History ContinuityNod / WesternAnimation

** During the beginning of the ChristmasEpisode, "[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsTwasTheFightBeforeChristmas Twas the Fight Before Christmas]]", when the girls tell [[RichBitch Princess Morbucks]] that her Christmas wish of being a Powerpuff Girl will never come true and her overall [[SpoiledBrat bratty personality]] and previous criminal deeds landed her on Santa's Naughty List, the deeds referenced were purchasing the city and [[LegalizedEvil legalizing crime]] ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS3E4BubblevisionBoughtAndScold Bought and Scold]]"), [[VillainousTeamup hiring Mojo Jojo to try to destroy them]] ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS2E8MoJobPetFeud Mo Job]]"), giving them a bomb for [[BirthdayEpisode their birthday]] ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS2E3BirthdayBashTooPoopedToPuff Birthday Bash]]"), joining forces with three felons, consisting of Mojo, HIM and Fuzzy Lumpkins, and going on a crime spree ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS3E12MoralDecayMeetTheBeatAlls Meet the Beat Alls]]") and tricking their new neighbor, Robyn Snyder into [[FiveFingerDiscount shoplifting]] so she could arrest her ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS4EP5 Superfriends]]").

** During the beginning of the ChristmasEpisode, "[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsTwasTheFightBeforeChristmas Twas the Fight Before Christmas]]", when the girls tell [[RichBitch Princess Morbucks]] that her Christmas wish of being a Powerpuff Girl will never come true and her overall [[SpoiledBrat bratty personality]] and previous criminal deeds landed her on Santa's Naughty List, the deeds referenced were purchasing the city and [[LegalizedEvil legalizing crime]] ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS3E4BubblevisionBoughtAndScold Bought and Scold]]"), hiring Mojo Jojo to try to destroy them ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS2E8MoJobPetFeud Mo Job]]"), giving the girls a bomb for their birthday ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS2E3BirthdayBashTooPoopedToPuff Birthday Bash]]"), joining forces with three felons, consisting of Mojo, HIM and Fuzzy Lumpkins, and going on a crime spree ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS3E12MoralDecayMeetTheBeatAlls Meet the Beat Alls]]") and tricking their new neighbor, Robyn Snyder into shoplifting so she could arrest her ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS4EP5 Superfriends]]").

** During the beginning of the ChristmasEpisode, "[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsTwasTheFightBeforeChristmas Twas the Fight Before Christmas]]", when the girls tell [[SpoiledBrat Princess]] [[RichBitch Morbucks]] that her overall personality and previous criminal deeds landed her on Santa's Naughty List and that her Christmas wish of being a Powerpuff Girl will never come true, the deeds referenced were purchasing the city and [[LegalizedEvil legalizing crime]] ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS3E4BubblevisionBoughtAndScold Bought and Scold]]"), hiring Mojo Jojo to try to destroy them ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS2E8MoJobPetFeud Mo Job]]"), giving the girls a bomb for their birthday ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS2E3BirthdayBashTooPoopedToPuff Birthday Bash]]"), joining forces with three felons, consisting of Mojo, HIM and Fuzzy Lumpkins, and going on a crime spree ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS3E12MoralDecayMeetTheBeatAlls Meet the Beat Alls]]") and tricking their new neighbor, Robyn Snyder into shoplifting so she could arrest her ("[[Recap/ThePowerpuffGirlsS4EP5 Superfriends]]").

** In "Nano of the North", the Professor's car has a license plate "PWR PROF", a reference to an earlier episode of the same name where he called himself "Power Prof" while wearing PoweredArmor to fight crime with the Girls.
** In "Keen on Keane" the Professor references the episode "Cat Man Do" when he mentions a really bad experience that he had with a cat, which made him jump off a building.
** In "Reeking Havoc," Blossom gets a giant match with which to battle a giant fart monster. When Buttercup asks where she got it, Blossom replies "Same place I got the giant jar, silly. Season one, episode two...remember?" (She refers to "Insect Inside," where she used a giant jar to encase Roach Coach.)

