Children’s TV can be easy nostalgia bait for adults reminiscing about the joyful days of childhood. Many children’s shows appeal to kids and adults, creating lasting enjoyment for each generation, but some shows aren’t so positively reflected upon. Whether harboring an overwhelmingly childish aesthetic, annoying characters, or a particularly juvenile sense of humor, some shows are unlikely to be liked by parents watching with their kids.
Many of these shows have problematic connotations, whether due to outdated storylines or behind-the-scenes drama. There are bound to be a few episodes, especially from older shows that may not have aged well, but some shows consistently portray topics and themes with poor execution, leaving an impact on their legacy and their audience.
10
Breadwinners Was Canceled After Two Seasons
Many Wonder What Happened to This Hyper-Energetic Show
This short-lived Nickelodeon cartoon follows two ducks, SwaySway and Buhdeuce hailing from a duck-populated planet, Pondgea as they deliver bread to customers. The show is colorful and incredibly fast-paced, switching frames and moving through jokes rapidly, which can be wildly disorienting to older viewers. The show premiered in 2014 after Nickelodeon experienced a significant ratings slump in 2011 and 2012.
Though the show initially helped boost ratings, its popularity quickly subsided and was canceled in 2016. Many cartoon enthusiasts on YouTube have chronicled the history of the show and even expressed upset over Nickelodeon’s decision not to renew the series. For those not paying attention to Nickelodeon in the early 2010s, however, it’s easy for this show to fly under the radar as it failed to make a significant impact like other iconic Nickelodeon cartoons.
Breadwinners
-
Cree Summer
SwaySway’s Mom (voice)
-
Jim Cummings
Indecisive Monster (voice)
-
Tara Strong
Zoona (voice)
-
Tom Kenny
SwaySway’s Dad / Bear Ruffinbuff (voice)
9
Peppa Pig Can Be Slow, With Dry Humor
Some Aren’t Fans of the Show’s Minimalist Animation Style
Premiering in 2004, Peppa Pig is still prominent in children’s culture, with toys of the young British pig and her family lining the shelves at local retailers. Since the show’s been around for two decades, it’s an easy show to reflect on, although not all audiences remember it as fondly as they did when they were kids.
Adults and parents have complained about Peppa’s bad manners, while many on the internet acknowledge Peppa’s toxic and jealous relationship with her supposed best friend, Suzy Sheep. The whole snorting gimmick can get on viewers’ nerves as well, becoming repetitive, especially when clashing against a pretty stagnant background. There is a charm to the show that many children enjoy and, though the art style is read as unimaginative by some, there is something special about the way the show mimics a child’s drawing with its colors and shapes.
Peppa Pig
- Release Date
-
May 31, 2004
- Network
-
Channel 5
8
Jessie Has an Extremely Unlikable Core Group of Characters
A lot of Moments From This Disney Channel Show Have Not Aged Well
Following an idealistic young woman who moves to New York City from Texas, Jessie imagines a life-changing situation falling into the protagonist’s lap. After landing at the curb of a penthouse and meeting a sweet and sassy young girl named Zuri, Jessie immediately agrees to be her nanny, not realizing she has 3 other kids and a 7-foot Asian water monitor lizard to look after.
Related
10 Most Controversial Disney Channel Storylines
Disney Channel is known for tackling serious issues. Many of these things were important for shows to address, but sparked controversy.
The show features Disney Channel darling Debby Ryan in the titular role as well as Skai Jackson as Zuri and stars from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Peyton List and Karan Brar. The late Cameron Boyce and theater actor Kevin Chamberlin also star in the show. Though the cast is engaging enough to watch, the kids are often ill-behaved and disrespectful. Not to mention, many of the characters are stereotyped, with Ravi being the fish-out-of-water Indian kid, Emma being the spoiled blonde girly girl, and Zuri being the loud, attitude-giving Black girl.
Jessie
- Release Date
-
2011 – 2014
- Directors
-
Phill Lewis, Bob Koherr
- Writers
-
Pamela Eells O’Connell and others
7
Victorious Has a Lot of Behind-the-Scenes Controversy
It’s Hard to Look at This Show the Same Way
Since the release of Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, fans have had their eyes opened regarding the inner workings of Nickelodeon. The emotional and informative docuseries linked a lot of the toxicity back to showrunner Dan Schneider, who was responsible for creating huge hits like iCarly and Victorious. The shows indulged in kids’ dreams of being stars in their own way, following a group of teens with a viral web series and students attending a performing arts high school.
Many clips from Victorious have resurfaced online featuring actresses and actors in suggestive positions or making jokes that many adults consider too mature for young children. One scene in particular sees pop sensation Ariana Grande, who was a teenager when she started playing the ditzy Cat Valentine, lying back on a bed pouring water over herself. While the show undoubtedly has great songs and helped launch the careers of beloved cultural figures, it’s hard to look past these questionable scenes that often come across as degrading.
Victorious
- Release Date
-
2010 – 2012
- Directors
-
Steve Hoefer, Adam Weissman, Russ Reinsel
- Writers
-
Dan Schneider
6
Barney & Friends Is Seen as Annoying to Many Adult Viewers
Kids and Adults Get Tired of This Show Very Quickly
Though the affectionate purple and green dinosaur is lovable and teaches valuable lessons about friendship, many viewers find the redundancies of Barney’s antics bothersome. From the groan-inducing “I Love You” song concluding almost every episode to the frequent musical numbers, it’s hard for older viewers to connect with Barney outside of nostalgia.
