These Controversial Cartoon Deaths Shocked Viewers
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VOICE OVER: Rudolph Strong
WRITTEN BY: Cristina Otero
Too soon? Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most shocking and downright controversial deaths in TV animation. Naturally, there will be spoilers. Our countdown includes moments from shows “South Park”, “Star Wars Rebels”, "Family Guy" and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most shocking and downright controversial deaths in TV animation. Naturally, there will be spoilers. Which other unexpected cartoon deaths had you slack-jawed in numb disbelief? Let us know in the comments below!
A kindly cafeteria chef, Chef was the most trusted adult in the show, dispensing wise advice to the show’s protagonists. So viewers were shocked when he was unceremoniously killed off in Season 10. In the episode “The Return of Chef,” the character falls off a burning bridge, then is impaled and mauled. But as ugly as Chef’s death is, the behind-the-scenes impetus for his death was even uglier. Chef’s voice actor, Isaac Hayes, said he left the show when satirical portrayal of various religions crossed into intolerance. Showrunners Matt Stone and Trey Parker, however, claimed that Hayes had no problem with their satire until their Scientology episode. Regardless, from a creative standpoint, Chef’s departure left a sour aftertaste.
The 2020 reboot on Hulu saw the return of the zany Warner siblings, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, and their many adventures. Critics and audiences alike were mostly pleased with the results, although many felt it lacked the particular charm of its original ‘90s incarnation. Hulu, however, only planned for a limited run of the series. Sure enough, the last episode saw Yakko, Wakko, and Dot abruptly meet their end in a meteoric flash. Fan backlash to the cancellation was swift, especially when many less popular, or even hated, series are still running. Canceling the show is one thing, but did they really have to die?
We were first introduced to Darth Maul in Star Wars’s “The Phantom Menace” as Darth Sidious’s Sith apprentice. Although he met his end in the film, the character’s popularity among fans led to his appearance in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and this animated show. But it was his death by Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine that caused a lot of sour grapes. Maul’s and Kenobi’s quick two-minute duel had fans longing for the epic showdown that never really was. Also, how could Obi-Wan have easily defeated Maul when he had to team up with Qui-Gon in “Phantom Menace”? Sure, plausible explanations abound revolving around tactics and strategy. But all in all, it is a decidedly underwhelming end for a “Star Wars” fan favorite.
A content warning wasn’t quite enough in this case. These three amigos were introduced in this early ‘90s animated show about young Looney Tunes characters. While most of “Tiny Toon Adventures” was harmless, zany fun, one episode did incur controversy. In the segment “One Beer,” Buster, Plucky, and Hamton get drunk, steal a police car, and drive off a cliff. Yikes! Fox Kids found it too potentially traumatizing and banned it. The depiction of drunk driving didn’t help matters either, even though, of course, the entire point of the plot was to scare kids about the real horrors of drunk driving. But it was just a bit too heavy-handed. For 22 years the full episode “Elephant Issues” was unavailable until Hulu put the show on streaming.
The Griffins’ intelligent talking dog, Brian, has always been the show’s voice of reason, as indispensable as Peter himself. So viewers were stunned when a car ran over Brian, leaving him bloodied and mangled on the street. After his death, the Griffins immediately replaced him with another dog, Vinny, a parody of a certain American stereotype. But an iconic character’s sudden and gruesome death is always a bitter pill to swallow. After tremendous fan backlash, the show brought Brian back to life a few episodes later. The ostensible reason for all this drama? The writers wanted to shake things up a bit. Shaken is right. But Seth MacFarlane also later revealed that the real reason he wanted to kill off Brian was: “Never take those you love for granted, for they can be gone in a flash." And in that at least he’s right.
It began as a pay dispute and ended a tragedy. Maude Flanders, Ned’s pious wife, had been a staple of the show for seasons. But after Maude’s voice actor Maggie Roswell left the show due to a pay dispute, Maude had to go. In the show Homer paints a target on himself to receive the T-shirt cannonball, but ducks at the last second. One hits Maude instead and knocks her out of the stands. One of the show’s rare permanent deaths, Maude’s overly zany end was hard to take for many. Roswell was eventually rehired and returned to voice other characters, including Maude as a ghost. Talk about a truly pointless character death.
