Top 10 Scariest Episodes from Children's Cartoons

The Great Fusilli (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

Doggy playing with dead corpses as if they're alive again and going insane.

Yeah, that was terrifying. That is why I don't watch Courage the Cowardly Dog.

Freaky Fred (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

Freaky Fred is a fictional character from the Cartoon Network animated series Courage the Cowardly Dog. He appears in the episode titled Freaky Fred and is portrayed as Muriel Bagge's nephew. The character is known for his eerie demeanor and unsettling obsession with shaving hair, particularly his own.... read more

You may see a trend of implications and insanity from this point forward. Yeah, there are themes here if I ever saw them.

I deserve a comment on this episode. Really scary!

I had nightmares about this guy.

Perfect (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

This is a sweet episode because of its great message: you don't have to always be perfect. But what is unsweet and bittersweet is the "You're not perfect" scene.
Basically, after Courage is constantly berated by this rancid woman who's his teacher, he has a bad dream sequence where a blue, fetus-like creature utters the words, "You're not perfect." You can guess what happens after that sequence because the last thing you'll hear is Courage's scream when he wakes up, as you're too terrified to hear the rest or to watch on.

You thought CGI babies were creepy? What about a blue CGI fetus?

Squid's Visit (SpongeBob SquarePants)

SpongeBob's gone psycho! Not only did he copy Squidward's house, but he also stole his vacuum cleaner just to get him to visit. Who would go visit someone who annoys him every day? SpongeBob even made Squidward crazy. Squidward should have called the cops.

Lots of psychological implications. What makes this scarier than The Great Fusilli is that Squidward would have gone insane.

This has 1. stalkers 2. Weird, scary close-ups 3. Psychological stuff (like Squidward going out with the casserole).

Lesson Zero (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)

I never watched MLP, but I have seen reviews of the show, and this insanity gives Freaky Fred a run for his money. What she says to the kid ponies is horrifying.

Basically, it shows Twilight going insane, which became a meme in the Brony community. She also went insane because there weren't any friendship problems, so in her madness, she decided to create one using her plushie/doll.

It's where Twilight goes crazy trying to find a friendship problem.

King Ramses' Curse (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

Speed Demon (The Powerpuff Girls)

It scared me when I was a little kid. Now, Craig McCracken has transferred from Cartoon Network to Disney to make Wander Over Yonder. Before the PPG, he created Dexter's Laboratory.

Dark Harvest (Invader Zim)

"Say, you're full of organs, aren't you?"
"Why, yes. Yes I am."
"And you wouldn't notice if you were... say, missing a few?"
"Probably not."
*Extremely creepy maniacal laughter*

Very creepy and should be higher. I mean, come on, an alien stealing kids' organs? That's not a kids' cartoon, that's a horror sci-fi movie!

The Puppetmaster (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

I was unfortunate to see this episode as a kid watching the entire show on Netflix Kids. I stumbled across the episode I had heard of for so long. It's about an old woman in that Fire Nation district teaching Aang, Sokka, and Katara how to bloodbend, which is bending the water and veins inside someone's body.
And guess what - Katara uses this technique to bloodbend a guard to open her prison cell for her. Even the guard who was bloodbent looked concerned and scared by the force bloodbending has over people like them.
Then, at the somewhat end of the episode, the old lady gets arrested.

Bloodbending. Just think about it, the bending of the water running through our veins to control one's entire body like a puppet on strings. The whole concept is just enough to send a chill down your spine!

The Mask (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

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Sore Eyes (Dexter's Laboratory)

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Headless Cabbie (Hey Arnold!)

Windmill Vandals (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

Wow, they really amped up the animation department, didn't they?

House Fancy (SpongeBob SquarePants)

"House Fancy" is the first episode of season 6 of the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. In the episode, Squidward attempts to outdo his rival Squilliam by making his home look as luxurious as possible. SpongeBob joins in to help, with chaotic results.... read more

The infamous toenail scene from House Fancy is truly disgusting and disturbing. Basically, Squidward has his leg on a sofa leg, and when he moves it, it ends up ripping his toenail. He winces in pain. YouTube even gave this a bloody adaptation to make it more infamous than it already was.

That looks more like a bone than a toenail.

Graveyard Shift (SpongeBob SquarePants)

The ending was scary back then, but hilarious now.

Nightmares and Daydreams (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Halloween (The Amazing World of Gumball)

The horrors of this episode. Scariest episode ever made! This episode is terrifying. There's no easy way to beat around the bush here. It is the scariest thing ever created, and by golly, just talking about it right now gives me the shivers.
It stands to reason why so many kids grew up broken and depressed. The trauma and disgusting horrors found within this Blair Witch inspiration are just too creepy to think about. I'm sorry, it's really hard. I can't go back. Oh god, don't make me go back.
This truly is the scariest episode of all time, and I'm glad it spawned three horrific sequels. Oh no.

Yes, I know this is a good episode, but it's definitely scary and unwatchable for younger children. It will give you nightmares. This has to be one of the best examples of nightmare fuel in Western animation.

The Lich (Adventure Time)

The Lich, originally named the Lich King in early concepts and the episode "His Hero," is a powerful undead entity and a major antagonist in the American animated television series Adventure Time. In his infant form, he is referred to as Sweet Pig Trunks or Sweet P. The character represents pure evil... read more

I have no words for this. It's extremely disturbing, like the guardian angel scene.

Ren Seeks Help (The Ren & Stimpy Show)

Definitely disturbing and gross.

A Pal for Gary (SpongeBob SquarePants)

Party of One (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)

I'm gonna watch Courage instead of this episode. Jeez, this episode needs religion.

Arnold Visits Arnie (Hey Arnold!)

Weirdmageddon (Gravity Falls)

It surprises me that the Gravity Falls episodes are so far down the list. Weirdmageddon was amazing, but also pretty scary considering it was given the same age rating as things like Jessie and Phineas and Ferb. That twisted face still haunts my nightmares.