Nightmares. They are the bane of our psyches, but at the same time they're interesting. Nightmares are born from what we fear most in life, whether it was something recent or whatever. When it comes to cartoons, animators have a bit more leeway, just do something twisted that'd leave an impact, while staying within standards.
So for this list, I'm gonna go over some nightmare scenes in cartoons I feel were well done. This doesn't count dark turns in otherwise straight-forward scenes (with one exception), and I'm not including anything from Powerpuff Girls, they were just being selfish in that episode.
Also, spoiler alert.
6. Doug: Nightmare on Jumbo Street
Putting this lower on the list because it was given away at the start of it. This is one of two nightmares had by Doug Funnie in this episode, this being the second. This had stuck in my head for years, which is more than enough for me.
In this nightmare, after fleeing from the cinema, Doug finds the environment getting more and more twisted, especially in his house with no one around. When he finds Porkchop, things get more twisted, mixed with cartoony antics, but even then the execution saves this.
5. The Loud House: A Tale of Two Tables
And yes, I'm putting The Loud House on this list. This show did have a nightmare sequence. Not like the previous one, the idea this is a nightmare is eased into, it's a build-up which is... okay it's not the best, but it does make fair use of the show's animation (you can do very little with Flash), and I like it for its surrealistic charm.
I just wish the fandom wasn't so braindead.
4. Ed, Edd n' Eddy: Rock-A-Bye Ed
Picking this over The Eds Are Coming because it works in a different way. This nightmare happens at the start of the episode, and it gives a nice glimpse into Ed's mind and the impact Sarah has on his life. The visuals sell this, and the Jonny 2x4 imagery helps to set up the twist that comes after.
It's Ed, Edd n' Eddy's usual brand of humor that holds a certain level of complexity that shows how dire Ed's home life is.
3. Rugrats: Pickles Vs. Pickles
Rugrats is already infamous for a number of twisted nightmare sequences. Ironically, I thought Rugrats was for preschoolers (and if you saw the seasons after the second movie, you'd believe so too.), so I wasn't prepared for the insanity of the previous ones. Name em, Big Baby, dust bunnies, evil Santa, I'm neither Tommy nor Stu, living germs, etc. Though there is one episode that seems to fall off of everyone's radar.
Pickles Vs. Pickles is just as scary as the other episodes, if not just as unique. This is a more realistic nightmare, compared to the others and it's a slow burn. Drew dreams that Angelica takes him and Charlotte to court after he sends her to her room without dessert for not eating her vegetables. The judge takes Angelica's side almost too easily (and by the way, the judge is modeled after Thurgood Marshall, I have a feeling they've seen something we don't know about.)
The build-up is both over the top and natural, with Angelica winning the case and Drew getting sent to prison.
Now, along with the slow build, this is scary because we get a glimpse into why Drew often spoils Angelica and how she turned out the way she did. Not to mention with confirmation she planned this all along, it sells that point even further. Ironically, he wasn't as harsh to her compared to the last time he punished her and he was fine.
You can fuck up an office and punish your child for it, but dessert is serious biz.
2. Hey Arnold!: Sid and Germs
One of the biggest takeaways I had from Hey Arnold! was its nightmare sequences. They did not hold back for a lot of these, even with the littlest of effort, they get the job done and leave off with a good screamer. It was hard to pick what I considered to be the best Hey Arnold! nightmare, Arnold Visits Arnie was already known well enough, I think BlameItOnJorge already talked about "What did I tell you Shortman?" but I found one.
Sid and Germs still got me even after my latest viewing. I think it perfectly reflects how cold, restraining and dark life is through the eyes of a germaphobe, combined with how Sid's social life was falling apart at this point. The dilemma for each was well represented in this nightmare.
1. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy: Tickle Me Mandy
It's safe to say The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy started out much differently than what we'd get later on. Then again this was during the show's prototypical period, and the show's main style would slowly come through by the start of the official run.
Dream a Little Dream was obviously a Fantasia parody, for the most part I think. Though it seems some people forgot about, or tried to anyways, one certain episode.
Tickle Me Mandy seemed simple enough, Grim conjures a playmate for Billy that he couldn't decide if he wanted or not. At best, New Mandy was just bratty, obsessive at worst, but to Billy, she was his worst nightmare, at least according to the one he had.
The atmosphere, suspense and lack of music help sell this nightmare. Not to mention, they actually did a jumpscare proper, just having that stinger a bit off from when we see that gritty Billy face helps keep this from looking cliche. It's just vivid imagery that gives a glimpse into Billy's mind.
But just see for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPzJopR7qnw
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