It’s no doubt that spooky television characters have been pushing children into alternative culture for a long time. I, myself, would watch such characters all day wanting to be more like them. In today’s society alternative culture’s slowly becoming much more accepted and certainly more accessible to find online or in everyday television shows. Here’s a little list of a few alternative cartoon characters that any age group can enjoy.
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The Grimm Adventures of Billy and Mandy
This is the tale of two children, Billy and Mandy, and their adventures with their good friend the Grimm Reaper. The episodes are a combination of comedy and horror and while there are over six seasons the episodes are easy to watch out of order. The series holds a lot of smart plot lines and intelligent humour among that meant for children. For great video reviews check out Colour Me Goth, I love watching them – they’re very well put together.
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Lenore: The Cute Little Dead Girl
This cartoon spin off of Roman Dirges comic by the same name follows Lenore (Edgar Allen Poe’s Lenore) in her life after coming back from the grave. There’s something just not right about this little girl that sees nothing wrong with killing all of the pet shops hamsters or throwing knives at the people that lust for her attention. This series is chilling enough for adults – plus the all episodes combine to about movie length. You can watch them all here since they aren’t on the official website anymore or click here to watch my most favoured episode for a preview (it’s only three minutes).
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Growing up Creepie
You can check out my very, very old review where I talk about “Goth’s in the mainstream“- but beware of terrible spelling. This series is a combination of cartoon, teen drama and documentary on bugs and creatures. While the main character, Creepie, stumbles through the events of high school and attempts to fit in all while growing up with a family of assorted bugs. It’s definitely more suited towards a younger audience but the information about creatures would be interesting to any age.
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Daria
You guys must know how much I love Daria by now. For the record I freakin’ adore it. This series is an adult animated program following the sarcastic, witty and darky humoured main character Daria and her also sarcastic and artistic best-friend Jane Lane. We follow them from the Morgendorffer’s move to the dismal town of Lawndale through in their high school trials and tribulation up until their graduation. This isn’t a series (I hope) that will be forgotten very soon.
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Ruby Gloom
It certainly makes me laugh that Wikipedia states “Ruby Gloom was originally aimed towards a gothic crowd but was later adapted for kids.” The main character, Ruby is a 10 year old girl who can find happiness in anything. The series follows her and sometimes her friends around the mansion they live in solving their daily problems. This isn’t a series I have particular history watching but it has never failed to entertain the young me.
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Beetlejuice
It’s ridiculous that I was just about to finish this when I remembered good old Beetlejuice! Loosely inspired by the eighties film directed by Tim Burton and a film that every Goth should know! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to see many episodes of the original series since they’re so hard to find online. The plot is certainly separate from the film, following young Goth, Lydia and her friend, Beetlejuice wandering the underworlds filled with monsters, ghosts, zombies and ghouls. You can watch the first episode here on Youtube officially.
Did you watch dark cartoons growing up? What other cartoon do you think I should have included?
The Walrus Room 
Oh how I adore Daria! I had a huge crush on Trent growing up! She was my inspiration for my pre teen years!
I discovered Creepie on TV a few years ago! I used to watch that show every afternoon!
I used to love Beetlejuice so much. I always watched it on pay TV, when we had that for a short time. So sad they doesn't broadcast it on TV anymore, this show is so funny.
Beetlejuice!
I actually have ALL of that series on my computer right now. I feel like I should start up a new Youtube channel just to upload them.
Anyone interested?
I would definitely be!
I was reading your post and was like “she's got to mention beetlejuice” and you did! I loved that show when I was a kid. I had the plastic square lunch box and everything. I think it'd be fair to include Batman: the animated series. There's plenty of adult shows around today. The Venture Brothers is one of them. the show's creator plays in a goth band and while there's one goth character, the show is a spoof of “boy adventurer” cartoons with plenty of dark humor. The music is by none other than j. g. thirwell. Also there's Metalocalypse which is the greatest ever.
1666: I can't believe I didn't remember Metalocalypse! I love that series and have it all on DVD (which is rare for me). :3 It's soo funny!
Your posts are so entertaining! 🙂 I loved watching beetlejuice when I was a kid – I was facinated by the strangness surrounding him (there's a post incoming on my blog about beetlejuice style)- and yes, I defenitely think this had an impact on me 🙂
I miss the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy so much! I would watch that at least once a week as a kid.
I don't know if Rosie can be included in this, but she is quite, well, weird (in the good sense of the word) and I just looove her =) she has a sheep that is bright green (I think she has radiation), and she is always playing thins with her neighbour like put him in a box, or froze him.
Also, not alternative per self, but a with kind of drawing that looks very Tim Burton-esque, is “Figaro Pho”. It's a cartoon with a character called Figaro that, in every episode, has a different phobia (fear of dust, clouds, dance, it's just some of the phobias that he have had in some episodes)
Its late, but I think you should have included courage the cowardly dog cuz that think scared the bejeebers out of me and I have so many memories about it ^_^ And maybe (just the opening) of Grizzly Tales… yeah