Let’s be honest—cartoons and so-called “kids’ movies” have never really just been for kids. If you’ve ever rewatched an old favorite and suddenly laughed at something that completely flew over your head as a kid, you’ve stumbled onto one of animation’s oldest traditions: slipping in jokes meant for the grown-ups in the room. Sometimes it’s a sink, sometimes shockingly bold—but either way, you can’t “unsee” them once you’ve seen them. Here is a countdown of 9 of the most cheeky adult jokes masquerading as kids’ classics.
9. Shrek – “Overcompensating Much?”
DreamWorks was on to something with Shrek. When our ogre hero lays eyes on Lord Farquaad’s intimidating castle and groans, “Do you think he’s compensating for something?” it’s one of those jokes that completely goes over children’s heads but earns an instant chuckle from adults. Shrek is full of multi-layered jokes like this, but this one stands out.
8. Animaniacs – The Fingerprints Bit
Animaniacs was basically made for adults pretending to watch cartoons with kids. The most infamous prank? Yakko tells Dot to go get fingerprints. She brings back Prince, the musician. When Yakko describes, “No, fingerprints,” Dot responds, “I don’t think so.” Enter one of the best, perfectly incorrect double entendres ever to make it onto Saturday morning TV.
7. SpongeBob SquarePants – “Don’t Drop the Soap”
SpongeBob is always riddled with witty one-liners, but the “don’t drop the soap” joke is a dirty wink. SpongeBob hands two soap bars to Gary and hurries to whisper, “Don’t drop them!” Harmless to kids, hilariously suggestive to everyone else.
6. The Powerpuff Girls – Robin’s Big Reveal
When Bubbles informs their new friend Robin that they were “made by accident,” Robin simply smiles and says, “That’s alright. I was an accident, too.” Kids probably didn’t give it a second thought, but adults surely raised an eyebrow at Cartoon Network getting away with that one.
5. Cow and Chicken – The Infamous Buffalo Gals
Cow and Chicken were used to test boundaries, but the “Buffalo Gals” biker gang episode broke all boundaries. Their action? “Munching carpet.” That’s right—that definition. The episode was swiftly pulled from rerun rotation, but not before it stunned many parents that it aired at all.
4. Rugrats – Grandpa Lou’s Late-Night Viewing
Usually innocent, Rugrats still had its moments. The most memorable? Grandpa Lou rents some movies for the kids, then casually mentions he also got his personal favorite, “Lonely Space Vixens”—but that one’s “just for after you’re in bed.” The delivery made it crystal clear what he was talking about.
3. Looney Tunes – Innuendo Central
Looney Tunes always seemed wholesome on reruns, but in the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s, when these shorts were produced, they were not for children before movies. They were full of innuendo, dirty humor, and satire way above the kids’ heads. Nowadays, most of those jokes are cut from television, but the originals were not exactly wholesome.
2. Ren & Stimpy – The Rubber Nipple Salesmen
Ren & Stimpy essentially built its popularity on bizarre, grown-up-friendly comedy. Exhibit: the “rubber nipple salesmen” episode, where Ren and Stimpy hawk bizarre products and a walrus character nervously begs, “Call the police.” The whole show is chock-full of cringe-making innuendo, no kid was ever going to wise up to—but adults definitely did.
1. Hey, Arnold! – Helga’s Shrine Confession
Hey Arnold! Tended to balance humor with substance, but Helga’s crush on Arnold went to some surprisingly mature places. One time, she lies in hiding in her closet, composing odes to Arnold and blurting out the line, “Arnold, you make my girlhood tremble.” To children, it was just strange. To adults… let’s say it was unexpectedly daring for Nickelodeon.
So the next time you go back and watch one of these “innocent” programs or films, listen closely. The writers were well aware that children weren’t the only viewers—and they sure did enjoy sneaking a few things under our radar.