#6: Chef
“South Park” (1997-)A kindly cafeteria chef, Chef was the most trusted adult in the show, dispensing wise advice to the show’s protagonists. So viewers were shocked when he was unceremoniously killed off in Season 10. In the episode “The Return of Chef,” the character falls off a burning bridge, then is impaled and mauled. But as ugly as Chef’s death is, the behind-the-scenes impetus for his death was even uglier. Chef’s voice actor, Isaac Hayes, said he left the show when satirical portrayal of various religions crossed into intolerance. Showrunners Matt Stone and Trey Parker, however, claimed that Hayes had no problem with their satire until their Scientology episode. Regardless, from a creative standpoint, Chef’s departure left a sour aftertaste.
#5: Yakko, Wakko, and Dot
“Animaniacs” (2020-23)The 2020 reboot on Hulu saw the return of the zany Warner siblings, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, and their many adventures. Critics and audiences alike were mostly pleased with the results, although many felt it lacked the particular charm of its original ‘90s incarnation. Hulu, however, only planned for a limited run of the series. Sure enough, the last episode saw Yakko, Wakko, and Dot abruptly meet their end in a meteoric flash. Fan backlash to the cancellation was swift, especially when many less popular, or even hated, series are still running. Canceling the show is one thing, but did they really have to die?
#4: Darth Maul
“Star Wars Rebels” (2014-18)We were first introduced to Darth Maul in Star Wars’s “The Phantom Menace” as Darth Sidious’s Sith apprentice. Although he met his end in the film, the character’s popularity among fans led to his appearance in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and this animated show. But it was his death by Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine that caused a lot of sour grapes. Maul’s and Kenobi’s quick two-minute duel had fans longing for the epic showdown that never really was. Also, how could Obi-Wan have easily defeated Maul when he had to team up with Qui-Gon in “Phantom Menace”? Sure, plausible explanations abound revolving around tactics and strategy. But all in all, it is a decidedly underwhelming end for a “Star Wars” fan favorite.
#3: Buster, Plucky, and Hamton
“Tiny Toon Adventures” (1990-92)A content warning wasn’t quite enough in this case. These three amigos were introduced in this early ‘90s animated show about young Looney Tunes characters. While most of “Tiny Toon Adventures” was harmless, zany fun, one episode did incur controversy. In the segment “One Beer,” Buster, Plucky, and Hamton get drunk, steal a police car, and drive off a cliff. Yikes! Fox Kids found it too potentially traumatizing and banned it. The depiction of drunk driving didn’t help matters either, even though, of course, the entire point of the plot was to scare kids about the real horrors of drunk driving. But it was just a bit too heavy-handed. For 22 years the full episode “Elephant Issues” was unavailable until Hulu put the show on streaming.
#2: Brian Griffin
“Family Guy” (1999-2002; 2005-)The Griffins’ intelligent talking dog, Brian, has always been the show’s voice of reason, as indispensable as Peter himself. So viewers were stunned when a car ran over Brian, leaving him bloodied and mangled on the street. After his death, the Griffins immediately replaced him with another dog, Vinny, a parody of a certain American stereotype. But an iconic character’s sudden and gruesome death is always a bitter pill to swallow. After tremendous fan backlash, the show brought Brian back to life a few episodes later. The ostensible reason for all this drama? The writers wanted to shake things up a bit. Shaken is right. But Seth MacFarlane also later revealed that the real reason he wanted to kill off Brian was: “Never take those you love for granted, for they can be gone in a flash." And in that at least he’s right.
#1: Maude Flanders
“The Simpsons” (1989-)It began as a pay dispute and ended a tragedy. Maude Flanders, Ned’s pious wife, had been a staple of the show for seasons. But after Maude’s voice actor Maggie Roswell left the show due to a pay dispute, Maude had to go. In the show Homer paints a target on himself to receive the T-shirt cannonball, but ducks at the last second. One hits Maude instead and knocks her out of the stands. One of the show’s rare permanent deaths, Maude’s overly zany end was hard to take for many. Roswell was eventually rehired and returned to voice other characters, including Maude as a ghost. Talk about a truly pointless character death.
