History SeriousBusiness / WesternAnimation

--->'''Bystander:''' Ain't gon' ''be''' no "trial".

--->'''[entire crowd gasps]'''

--->'''[crowd growls, then seizes the cheater, hauling him away as he screams]'''
--->'''Marge:''' [screaming after the mob] I can testify at the trial!
---'''Bystander:''' Ain't gon' ''be''' no "trial".

** Hank also treats Propane and Propane accessories as Serious Business. And not just in the "It's flammable, so be careful and maintain proper safety when handling it" kind of way. In a "Disrespect or insult it in any way and I'll kick your ass" kind of way too. Note that he considers "using anything ''but'' propane to do anything you can also use propane to do" to be disrespecting/insulting it. One episode had Peggy and Bobby discovering that they really like burgers grilled with charcoal. Afraid of incurring Hank's wrath, they're forced to sneak off and eat them in secret so that he doesn't find out. When Hank finds a charcoal briquette on the floor and confronts Peggy, she desperately claims "I didn't know what it was! Luann asked me to hold it for her! I thought it was drugs!" To reiterate, she believed that Hank would be less upset about her knowingly possessing illegal drugs than he would be about her grilling with charcoal behind his back. At the end of the episode, Hank gives Peggy an ultimatum of sorts. He grills one burger with charcoal and one burger with propane, then tells Peggy to taste both and tell him which one she likes better, with the implication that he would actually leave her if she chooses the charcoal. For the sake of keeping the peace, she lies and chooses the propane.

--->'''Kyle:''' ''*horrified*'' The skin's the ''best part''!\\

-->'''Mr. Dos''': It's a serious matter... Your special assignment: help Katie build a sandcastle.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': In the episode "Date With Destiny" Starfire has a CatFight with Kitten and ends up getting chocolate cake onto Kitten's dress. Kitten's response? "[[PunctuatedForEmphasis YOU! RUINED! MY! DRESS!!!!!!]]" She then attempts to unleash a horde of genetically engineered moths on an entire city.

** Spongebob, himself, is a walking example of this trope, actually. He cries and freaks out over things that aren't that serious. He once cried about ''[[FelonyMisdemeanor arriving to the Krusty Krab one minute late.]]'' Even '''[[{{Greed}} Mr. Krabs]]''' lampshades this and says that Spongebob arriving one minute late wasn't that serious.

-->'''Tetch''': Are you the dreamer, or merely part of somebody else's dream? That's just the question Tweedle-Dee put to Alice in ''[[Literature/ThroughTheLookingGlass Through the Looking]]''-
-->'''Bruce''': ''[[ShutUpHannibal This isn't some silly storybook!]]''

*** Studying. Before you say "but studying is important in RealLife too," consider that Twilight honestly believed she would be [[DisproportionateRetribution sent all the way back to Magic Kindergarten]] [[SuperOCD for just ONE late homework assignment]]. This proves severe enough that [[spoiler:she decides to ''make'' a problem if she can't find one, which ends up in her accidentally brainwashing the whole town, requiring the intervention of the {{Physical God}}dess who also happens to be her teacher -- all of which nearly gets her in trouble ''for real'']]. In fact, [[SanitySlippage her final mental plunge]] is triggered by a scene wherein she expresses her fears to her friends, who promptly dismiss these worries as mere paranoia.

** The episode "Nerds of a Feather" is essentially real life instances of FandomRivalry taken to a cartoonish extreme in which at a convention the Space Adventure and Stumbleberry Finkbat fandoms go as far as to have a physical war over which is the better movie. Ultimately, though, the episode is essentially AnAesop to not take real Fandom Rivalries so seriously.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/HiHiPuffyAmiYumi'' has Ami go ''absolutely mental'' over Bunny Huggles, from the moment she finds out that her collection of Huggle Buddies is incomplete. From barging into a shopping mall, opening boxes of cereal (and scaring away a security guard in the process), to attempting to ''steal'' a Bunny Huggles doll from a little girl, to ''[[UptoEleven forcing Kaz to dress up as Bunny Huggles]]''. Even Yumi sees her obsession over this baffling, calling them "dumb little toys". Needless to say... [[BerserkButton Ami doesn't take this very well]].

** It's Doofenschmirtz's whole schtick. Often it's lampshaded that he could solve whatever's bugging him quite simply (e.g. moving a chair to another window), but usually dismisses it as "too much hassle" and instead builds is Inators to change everything else (e.g. moving a building blocking his view).
** The episode "Nerds of a Feather" is essentially real life instances of FandomRivalry taken UpToEleven in which at a convention the Space Adventure and Stumbleberry Finkbat fandoms go as far to have a physical war over which is the better movie. Ultimately though, the episode is essentially AnAesop to not take real Fandom Rivalry so seriously.

