History AudienceAlienatingPremise / WesternAnimation

* ''WesternAnimation/AllenGregory''. The show is about a {{homeschooled|Kids}} 7-year-old played by Creator/JonahHill, who is forced to attend elementary school when his gay parents hit hard times, and thus has little idea on how to act like a kid. That could have worked very well... if not for the fact that both the title character and his father were unrepentant {{Jerkass}}es, especially to the daughter character (who was an unfunny and rather [[{{Deconstruction}} darkly]] [[AbusiveParents played]] [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Meg Griffin]] ripoff). Not helping matters was the fact that one of the parents [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe wasn't actually gay but rather gave in to a gay relationship because the other wouldn't leave him alone despite several restraining orders]] -- this aspect already angered quite a few people in the gay community. It also contained a recurring subplot about Gregory attempting to date his principal, who is in her 70s, and his infatuation was portrayed ''far'' too sexually to be considered a PrecociousCrush. The show reeked of TooBleakStoppedCaring, was met with poor reviews, and canceled after just 7 episodes due to poor ratings. It says something when Fox hates it enough to [[BuryYourArt erase it from their websites]].

* ''WesternAnimation/GaryTheRat'', in spite of the talented and acclaimed Creator/KelseyGrammer voicing the title character, still suffered from this. The plot has an AmoralAttorney [[KarmicTransformation transforming into his true nature of an anthropomorphized rat...]] [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane for whatever reason.]] In addition to living in a CrapsackWorld where there is virtually no one to root for (except for his elderly and sickly mother, who he hates for unclear reasons), Gary ''remains'' a self-centered asshole for the most part, [[IgnoredEpiphany apparently taking nothing away from his experience.]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking And whenever we're treated to a flashback with human Gary, his face is always conveniently obscured.]] The failure of this cartoon, along with that of ''WesternAnimation/{{Stripperella}}'' and '''especially''' ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpyAdultPartyCartoon'' caused whatever animation block Spike TV was hoping to create to end up dead in the water and effectively [[GenreKiller killed any hope of Viacom launching an adult animation block]] for several years.

* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyElmyraAndTheBrain'' was an [[ExecutiveMeddling unneeded]] {{retool}}ing of the already-popular series, ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'', where the duo are forced to live with [[TheScrappy the least popular character]] from ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''. Two episodes from ''Pinky and the Brain''[[note]]"Pinky and the Brain... and Larry" and "You'll Never Eat Food Pellets in This Town Again"[[/note]] were made to show that changing the show was a bad move, but the higher-ups didn't get the memo. It was clear that the staff hated working on the show as they put "It's what the network wants, why bother to complain? The Earth remains their goal, some things they can't control." in the show's lyrics. The show only lasted 13 episodes.

* ''WebAnimation/TheRedApeFamily'' is about the titular family of primates moving to UsefulNotes/{{Mars}} after Earth had been been over-run by pollution. That, in it of itself, doesn't sound all that bad; the real reason that this cartoon rubbed people the wrong way is because it revolves heavily around [[UsefulNotes/{{Bitcoin}} NFTs]], with the main apes even being based on the Bored Ape Yacht Club line of [=NFTs=]. Since the product that the show was trying to promote is a heavily controversial practice, this means that [[OvershadowedByControversy the show was bound to gain controversy as well.]] Audiences were highly opposed to there being a cartoon that promotes a well-hated practice, which explains why it was QuietlyCancelled after [[OneEpisodeWonder only three episodes.]]

* It isn't hard to see [[WesternAnimation/BattleTech the cartoon series]] based on ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' as having one of these. Besides being based on something [[ContinuityLockout with sprawling pre-existing mythology]], it was set during the very beginning of the Clan Invasion. Meaning a setting a new viewer had no chance to learn anything about was being invaded, by an enemy even people in the show had never seen before, upsetting a status quo new viewers would know absolutely nothing about. There was also the somewhat conflicting ideas of how it tried to stay true to the source by showing that [[WarIsHell war involves horrific destruction]] and also being kind of futile, while at the same time promoting itself by [[WarIsGlorious making war look awesome]] with having the soldiers piloting [[HumongousMecha gigantic deathbots]] (there was even an action figure line). Something the younger viewers the show was trying to attract to the franchise probably had trouble reconciling. Despite ending on a cliffhanger the closest it's come to being followed up was [[CanonForeigner having some of the characters later appear in series novels]]. As of the "Wars of Reaving" sourcebook it's been established in-canon as a giggleworthy propaganda cartoon.

* While ''WesternAnimation/{{Grossology}}'' managed to get itself a dedicated cult following, its premise as a GrossoutShow that's heavily laden with NauseaFuel has led to many potential viewers dismissing it on principle, with the EdutainmentShow aspects going unnoticed or straight-up ignored.