*** "Do the Handicapped Go to Hell?" and "Probably" revisit Saddam's relationship was Saddam.

* Because ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' runs on NegativeContinuity, it can be surprising if it reference another past episode:

** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E13TheMean6 The Mean 6]]" has Pinkie recall to Mean Twilight the climax of "Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2" from when they defeated Tirek: the Rainbow Power, the Castle of Friendship rising out of the ground, and the song, "Let the Rainbow Remind You", in that order.

** The infamous "The Mean 6" has Pinkie recall to Mean!Twilight the climax of "Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2" from when they defeated Tirek: the Rainbow Power, the Castle of Friendship rising out of the ground, and the song, "Let the Rainbow Remind You", in that order.

** In "Question Authority", Huntress uses Comicbook/JimmyOlsen's signal watch to call Superman; the watch first appeared in "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS3E8SupermansPal Superman's Pal]]" in ''Superman: The Animated Series''.
** Another reference appears in "[[Recap/{{JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream}} Only a Dream]]" when, during his nightmare, Superman calls Jimmy "my pal."

** In the same show, there is an odd example of a MythologyGag becoming a sort of retroactive ContinuityNod: the elderly Bruce Wayne's pet Great Dane is named Ace, which was also the name of the Bat-Hound, Batman's pet dog who appeared in his comics during the 1950s and '60s. In a later episode, though, we learn about one of his later adventures as Batman, and the name of "Ace" takes on a whole new meaning: [[spoiler:Namely, the suggestion that Ace is named after Ace of the Royal Flush Gang, whom Batman stayed with as she slowly died in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode [[Recap/JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS2E13Epilogue "Epilogue"]].]]

** One of these relics actually makes a pretty good explanation for the unexpected reappearance of a certain character at the end of ''Return of the Joker''. Even though said reappearance was a last minute decision. [[spoiler:When Inque infiltrates the Batcave during the series, Harley Quinn's costume can be seen among the trophies. Even though not stated directly by the writer, it created the idea among fans that Barbara might have lied to Terry about Harley Quinn's end. That she either didn't fall into the chasm, Batgirl managed to pull her up, or that they actually checked for her body and found her alive and covered up her survival to prevent Tim from taking revenge on her]]. This could also be seen as unintentional continuity nod.

** After Cleveland leaves Quahog, this same gag is revisited with Peter commenting about the empty tub: "Oh, that's right. Cleveland moved."

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'':

** In the ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'' episode “[[Recap/ReadyJetGoS2E15MyThreeSunsMagnetPI Magnet, PI]]", Mitchell's scooter from "Try and Try Again" appears again.
* Some of the ghosts busted by the main characters of ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' can be seen in the containment unit in later episodes of the show. Along with The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man from the original movie in one episode, despite the fact that [[EldritchAbomination it wasn't actually a ghost]], they [[StuffBlowingUp didn't capture it]], and [[InNameOnly its behavior is completely different from the movie]].

* The ChristmasSpecial ''WesternAnimation/RudolphAndFrostysChristmasInJuly'' has continuity nods to many of the previous [[Creator/RankinBassProductions Rankin-Bass]] specials. Aside from ''WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer'' and ''WesternAnimation/FrostyTheSnowman'' (as well as their sequels, ''WesternAnimation/RudolphsShinyNewYear'' and ''Frosty's Winterland Wonderland''), reference is made to ''WesternAnimation/SantaClausIsCominToTown'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheYearWithoutASantaClaus''.

** The episode "Ransom Of Cynthia" introduces a plot point involving the adults trying to cut down on the babies' sugar intake and protect their teeth. This same plot is revisited soon after in "Angelica Orders Out".
** Melville, the pet bug briefly owned by Chuckie before its death in "I Remember Melville", is referenced when the babies are talking about their pets in the episode "Share And Share A Spike."

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS3E17HomerAtTheBat Homer at the Bat]]", Smithers hires nine Major League Baseball players, including Mike Scioscia, to play against the team of the Shelbyville Nuclear Power Plant. All are prevented from playing by various misfortunes, with Scioscia getting radiation poisoning from working in the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Scioscia (now a manager for the Angels) appears in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS22E3MoneyBART MoneyBART]]" (aired 18 years later); when Marge asks him about the radiation poisoning, he says it gave him "super managing powers".

