Cartoons That Ripped Off Others

The 2011 series.Cartoon Network series.The Amazing World of Gumball.Cat Gumball Watson causes chaos with his adopted brother and best friend, a fish named Darwin. The Chinese series covers a different story.Miracle Star.The Chinese series follows goat Miao Li Xing and his frog pet Gua-Gua's adventures. These two setups connect to thousands of other shows because anthropomorphic animal friends are not new in animation.

The similarity goes beyond the main characters.Miracle Star.Miracle Star faced claims of stealing entire stories and jokes from The Amazing World of Gumball.The Amazing World of Gumball.The latter made fun of it in an episode called "Copycats".Copycats.This ripoff is so obvious that the original show felt it had to point it out.

Scooby-Doo.Scooby-Doo is an adaptation that has appeared in many media. The core idea remains: teenagers travel with Scooby-Doo in the Mystery Machine, uncovering scammers pretending to be ghosts and ghouls.

This follows the original 1969-70 cartoon.Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!Hanna-Barbera created another similar series called.Goober and the Ghost Chasers.The 1973 show uses the same structure as Scooby-Doo.Scooby-Doo.Three teenagers travel with their talking, invisible-making dog Goober, solving ghost mysteries. Goober talks more clearly and sarcastically than Scooby-Doo, but the show only ran one season and failed to capture the popularity of its predecessor.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.This show is likely one of the most ripped-off cartoons in animation history. After the animated series succeeded in 1987 by using comic books and action figures, many others sought that success. However, none of the TMNT ripoffs were as obvious as 2009's Kung Fu Dino Posse.TMNT.2009's Kung Fu Dino Posse.Kung Fu Dino Posse.

The protagonists of this show do not share names with Renaissance painters. The resemblance to TMNT is clear.TMNT.The show centers on reptilian friends using martial arts against villains. Kane, Lucy, Jet, and Chow are resurrected dinosaurs who learned martial arts. They use these skills to shield the innocent. Swapping turtles for dinosaurs makes this obvious. This breezy start has charm, but its lack of originality likely caused only one season.

The 1997 animated series.Recess.Recess follows fourth-graders who handle the school politics, keeping themselves and others safe from playground dangers. The show's appeal comes from its colorful, likable characters like T.J., Mikey, Ashley, Gretchen, and Gus.

Detention released in 1999.Detention.Detention mirrors the prior series, focusing on sixth-graders trying to avoid detention. They fail and serve time.Recess.Detention features characters like Shareena, Emmitt, Jim, and Gug. It ran for one season. The show shares similarities with other shows due to its school setting, general antics, and friendship themes.Recess.Recess remains the more famous show, running for six seasons.

Snorks feature a community of small creatures that live daily lives and love music. This premise describes 1981's Smurfs.The Smurfs.or 1984's Snorks.Snorks.Snorks is an intentional copy resulting from a legal fight over Smurfs' rights.Snorks.Snorks is an intentional copy caused by a legal battle over Smurfs' rights.The Smurfs.Peyo created an animated show for the characters. Creative differences caused a legal dispute. Monnickendam then made a rival show after buying the rights.

As the story proceeds, businessman Freddy Monnickendam negotiated with Smurfs' creator Peyo for an animated show.the story.Freddy Monnickendam negotiated with Smurfs.Smurfs.Peyo created an animated show for the characters. Creative differences caused a legal dispute. Monnickendam then made a rival show after buying the rights.Snorks.Nic Broca created Snorks and gave the IP to Hanna-Barbera. They made a new series about underwater creatures to compete with Smurfs' popularity.Snorks.Snorks might not have had the lasting appeal of The Smurfs.The Smurfs.Snorks still left its mark on viewers.

The Kids' WB series aired Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island for two seasons from 2005 to 2006.Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island.Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island centers on Coconut Fred, a happy coconut on an island where everything is fruit and imagination becomes reality. The humor and animation have a surreal quality that mirrors another popular show from that time.