** What ''really'' takes the cake is "Cartoon Wars". Many characters treat WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy having an episode with Muhammed in it like the start of WorldWarThree, and Kyle nearly dies trying to stop Cartman from getting it canned.
** "Douche And Turd" takes it UpToEleven, when Stan's refusal to vote got him threatened, banished and nearly killed.

** In "The List" Stan just asks Wendy why Kyle was placed last on the girls' list of cutest-to-ugliest boys, but Wendy quickly uncovers a [[MilkmanConspiracy conspiracy]]; the high-ranking members of the girls' Pleases and Sparkles Club (Bebe, Jenny, Lola, and Red) forged the list in order to put Clyde at spot #1, boost his confidence and poularity, be able to date him, and [[GoldDigger convince him to give them]] [[AllWomenLoveShoes free shoes from his father's store]]. Apparently there is a very complex process as to how the members of the Pleases and Sparkles Club create a list, and tampering with one is considered a serious violation (Bebe outright says that Kyle ending last on the list was simply just a coincidence produced by the tampering). Wendy calls the police on Bebe for abusing her authority, and the police ''are willing to arrest her for forging the list''. Bebe on her part tries to kill Wendy so she doesn't expose the real list to the public.
** PlayedForLaughs in "The Death of Eric Cartman", when the boys finally decide to disown Cartman and give him the SilentTreatment. While this was arguably a long time coming given all the atrocities Cartman has committed upon them, but it was ''eating the skin off of their KFC'' that was TheLastStraw.
-->'''Kyle:''' ''*horrified*'' The skin's the ''best part''!
-->''*Kenny bursts into InelegantBlubbering*''
* The special assignments on ''WesternAnimation/SpecialAgentOso'' that Oso helps children with range from mundane chores such as washing breakfast dishes to stuff like teaching a kid to use chopsticks. Despite this, each is treated with full urgency complete with traveling there on a bullet train or high-speed helicopter, to the use of Franchise/JamesBond style gadgets.

** Hank also treats Propane and Propane accessories as Serious Business. And not just in the "It's flammable, so be careful and maintain proper safety when handling it" kind of way. In a "Disrespect or insult it in any way and I'll kick your ass" kind of way too. One episode had Peggy and Bobby deciding they like burgers cooked over charcoal. However, at the end Peggy pretends to prefer burgers cooked with propane in order to keep the peace.

** ''Franchise/StarTrek'' has become a [[JustForFun/IntellectualPropertyReligion religion]] in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''. As explained by Nichols: "As country after country fell under its influence, world leaders became threatened by the movement's power." Since then, all the episodes and movies have been dumped on Omega 3 (a forbidden world) - and it became forbidden to use the words "Star Trek." It was serious enough to start the Star Trek Wars (not to be confused with the Star Wars Trek) which led to the ban and forbidden words.

** In "Green Isn't Your Color", we see that secret-keeping is Serious Business to [[GenkiGirl Pinkie]] [[CloudCuckoolander Pie]] - so much so that she will issue {{Implied Death Threat}}s and [[BeyondTheImpossible break the laws of physics]] in order to enforce it. "The Last Roundup" serves as a stark reminder that, if you value your continued existence, you never ever ''[[BerserkButton EVER]]'' break a Pinkie Promise.
** "Winter Wrap Up" is Serious Business to the denizens of Ponyville, as noted by Twilight Sparkle. In fact, the whole show treats the whole "[[PaintingTheFrostOnWindows custodians of nature]]" thing the ponies have going on incredibly seriously. [[TheLostWoods The forest just outside of town]] seriously freaks the ponies out because hibernation, seasons, weather, and nature in general get on with things, ''[[EldritchLocation completely devoid of pony assistance]]''. Also it's home to a number of dangerously mythological creatures, but that's just, you know, wildlife. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in-universe: It's implied that the whole world is like this, so if the ponies don't take care of things, everything will stay the same. [[TimeStandsStill Unchanging]]. [[FridgeHorror Forever]].

