If you’re anything like me (if you’re reading these types of articles, we likely have some things in common), you probably grew up watching cartoons. For many of us, cartoons have helped shape our childhoods, our sense of humor, and even the way we see things. I remembered getting up early on Saturday mornings, or rushing home after school to catch the latest episodes of some of my favorite shows. Even today, I love to see what’s new in the animation world and I have a few shows I’m currently following.

As the years have gone by, cartoons have only gotten better in my opinion. From the 80s to today, animated shows have proved that quality entertainment can come from the animation medium. Whether you’re a huge fan of classics of the 80s, you’re a 90s kid, you love the 2000s era, or you enjoy checking out some of the more modern cartoons, we all have been influenced by these shows. (I’m personally a big fan of the cartoons from the 2000s.)

But just how much do you know about your favorite cartoons from your childhood? Every show has its own secrets and rather fun facts. Some shows have a rather fascinating story about how they came to be. Several shows may have even had a rather interesting element or theme that might have sailed way over your head as a kid.

So here are 25 interesting facts that you likely didn’t know about your childhood cartoons. Think I missed some good ones? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

25 This Guy Has Quite The Role In Your Childhood

You may remember Tim Curry from movies like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, and even Muppet Treasure Island. He’s shown to be a charismatic actor with many talents. He sings, he dances, and he is quite the versatile actor. But did you know that he has shown up in some cartoons from your childhood?

Yes, Tim Curry, along with his live action movies, has also done quite a bit of voice acting. A few of his roles include Nigel Thornberry from the Wild Thornberrys, Slagar the Cruel from Redwall, and C Gorden Godfrey from Young Justice. I could see why he would be popular as a voice actor; he’s got that smooth, rich voice that could be seen as either menacing or entertaining, often both.

24 This Guy Looks Awfully Familiar

Don Knotts was a rather famous actor, known mostly for his role in the Andy Griffith Show in the 60s, and he has been in many movies. He often portrayed characters who were rather skittish and a bit neurotic. He’s become a rather iconic actor, and everyone was very sad to hear of his death in 2006. But did you know that he inspired a cartoon character?

In Doug, you may notice something familiar about Mr. Bone, Doug’s school vice principal. In fact, Mr. Bones’ character design and speech patterns were based off of Don Knotts. This character was quite uptight about following the rules, which caused a bit of tension between him and Doug. I think this was a rather fun homage to the great actor.

23 What’s A Little Radiation Among Friends?

Since its creation in 1999, SpongeBob Squarepants has been a popular show on Nickelodeon and is still running today. Many people love the characters that grace the show, from SpongeBob himself, to his friend Patrick, to the irritable Squidward. But there may be something a little more sinister lurking behind these entertaining and loveable characters.

There’s a popular theory that SpongeBob and his friends are actually the result of radiation from a nearby nuclear arms testing plant. It would explain a few things, like why all these characters are humanoid and have created their own little town. These characters aren’t normally so human, so perhaps the radiation gave these creatures sentience. It wouldn’t be the craziest theory fans have had about our friends under the sea.

22 Just What Are These Guys Again?

Animaniacs was a show that changed everything for cartoons. It was witty, zany, and pushed all the limits that cartoons had at the time, often making jokes and references that only adults would get. It gave cartoons back to adults. And in the center of this comical show were the Warner Siblings: Yakko, Wakko, and Dot.

But did you know that the original designs for these cartoon siblings were going to be rather different? They were originally going to be ducks and were called Yakki, Smakki, and Wakki. So why change them to who they are now? (especially since we’re not quite sure what they are, other than maybe dogs.) Well perhaps the creators were afraid the three would bear an uncanny resembles to another trio of sibling ducks. . .

21 Through A Dog’s Eyes

Courage the Cowardly Dog became a cult classic, known for its strange animation and terrifying visuals. The story is of a little dog trying to protect his adopted family from the various monsters and aliens that seem to come around so often. It’s a rather cute story of a dog going up against his worst fears to save his family.

But what if all of it wasn’t actually real? There’s a popular theory that the entire show is actually shown through Courage’s eyes. In this theory, the monsters that show up in this cartoon are actually just normal people, but may look absolutely terrifying to a little dog. It would make sense since Muriel and Eustace, his family, don’t get out very much since they’re both elderly, so Courage hasn’t been exposed to the outside world much. So, everything happening in this show is just from the perspective of a scared little dog.

20 A Man Of Many Talents

Winnie the Pooh is a popular book series, movie, and TV series. The stories of the residents of Hundred Acre Wood are both charming and fun to watch. It’s also likely due to that awesome cast, like Jim Cummings and Sterling Halloway. But the actor that really draws our eye is the man playing Tigger: Paul Winchell.

