History SealedEvilInACan / WesternAnimation

** The [[TerribleTrio three Minions of Set]], a team of demonic warriors created by [[Myth/EgyptianMythology the Egyptian god]] [[GodOfEvil Set]]. These three monsters were NighInvulnerable and thus invincible against any mortal warrior, so the Pharaoh summoned [[PowerOfTheSun the sun god Ra]] to imprison the Minions in a tomb. Thousands of years later, Aku frees them, and then sends them to kill Jack.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'', the Warner Brothers (and their sister Dot) were Sealed Zany in a Water Tower. In this case, it was more Sealed ''Chaos'' in a Can.

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/AlfredJKwak'', Alfred encounters the Evil Spirit of Darkness, an ancient demon who caused so much torment and destruction that God locked him inside a magic bottle.
* The Dark Dragon from ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'' ends up sealed away in another dimension.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'':

* ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' had Natron the First in the aptly named episode "Ancient Evil". After he is defeated and returned to his tomb, Mira melts the door to it. Hopefully this will keep him sealed.

* In the prequel episode of ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', we discover that the dormant Supercomputer was sealing XANA for 10 years. It is Jérémie, by turning it back on, who unleashed the malevolent program (plus his future girlfriend) on the world.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DiGataDefenders'' the plot of the first season is for the titular Defenders to reseal an obscenely powerful entity known as the Megalith that the seasons' BigBad used to take over most of the world a generation ago. However, the defenders decide on a change of tactics after finding out that not only has this thing been sealed and escaped numerous times in the past, but that it gets better at unsealing itself each time.
** The Megalith [[spoiler:happens to be keeping another evil sealed in another dimension.]]
* Norm the Genie in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents''.
** He's released multiple times by Crocker, Chester, and Timmy, and each time has a different scam towards his revenge on Timmy.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Felidae}}'''s Claudandus means "something that must be sealed".

* In WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones, it can be argued The Great Gazoo was this to his people. He invented a death machine and they stuffed him in a satellite and sent him to Earth's stone age. Turns out in this case he's not such a bad guy, but it was a dangerous machine that got him sealed in his respective can.

* The Red Sentients in ''WesternAnimation/HotWheelsBattleForce5''. They were sealed away in five separate Battle Zones by [[TheStarscream Zemerick]] when he betrayed them. At the end of season 2, [[BigBad Krytus]] is freed by a traitor named Praxion (whom he promptly [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves drops off a cliff]]) and proceeds to release the rest of his team from their own prisons. The rest of the Red Sentients were all frozen by Sage before they could join Krytus in his multiversal conquest. [[spoiler:These are ultimately a subversion, as it turns out they're just as tired of the war as the Blue Sentients are when they're released and gladly make peace instead. They then ''reseal'' Krytus in a block of ice on a distant world as punishment.]]
* All of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'' were locked away for thousands of years before the beginning of the series. Tendril was chained up 2 miles underground, D'Compose was trapped in amber, Metlar held by a being with magnetic powers, and Sslither covered with concrete. And Blackthorne Shore freed all of them, the former three in the pilot alone.
* Most seasons of ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' involved the heroes attempting to reseal escaped ancient villains back in their cans. In the series, this is {{justified| trope}} by the fact that destroying evil will only allow [[EvilPowerVacuum a different (and probably stronger) evil to take its place]]. [[BetterTheDevilYouKnow Better then to keep around the evil threat you already know how to deal with]], than risk leaving the way open for something far worse to come up that you may not know how to deal with in time.

* Hades, Greek God of the Underworld, in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague''. Released by Felix Faust in the hopes that Hades will grant him "ultimate knowledge" in return. Hades naturally betrays Faust by [[spoiler:causing him to instantly age to an old man since "Ultimately, pain and suffering are all humans will ever know."]]