*** Studying. Before you say "but studying is important in RealLife too," consider that Twilight honestly believed she would be [[DisproportionateRetribution sent all the way back to Magic Kindergarten]] [[SuperOCD for just ONE late homework assignment]]. This proves severe enough that [[spoiler:she decides to ''make'' a problem if she can't find one, which ends up in her accidentally brainwashing the whole town, requiring the intervention of the {{Physical God}}dess who also happens to be her teacher - all of which nearly gets her in trouble ''for real'']]. In fact, [[SanitySlippage her final mental plunge]] is triggered by a scene wherein she expresses her fears to her friends, who promptly dismiss these worries as mere paranoia.

*** Universal comprehension. After being faced with a series of phenomena that confounds [[MagicAIsMagicA her logic]] (courtesy of [[RealityWarper Pinkie Pie]], of course), she devotes the entire length of "Feeling Pinkie Keen" to her investigation - even after repeated instances of serious bodily harm - before finally conceding that there are some things that defy an easy explanation, [[AnAesop and that's okay]].

** Happens again in "Homer at Bat" when Barney Gumble and Boston Red Sox third baseman Wade Boggs get into a fistfight over whether the greatest British prime minister was Pitt the Elder or Lord Palmerston (which would be pretty ridiculous even if they were actually British). Becomes especially absurd when Moe the bartender, who ''agrees'' with Barney, contemptuously says "Pitt the Elder!" over Boggs's unconscious body - and Barney bellows "Lord Palmerston!" and punches him out too!

** PlayedForLaughs in "The Death of Eric Cartman", when the boys finally decide to disown Cartman and give him the SilentTreatment. While this was arguably a long time coming given all the atrocities Cartman has committed upon them, but it was ''eating the skin off of their KFC'' that was TheStrawThatBrokeTheCamelsBack.

-->''*Kenny bursts into InelligentBlubbering*''

* In ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'', everything on the Island of Sodor is somehow connected to the railway to such an extent that every delivery made on Sodor is delivered by rail.

*** The only ones who really consider cutie marks themselves to be Serious Business are [[PowerTrio the Cutie Mark Crusaders]]. True, everyone looks farward to getting their cutie mark, but the Crusaders are the only ones who actively seek them and freak out about not already having them. But given the way they're treated by [[AlphaBitch Diamond Tiara]] and [[BetaBitch Silver Spoon]] for not having theirs, it’s hard to blame them.

* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', when the Harlem Globetrotters show up to challenge Earth to a game of basketball. When asked what happens if Earth loses, the Globetrotters reply... "NOTHING! There is nothing at stake, and no threat!" After Earth loses the game, further LampshadeHanging is done by the commentator, who states that "This is a dark day for humanity. Earth... has been beaten... ''at basketball''." In the DVD Commentary, the creators admit that the entire plot was a jab at the network, [[ExecutiveMeddling who always wanted the stakes to be as high as possible]].
** However, in another ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode, the Omicronians are so angered by [[AliensStealCable not being able to finish watching the finale]] of ''[[Series/AllyMcBeal Single Female Lawyer]]'' they attack the Earth, demanding to see the rest of the episode. Talk about Serious Business taken to extremes! Fortunately, Fry's [[SomedayThisWillComeInHandy knowledge of 20th Century television]] helps save the day.
*** ''Everything'' is Serious Business to the Omicronians, even [[ThePowerOfLove that emotion]] [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove we humans call]] [[ThatMakesMeFeelAngry "wuv".]]
*** That may have something to do with the fact that they take grammar and spelling mistakes very seriously as well. In "The Problem With Popplers", Lrrr seems just as angry at Zap Brannigan for mispronouncing "guacamole" as he is about him eating their young!
** Then ''Franchise/StarTrek'' has actually become a [[JustForFun/IntellectualPropertyReligion religion]] in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''. As explained by Nichols: "As country after country fell under its influence, world leaders became threatened by the movement's power." Since then, all the episodes and movies have been dumped on Omega 3 (a forbidden world) - and it became forbidden to use the words "Star Trek."
*** It was serious enough to start the Star Trek Wars (not to be confused with the Star Wars Trek) which led to the ban and forbidden words.

** Hank also treats Propane and Propane accessories as Serious Business. And not just in the "It's flammable, so be careful and maintain proper safety when handling it" kind of way. In a "Disrespect or insult it in any way and I'll kick your ass" kind of way. One episode had Peggy and Bobby deciding they like burgers cooked over charcoal. However, at the end Peggy pretends to prefer burgers cooked with propane in order to keep the peace.

