So what's your favorite 'dark' children's show? It doesn't necessarily have to be a cartoon, but something aimed at younger children that has darker/creepier elements.

Like 'Courage the Cowardly Dog' for example.

For me, it is definitely a tie between 'The Grimm Adventures of Billy and Mandy' or 'Invader Zim'. Both were hilarious.

^This and "Batman"

I HATE "Billy and Mandy". Mainly, I hate Mandy. She's the most annoying, unlikable character I ever had a displeasure of meeting. I really wish she was real so I could strange her, or at least slap her real hard.

On the other hand, I loved watching "Courage the Cowardly Dog" was when it was on! It was funny, creative, scary and entertaining.

Some more scary children's shows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU-DAWveB_g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC3kue_C35g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jitg-3xbmKU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i99D_JEf5Lk (althought the last season sucked)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chz8TnoznDc (and I KNOW that the monsters almost always turn out to be fake, and I KNOW that it's not that scary when compared with other examples, but it was still very creative and scary for its time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qroWDYahXKM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF8Egruqedo

OMG! How could I forget "Goosebumps" and "Are You Afraid of the Dark"?! And "Tales from the Crypt"? Bad Dobby, bad!!!

Dude, how do you hate Mandy? She's a boss!

And I didn't really like Courage to be quite honest. It wasn't funny to me, and I hated the fact that they lived in the middle of nowhere for some reason...

Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!

The animated series, because animated Lydia Deetz is irresistible.

Tribute to Lydia Deetz

-- Nephele

LS needs to check in here. He's carried on in the past about how British TV was designed to scare the heck out of the kids (back when he was growing up, I don't know about now).

The boss, huh?

Mandy is leading nothing but two things: Jack and shit. And Jack just left town.

Another vote for Beetlejuice! Also, the animated Addams Family. I loved Knightmare, best children's game show ever. For drama, the little known Century Falls, written by Russell T Davies. Can I also mention Doctor Who? Old school Who was pretty scary for me as a kid, heh!

Batman (animated), Knightmare, Trapdoor, Visionairies...does Count Duckula count as dark? I'm not really sure.
I'm no doubt forgetting 100's.

Count Duckula totally counts I loved that show and am getting it on dvd soon.

Another show I love is Young Dracula (hopefully to be returning for a fourth season at the end of the month). I just wish they'd release it on dvd.

I remember a show in the late 80s called The Little Vampire and I was scared witless after the first episode (and it's instilled a fear of having someone/thing under my bed, so I have to have so much stuff under there that not even the cat can crawl through!)

Some of the later offerings from Scooby Doo are darker than the originals as they have real monsters and not villans in suits although seeing as kids these days are bombarded with content that would have been marketed for adults when I was a kid, I doubt they'd be scared of anything under a 15 rating anymore

I got to play that at Q-con in Belfast one year.

Yes. It was exactly as awesome as you'd think.

Haha, true.

Minty: That Young Dracula show sounds interesting.

I know it's not a TV show, but did anyone see that kids movie, 'The Little Vampire'? That used to be my favorite movie when I was eight...

Actually, I really enjoyed the Addams Family cartoons, Batman, and Darkwing Duck as a kid.

I miss them lol.

Scooby Doo wasn't my thing though.



OMG I forgot about this! I love Beetlejuice!

You might like my T-Shirt then



I hate you.