13 Episodes From Popular Cartoons That Not Only Kids But Sometimes Adults Can’t Understand

Jessica Wilson
Nov 25, 2022
Nov 25, 2022

Some believe that cartoon is just for kids, but over the years when animation has grown only more as technology has evolved, many adults also draw their attention to animation. For this, many studios have increased their audience as well as their earnings. Cartoons give the distinctive ability to grant the film creators and the audience imagination to limitless possibilities where anything can happen.
Despite being introduced that it’s for kids, it doesn’t mean the style must remain for only kids. There are many details from cartoons that only adults can understand and kids will miss completely. Even some of them can’t be clearly explained by adults.
We've rounded up 13 episodes from famous cartoons that kids can't understand completely, sometimes adults can't either.

#1 The Little Mermaid

Source: © The Little Mermaid / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producers, © Georges de La Tour / The Penitent Magdalene / Metropolitan Museum of Art / Wikimedia Commons, © Public Domain

Do you remember a scene when Ariel touches a painting of a woman sitting next to a candle? It’s the Magdalene with the Smoking Flame by Georges de La Tour. In the painting, there is a human skull that reveals a story not appropriate for children. The new Magdalene may be Ariel.

#2 Spirited Away

Source: © Spirited Away / Studio Ghibli and co-producers

The cleansing of the Stink Spirit is one of the most memorable scenes in the movie. Actually, it relied on Miyazaki’s personal experience, seeing the river next to his house being cleaned. The river was full of trash like an old bicycle, wheels, etc at its bottom so it was really hard to pull them out. The artist was shocked by this image and then decided to include it in his popular cartoon.

#3 Zootopia

Source:© Zootopia / Walt Disney Pictures, © The Godfather / Paramount Pictures

In Zootopia, we watched a funny scene in which the main character comes to the small animal shelter. In fact, Mr. Big is an Arctic shrew, a very aggressive and insatiable animal. This character and the entire scene are a reference to Vito Corleone and The Godfather but not many viewers notice.

#4 Aladdin

Source: © Aladdin / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producers

Throughout the movie, Genie turns into many different celebs that most children didn’t know. These famous people included Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, and Jack Nicholson that were very popular at the time.

#5 Wreck-It Ralph

Source: © Wreck-It Ralph / Walt Disney Pictures, © Batman / Warner Bros. Pictures and co-producers

Remember that the antagonist, King Candy says “You wouldn’t hit a guy with glasses” but Ralph does. In 1989, Joker said the same word.

#6 Bolt

Source: © Bolt / Walt Disney Pictures, © Speed / Twentieth Century Fox and co-producers

There is a bus moving across when Bold is holding Mittens in a scene of “Bolt”. On the roof, you can see 2525 which coincides with the image of a bus in “Speed”.

#7 Sherlock Gnomes

Source: © Sherlock Gnomes / Paramount Animation and co-producers

A truck belonging to Sherrinford shipping company appears in a scene of “Sherlock Gnomes”. Before the appearance of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle’s character was someone who had the name, Sherrinford. In different novels about Sherlock Holmes that were written after Conan Doyle died, Sherrinford is the older brother of Sherlock and Mycroft.

#8 Ratatouille

Source: © Ratatouille / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producers

Skinner is a part of the story “Ratatouille” and his name is inspired by the American psychologist and behaviorist, Burrhus Frederic Skinner, who was famous for his experiments on rats.

#9 Kung Fu Panda

Source: © Kung Fu Panda / DreamWorks and co-producers

We can notice that a peach tree appears in many scenes of “Kung Fu Panda” and Oogway’s staff is made from that tree. In Chinese culture, the peach tree symbolizes immortality. It’s believed that peach tree wood scares away evil. Kids probably missed this reference.

#10 Cars

In Cars (2006), Luigi’s license plate number is 44.5-10.8, which are the coordinates of the main Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy.

#11 Dumbo

When Timothy says to Dumbo (which was released in 1941), “Lots of people with big ears are famous,” it was a reference to the “King of Hollywood,” Clark Gable, who also had big ears.

#12 A Goofy Movie

We can notice a scene in which Big Foot is dancing to “Stayin’ Alive”. It’s a reference to Saturday Night Fever, where John Travolta is doing the same dance.

#13 Minions

In a scene, funny minions dress like a lady to enter the Tower of London. The “lady” is tall enough to get inside. There is a French guy staring at something polite men shouldn’t. The same situation was used in the Wonderbra commercial with Eva Herzigová: “Look me in the eyes. I said the eyes!”

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