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bucolic_frolic

(52,030 posts)
Fri Aug 15, 2025, 07:54 AM Aug 15

The Cartoon That Knew Too Much: Rocky and Bullwinkle



Before Rick and Morty or The Simpsons, there was Rocky and Bullwinkle—the “dumbest smart show on television.” 🐿️🦌

This classic cartoon wasn’t just silly slapstick. Hidden under the moose jokes and flying squirrel antics was Cold War satire, meta humor, and political commentary that went straight over kids’ heads—but spoke directly to adults.

In this video, we explore:
• How Rocky and Bullwinkle predicted the future of postmodern TV
• The genius of breaking the fourth wall and anti-narrative storytelling
• Why a kids’ cartoon became a secret Trojan horse for media criticism
• How it shaped cartoons like South Park, BoJack Horseman, and Rick and Morty

If you love classic cartoons, media analysis, and retro animation deep dives, this episode is for you.
18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Cartoon That Knew Too Much: Rocky and Bullwinkle (Original Post) bucolic_frolic Aug 15 OP
Well, now Just Jerome Aug 15 #1
me childhood . one of the many influences when i was a little allan01bear AllaN01Bear Aug 15 #2
One of my favorite shows growing up, which might explain a few things. surfered Aug 15 #3
I loved Moose and Squirrel. Fearless Leader too. Borogove Aug 15 #4
true. tryharder Aug 15 #5
Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Aug 15 #17
Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Aug 17 #18
Homer Simpson's middle initial is an homage to Bullwinkle J. Moose. Probatim Aug 15 #6
I have the entire series on DVD -misanthroptimist Aug 15 #7
It's on my bucket shopping list. bucolic_frolic Aug 15 #8
I think I picked up for less than $100 -misanthroptimist Aug 15 #11
Was fun to watch them as a kid mdbl Aug 15 #9
Boris & Natasha now occupy the White House. n/t aggiesal Aug 15 #10
Yup. love_katz Aug 15 #16
Yes, yes, but i thought Beanie and Cecil did it first! Mom said as toddler i hung off the back txwhitedove Aug 15 #12
It was my personal introduction to political wit. NNadir Aug 15 #13
I watched that show almost every day as a child. iscooterliberally Aug 15 #14
I shall never fotget ChazInAz Aug 15 #15

AllaN01Bear

(27,185 posts)
2. me childhood . one of the many influences when i was a little allan01bear
Fri Aug 15, 2025, 09:44 AM
Aug 15

hey rockey, whats me pull a rabbit out of my hat, out comes a lion and roars . rockey says . now herse something you really may like.

tryharder

(13 posts)
5. true.
Fri Aug 15, 2025, 10:21 AM
Aug 15

“I stole the Rocky & Bullwinkle, did some more time. But now I’m back in (something resembling) school and learning all kinds of new things about my political bodies!”

-misanthroptimist

(1,427 posts)
7. I have the entire series on DVD
Fri Aug 15, 2025, 10:28 AM
Aug 15

That's right, DVD!

Some of the smartest and dumbest (but funny) humor ever to grace the small screen, imo.

And some of the worst puns! You'll wince in pain...and then laugh like a maniac.

-misanthroptimist

(1,427 posts)
11. I think I picked up for less than $100
Fri Aug 15, 2025, 10:41 AM
Aug 15

But that was four or five years ago. I think there's around 20 discs, give or take. That's a lot of entertainment for the price!

txwhitedove

(4,191 posts)
12. Yes, yes, but i thought Beanie and Cecil did it first! Mom said as toddler i hung off the back
Fri Aug 15, 2025, 10:48 AM
Aug 15

of the couch yelling "Help, Cecil, help!" Loved them, loved the 'No Bikini Atoll'. "The show was surprisingly sophisticated. There were topical and political references in among the bad puns. Like many good children's entertainment, the writers were writing for themselves, not kids, and the humor shows it."

NNadir

(36,401 posts)
13. It was my personal introduction to political wit.
Fri Aug 15, 2025, 10:48 AM
Aug 15

There was also Dudley Doright, Fractured Fairy Tales, and Sherman's wayback machine.

That show was pure magic.

When my kids were small the only children's show in my recollection that compared in subtle wit, albeit with more social than political focused commentary, was Fairly Odd Parents.

iscooterliberally

(3,123 posts)
14. I watched that show almost every day as a child.
Fri Aug 15, 2025, 11:02 AM
Aug 15

I remember hearing the narrator say, "we were going to kill them off, but realized we couldn't get away with that on a kids' show" as a child. I thought it was hilarious.

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