Fan theories are ridiculous on the whole, but every now and again you come across one that makes so much sense that it just has to be real. These fan theories about '90s cartoons might just ruin a few of your childhood favorites, so be warned that you will never look at these shows in the same way. Dead babies and inbreeding are just the beginning with these creepy '90s fan theories, and fans of Rugrats, The Powerpuff Girls and even Inspector Gadget aren't safe from these mind-blowing interpretations. Vote up the fan theories that seem the most plausible to you, or simply just vote for the ones that blew your mind the most.
Have you ever heard the creepypasta about the Rugrats being a figment of Angelica's imagination? What about the one where all the kids in Ed, Edd n Eddy are all actually trapped in purgatory? Not all of these fan theories about '90s cartoons are creepy, but there are a few you might regret reading before bed.
13 Mind-Blowing Fan Theories About '90s Cartoons,
The Strange Events in Courage the Cowardly Dog Are All Normal
Courage the Cowardly Dog first aired on Cartoon Network in 1999. The concept of the show was simple - Courage the dog lives on a farm with his owners Muriel and Eustace, and every episode a scary creature, person, or monster would visit the farm and terrorize the family. Courage would eventually confront his fears and foil the monster's plans, thus saving the family. One fan theory, however, presents an opposing viewpoint: what if the "monsters" that visit the family each week are merely regular people being seen through the eyes of a dog? In other words, the show is not about literal monsters who are haunting the family, but the overactive imagination of a dog and how it perceives the world around it. Mind=blown!
Professor X and Samurai Jack Are the Same Person
Prepare to have your mind blown: Have you ever noticed how Professor Utonium from The Powerpuff Girls and Jack from Samurai Jack look exactly the same? One fan theory states that after his final showdown with Aku, Jack and Aku are both launched into a time portal that the evil Aku created, and as a result of using his own dark power, Aku is transformed into a liquid version of himself. Now in a new world and time period, Jack dedicates his life to studying the liquified Aku, or "chemical X," and eventually makes lemonade out of lemons by spawning the Powerpuff Girls from the evil chemical.
Bikini Bottom Is the Result of Nuclear Testing
Ever wonder why Bikini Bottom in Spongebob Squarepants is so... weird? One fan theory offers an explanation to why a sponge would be talking in the first place- that Bikini Bottom is aptly named due to its location at the bottom of the Bikini Atoll. If you're not a history buff, the Bikini Atoll is an atoll in the Marshall Islands. Between 1946 and 1958, more than 20 nuclear devices were detonated in this area, including bombs that were detonated underwater. The characters in Spongebob Squarepants aren't a bunch of goofy little creatures, but rather a bunch of mutated freaks. Fallout 5: Bikini Bottom?
Ash Ketchum Is Eternally Stuck at 10 Years Old
Despite competing in multiple Pokemon leagues that would seemingly take years, Pokemon trainer Ash Ketchum never seems to age past the age of 10 years old. The explanation? In episode one of the Pokemon anime, Ash encounters Ho-oh, a Pokemon whose Pokedex entry states it can grant eternal happiness to whomever sees it. Since Ash's eternal happiness is to stay young forever and capture Pokemon, he doesn't age.
The Kids from The Magic School Bus Grew Up to Be the Planeteers
There's not much to this one, but how is it that the kids from The Magic School Bus look exactly like Captain Planet's Planeteers? Because they're the same kids, that's why.
Bill Dauterive Is Bobby Hill's Father
Okay, hear me out on this one. If you're a big fan of King of the Hill, you know that Hank and his son Bobby are complete opposites. While Hank is a sports nut who loves fixing cars and doing yard work, Bobby is a creative slacker who loves theater, gardening, and playing with "dolls." Bobby and Bill Dauterive are much more similar in personality than Bobby and Hank, and they also look fairly similar as well. This would also explain why Bill has such a thing for Peggy- because they had an affair years ago, and while she moved on from it, he didn't. Hank is also known for his narrow urethra, which could have definitely presented a problem in conceiving a child.
Dr. Claw Is the Real Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget was a great show with a badass theme, and the villain Dr. Claw was a mysterious figure whose face we never got to see. There's a good reason for that though, and that is that Dr. Claw is actually the original Inspector Gadget. As one fan theory states, the original Inspector Gadget was a cop who died on the job, and since he was such a valued part of the police force, the chief decided to build a robot that looked and acted exactly like the original. The problem is that the man they modeled Inspector Gadget after actually survived, and after seeing how he was replaced by a robot, he became the nefarious Dr. Claw. Why do you think you never see Dr. Claw's face? It's because it's the same face as Inspector Gadget.
Helga Is the Main Character in Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold! was one of Nickelodeon's most popular cartoons in the '90s, but who is truly the main character of this series? The obvious answer is Arnold, but if you dig a little deeper you can make a case that Helga Pataki is indeed the show's protagonist. Helga is the only character in the show with extended monologues, and is basically the only character that is ever going through an internal struggle. The show's title, Hey Arnold!, is actually a quote from Helga, as seen in the show's intro.
In Pinky and the Brain, Pinky Is Actually the Genius
In the theme song for Pinky and the Brain, the lyrics specifically tell us that "one is a genius, the other's insane." However, have you ever wondered why they don't specifically tell us which mouse is which? One popular fan theory argues that Pinky is, in fact, the genius of the bunch, and Brain is the insane one. If you think about it, it totally makes sense - the insane megalomaniac brain is trying to take over the world every day, and by playing dumb, Pinky is able to thwart him time and time again, saving the world and leading Brain to believe it was only an accident.
The Children in Ed, Edd n Eddy Are in Purgatory
According to one very popular fan theory, the children in Ed, Edd n Eddy are all actually dead and trapped in purgatory. This explains why there are no adults in the show, why the entire series seems to take place on their little cul-de-sac, and why the children have blue-tinted tongues (tongues can turn a blueish tint upon death). The children from the show all come from different time periods - Johnny died in the early 1900s, which is why he has a plank the board as a toy. Eddy was a fast-talking swindler from the Great Depression era, and Double D died in the '80s hence his love for technology.