* In ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'''s series finale, meat-inspecting is serious business, or at least the competition Bobby enters is. His teammates go batshit insane when he gets one question wrong despite still making it to the finals, then later at a dinner party, one teammate actually throws pepper in an opposing team's faces. And on the way to the finals, the driver of the bus carrying Bobby's team turns out to be a member of the same opposing team, and parks the bus in a puddle of mud and leaves them stranded there.
** Hank also treats Propane and Propane accessories as Serious Business. And not in the "It's flammable, so be careful and maintain proper safety when handling it" kind of way. In a "Disrespect or insult it in any way and I'll kick your ass" kind of way.
*** One episode had Peggy and Bobby deciding they like burgers cooked over charcoal. However, at the end Peggy pretends to prefer burgers cooked with propane in order to keep the peace.

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': ''Sandwiches'' are SeriousBusiness in the Land of Ooo.

** Another episode has a running gag revolving around the SeriousBusiness of whether or not to pronounce the "h" in "whip".

* The basis of ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'' is every aspect of middle-school life is overblown to something everyone's life revolves around. ''Everything'' is SeriousBusiness, including the bocci ball team, standardized tests, the school mascot, mini-golf, macaroni art, the world's longest-living virtual pet, baseball card forgery, abstract art, graffiti, and tricking kids into stealing scooters so the culprit can look good by giving them to poor underprivileged kids in Russia. And not only are school mascots Serious Business, but stealing them is a sufficiently impressive hobby that there is actually a book called ''Caring for your Stolen Mascot''.

** However, in another ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode, the Omicronians are so angered by [[AliensStealCable not being able to finish watching the finale]] of ''[[Series/AllyMcBeal Single Female Lawyer]]'' they attack the Earth, demanding to see the rest of the episode. Talk about SeriousBusiness taken to extremes! Fortunately, Fry's [[SomedayThisWillComeInHandy knowledge of 20th Century television]] helps save the day.
*** ''Everything'' is SeriousBusiness to the Omicronians, even [[ThePowerOfLove that emotion]] [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove we humans call]] [[ThatMakesMeFeelAngry "wuv".]]

* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'': The Kids Next Door once encountered Rupert Puttinsky, a guy who made "miniature golf" SeriousBusiness... to the point of [[InsistentTerminology insisting on calling it as such]]:

** For the titular organization, many kid activities are SeriousBusiness and often threatened by adults. Case in point: the ban on ''drinking [[FrothyMugsOfWater (root)]] beer'' in "Operation Pop", a prohibition parody.

** The entire show rests on the premise that childhood is SeriousBusiness. Which is also TruthInTelevision.

** Dethklok are so popular, their fans will go to their concerts despite the ridiculously high risk of dying, some will ''kill themselves'' if an album is delayed, a secret agency exists whose sole goal is to kill Dethklok, they have thousands and thousands of workers constantly putting their lives in danger just to serve every single one of Dethklok's (often ridiculously stupid) desires, Florida's governor was killed by rabid fans just for a negative comment about Nathan, people who download their music are ''tortured'' (often by Dethklok themselves), and the band themselves are ''the world's twelfth largest economy''. In ''Metalocalypse'', '''everything''' Dethklok related is very SeriousBusiness.

* ''WesternAnimation/MuchaLucha''. Lucha Libre has saved the world several times, and the characters center their lives around it. Even the opening theme's lyrics say ''Mucha Lucha, Mucha Lucha! It's a way of life!''. On occasion, the characters refer to [[LargeHam "HONOR! FAMILY! TRADITION!]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking AND DONUTS!"]] as the motivation behind their actions (yes, the donuts are SeriousBusiness too).

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** In the episode "Catch 'Em If You Can", during a GoLookAtTheDistraction moment.

* ''WesternAnimation/MuchaLucha''. Lucha Libre has saved the world several times, and the characters center their lives around it. Even the opening theme's lyrics say ''Mucha Lucha, Mucha Lucha! It's a way of life!''. On occasion, the characters refer to [[LargeHam "HONOR! TRADITION! FAMILY!]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking AND DONUTS!"]] as the motivation behind their actions (yes, the donuts are SeriousBusiness too).

* The basis of ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'' is every aspect of middle-school life is overblown to something everyone's life revolves around. EVERYTHING is SeriousBusiness, including the Bocci Ball team, Standardized Tests, the School Mascot, a Mini-Golf tournament, Macaroni Art, the world's longest-living virtual pet, Baseball Card Forgery, Abstract Art, Graffiti, and tricking kids into stealing scooters so the culprit can look good by giving them to poor underprivileged kids in Russia.
** MINIATURE GOLF
** Not only are mascots Serious Business, but stealing them is a sufficiently impressive hobby that there is actually a book called ''Caring for your Stolen Mascot''.