* While ''WesternAnimation/{{Grossology}}'' managed to get itself a dedicated cult following, its premise as a GrossoutShow that's heavily laden with NauseaFuel has led to many potential viewers dismissing it on principle, with the {{Edutainment}} aspects going unnoticed or straight-up ignored.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Velma}}'' is a ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' [[OriginsEpisode origin story]] for Mystery Inc. without Scooby-Doo, with a particular focus on Velma Dinkley. This already got alarm bells ringing, considering that most of Mystery Inc. had a reputation for being underdeveloped and thus unable to hold a show by their own, but what sealed the deal was that it was also an AnimatedShockComedy full of offensive jokes and {{Adaptational Jerkass}}es, with the titular character being hit hard enough to make her a DesignatedHero. Not helping matters was the existence of previous ''Scooby-Doo'' animations such as ''WesternAnimation/APupNamedScoobyDoo'' and ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooOnZombieIsland'', which were widely agreed to have executed the concepts of being an origin story and having mature content respectively with much more tact and faithfulness, dooming ''Velma'' to [[ToughActToFollow be unfavorably compared to them]]. All of these factors led to a middling critical reception, and an utter savaging by fans, to the extent that the announcement that it would be renewed for a second season was responded to with a massive backlash on social media.

* ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpyAdultPartyCartoon'' is extremely notorious in part because of this. It tries to simultaneously be a drama and an AnimatedShockComedy that takes every single vulgar, offensive and tasteless joke imaginable and takes them even further, and fails at both. The drama was [[{{Narm}} too ludicrous]] [[{{Glurge}} and forced]] for the mainstream, and even if it wasn't, they would have still been turned away by [[TooBleakStoppedCaring the depravity]] and [[{{Squick}} overall grossness]]. Meanwhile, the comedy crowd didn't find any of the jokes funny. Unsurprisingly, this led to its extremely short run. An episode-specific example is by far the most well-known and polarizing one, the episode "[[Recap/RenandStimpyAPC1x02RenSeeksHelp Ren Seeks Help]]". For those unfamiliar: Ren engages in [[MoralEventHorizon multiple]], [[NightmareFuel highly disturbing]] [[ColdBloodedTorture acts of]] [[BlackComedyAnimalCruelty animal cruelty]] which are ''all'' PlayedForLaughs. [[SchmuckBait Watch at your discretion]]. So thoroughly was the audience alienation that even the announcement in 2021 that Comedy Central would revive the series once more (as well as ''Beavis and Butt-Head'') was met with mixed reactions, simply because they had the same characters.

* [[{{Catchphrase}} What could possibly go wrong]] with ''WesternAnimation/{{Bubsy}}''? A lot, actually. This cartoon is based on a [[VideoGame/{{Bubsy}} video game series of the same name]]. The problem? The original games that the titular bobcat hails from are considered mediocre at best by the general consensus. As a result, it is easy for audiences to assume that the cartoon is terrible purely because it is associated with a brand with a less than stellar reputation. [[OneEpisodeWonder It never made it past its pilot.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMuppetMonsters'' needing to live up to the far more successful ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'' while being paired alongside it leaves this taste. As animator Scott Shaw! put it: "The concept of this second half-hour was neither simple nor particularly well-developed." Basically, these three Muppet monsters that live in the basement of the Muppets home and have their own tv station that they use to broadcast shows, exclusively to the Muppets living above them. Failure to produce the animated segments on time resulted in it swiftly being cancelled after three episodes.

* ''WesternAnimation/LittleMuppetMonsters'' needing to live up to the far more successful ''WesternAnimation/TheMuppetBabies1984'' while being paired alongside it leaves this taste. As animator Scott Shaw! put it: "The concept of this second half-hour was neither simple nor particularly well-developed." Basically, these three Muppet monsters that live in the basement of the Muppets home and have their own tv station that they use to broadcast shows, exclusively to the Muppets living above them. Failure to produce the animated segments on time resulted in it swiftly being cancelled after three episodes.

* ''WesternAnimation/LittleMuppetMonsters'' needing to live up to the far more successful ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'' while being paired alongside it leaves this taste. As animator Scott Shaw! put it: "The concept of this second half-hour was neither simple nor particularly well-developed." Basically, these three Muppet monsters that live in the basement of the Muppets home and have their own tv station that they use to broadcast shows, exclusively to the Muppets living above them. Failure to produce the animated segments on time resulted in it swiftly being cancelled after three episodes.

* ''WesternAnimation/FishPolice'' falls into this. In spite of starting colorful talking fish, it is loosely based off an adult 1980s comic. On top of that it is an adult cartoon produced by Creator/HannaBarbera, explaining why it only lasted 6 episodes.

