Updated March 20, 2023 55.2K votes 11.9K voters 2.2M views
Fan theories are ridiculous on the whole, but every now and again you come across one that makes so much sense that it just has to be real. These fan theories about '90s cartoons might just ruin a few of your childhood favorites, so be warned that you will never look at these shows in the same way. Imaginary babies and nuclear testing are just the beginning with these creepy '90s fan theories, and fans of Rugrats, The Powerpuff Girls, and even Inspector Gadget aren't safe from these mind-blowing interpretations.
Have you ever heard the creepypasta about the Rugrats being a figment of Angelica's imagination? What about the one where all the kids in Ed, Edd n Eddy are all actually trapped in purgatory? Not all of these fan theories about '90s cartoons are creepy, but there are a few you might regret reading before bed.
Vote up the fan theories that seem the most plausible to you.
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4,096 VOTES
The Kids From 'The Magic School Bus' Grew Up To Be The Planeteers
There's not much to this one, but how is it that the kids from The Magic School Bus look like Captain Planet's Planeteers? Because they're the same kids, that's why.
4,096 votes
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3,965 VOTES
In 'Pinky and the Brain,' Pinky Is Actually The Genius
In the theme song for Pinky and the Brain, the lyrics specifically tell us that "one is a genius, the other's insane." However, have you ever wondered why they don't specifically tell us which mouse is which? One fan theory argues that Pinky is, in fact, the genius of the bunch, and Brain is the insane one.
If you think about it, it totally makes sense - the insane megalomaniac brain is trying to take over the world every day, and by playing dumb, Pinky is able to thwart him time and time again, saving the world and leading Brain to believe it was only an accident.
3,965 votes
3
3,488 VOTES
The Strange Events In 'Courage the Cowardly Dog' Are All Normal
Courage the Cowardly Dog first aired on Cartoon Network in 1999. The concept of the show is simple: Courage the dog lives on a farm with his owners Muriel and Eustace, and every episode a scary creature, person, or monster visits the farm and terrorizes the family. Courage eventually confronts his fears and foils the monster's plans, thus saving the family. One fan theory, however, presents an opposing viewpoint: what if the "monsters" that visit the family each week are merely regular people being seen through the eyes of a dog?
In other words, the show is not about literal monsters who are haunting the family, but the overactive imagination of a dog and how it perceives the world around it.
3,488 votes
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3,108 VOTES
In 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' Bikini Bottom Is The Result Of Nuclear Testing
Ever wonder why Bikini Bottom in SpongeBob SquarePants is so weird? One fan theory offers an explanation to why a sponge would be talking in the first place: that Bikini Bottom is aptly named due to its location at the bottom of the Bikini Atoll. If you're not a history buff, the Bikini Atoll is an atoll in the Marshall Islands. Between 1946 and 1958, more than 20 nuclear devices were detonated in this area, including bombs that were detonated underwater.
The characters in SpongeBob SquarePants aren't a bunch of goofy little creatures, but rather a bunch of mutated freaks.
3,108 votes
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3,032 VOTES
Bill Dauterive Is Bobby Hill's Father In 'King of the Hill'
If you're a big fan of King of the Hill, you know that Hank and his son Bobby are complete opposites. While Hank is a sports nut who loves fixing cars and doing yard work, Bobby is a creative slacker who loves theater, gardening, and playing with "dolls." Bobby and Bill Dauterive are much more similar in personality than Bobby and Hank, and they also look fairly similar as well.
This would also explain why Bill has such a thing for Peggy: because they had an affair years ago, and while she moved on from it, he didn't. Hank is also known for his narrow urethra, which could have definitely presented a problem in conceiving a child.
Hey Arnold! was one of Nickelodeon's most popular cartoons in the '90s, but who is truly the main character of this series? The obvious answer is Arnold, but if you dig a little deeper you can make a case that Helga Pataki is indeed the show's protagonist. Helga is the only character in the show with extended monologues, and is basically the only character that is ever going through an internal struggle.
The show's title, Hey Arnold!, is actually a quote from Helga, as seen in the show's intro.
