History StartOfDarkness / WesternAnimation

** ''ComicBook/TheBatmanAdventures''' "Mad Love" and [[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE21MadLove its later TV adaptation]] gives one to Harley Quinn. Originally Harleen Quinzel, she was a young, new therapist at Arkham Asylum hoping to make a name for herself treating the patients there, starting with the Joker. Unfortunately, Joker's mind games and manipulations slowly turned her into the mad moll we all know.

** Edward Nygma created a computer game that made millions but was then fired by his publisher so that, as according to his contract with them, he would't get anything from it. Thus, in "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE40IfYoureSoSmartWhyArentYouRich If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?]]", Nygma becomes the Riddler in his attempt to punish his old boss. Notable in that this is one of the few episodes where the Villain of the Week [[spoiler:escapes, unharmed and untouched. He was never there to be caught. At the ending, where the wealthy businessman is headed to bed. Shaking in terror all the way, he locks the multiple locks on his door, climbs into bed with a double-barreled shotgun, and cringes in paranoia]].

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheStorm The Storm]]", aside from telling how Aang ended up frozen in an iceberg, gives us how [[AntiVillain Prince Zuko]] got [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished his scar and banishment]]; [[spoiler:he spoke out against a general who believed WeHaveReserves, but because it wasn't his place to speak out, he had shown disrespect, and the Fire Lord declared a duel to resolve the matter. Zuko accepted, thinking he'd fight the general, but because it happened in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the ''Fire Lord'' he'd disrespected. Zuko couldn't fight his father, and begged forgiveness. Instead, he got a fireball to the face and an exile that would not be lifted until he found the Avatar, considered a SnipeHunt at the time.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'': It's long been obvious that a large part of the titular character's issues came from the abuse suffered at the hands of his resentful and bitter parents Beatrice and Butterscotch, who play a sort of GreaterScopeVillain to his issues. Season 4 greatly expands their own backstories, particularly Beatrice's, showing that Beatrice UsedToBeASweetKid up until [[spoiler:her happy family broke apart after her brother's death in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, which caused her mother to go insane with grief and get lobotomized, after which Beatrice underwent a traumatic bout with Scarlet Fever and had to deal with being raised by her abusive and sexist father. This drove her into the arms of charming amateur writer Butterscotch, but a surprise pregnancy ensued, causing them to move to San Francisco, where their lack of money and Butterscotch's failed attempts at achieving success with his writing make them grow bitter towards each other and little [=BoJack=], whom they would use as an outlet for their issues.]]

** "[[Recap/DuckTales2017S2E3TheBalladOfDukeBaloney The Ballad of Duke Baloney!]]" features the origin story of Scrooge's fierce business rival Flintheart Glomgold. [[spoiler:In his youth, he was a South African shoe-shine boy named Duke Baloney, and Scrooge offered to give him his own NumberOneDime in hopes of inspiring him. However, Duke took it as an insult that the richest duck in the world would short-change him and, after stealing a money clip containing a million dollars in cash, vowed to get even by becoming the new richest duck in the world. The newly christened Flintheart Glomgold became determined to out-do Scrooge in everything, including being Scottish, which is why he [[{{Fauxreigner}} adopted a Scottish persona]].]]

* Implied with Emperor Belos in ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse''. What's been seen of his backstory indicates that [[spoiler:back when he was known as Philip Wittebane, he was deeply influenced by the [[DeliberateValuesDissonance normal views of his time period]] into seeing witches as beings to be feared and hated, leading to him being [[FantasticRacism naturally antagonistic]] towards the denizens of the Boiling Isles. A closer look into his memory portraits reveals that he used to have an older brother named Caleb whom he was very close to until the day a witch entered into Caleb's life. The episode "[[Recap/TheOwlHouseS3E1ThanksToThem Thanks to Them]]" reveals that Caleb had gone with the witch to the Demon Realm and fell in love, while Philip had gone on after his brother to find and retrieved him. Finding out that they eloped angered Philip due to his anti-witch beliefs, and the two brothers fought, which led to Caleb's death. This incident is implied to be the driving force for Belos' genocidal plans and the Grimwalkers, as he's still haunted by that memory in spite of his sociopathic attitude in present day]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'', we finally get to see Evil Morty's in the flashback at the beginning of "[[Recap/RickAndMortyS7E5Unmortricken Unmortricken]]": his Rick was far more of an [[AbusiveParents abusive]] {{Jerkass}} to him than the main Rick of the series is to the main Morty, and after he--originally just a normal Morty--was justifiably annoyed by their latest gross, humiliating adventure (which involved him having to "go up an ass"), his [[UngratefulBastard ungrateful]] Rick just went off on him for "whining" and dared him to quit if he didn't like it. This was the last straw for Morty, who decided to do exactly that: he [[StutterStop permanently dropped his stutter]], pretended to smooth things over by giving Rick enough beer to get him drunk, and donned his newly-perfected eyepatch to become the Evil Morty we all know, attacking the now-wasted Rick and putting him under MindControl to turn him into the Evil Rick first seen in "Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind".