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'':

* Because ''WesternAnimation/{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' runs on NegativeContinuity, it can be surprising if it reference another past episode:

** Earlier episodes had some continuity, like Spongebob meeting Sandy for the first time and Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy remembering Spongebob from previous encounters.

*** The visor-shape of Sabine's helmet has the same owl-face design as Bo-Katan's helmet, who was the second-in-command of Death Watch. [[spoiler:As it turns out, she is descended from House Vizsla through her mother, who was a member of Death Watch]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': Watching through seasons 1 and 2 again after seeing season 3, it's surprising just how much this series feeds back into itself like a giant ball of yarn. [[spoiler:For instance, season 3 contains a complete explanation, ala Billy Quizboy flashback, as to why Phantom Limb...well, has invisible limbs. Season 2 sees about a third of an episode devoted to various main characters talking with each other about how Phantom Limb became the way he was, including Billy Quizboy in every story in one way or another (and saying that he lost a hand in one way or another in each). The post-episode blurb (after the credits), had Dr. Venture asking Billy how he lost his hand, to which Billy responded he had no clue (again explained in the S3 episode -- his memory was lost).]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' season four, the final battle against the Wizards of Black Circle happens in the Omega Dimension, the ice prison Valtor escaped from in season three.

* Ruby-Spears' ''WesternAnimation/MegaMan'' was generally self-contained, but during an EnemyMine situation, Wily comments on how nice it is that he and Dr. Light are working together again. This happened in both the games' backstory and the first episode of the show.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' has several of these, including the baby moth monster that Beast Boy keeps as a pet and Starfire drinking mustard as if it were a normal drink.

** "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS16E17TheHeartbrokeKid The Heartbroke Kid]]" features WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow [[ShowWithinAShow cartoon]] "[[http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Kitty-Kill_Condition Kitty-Kill Condition]]" where Scratchy visits Itchy the cardiologist. The questionnaire asks if he has ever experienced certain events such as being churned into butter and hung by his intestines, which he has in past episodes.

** In "Pinky's Turn", Pinky mentions Brian's plan to broadcast Radio/RushLimbaugh music from "The Real Life".

** In "Stewie's First Word", after Stewie drops an AtomicFBomb in church, Lois trys to find out who taught him to swear. She suspects that the culprit is Peter, and to catch him in the act, [[Recap/FamilyGuyS10E11TheBlindSide she waxes the stairs and lures him down, causing him to fall]]. He instead drops several [[GoshDangItToHeck non-swears]], indicating that he has learned to manage his temper as time has passed.

** Radio/RushLimbaugh appears in "Excellence in Broadcasting"; Chris asks Lois how that can be as he recalls the events of ''[=FOX=]y Lady" where she revealed Limbaugh was really Fred Savage in a costume on Creator/FoxNewsChannel. Lois [[HandWave explains]] [[LogicalFallacies even the truth becomes a lie if told on Fox News]].

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E7KingSizeHomer King-Size Homer]]", Ralph tells Lisa "I heard your Dad went into a restaurant and ate everything in the restaurant and they had to close the restaurant!" referencing the events of "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E8NewKidOnTheBlock New Kid on the Block]]", where Homer eats such immense quantities of the food served at the seafood restaurant The Frying Dutchman that he was kicked out and banned, resulting in Homer suing the restaurant's owner, Captain [=McCallister=]. The restaurant didn't actually close (instead, Homer is hired because his extreme gluttony can be exploited to attract customers) but Ralph was half-right about this, as how Mc[=Callister's=] refusal to let Homer eat much as he wants put it in legal jeopardy.

** In [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E7KingSizeHomer King-Size Homer]], Ralph tells Lisa "I heard your Dad went into a restaurant and ate everything in the restaurant and they had to close the restaurant!" referencing the events of [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E8NewKidOnTheBlock New Kid on the Block]], where Homer eats such immense quantities of the food served at the seafood restaurant The Frying Dutchman that he was kicked out and banned, resulting in Homer suing the restaurant's owner, Captain [=McCallister=]. The restaurant didn't actually close (instead, Homer is hired because his extreme gluttony can be exploited to attract customers) but Ralph was half-right about this, as how Mc[=Callister's=] refusal to let Homer eat much as he wants put it in legal jeopardy.

