The most depressing kids' anime ever made

[Behonkiss]

No, this isn't a "post your choices" thread. I'm making this because I frequent a site called Anime Bargain Bin Reviews, and they recently reviewed something so inappropriate for the intended age group that it's hilarious: An 80s compilation movie taken from a 70s series, simply retitled The Brave Frog.

Here's the thing: I actually saw this. We rented it at our local video store when I was about 7. And the crazy thing is that I remembered a few bits from it, but honestly, after reading the synopsis provided in this, I can't believe I forgot about all the madness it contained. And yet I don't remember the movie traumatizing me in the slightest. I guess I just found it average or mediocre back then and can only appreciate its lunacy now. The review sums up the main problem with the movie and presumably the series as well: A lot of the more violent anime kids were accidentally exposed to in the 80s tended to look more edgy and mature. This has colorful cartoon animals literally beating each other to death in some scenes, when the visuals look like something totally innocent. It is really, really, bizarre.

Here's the thing: This review has an embedded Youtube montage of choice bits of cruelty, violence and death from the movie. If you make it through that and go to the video's actual page, someone's uploaded the entire movie in the related videos. I dare you to sit through it.

Oh, and here's the review:
http://www.anime-games.co.uk/VHS/anime/brave-frog-kerokko-demetan.php

 

[Taekmkm]

I was expecting something....

violent. Oh well.

 

[Umino]

Not surprising. Alot of older series dealt with pretty depressing stuff. It wasn't uncommon for an episode, or series to not have a happy ending.

 

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I was expecting something....

violent. Oh well.

I rarely ever equate violence with depression. Maybe that makes me sick? Oh well.

Actually, I was thinking more of those kids' anime weepies, like Dog of Flanders. The one with the kid and dog who die of hypothermia in a church at the end...

 

[Taekmkm]

I rarely ever equate violence with depression. Maybe that makes me sick? Oh well.

Actually, I was thinking more of those kids' anime weepies, like Dog of Flanders. The one with the kid and dog who die of hypothermia in a church at the end...

Maybe I'm desensitized. I watched Zambot 3 which is also 70's, and that had human bombs, the heroes dying, and a villain named Butcher the Killer. If anything had a mixed message, that show was one. "Hey, buy our awesome toys if you don't feel like killing yourself first!"

 

[SSJ Jake]

Wow I remember this movie too when I was a kid. I saw it the exact same way Behonkiss saw it as well, my parents rented it. They were shocked at how violent it was, like when the evil king frog tell his daughter to "stand still" and then slaps her on the face. Nevertheless I remember myself enjoying it.

It's funny because if it were dubbed in the late 90's/mid 2000 it would have been chopped in to pieces, which is also odd since the movie was already edited footage from a TV series.

Edit: looking at that link I must have only liked it for the violence. Those are some of the worst looking cartoon frogs out there (circular noses...on a frog...WHY?) and the footage shown is absolutely atrocious, from the voice acting to the unnecessary cruel tone. I agree with what everyone else has said: how did this get a G-rating?

 

[zoombie]

I may not have the exact title right, there was a anime called "Now, Here, and There" it aired on ani Monday last December. It had a girl have rape pregnency, and children die in brutal and bloody ways. And by the end of the series, at least half of the cast was dead.

 

[TheGunheart]

But that wasn't a kids' series.

 

[Lord Dalek]

You think Brave Frog is depressing, try watching it on a tripple bill with Ringing Bell of Chirin and Unico.

 

[TeknomanFan]

Candy Candy was depressing

 

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Anyone here know if the girl from Full Moon Sagashite died of throat cancer at the end?

 

[80's guy]

I heard Bokurano was depressing.

 

[Taekmkm]

I heard Bokurano was depressing.

It's not really a kid's show, though.

There's a difference between depressing shows (which are plentiful) and downer shows that are hilariously targeted at kids specifically like Zambot 3.

 

[trunkschan90]

Nobody's Boy Remi

T_T How could anybody forget this one. (it's airing on ANN's streaming page)

 

[John Pannozzi]

I've heard the 1989 TV series reboot of Kimba the White Lion lost it badly. Sad considering it was intended to be true to Osamu Tezuka's original vision, that been compromised by NBC back in 1960s. Too bad Tezuka-sensei died early on in the making of the show. And people think Lion King did the most damage to the Kimba franchise...think again.