Now, Winchell did a great job portraying Tigger in all of his hyper, energetic, bouncy glory. But there’s actually much more to this actor than meets the eye. Besides being an actor, Winchell was a ventriloquist, a comedian, a humanitarian, and an inventor. And he actually created the design for the first artificial heart. This is truly a man of many talents, and I think countless people were very grateful that he made full use of all of them.

19 There’s Something Familiar About This Theme

Many of us grew up with the adventures of Arthur, the young aardvark who was navigating the challenges of everyday life, family, and friendship. It was a surprisingly smart show that could handle tough topics, but still be entertaining and lighthearted enough to keep kids’ attention. It was also rather funny, having some great witty jokes and references.

You may also remember the catchy opening of the show, although looking back on it, you might have wondered why the opening had such a Jamaican, Reggae feel to it. Well, there actually is a reason. Ziggy, Bob Marley’s son, was the one who recorded the opening for Arthur. Why the show had him record it, we don’t know, but he did create a pretty fun song.

18 He Was In Your Childhood More Than You Think

If you don’t know who Luke Skywalker is, you’ve definitely been living under a rock. Star Wars has become an iconic, classic story that has shaped several generations since its creation. And behind that is the famous Luke Skywalker, the unlikely hero who managed to save the galaxy. But did you know that Luke has also been involved in other aspects of your childhood?

Mark Hamill who played Luke, is also a prolific voice actor and has been the voice of many characters in various cartoons, particularly villains. A few prominent characters include Firelord Ozai from Avatar the Last Airbender, Darth Bane from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and The Joker from many animated shows. Yep, Luke Skywalker is the voice behind Batman’s most iconic enemy. Pretty trippy, right?

17 These Two Belong Together

The show Arthur often explores the friendship of our titular character and a girl named Francine. This girl is the definition of a tomboy who loves sports, hates getting dressed up, and tends to get a little violent when she’s angry. Half of her relationship with Arthur often involves her teasing him, but the two eventually become good friends.

What you may not now is the show has implied that the two eventually grow to be something more than that. There are quite a few references in the show that Arthur and Francine actually grow up and get married. There’s even a funny episode where the two freak out after thinking the other has a crush on them. There obviously isn’t anything happening now (c’mon, the kids are like 8), but the idea that they become an item in the future isn’t really that far-fetched.

16 These Three Look Familiar

If you’re a child of the 90s, you likely grew up with the Powerpuff Girls, the story of three superpowered, yet adorable little girls that kept the city of Townsville safe from various villains. Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles’ designs are rather iconic, particularly with their color coordination. Blossom wears pink, Buttercup wears green, and Bubbles wears blue.

But did you know that the designs of the Powerpuff Girls were inspired by three other powerful ladies? The colors were actually taken from Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from Disney’s animated movie Sleeping Beauty. It even seems like they took inspiration from their personalities, though they have been a bit mixed up. Blossom does resemble Flora quite a bit, but Buttercup takes after Merryweather more and Bubbles is very similar to Fauna.

15 Truly Colorblind

Who doesn’t know about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? The 1987 series took the world by storm with its strange and yet charming heroes. Many fans grew to love these mutant turtles who wore colorful headbands. These headbands often helped fans tell them apart, along with their distinct personalities. But did you know that the original turtles weren’t so color-coded?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles actually got started as a comic series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The series was much darker and more violent, full of great battles between the turtles and their various enemies. What’s noted is that while these turtles did wear headbands, they all wore the same color: red. Granted, most of these original comics were in black and white, so having color-coded headbands didn’t make much sense. But once the turtles made it to the silver screen, it was decided to do a few things to make them more distinct from each other.

14 These Three Didn’t Always Stand On Their Own

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy follow two kids as they interact with their world and the oddness off it. Oh, and the Grim Reaper is their slave, so he comes along too. It’s a fairly fun series, though its animation style can be a bit grotesque and Billy gets annoying really fast. It’s an interesting series for anyone looking for something a little different, a little weird, and a little dumb.

But this show wasn’t originally meant to be its own thing. Billy and Mandy were actually part of show called Grim and Evil. It combined the adventures of Billy and Mandy with another show called Evil Con Carne. Billy and Mandy grew popular enough that Cartoon Network decided to make them their own show.

13 This Show Got Critical Acclaim

Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends answers the question of what happens to imaginary friends when kids outgrow them. They go to Foster’s home where they can be adopted out again. In this cartoon, a boy named Mac, who is forced to take his imaginary friend Bloo to this home, but he visits every day. The show follows their adventures with the other imaginary friends.

This show is actually quite fantastic, having a great blend of zany humor with some rather heartfelt moments. The animation is also quite phenomenal, and many fans rightly loved this show. But did you know that critics loved it too? In fact, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends won several awards including six Emmys. This is proof that animation can reach critical acclaim, despite what some may think.