** In [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E7KingSizeHomer King-Size Homer]], Ralph tells Lisa "I heard your Dad went into a restaurant and ate everything in the restaurant and they had to close the restaurant!" referencing the events of [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E8NewKidOnTheBlock New Kid on the Block]], where Homer eats such immense quantities of the food served at the seafood restaurant The Frying Dutchman that he was kicked out and banned, resulting in Homer suing the restaurant's owner, Captain McCallister. The restaurant didn't actually close (instead, Homer is hired because his extreme gluttony can be exploited to attract customers) but Ralph was right about how McCallister's refusal to let Homer have as much as he wants to eat put it in legal jeopardy.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' episode "The Feud" Jimmy proposes that he use one of his inventions to end the feud between his and Carl's fathers and [[BlatantLies claims that science has never let them down before]]. Carl and Sheen are quick to point out the time one of his inventions caused a meteor to nearly hit the town in "Normal Boy" and the time another inadvertently created a second ice age in "Jimmy on Ice".

** In the episode "Love, AD Style", when Francine tells Stan that Roger shot Hayley, Stan recalls the time Hayley shot him in "Stannie Get Your Gun", "Haylias" and "Season's Beatings", and when he shot Francine in "Hurricane!".

** In the episode "Love, AD Style", when Francine tells Stan that Roger shot Hayley, Stan recalls the time Hayley shot him in "Haylias" and when he shot Francine in "Hurricane!".

* In ''WesternAnimation/StrokerAndHoop'', the private detective duo puts out a series of billboard advertisements that place them as the subject to ridicule by most who see them due to a typo. These billboards show up in a few episodes, even going as far as to getting them in trouble with a drug king-pin, who identifies them by the glaring billboards.

** [[OncePerEpisode Every episode]] has in some way a background character with the same voice but never commented on. In the SeriesFinale they're captured by a guy seeking revenge against them but they don't recognize who he is. Turns out the voice was the same guy every time and goes on about Stoker and Hoop ruined his life, accompanied by a montage of his appearances.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' has several of these, including the baby moth-monster that Beast Boy keeps as a pet and Starfire drinking mustard as if it were a normal drink.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': Watching through seasons 1 and 2 again after seeing season 3, it's surprising just how much this series feeds back into itself like a giant ball of yarn. [[spoiler:For instance, season 3 contains a complete explanation, ala Billy Quizboy flashback, as to why Phantom Limb...well, has invisible limbs. Season 2 sees about a third of an episode devoted to various main characters talking with each other about how Phantom Limb became the way he was, including Billy Quizboy in every story in one way or another (and saying that he lost a hand in one way or another in each). The post episode blurb (after the credits), had Dr. Venture asking Billy how he lost his hand, to which Billy responded he had no clue (again explained in the S3 episode -- his memory was lost).]]

** The plot of the 12th episode of Season 26, "The Musk Who Fell to Earth," has ElonMusk hired by Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, causing it to almost go bankrupt. For the remainder of Season 26, this event is often referred to, as the Plant struggles to recoup its losses.

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS14E4LargeMarge Large Marge]]", Bart's plan to help Krusty regain his popularity involves the help of [[TheBusCameBack his old friend]], [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E17BartGetsAnElephant Stampy]]

** The latest season has been making numerous continuity nods to previous seasons, such as when Mac saw the "Rocket Wars" action figures he was forced to sell online in a previous episode when he was at a swap meet.

* ''Battle for Sunstar'', the last episode of ''{{WesternAnimation/Ewoks}}'', where Dr. Raygar tries to steal the Sunstar and overthrow emperor Palpatine implies that the events of the series took place sometime between ''Film/ANewHope'' and ''[[Film/StarWarsEwokAdventures Ewok Adventures]]''.

** AP's biography that first appears in "Don't Track the Mudman" reappears "Lacer Takes Over", where in the latter episode Joey comments that he thought AP stopped writing it a while back. Likewise, [[CompanionCube Travis]] (a Ken doll {{expy}} owned by Joey's sister) from "Lacer Takes Over" originally appeared in "Big Blowout" as a quick joke.