10 Kids' TV Shows That Were Based On Violent Movies (2024)

10 Kids' TV Shows That Were Based On Violent Movies (1)

By Clarence Snell

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10 Kids' TV Shows That Were Based On Violent Movies (5)

This article contains mention of graphic depictions of violence.

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Over the years, there have been plenty of children's television shows with questionable origins, some of which are inspired by films that are too violent for kids. While there are scary kid's shows and kids' shows with sad characters, there is also this trend of taking more adult properties, often from rated-R movies, and turning them into cartoons for children. It is an odd practice, but it has created recognizable shows that were a part of many kids' childhoods.

Still, because such drastic changes need to be made to the original property to adapt it into something more fitting for kids, one wonders why someone would adapt them at all. Wouldn't other properties fit a kids' show better? Regardless of why, some of the cartoons created ended up being amazing while others fell flat.

10 Highlander: The Animated Series (1994-1996)

This Kids' Series Takes Highlander To The 27th Century

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Releasing nearly a decade after the original Highlander movie, Highlander: The Animated Series follows the story of one of the descendants of Connor MacLeod, a boy named Quentin, as he struggles to fight back against an evil ruler named Kortan around 700 years after the death of his ancestor. The setting of Highlander: The Animated Series is much different than in the original film, which takes place in 1985 in New York City.

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While the violence is toned down considerably in the animated series, it is quite present in both the original Highlander movie and the movies that would follow. This is because the only way to kill a Highlander is through decapitation, making this an incredibly important point throughout the series that is even shown on screen. The craziest part is that this concept is still present in the children's cartoon, retaining some of its darker tendencies even during the transition to animation.

9 The Mask (1995-1997)

The Original Comic Books Were Even More Violent Than The Movie

10 Kids' TV Shows That Were Based On Violent Movies (7)

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The Mask

TV-Y7

Animation

Action

Adventure

Shy bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss transforms into the mischievous, superpowered Mask after discovering an ancient artifact. By night, he battles villains and causes mayhem with cartoonish antics. As he navigates a double life, Stanley relies on his alter ego to handle supernatural threats and save the day, all while maintaining his secret identity​.

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Cast
Rob Paulsen , Frank Welker , Jim Cummings , Neil Ross , Mark L. Taylor , Tress MacNeille , Heidi Shannon , Kevin Michael Richardson

Release Date
August 12, 1995

Seasons
3
Main Genre
Animation

Creator(s)
Mark Badger

Many people know The Mask from the wacky Jim Carrey film that was released in 1994. However, a year later an animated series was made after this film became a hit with adults and kids alike. There is plenty of fantasy violence and out-of-this-world hijinks in the film, and though it can be violent at times, there is nothing too terrible or bloody in the film itself.

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Where the real violence comes is in the comic book series that The Mask is based on. Created by Dark Horse Comics, The Mask, also known as the Big Head Killer, is less of a public nuisance and more of an indiscriminate murderer. The Mask comics include incredibly disturbing depictions of gore and violence, making them chilling reads for any adult and an off-putting choice for a kids' show adaptation.

8 Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Adventure Chronicles (1999)

This Sci-Fi Action Film Is Not A Kid Friendly Watch

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Best known for its unrelenting action and satirical take on fascism, Starship Troopers seems like the last franchise that would receive a children's show adaptation. Not only are soldiers' bodies cut in half by massive bugs in the first few minutes of the movie, but the message of the Starship Troopers is something that has been misunderstood by many adults for years. How would the subject material transfer to a kids' show?

The answer comes in the form of Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles, a 3-D animated series that focuses on individual missions that the main characters go on. These missions typically involve killing bugs and saving cities, with little exploration aside from that. The violence is toned down considerably to change the source material into something more acceptable for children, making it more akin to a shallow version of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

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7 Police Academy (1988-1989)

This Comedy Cop Film Became A Kids' Show

Based on the film franchise of the same name, Police Academy was an animated series that took an adult comedy and turned it into a family-friendly crime series. It follows a group of academy graduates, some more eager to stop crime than others. This series went on to be incredibly popular, with a whopping 65 episodes over 2 seasons.