The much more infamous series.SpongeBob SquarePants.SpongeBob SquarePants follows a sponge living under the sea and working at the Krusty Krab. The humor in SpongeBob is sharp and has double meanings for adults.SpongeBob.SpongeBob is sharp and full of tongue-in-cheek double meanings for adults.While the happy coconut did not become as recognized as SpongeBob.SpongeBob (still strong since its 1999 debut) shows influence from the cheerful undersea fry cook.

If someone hears about Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty, they may react with confusion.Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty.and Unikitty!Unikitty!For the first time, confusion is normal. Names sound ridiculously similar. Lead characters look remarkably alike in design and color scheme. The 2017 show.Unikitty! came first in 2017, focusing on the unicorn-cat hybrid who rules Unikingdom and seeks happiness to stop Master Frown from making things gloomy.The show centered on the unicorn-cat hybrid who rules Unikingdom. She seeks happiness to stop Master Frown from taking over Frown Town and making things glum.

The 2019 copycat.Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty.Felicity, a magical cat that is part rainbow, part butterfly, and part unicorn, drives the plot. She and her friends have many magical adventures around the city of Mythlandia.Unikitty!The show uses surrealist humor.Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn KittyRainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty plays like a traditional cartoon. This show ran three seasons. The latter show only had one season. This shows copying an existing show heavily does not work.

Created by Rugrats Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó created the 1999 Nickelodeon cartoon in the same animation style.Rocket PowerFour pals—Otto, Reggie, Twister, and Squid—take up extreme sports like skateboarding.

The 2012 show is loosely based on former pro skateboarder Rob Dyrdek's life.Wild GrindersWild Grinders follows a similar format. Lil' Rob, his dog Meaty, and pals like Goggles and Emo get into skating mischief. Imagining this is easy.Wild Grinders and Rocket PowerWild Grinders and Rocket Power share a thrill-seeking fanbase. They did not directly compete; they aired nearly ten years apart.Rocket PowerRocket Power is the first show people think of for skateboarding cartoons.

1986's SilverHawks should surprise people.SilverHawks SilverHawks shares many similarities with 1985's ThunderCats.ThunderCats Rankin-Bass Animated Entertainment and Pacific Animation Corporation worked on both animated series.When ThunderCats debuted, it likely aimed to challenge He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.Especially regarding toy sales, ThunderCats tried to challenge He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.He-Man and the Masters of the UniverseThunderCats tells the story of cat-like aliens fleeing their dying planet Thundera. They set up on Third Earth. There, they fight evil Mutants and the mummy sorcerer Mumm-Ra who cause trouble on their new home.

Like ThunderCats, SilverHawks SilverHawks is set in space. A group of bionic-enhanced heroes fights an evil alien crime lord named Mon*Star. The action show uses many of the same voice actors from the cat-focused series.While SilverHawks did not get the attention or long run that ThunderCats did,it created a loyal fanbase. This group believes SilverHawks deserves mention alongside other beloved '80s animated shows.ThunderCatsThunderCats carved out its own fanbase. It deserves mention with other beloved '80s animated shows.

In 2005's RobotboyProfessor Moshimo creates the robot. Dr. Kamikazi's evil could corrupt it. Moshimo sends Robotboy with his fan, 10-year-old Tommy Turnbull. Robotboy learns daily life and fun from Tommy and his friends. Robotboy must fight bad guys sometimes.

The basic premise for Robotboy is similar to the 2003-2009 series.Robotboy is similar to the 2003-2009 seriesMy Life as a Teenage RobotRobotboy sees robot XJ-9, or Jenny, living a dual life as a hero and a teenage girl. The main difference between the shows is how.Robotboy is aimed at younger viewers. Still, the series feels like they came from the same factory.Robotboy is aimed at a younger audience; however, the series feels like they were built in the same factory.

Dexter's LaboratoryDexter's Laboratory is Cartoon Network royalty. The '90s cartoon follows genius boy Dexter conducting wild experiments in his secret lab, while his ditzy sister Dee Dee ruins his plans by throwing a spanner in the works.