12 Learning American History With Some Help

If you watched a lot of PBS when you were a kid, you may have remembered a little show called Liberty’s Kids. It was show that followed the adventures of a few kids during the time of the American Revolution. It was PBS’ way to get kids interested in history. While a bit cheesy, the show did a good job of giving fairly accurate events of the American Revolution.

But did you know that there were several A-list actors that were a part of this series? Just a few of the names included Liam Neeson, Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller, and Billy Crystal as part of the cast. PBS does hold a high regard, so it can often get some big actors to do its shows. Still, it’s a little weird that these guys were part of an educational kids show.

11 Artists They Are Not

Recess became one of Disney’s more popular TV shows as it really captured what it meant to be a kid. The creators of the show set out to make this series feel timeless. It captures the strangeness of childhood, with a bit of fantasy realism thrown in there. Each character is rather interesting, even though they are based a bit on archetypes, but they’re all quite likable.

But did you know that the creators of the show, Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere, can’t actually draw very well? It’s true, they did not actually draw the characters for Recess. They focused more on the script, making this a more script driven series. I guess this goes to show that you don’t necessarily have to draw well to create an amazing cartoon series.

10 What Do These Characters Have In Common?

The 2000s had some fantastic cartoons. No matter what you were in the mood for, there was something. Shows like Teen Titans, Ben 10: Alien Force, and the latest version of TMNT were pretty popular shows that captured many people’s interest. But what do these three shows have in common? Well, they all had a character that shared the same voice actor.

Greg Cipes is the voice actor behind Beast Boy from Teen Titans, Michelangelo from Nickelodeon’s new TMNT, and Kevin from Ben 10: Alien Force. This guy is actually quite the prolific voice actor with a pretty distinctive voice. It’s interesting though since these three characters are a pretty different and Cipes shows that with his voice. Kevin’s darker past is present in his tone, Mikey’s carefree outlook on life is evident in his voice, and Beast Boy’s squeaky excited voice shows that he really is such a kid. That takes talent!

9 Oh No...

Rugrats became popular for its unique perspective is it shows the world through a baby’s eyes. The show is rather charming as you follow several babies and toddlers as they navigate their world. Their main antagonist is Angelica, an older little girl who likes to pick on them. On the outside, the show seems pretty innocent, but some fans are convinced that a darker plotline is happening.

There’s a popular theory that all the babies in Rugrats are not real and just figments of Angelica’s imagination. Even worse, the babies are all actually dead. Chuckie died with his mother in the car accident, which is why his father’s a nervous wreck. Tommy was a stillborn, which is why his father is constantly building gadgets and toys his son will never play with, and the twins were actually an abortion. It’s a pretty clever idea and makes the show quite a bit darker.

8 This Wild Character Has An Even Wilder Actor

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been around since the early 80s, though they didn’t get popular until the 90s; the band’s smooth guitar and vocals combined with interesting lyrics is what made them stand out. Even today, the band is still together and going on tours. But did you know that music isn’t all these guys do? One of them at least has dabbled a bit in acting, particularly voice acting.

You may not know that the band’s bassist, Flea, was actually the voice of Donnie, Eliza’s wild little brother, from the Wild Thornberrys. Granted, Donnie isn’t exactly the most vocal person, and most the stuff he says is gibberish, but it is interesting that his voice actor is part of a famous band. I wonder how that happened?

7 Many Of Your Childhood Memories Were Thanks To This Guy

Since the 90s, animation has been experiencing quite the revolution. Not only have we seen more cartoons for adults and more clever cartoons for both kids and adults, but we’ve also seen the mainstreaming of Japanese anime in North America. A lot of this is due to the rise of Toonami and Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. But did you know that practically one person was responsible for a lot of this?

One of the creators of Space Ghost, Mike Lazzo, was the person who began Toonami and Adult Swim. He also created the What a Cartoon show, which was the launching pad for several cartoons that have become instant classics, such as Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, and Courage the Cowardly Dog. So we have this man to thank for many of the cartoons that shaped our childhood. Thanks, Mike!

6 This Show Made History

Reboot is an interesting Canadian cartoon that lasted four seasons. If you haven’t heard of it, you’re not alone since it was canceled on ABC in the U.S. when Disney bought the company. But did you know that this show actually hit quite the milestone with animation?

Reboot was the first half-hour TV series that was completely CGI animated. Granted, the animation does look rather dated now, but in the 90s, that was a big deal. It helped create the stepping stones for other CGI animated TV shows such as Jimmy Neutron, and the latest TMNT series. Another interesting thing is that the entire show takes place over the course of one week. So, everything that happened in the four seasons all happened in a week in that show’s time. That’s pretty crazy!