* Chiros, the secondary antagonist of ''WesternAnimation/KongTheAnimatedSeries''. Imprisoned in a stone tablet that is implied, by Harpy cautioning the gargoyles moving it, would turn out bad for Chiros if it was broken (whether it will actually kill him or simply prevent him from being released ever again is unknown). It is also unknown why it was never destroyed the first time he was sealed inside it. At the end, [[spoiler: Chiros is released, but Lua opens up a portal and Kong spins him by the tail and throws him back in, sealing him inside the tablet again. Kong immediately smashes the tablet.]]

* The singing, dancing frog who ruined a man's life in the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "WesternAnimation/OneFroggyEvening" was placed into a cement slab and freed several hundred years in the future. The frog was also found by the man in question in that cement slab, so he may have been taken out of and put back into the slab many, many times by all the men whose lives he had ruined.
** This is based on the story of a real (not evil) horned lizard that was sealed in the cornerstone of a courthouse (long before they were on any endangered species list). 31 years later the stone was opened and the horned lizard was alive and lived on for almost a year afterward.

** Nightmare Moon was sealed in the moon as "The Mare in the Moon", and remained there for a thousand years until her escape in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E1MareInTheMoon the show's pilot]].

* A common way of introducing villains in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ninjago}}'':

* The Sorcerer from ''WesternAnimation/RandyCunninghamNinthGradeNinja'', who is sealed below Randy's school and seeks to free himself by causing chaos with the people he mutates.

* Done a few times in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs''.

** The MadArtist Maestro, who was trapped in a painting for making art that could do that to living creatures, inadvertently released by Painter Smurf (who Maestro affectionately called his "apprentice" later; Painter later had to create the most convincing work of his life - as he said - in order to put him back.)

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III", the Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy villain Man-Ray is shown to be imprisoned in frozen tartar sauce. [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, who were watching over Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy's headquarters in the superheroes' absence, end up accidentally thawing Man-Ray out. The villain escapes to resume wreaking havoc after tricking [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick into removing the tickle belt used to restrain him and exposing them to the Orb of Confusion, but he ends up doing a HeelFaceTurn after finding that the tickle belt's made him unable to commit crimes without bursting into laughter.

* The Corrupted Gems from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' when they get bubbled.
** Centipeetle (One of the corrupted Gems) gets freed trice both by Steven but before she gets retrapped the first time she's a Sealed Good in a Can at this point and is permanently freed the second time.

* Baron Mordo in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperHeroSquadShow'' is sealed within a ''soda'' can... that Thor opens when raiding ComicBook/DoctorStrange's refrigerator for a late-night snack.

* ''WesternAnimation/SWATKats'': In the first episode, the Pastmaster is Sealed Evil in a Treasure Chest. We don't learn he exists until ''after'' he gets unsealed.
** There's also the Mad Kat The Insane Jester, who was sealed in a jack in the box.
* Trigon in season four of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', where his daughter Raven becomes his portal into the world, allowing him to turn every creature in the biosphere [[TakenForGranite into stone]] and cover the planet in lava.
** Also, the dragon Malchior in an earlier episode qualifies, sealed in one of Raven's spellbooks.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/TotalDrama Total Drama All-Stars]]'': Mal, Mike's evil personality who was incarcerated in the same juvie Duncan was in sometime prior to the series. After he was pardoned from juvie Mike was able to take control and seal him in his mind, years later Scott accidentally hit him as Manitoba Smith in the head with a shovel, partially freeing him.

** Nightmare Moon was sealed in the moon for a thousand years as "The Mare in the Moon", and remained there for a thousand years until her escape in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E1MareInTheMoon the show's pilot]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' happens to anyone when they get crystallized all do that's debatable since the Magic High Commission has been known to crystalize people just on the suspicion on them being evil.
** [[spoiler: Eclipsa(One of the crystallized) does escape thanks to a deal Moon made with her but it's debatable whether or not she good or evil.]]

** The most notable example is [[BigBad Shendu]], a [[DragonsAreDemonic demonic dragon]] who had to be [[TakenForGranite turned into a wall-mounted statue]] multiple times. He also sometimes got banished back to the [[PrisonDimension Netherworld]] along with [[SealedEvilInASixPack his seven siblings]], who are also [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils powerful demons]]. [[spoiler:The GrandFinale had Shendu and [[OverlordJr his son Drago]] both being sent away to the Netherworld [[SealedEvilInADuel while they were fighting each other]].]]