In 2005,Johnny TestJohnny Test debuted with a very similar concept and animation style. It flips the script; 11-year-old Johnny becomes the subject of experimentation by his genius twin sisters, Mary and Susan, who look a lot like Dexter, even down to the spectacles and mannerisms. Since Johnny Test contains many similar visual gags and episode premises, many fans compare it to Dexter's Laboratory.Johnny TestJohnny Test contains many similar visual gags and episode premises, so fans compare it to Dexter's Laboratory.Dexter's LaboratoryBoth shows offer fun for anyone who likes mad science.

Stop if you have heard this before: an animated series follows a dysfunctional family with an oafish father, a gravelly-voiced mother, and three children: a boy, a girl, and a baby.The SimpsonsThe Simpsons might have started the age of adult animated shows on primetime TV. It introduced Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie in 1989. Ten years later,Family GuyFamily Guy took the beer-stained baton and used it as the Griffins (Peter, Lois, Chris, Meg, Stewie, and their talking dog Brian) put their own spin on fast and funny family drama.

From madcap situations to unforgettable characters, The SimpsonsandFamily GuyThe Simpsons and Family Guy are two peas in a pod. The shows even crossed over at one point, showing it is fine to enjoy both for their slightly different humor styles that share the same core idea.Family Guy crossed overThe shows crossed over at one point, proving it is okay to enjoy both for their slightly different humor styles that take off from the same core concept.

The Ren & Stimpy ShowThe Ren & Stimpy Show did not play around when it debuted in 1991. Following the adventures of the crazy Chihuahua Ren and the silly cat Stimpy, the show uses dark humor, clever puns, and humor that sits between adult and family-friendly, a tone that was new and became very popular.

In 1997,Cow and ChickenCow and Chicken arrived with a similar formula. In this series, the main characters are a sister and brother—and no one knows how—who often meet a devilish creature called the Red Guy. Like Ren & Stimpy, this show pushes boundaries and gave censors trouble because it knew how much adult humor to tease without crossing the line.Ren & StimpyCow and Chicken also pushes boundaries and caused censors headaches because it knew how much adult humor to tease without going over the line. Some see this as a copy of Ren & Stimpy, others see it as a nice nod that appeals to the same fans.Ren & StimpyWithout The Ren & Stimpy Show or a flattering homage that appeals to the same fans, one thing is certain: without The Ren & Stimpy Show, Cow and Chicken would not have existed.The Ren & Stimpy ShowThe Ren & Stimpy Show, Cow and ChickenCow and Chicken would not have existed.

Today,TransformersThe Transformers are one of the world's biggest multimedia franchises. It includes many animated series, live-action movies, and various toys. Optimus Prime and the Autobots have existed forever, yet these transforming robots still attract new fans.

In September 1984, two animated shows about transforming robots started airing on TV.The TransformersandChallenge of the GoBotsThese shows share a plot where robots from another planet land on Earth. Few people know this.GoBotscamefirst, because the toy line hit North America in 1983, a year beforeThe TransformersThe two animated shows based on the toy lines started in September 1987. Kids chose the Autobots and Decepticons over the GoBots. Thus,TransformersTransformers shows a rare case where the copycat beats the original.

Both Digimon Adventure and Pokémon clearly capture a generation of fans.Digimon AdventureandPokémonFans liked both because their stories shared similarities. An adaptation of the video games drew viewers in.PokémonPokémon kicked things off in 1997. It introduced Ash Ketchum, who wants to become a Pokémon trainer..On his path to mastery, Ash joins friends and his Pokémon, especially his partner, Pikachu.

Two years later,Digimon AdventureDigimon Adventure shows kids transported to the Digital World. They make friends with digital monsters called Digimon. Kids use their Digivices to turn their Digimon into bigger creatures and send them to fight. Both shows connect with the same audience because they offer wish fulfillment: taming monsters in a colorful anime world.PokémonPokémon remains the more successful cartoon and media franchise.Digimon managed to find its own appeal and success.Digimon Adventure managed to distinguish itself enough to offer its own appeal and establish success in its own right.