When you think of kids’ cartoons, you probably think of something simplistic and, overall, kid-friendly. For the most part, that’s probably true, especially on that latter point. Kind of defeats the purpose of being targeted at children if they can’t actually enjoy it. But like an excellent Pixar film, cartoon shows do not have to be simplistic or something that adults can’t enjoy too.
Personally, I still watch a lot of the cartoon shows from my youth, because of nostalgia and my belief that they just do not make them like they used to. Yet even the best of the new ones share something in common with their predecessors, and that’s in just how intense and surprisingly emotional they can be at times.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ “Orders”
Watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a fascinating animated show because its tone could shift wildly from episode to episode. Sometimes it focused on silly characters, such as droids or Jar Jar Binks, and approached something akin to slapstick comedy. I truly understand the appeal of episodes like this, but they are not really for me. In fact, it took me a few times for the show in general to actually click for me.
And the reason it did is because of episodes like “Orders,” which comes in the early part of the sixth season. Focused on the clone Fives, this is an incredibly tense episode of television. We know that nothing that happens here can actually affect what will come in movies taking place after it, but for just a moment, we find ourselves hoping that Fives can expose the Sith plot before it ever comes to fruition and stop Palpatine for good. That’s the mark of great writing, and proof that this is a cartoon from my youth that holds up in 2025.
Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia’s “Jimhunters”
Watch Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia on Netflix
As far as modern kids’ cartoons go, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia stands above most of them for me. Complex storytelling, top-tier voice acting, and gorgeous animation give this series a lot of life. The involvement of acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro in the creative process probably doesn’t hurt things either. With that in mind, there are actually quite a few episodes of this show that can be considered intense.
Yet for me, one of the biggest moments in Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia comes in “Jimhunters,” when protagonist Jim becomes a half-troll in order to defeat the powerful Gunmar. It’s a devastating look at how much Jim has changed, and his newfound feeling of being disconnected from his friends and family. Where other shows might have made this a one-off, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia commits, and it’s all the better for it.
Gargoyles’ “City of Stone”
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This is a series I absolutely adored as a kid, and it’s one of those cartoons that hit differently when you’re an adult. Gargoyles embraces a dark tone, which is half of its appeal, but it also brings the goods when it comes to character development and intensity. This is never more apparent than in the four-part “City of Stone” episodes, which center on Demona’s plot to turn humans into stone at night.
What could just be a typical evil villain doing evil villain things is actually a layered exploration of Demona’s motives and her past, and it is compelling stuff. A sympathetic villain is by no means a new concept, but finding that level of complexity in a show like Gargoyles still brings a lot of joy to my inner child. Plus, there’s a lot of action-filled intensity to be found in this masterpiece of a multi-part arc.
X-Men ’97’s “Tolerance is Extinction”
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Rebooting a beloved show in the modern era and making it good is no easy feat. Rebooting it and continuing directly where the last episode left off, and making that work for a modern audience, is even more difficult to pull off. X-Men ’97 achieves both of these things naturally, and in some ways, I prefer X-Men ’97 to X-Men: The Animated Series.
A big reason for that is how it remains true to its large cast of characters while making their narrative arcs even more complex. “Tolerance is Extinction,” the stunning three-part finale of the first season, concludes its season-long arc of the tensions between humans and mutants with gorgeous action and powerful character moments. And like the X-Men: The Animated Series episodes of old, it ends on a fun cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more.
Batman: The Animated Series’ “Heart of Ice”
Watch Batman: The Animated Series on HBO Max
I feel like every fan of Batman: The Animated Series remembers the first time they watched “Heart of Ice,” because it’s really the first time the show really takes a step back and allows you to connect on an emotional level to its so-called super villain. In the comics, Mr. Freeze was something of a goofy villain in his debut, but Batman: The Animated Series transforms him into a tragic figure.
Who wouldn’t sympathize with a man whose only goal is to find a way to save his wife’s life? As a kid, I was conflicted, but I ultimately still found myself rooting for Batman, because moral complexity was a bit above my pay grade. As an adult, I just feel bad for Mr. Freeze, but I still find myself surprised by the intensity of the action throughout, and that’s because of the compassion it shows its villain.
Just because it’s for kids does not mean cartoons can not be intense and complex
While I love joyful cartoons that are only meant to entertain on a surface level, there will always be something special to me about a cartoon meant for kids that engages on a deeper level. We live in an era that has finally accepted that animation is not inherently for children, anyway, but I still think it’s important to find ways to make kids’ shows that aren’t just background noise.
For me, these are small sample sizes of that, and I think even the older examples still hold up. With that in mind, if you’re also looking for animated movies that you and your kids will adore, we have some recommendations for you.
