creatures and send them into combat. Undoubtedly, these two shows connect with the same audience because they are about wish fulfillment in the sense of taming monsters all while being set in a colorful and exhilarating anime world. Though Pokémon is undoubtedly the more successful cartoon (and media franchise), Digimon managed to distinguish itself enough to offer its own appeal and establish success in its own right.
Available On:
subscription
$1.99
Today, Transformers is one of the biggest multimedia franchises in the world. It boasts countless animated series, blockbuster live-action movies, and wide ranges of toys. Even though Optimus Prime and his Autobots have been around for an eternity now, the transforming robots continue to appeal to different generations of fans.
In September 1984, two animated shows about transforming robots debuted on TV: The Transformers and Challenge of the GoBots. Heck, they even have a similar plot where these robots are from a different planet and land on Earth. However, few may be aware GoBots came first, as the toyline arrived in North America in 1983 - a year before The Transformers range. The two animated shows based on the toy lines debuted in subsequent weeks in September 1987, and for whatever reason, kids gravitated toward the Autobots and Decepticons more than they did the GoBots. Thus, Transformers marks a rare case where the copycat is far more successful than the original.
Available On:
free
$1.99
$1.99