While not entirely different from the live-action films, Police Academy was significantly less adult than its predecessors. The original Police Academy movie is filled with innuendo, depicting sexual harassment, nudity, the use of slurs, and gun violence. It is important to note that the animated series includes none of this, instead focusing on a more "bad guy of the week" formula.

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6 Beetlejuice (1989-1991)

Tim Burton's Character Beetlejuice Sees A Dramatic Change

10 Kids' TV Shows That Were Based On Violent Movies (10)

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Beetlejuice

TV-Y7-FV

Animation

Horror

Adventure

Beetlejuice is an animated television series inspired by Tim Burton's 1988 film. The show follows the misadventures of Lydia Deetz, a gothic teenage girl, and her mischievous ghost friend, Beetlejuice, in the Neitherworld and on Earth. Voiced by Stephen Ouimette, Beetlejuice's chaotic antics and Lydia's resourcefulness create a unique blend of comedy and fantasy. The series aired from 1989 to 1991, garnering critical acclaim for its inventive storytelling and distinctive animation style.

Cast
Stephen Ouimette , Alyson Court , Tabitha St. Germain , Elizabeth Hanna , Roger Dunn

Release Date
September 9, 1989

Seasons
4
Main Genre
Animation

Although the original Beetlejuice film is perhaps one of the least violent comparatively, it still features scenes of violence in which Beetlejuice attempts to kill the Deetz family. This, coupled with the many different sexual jokes throughout the film, solidifies Beetlejuice as a film meant for an older audience. However, in the cartoon version of Beetlejuice, the titular character is transformed from a violent ghost desperate to come back to life into a well-meaning, if not a little disgusting, prankster.

This version of Beetlejuice, while toned down, retains the same sort of fantasy imagery that was present in the original Beetlejuice film and still manages to be an incredible children's show. Since the release of the cartoon, Beetlejuice has also received a successful movie sequel and a fun musical adaptation that is still touring across the country to this day. While no two versions of the "ghost with the most" are the same, they all strike at the heart of a whimsical and beloved Tim Burton character.

5 Toxic Crusaders (1991-1993)

Based On The Vulger Troma Movie

10 Kids' TV Shows That Were Based On Violent Movies (11)

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Toxic Crusaders

TV-Y7

Animation

Action

Comedy

Toxic Crusaders is an animated television series that follows Toxie, a mutant janitor, and his friends as they fight pollution and evil forces in their hometown of Tromaville. The show combines environmental themes with superhero action, featuring a colorful cast of characters who band together to combat villains and clean up the planet.

Cast
gregg berger , Susan Blu , Rodger Bumpass , Paul Eiding , Ed Gilbert , John Mariano , Chuck McCann , Hal Rayle

Release Date
March 1, 1991

Seasons
1
Main Genre
Animation

Creator(s)
Lloyd Kaufman

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Toxic Crusaders is a 1991 animated children's show based on The Toxic Avenger film series. It was a short series with only 13 episodes, revolving around the story of Toxie, a janitor who was transformed into a mutant with special powers after falling into a drum of toxic waste. The animated series depicts Toxie as he fights against villains who mean to pollute the environment.

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Certain great movies and TV shows feature mild horror elements and more palatable stories, making them a good entry for kids into the horror genre.

This is a far cry from the original films. While The Toxic Avenger is still about Toxie's fight against polluters and villains who would destroy the environment, the films are known for their gore-filled scenes and gratuitous violence. Though the original film came out in 1984, a reboot for The Toxic Avenger franchise premiered in 2023.

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4 Conan The Adventurer (1992-1993)

This Animated Series Brought Conan The Barbarian To A Younger Audience

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Conan the Adventurer (1992)

TV-Y7

Animation

Action

Adventure

Conan the Adventurer is a 1992 animated series that follows the young barbarian warrior Conan, as he battles the evil wizard Wrath-Amon to free his family from a curse and prevent the resurrection of the evil serpent god Set.

