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Most Heartbreaking Cartoon Moments in TV

Sometimes cartoons can bring the drama. Witness the most heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV.

By Joseph FarleyPublished 6 years ago 5 min read
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Cartoons are usually a great way to blow off steam and have a few laughs, but sometimes, the better ones can make you think, and if they're really good, even make you cry. Often, these moments become so moving because they are completely surprising. These heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV sneak up and overwhelm us like never before.

It doesn't matter that these emotional scenes don't feature any actual humans, these heartbreaking episodes still give us the feels. We are in the golden age of cartoons, especially the mature kind with Adult Swim and must watch Netflix originals, but some of these moments even come from the most G rated shows.

This rewarding experience is a major reason why adults are still watching cartoons. Check out this list of the most heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV history, and see if you agree.

In the 12th season of the hit show Family Guy, the Griffins beloved family dog, Brian, dies in a car accident. People were shocked, and many fans took to Twitter in an outrage. It follows the Griffins as they try to cope with the loss of their dog, eventually replacing him with a less-Brian offshoot.

In a show that's full of dirty jokes and cut-a-ways, the death of Brian was actually quite moving, and one of the most heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV. The A.V. Club gave the episode an A, saying it was:

"Pretty poignant, coming as close as Family Guy can to genuinely moving. It was surprisingly effective at dealing with the sudden death of a main character."

A petition was even started within hours of the episodes airing, it gathered thousands of signatures and begged creator Seth MacFarlane to bring him back. MacFarlane listened, and Brian was brought back from the dead later in the season.

Chuckie's Mom's Poem in Rugrats

Chuckie's mom is curiously missing for the first several seasons of Rugrats, one of the best 90s kids shows, leading us to believe something tragic must have happened. Poor Chuckie is already the most sensitive of all the characters on Rugrats, so it's hard to see more sad shit happening to him. He finds a letter from his mom written while she was dying in the hospital, which included this super sad poem:

My sweet, little Chuckie, though I must leave you behind meThis poem will tell you where you always can find me.When a gentle wind blows, that's my hand on your face.And when the tree gives you shade, that's my sheltering embrace.When the sun gives you freckles, that's me tickling my boy.When the rain wets your hair, those are my tears of joy.When the long grass enfolds you, that's me holding you tight.When the Whippoorwill sings, that's me whispering, "Night, night."

This moment was a massive tear jerker, one of the most heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV.

Mr. Hyunh's Backstory in Hey Arnold

When you flip on a Christmas episode of a kid's cartoon, you don't expect it to involve a harrowing plot about a family being torn apart by the brutalities of the Vietnam War. However, that's what happens in this Christmas episode of the hit cartoon, Hey Arnold.

Mr. Hyunh is a boarder at Arnold's grandfather's boarding house, and Arnold gets him as a Secret Santa. After Hyunh reveals that all he wants for Christmas is to find his long lost daughter, the audience is punched in the gut.

The incredibly thoughtful Arnold goes on a quest to track her down, and re-unite the grieving man with his family. Truly one of the most heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV.

Kenny dying in South Park was a staple of the show, "You killed Kenny!" But the idea to kill him off for good came from Trey Parker and Matt Stone feeling tired of both the show’s status quo and of having to come up with a new way for Kenny to die in each episode. Little did they know it would end up having real emotional resonance.

Kenny gets a terminal illness, something that he can't come back from. Stan goes through the real phases of grief, sick that he's unable to support his dying friend when he needs it. Meanwhile, the usually selfish Cartman does everything in his power to find a cure for Kenny.

It's still very funny and not all doom and gloom, but for a while it's one of the most heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV. There's a reason South Park has been serving up some of the best social satire for two decades.

Jurassic Bark in Futurama

Fry decides not to resurrect the dog he loved, because he finds out his dog, Seymour, was so old that he lived a full life without Fry. We then are shown a montage of the dog waiting for Fry outside the pizza place he worked at for years...until he dies.

The loyal dog just waits and waits. This episode of Futurama is widely considered one of the most heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV history, sticking with viewers for years after the show. Fry finally reconnects with a clone of Seymour, the dog he befriended back in his days at Panucci's Pizza — 1000 years earlier.

We find out that Seymour waited there for over ten years, dying right there on the sidewalk. For a cartoon, this one is pretty difficult to watch, especially if you have any affinity for dogs.

Pikachu's Goodbye in Pokemon

Pokemon was a pop culture sensation, and the animated show would go on to produce one of the most heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV. When Ash and Pikachu come across a bunch of wild Pikachu's in the forest, Ash decides it's best for him to return home and be with his kind.

Pikachu was Ash's first and favorite Pokemon, and he has an incredibly hard time letting go, leading to an emotionally charged, tear-filled moment. He makes the hardest decision of his life and leaves his partner behind with his new friends.

We are then shown a dramatic montage, and Ash runs away from Pikachu in literal tears. Luckily for the Ashe — and the audience — Pikachu returns at the episodes end, making the decision that his life in the wild is over, and his life with his friend Ash is the one he wants.

On the Run in Steven Universe

Steven Universe is set in a brightly colored world, but don't let that fool you, especially when it comes to "On the Run" one of the most heartbreaking cartoon moments in TV.

As kids, we expect our parents to know what's going on in almost any and all situations. But as Steven matures, he comes to the realization that they're just as clueless as to what's going on as anyone else.

They're flawed, and they're a broken family missing both a leader and Steven's real mom, leaving him confused to what his existence really means. The bright colors and quirky characters set a playful tone, but don't make any mistake, this episode is a tear-jerker. Moment's like this make cartoons worth watching.

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About the Creator

Joseph Farley

Joseph Farley is a North Jersey based writer who loves short fiction and stand-up comedy

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