Other musical children’s media, like The Backyardigans, or shows that use puppets and costumes, like Sesame Street, are far more appealing for their creativity and handling of more mature themes. Many children grow out of Barney quickly as its main target audience sits around ages 2-6. Even still, the show serves as a potent reminder of childhood for adults and is many children’s first exposure to TV.
Barney & Friends
- Release Date
-
1992 – 2009
- Network
-
PBS, PBS Kids
5
Many Find the Puppets of Lazy Town Unsettling
A Fun Show With Somewhat Off-Putting characters
A show with a silly premise that encourages children to get moving and exercise actually has more appeal than it might sound. With catchy songs, dynamic costumes, and a wickedly charming villain, Robbie Rotten, Lazy Town has all the ingredients of a fondly remembered kid’s show. Where a lot of fans take issue is with the puppets that interact with the human characters.
Known as Latibær puppets, the characters brandish unique face molds and striking individual features, some of which come off as creepy to viewers. Though the puppets fit in with the vibrant Lazy Town aesthetic, their movements and mannerisms can be distracting and even off-putting. Lazy Town has thankfully found a legacy of being an engaging series with several upbeat and motivating musical numbers, but some find it hard to look past the puppets’ uncanny designs.
LazyTown
- Release Date
-
2004 – 2013
- Network
-
Nick Jr.
4
Teen Titans Go! Is Nowhere Near as Serious as its Predecessor
This Show Doesn’t Capture the Same Mature Aura of Many Superhero Shows
Premiering on Cartoon Network in 2013, Teen Titans Go! quickly skyrocketed to massive popularity. The show is currently the longest-running show centering on characters from the DC Universe, with over 400 episodes to its name. Featuring the same voice cast from the original Teen Titans series that aired on Cartoon Network from 2003-2006, the show differs in basically every other aspect.
While Teen Titans had a more realistic animation style and an overall more adult tone, Teen Titans Go! sees the characters in a cartoonish style distinctly different from the former series. The humor in the show is significantly more juvenile and has been criticized by fans of the original Teen Titans for being immature and not following a more cohesive plot. This hasn’t taken away from Teen Titans Go!‘s success as the show is still airing and even received a film in 2018 entitled Teen Titans Go! To The Movies.
Teen Titans Go!
- Release Date
-
April 23, 2013
- Network
-
Cartoon Network
- Showrunner
-
Aaron Horvath
- Directors
-
Peter Rida Michail
3
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir Is Addicting Despite Numerous Shortcomings
The Superhero Show Is Severely Cringeworthy, But Fans Can’t Look Away
Now in its sixth season, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, or simply Miraculous, has a way of hooking fans even with its flaws. This undeniably has to do with the infamous “love square,” which serves as the main draw of the show. Paris teenagers Marinette Dupen-Cheng and Adrien Agreste deal with the archetypal friend drama and relationship mishaps but are hiding their secret identities as superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir. The twist? Marinette is in love with Adrien, while Cat Noir is in love with Ladybug, unaware of their masked alter-egos.
Though the new season received an animation upgrade, the first five seasons of the show have been mocked for its animation style and lackluster storytelling. The show’s overly exaggerated dialogue and gestures are hard to overlook, even for diehard fans. The finale of season five did signal a major shift for the series, so fans are hopeful that the show will continue in new and exciting directions.
2
Max and Ruby Isn’t as Wholesome as One Might Remember
The Cute Bunnies May Distract Audiences From Just How Irresponsible Max and Ruby Are
Ruby and her quiet and mischievous little brother Max may be an accurate representation of growing up with siblings, but it doesn’t take away from the situations they often get themselves into. The show’s entire theme song shows Ruby trying to enjoy herself while Max causes trouble. Ruby often responds to this behavior with her signature bossiness often resulting in tension between the siblings.
Many fan theories online have suggested dark explanations for Max’s behavior, but one that sticks out as a likely cause is Max’s characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It’s easy to see why kids love this show, as the storybook animation style and anthropomorphic animals create an immersive world. However, many parents have labeled the show as glorifying disobedience and teaching kids that they can get away with whatever they want.
1
Caillou Might Be the Most Hated Children’s Show of All Time
Adults Are Infuriated Over Caillou’s Negative Attitude.
Following the learning experiences of 4-year-old Caillou, the show is marketed as a young boy learning new things about the world. Upon watching the show, it’s clear that Caillou is an especially difficult child. Constantly whining and being rude to his parents and other kids, he sets a poor example for young children. The show remained popular until its conclusion in 2011 as kids were more likely to overlook Caillou’s actions or even find them amusing.
Related
The 20 Most Disliked Cartoon Characters
Some cartoon characters just make their audience despise them – and for good reason.
Parents have commented on Caillou’s incessant tantrums, and some have prevented their children from watching it all together. Those who watched the show in their youth retain positive memories of the show, and some adults think that the show actually works as a teaching tool for kids on how not to behave. Still, PBS has an entire catalog of shows with educational value that would serve as a better precedent-setter for kids than Caillou.