*** And there's also a group of [[MirrorMonster evil spirits trapped]] [[MagicMirror inside a mirror]], [[SchmuckBait who desperately beg for anyone nearby to free them]].

** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E25ShadowPlayPart1 Shadow Play]]", the reason why [[TheArchmage Starswirl the Bearded]] and the other {{Precursor Hero}}es aren't around anymore is because [[spoiler:they trapped themselves in Limbo as part of a ritual to imprison the [[LivingShadow Pony of Shadows]] there as well; when Twilight brings them back into the regular world, [[NiceJobBreakingItHero she accidentally punctures the can and allows the Pony of Shadows to return]]]]. It's also strongly implied that the reason Princess Celestia went for sealing enemies so often is because she was taught by Starswirl, who [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer always did this]] due to his belief that [[ReformedButRejected redemption was impossible]].

** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E25ShadowPlayPart1 Shadow Play]]", the reason why [[TheArchmage Starswirl the Bearded]] and the other {{Precursor Hero}}es aren't around anymore is because [[spoiler:they trapped themselves in Limbo as part of a ritual to imprison the [[LivingShadow Pony of Shadows]] there as well; when Twilight brings them back into the regular world, [[NiceJobBreakingItHero she accidentally punctures the can and allows the Pony of Shadows to return]]]].

** ''WesternAnimation/The13GhostsOfScoobyDoo'' revolved around Shaggy and Scooby having to recapture thirteen ghosts released from the Chest of Demons.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', Marceline's father, the Lord Of Evil, is sealed in the Nightosphere. Finn [[NiceJobBreakingItHero frees him, not knowing how evil he was]]. In the end, Finn manages to seal him back into the Nightosphere. Even worse is [[OmnicidalManiac the Lich]], the UltimateEvil who was imprisoned inside amber within a great tree by the legendary hero Billy. He finally broke free during the season 2 finale.

* Vilgax, from ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'', tends to be put in a can of whatever sort between appearances, be it a healing chamber, a block of ice, or a pocket dimension. He's slightly unusual in that we see him ''out'' of the can first.
** And in the same show, Ghostfreak[=/=]Zs'Skayr is an odd example of evil that got sealed in a can ''accidentally'', his DNA sampled for the show's ClingyMacGuffin so that the wearer can turn into him, and the personalities of his species being encoded in their genes somehow. Eventually, he gets loose and becomes Ben's EnemyWithout.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** Nightmare Moon was sealed in the Moon for a thousand years as "The Mare in the Moon".
** Discord had been [[TakenForGranite imprisoned in a stone statue]] by Celestia and Luna since ancient times for the suffering his rule brought everyone in Equestria. However, his prison weakened over time, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders release him by [[NiceJobBreakingItHero creating discord (fighting) in front of him]], giving him the power to break free. The Mane Six put him back in his can at the end of the two-parter. [[spoiler:Eventually, though, they release Discord and [[HeelFaceTurn reform him]] when Celestia decides she has use for his powers]].
** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E20ItsAboutTime "It's About Time"]] reveals that there are a bunch of evil creatures and villains sealed away in Tartarus that are guarded by Cerberus.
** King Sombra was turned into a LivingShadow and imprisoned in the northern ice by Celestia and Luna. They were at least more thorough than with Discord.
*** [[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFiendshipIsMagic In the comics]], King Sombra's backstory is revealed to be that he was created by the Umbrum, a race of shadow monsters that were sealed away underneath the Crystal Empire, to help them escape, but he was defeated and sealed away himself before he could release them.
** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation "Inspiration Manifestation"]], the tome was hidden away and locked behind a caged door for a reason. But Spike fails to notice any of this.
** As shown in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E25TwilightsKingdomPart1 "Twilight's Kingdom, Part 1"]], Lord Tirek was imprisoned in Tartarus and has escaped. The two-parter ends with Tirek getting thrown back into his can.

* ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo''
** The episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheNewScoobyDooMovies'' crossing over with ''WesternAnimation/{{Jeannie}}'' featured a djinn who was imprisoned in a bottle for 1,000 years as the antagonist.
** ''WesternAnimation/The13GhostsOfScoobyDoo'' revolved around Shaggy and Scooby having to recapture thirteen ghosts released from the Chest of Demons.
** In ''WesternAnimation/TheScoobyDooShow'' episode "A Frightened Hound Meets Demons Underground", legend had that flying demons were sealed underground. The gang doesn't find any evidence to support there ever be real demons though.
** The Nibiru entity from ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' is sealed inside a sarcophagus before breaking free to wreak its vengeance.
* The Dark Dragon from ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong''.
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/SheZow'', [=BrouHaHa=] was imprisoned in a vacuumn cleaner, that also happened to be in a box, by Anges Monroe, the previous [=SheZow=]. He was imprisoned there for 61 years, until some unwitting customer brought it off Guy Hamdon, the current [=SheZow=], in a garage sale.

* The 13 Ghosts from the Chest of Demons in ''WesternAnimation/The13GhostsOfScoobyDoo''.
** In an episode of The Scooby Doo Show, legend had that flying demons were sealed underground. The gang doesn't find any evidence to support there ever be real demons though.
** The Nibiru entity from ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated''

** "If I Were a Witch Man" has the Ghostbusters summoned by the small town Lewiston to defeat Kestrel, a ghostly witch who was sealed inside a crystal ball by an ancestor of Egon's.

*** [[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFiendshipIsMagic In the comics]], King Sombra's backstory is revealed to be that he was created the Umbrums, a race of shadow monsters that were sealed away underneath the Crystal Empire, to help them escape, but he was defeated and sealed away himself before he could release them.

** As shown in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E25TwilightsKingdomPart1 "Twilight's Kingdom, Part 1"]], Lord Tirek was imprisoned in Tartarus and has escaped.

** The titular creature in "The Thing in Mrs. Faversham's Attic" was summoned by Mrs. Faversham's father and kept in the attic until Mrs. Faversham hired the Ghostbusters to take him out.

** "Knock, Knock" had some construction workers fail to head an ancient door warning them "Do not open until Doomsday", resulting in New York being flooded with legions of demons and spirits.

* The SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'' also used this trope a few times.

**
** The SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'' also used this trope a few times.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' played with this trope on occasion, notably in the episode "Knock, Knock". They even played with Chthulu in one episode.

* The Corrupted Gems from ''Steven Universe'' when they get bubbled.

* In ''Star Vs The Forces Of Evil'' happens to anyone when they get crystallized all do that's debatable since the Magic High Commission has been known to crystalize people just on the suspicion on them being evil.

* ''Star Vs The Forces Of Evil'' happens to anyone when they get crystallized all do that's debatable since the Magic High Commission has been known to crystalize people just on the suspicion on them being evil.

* ''http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' happens to anyone when they get crystallized all do that's debatable since the Magic High Commission has been known to crystalize people just on the suspicion on them being evil.

** ''Star vs. the Forces of Evil'' happens to anyone when they get crystallized all do that's debatable since the Magic High Commission has been known to crystalize people just on the suspicion on them being evil.

* In ''WesternAnimation/Star vs. the Forces of Evil'' happens to anyone when they get crystallized all do that's debatable since the Magic High Commission has been known to crystalize people just on the suspicion on them being evil.

* The Corrupted Gems from ''WesternAnimation/Steven Universe'' when they get bubbled.

* In "WesternAnimation/Star vs. the Forces of Evil" happens to anyone when they get crystallized all do that's debatable since the Magic High Commission has been known to crystalize people just on the suspicion on them being evil.
** Eclipsa(One of the crystallized) does escape thanks to a deal Moon made with her all do it's debatable whether or not she good or evil.
* The Corrupted Gems from "WesternAnimation/Steven Universe" when they get bubbled.