* ''WebAnimation/TheRedApeFamily'' is about the titular family of primates moving to UsefulNotes/{{Mars}} after Earth had been been over-run by pollution. That, in it of itself, doesn’t sound all that bad; the real reason that this cartoon rubbed people the wrong way is because it revolves heavily around [[UsefulNotes/{{Bitcoin}} NFTs]], with the main apes even being based on the "Bored Ape Collection" of [=NFTs=]. Since the product that the show was trying to promote is a heavily controversial practice, this means that [[OvershadowedByControversy the show was bound to gain controversy as well.]] Audiences were highly opposed to there being a cartoon that promotes a well-hated practice, which explains why it was QuietlyCancelled after [[OneEpisodeWonder only three episodes.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'' The show's main humor is incredibly fast-paced {{dialogue}} to the point that adults can get lost, and unlike ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'', there isn't much in the way of {{Slapstick}} to balance it out -- the main duo are able to laugh off whatever AmusingInjuries they're subject to as if it didn't even happen. On top of that, it aired at a time when the AnimationAgeGhetto was only just starting to be broken, so most grown-ups wouldn't have expected much from what was to them another duo of {{Funny Animal}}s. Since the preexisting Franchise/SamAndMax franchise was a CultClassic even at the time, any veteran fans interested wouldn't be enough to sustain the show for more than a season.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bordertown}} '' is about a police officer who works at the UsefulNotes/{{California}}/UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}} border for border patrol. Along with his family, he [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin lives in a town at the border]] while having neighbors who are Mexican stereotypes. The premise alone came across as racist to many, especially with how controversial an issue illegal immigration and the treatment of immigrants at the border is. Since the show is about taking jabs at certain ethnic groups, people who are a part of said groups would not be interested, which limits the show’s audience by default. Combined with the show’s ugly character designs and [[Creator/SethMacFarlane Seth MacFarlane’s]] involvement, it’s not hard to see why it only lasted one season.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bordertown}} '' is about a police officer who works at the UsefulNotes/{{California}}/UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}} border for border patrol. Along with his family, he [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin lives in a town at the border]] while having neighbors who are Mexican stereotypes. The premise alone came across as racist to many, especially since it [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump came out during a time when illegal immigration was considered a controversial issue]]. Since the show is about taking jabs at certain ethnic groups, people who are a part of said groups would not be interested, which limits the show’s audience by default. Combined with the show’s ugly character designs and [[Creator/SethMacFarlane Seth MacFarlane’s]] involvement, it’s not hard to see why it only lasted one season.

* ''WesternAnimation/PenguinsBehindBars'' was a surprisingly serious {{Prison}} {{Drama}}... set {{in a|World}} {{world of|FunnyAnimals}} cartoon penguins. One would think this would have a place on Creator/AdultSwim, but even there, every other show outside of {{anime}} (which can be said about adult animation as a whole) was a {{comedy}}. The {{pilot}} aired once, was met with mixed to negative reception from baffled viewers, and never aired again.

* Upon its premiere in Fall 2002, the MTV cartoon ''WesternAnimation/CloneHigh'' met its ([[ShortRunners pretty quick]]) demise because of this. Among other things, the fact that a member of the UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist cast is a clone of UsefulNotes/MahatmaGandhi that is a {{Jerkass}} party animal [[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/jan/31/pressandpublishing.india actually led to protests outside of the Indian offices of MTV]] because Gandhi is [[SacredCow a very revered person over there]] [[UnacceptableTargets and people felt insulted as a result.]] In the years since its cancellation, though, the series has become VindicatedByHistory and is now a CultClassic considered one of the best cartoons of the 2000s, and [[NetworkToTheRescue it was announced in 2021 that MTV and HBO Max would revive the show for a 2-season order]]. Further, that character ''wasn't supposed to be Gandhi anyway''; the whole point of his character is that he was always jealous of being in the shadow of his source.

* It isn't hard to see the cartoon series based on ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' as having one of these. Besides being based on something [[ContinuityLockout with sprawling pre-existing mythology]], it was set during the very beginning of the Clan Invasion. Meaning a setting a new viewer had no chance to learn anything about was being invaded, by an enemy even people in the show had never seen before, upsetting a status quo new viewers would know absolutely nothing about. There was also the somewhat conflicting ideas of how it tried to stay true to the source by showing that [[WarIsHell war involves horrific destruction]] and also being kind of futile, while at the same time promoting itself by [[WarIsGlorious making war look awesome]] with having the soldiers piloting [[HumongousMecha gigantic deathbots]] (there was even an action figure line). Something the younger viewers the show was trying to attract to the franchise probably had trouble reconciling. Despite ending on a cliffhanger the closest it's come to being followed up was [[CanonForeigner having some of the characters later appear in series novels]]. As of the "Wars of Reaving" sourcebook it's been established in-canon as a giggleworthy propaganda cartoon.

* ''WebAnimation/TheRedApeFamily'' is about the titular family of primates moving to UsefulNotes/{{Mars}} after Earth had been been over-run by pollution. That, in it of itself, doesn’t sound all that bad; the real reason that this cartoon rubbed people the wrong way is because it revolves heavily around [[UsefulNotes/{{Bitcoin}} NFTs]], with the main apes even being based on the "Bored Ape Collection" of [=NFTs=]. Since the product that the show was trying to promote is a heavily controversial practice, this means that [[OvershadowedByControversy the show was bound to gain controversy as well.]] Audiences were highly opposed to there being a cartoon that promotes a well-hated practice, which explains why it was QuietlyCancelled after [[OneEpisodeWonder only two episodes.]]

* This is ''the'' reason ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTales'' flopped. Fans of the usually fantasy-themed ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' franchise found the SliceOfLife elements dull and {{cliche}}; while most SliceOfLife fans couldn't get beyond the fact that the cast is all brightly-colored talking ponies. It's still a controversial topic in the MLP fandom decades later.