Cast
Michael Donovan , Michael Beattie , Scott McNeil , Doug Parker , Janyse Jaud , Garry Chalk , Kathleen Barr , Richard Newman

Release Date
September 12, 1992

Seasons
2
Main Genre
Animation

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular character, Conan the Barbarian was a film about Conan and his quest to seek revenge for his parents' deaths. The film was originally based on a comic book series, and once the film was released, the name Conan became synonymous with violence and death. This property spawned several adaptations, including a sequel, a reboot, and a children's animated series called Conan the Adventurer.

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The animated series was incredibly popular, standing out at the time among other popular animated shows such as He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Dungeons & Dragons. Despite being made for kids, this show stays remarkably true to the source material. Nevertheless, like many similar adaptations, the violence was toned down, and the adult content was scrubbed from the narrative.

3 RoboCop (1988)

It Continues Where The Original RoboCop Left Off

Meant to be an alternate universe continuation of the original RoboCop movie, the animated version of RoboCop typically consists of different missions assigned to the series' protagonist, the titular cyborg cop known as Alex Murphy. The series features many of the same characters as the film, but RoboCop's animated series made some specific changes to the world and the series' canon to make it suitable for young audiences.

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The RoboCop franchise received a second animated series called RoboCop: Alpha Commando.

An example of these changes is that bullets were replaced with lasers to avoid including bullets in a show made for children. Perhaps the biggest change made to the franchise was the retconning of Clarence Boddicker's death, as he appears alive and well in the animated series. These changes are some of the most egregious when it comes to adapting violent movies into kids' cartoons, as RoboCop was such a violent movie to begin with that it would be difficult to make it into a children's show without changing a great deal about it.

2 Rambo: The Force For Freedom (1986)

This Animated Series Is Completely Different From The Rambo Film

10 Kids' TV Shows That Were Based On Violent Movies (14)

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Rambo: The Force of Freedom

Not Rated

Animation

Action

Adventure

Rambo: The Force of Freedom is an animated television series following the adventures of John Rambo, portrayed as a hero combating the terrorist organization S.A.V.A.G.E. Alongside his team, including the technical expert Turbo and martial artist K.A.T., Rambo undertakes various missions to thwart evil plans and defend global freedom. The series adapts the character from the successful film franchise into a format suitable for younger audiences.

Cast
Neil Ross , Michael Ansara , Russi Taylor , Mona Marshall , Alan Oppenheimer , Michael Bell , Robert Ito , Frank Welker , Ed Gilbert , Lennie Weinrib , Peter Cullen , James Avery , Dale Ishimoto

Release Date
April 14, 1986

Seasons
1
Main Genre
Animation

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The original Rambo film First Blood follows Sylvester Stallone's John Rambo, a veteran of the Vietnam War depicted as having PTSD, who snaps under the abuse he suffers following his arrest. What follows is a bloody battle between Rambo and the police in a film meant to criticize the Vietnam War, painting Rambo as a victim. After this film, an entire franchise of Rambo movies was created, and this included the animated children's series Rambo: The Force of Freedom.

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Rambo: The Force of Freedom was incredibly different from the movie it was based on, not only because it scrubbed the story of its more graphic violence, but also because it changed the story entirely. Instead of a veteran suffering from PTSD, Rambo's backstory was fictionalized. Vietnam is never mentioned, and Rambo works for the military to fight against terrorists, completely invalidating the story that was originally told.

1 Mortal Kombat: Defenders Of The Realm (1995-1996)

A Bloody Video Game-Turned-Movie Became A Kids' Cartoon

Although the Mortal Kombat series is best known for its legion of incredibly violent video games, the popularity and general cult status of its 1995 film was exponential for the franchise. It was so popular that it inspired an animated spin-off series in the very next year, which debuted as Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm. While this show features many of the characters seen in both the movie and the games, it falls short of feeling like a contributing part of the franchise.

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The Mortal Kombat franchise has since released a series of animated films aimed more towards an older audience.

Taking out all the violence that Mortal Kombat is so well-known for, Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm followed characters such as Liu Kang and Raiden and their attempts to defend Earthrealm from evil. Scenes from the 1995 movie are referenced and even recreated, such as Liu Kang's iconic fight with Sub-Zero, but they are gutted to make them family-friendly. The series comes across as more of a quick cash grab made to capitalize on the film's success, and it did not last for longer than a single season.

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