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' shows the events that made Anakin Skywalker a hero of the Clone Wars. But sprinkled throughout are moments foreshadowing his fall to the Dark Side. More than once, he [[ForceChoke Force-chokes]] his enemies to save Ahsoka or Padmé's lives. His trust in his master is shaken when Obi-Wan fakes his own death and does not tell Anakin. And his faith in the Jedi Council is shattered when they turn their backs on Ahsoka.
* ''WesternAnimation/TangledTheSeries'' gives us [[ChemistryCanDoAnything alchemist]] Varian, who has a start of darkness in [[WhamEpisode "Queen For a Day"]] after his father is encased in a combination of his own mixtures and the black spikes popping up around Corona. As a direct result of Rapunzel's reluctant refusal to help Varian due to the kingdom facing an EndlessWinter, [[BreakTheCutie his optimism is replaced with hardened cynicism]] and he [[UsedToBeASweetKid goes from happy, eager-to-help child]] [[FromNobodyToNightmare to one of the series' darkest villains]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'', we finally get to see Evil Morty's in the flashback at the beginning of "[[Recap/RickAndMortyS7E5Unmortricken Unmortricken]]": his Rick was far more of an [[AbusiveParents abusive]] {{Jerkass}} to him than the main Rick of the series is to the main Morty, and after he was justifiably annoyed by their latest gross, humiliating adventure (which involved him having to "go up an ass"), his [[UngratefulBastard ungrateful]] Rick just went off on him for "whining" and dared him to quit if he didn't like it. This was the last straw for Morty, who decided to do exactly that: he [[StutterStop permanently dropped his stutter]], pretended to smooth things over by giving Rick enough beer to get him drunk, and donned his newly-perfected eyepatch to become the Evil Morty we all know, attacking the now-wasted Rick and putting him under MindControl to turn him into the Evil Rick first seen in "Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind".

* In ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'', we finally get to see Evil Morty's in the flashback at the beginning of "[[Recap/RickAndMortyS7E5Unmortricken Unmortricken]]": his Rick was far more of an [[AbusiveParents abusive]] {{Jerkass}} to him than the main Rick of the series is to the main Morty, and after he was justifiably annoyed by their latest gross, humiliating adventure (which involved him having to "go up an ass"), his Rick just went off on him for "whining" and dared him to quit. This was the last straw for Morty, who decided to do just that: he [[StutterStop permanently dropped his stutter]], pretended to smooth things over by giving Rick enough beer to get him drunk, and then attacked him and put him under MindControl, turning him into the Evil Rick first seen in "Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind" and donning his newly-perfected eyepatch to become the Evil Morty we all know.

* "The Last Tough Customer" on ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' shows Molly's in TheTeaser: when she was in maybe kindergarten or first grade, a couple of older kids teased her about her poofy hair. She took out her hairbands, letting her hair fall across her eyes, and became a bully.
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': "The Storm", aside from telling how Aang ended up frozen in an iceberg, gives us how [[AntiVillain Prince Zuko]] got [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished his scar and banishment]]; [[spoiler:he spoke out against a general who believed WeHaveReserves, but because it wasn't his place to speak out, he had shown disrespect, and the Fire Lord declared a duel to resolve the matter. Zuko accepted, thinking he'd fight the general, but because it happened in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the ''Fire Lord'' he'd disrespected. Zuko couldn't fight his father, and begged forgiveness. Instead, he got a fireball to the face and an exile that would not be lifted until he found the Avatar, considered a SnipeHunt at the time.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''
** There is an episode with the Riddler wherein he creates a computer game that makes millions but is then fired by his publisher so that, as according to his contract with them, he doesn't get anything from it. And so becomes the Riddler in his attempt to punish his old boss. Notable in that this is one of the few episodes where the Villain of the Week [[spoiler: escapes, unharmed and untouched. He was never there to be caught. At the ending, where the wealthy businessman is headed to bed. Shaking in terror all the way, he locks the multiple locks on his door, climbs into bed with a double-barreled shotgun, and cringes in paranoia.]]
** Temple Fugate, a ScheduleFanatic, decided to take a break from that schedule at the suggestion of then-Counselor Hill and [[DisasterDominoes things went horribly wrong]], costing him a court case. Temple snapped and vowed revenge on Hill, now Gotham's mayor, becoming the episode's titular villain, the Clock King. He orchestrates a smear campaign against Mayor Hill as a prelude to kidnapping him and putting him in a DeathTrap
** The tie-in comic book for the series described (but did not show) one for Arnold Wesker, a.k.a. The Ventriloquist. The Ventriloquist tells Batman that he was actually born into a mob family and was encouraged by his mother not to allow himself to drift into a life of crime like the rest of the family had done. Arnold promised her he'd do this... but then his mother was killed one night by a bullet meant for his father, and Arnold felt that he had to avenge her. Even after becoming a gangster, he still kept a framed photo of his mother on his person at all times--until Scarface, in a fit of jealousy (because the Ventriloquist had been keeping company with other puppets in an attempt to distance himself from Scarface), tore up the photo, causing Arnold Wesker's mind to snap for good.
** The tie-in comic "Mad Love" and it's later tv adaptation gives one to Harley Quinn. Originally Harleen Quinnzel, she was a young, new therapist at Arkham Asylum hoping to make a name for herself treating the patients there, starting with the Joker. Unfortunately, Joker's mind games and manipulations slowly turned her into the mad moll we all know.

** "The Ballad of Duke Baloney!" features the origin story of Scrooge's fierce business rival Flintheart Glomgold. [[spoiler: In his youth he was a South African shoe-shine boy named Duke Baloney, and Scrooge offered to give him his own NumberOneDime in hopes of inspiring him. However, Duke took it as an insult that the richest duck in the world would short-change him and, after stealing a money clip containing a million dollars in cash, vowed to get even by becoming the new richest duck in the world. The newly-christened Flintheart Glomgold became determined to out-do Scrooge in everything, including being Scottish, which is why he [[{{Fauxreigner}} adopted a Scottish persona]].]]
** "The Duck Knight Returns!" does this for Negaduck. [[spoiler:Jim Starling was the actor for [[ShowWithinAShow the Darkwing Duck TV series]] in-universe. However, when a movie was being made, the decision was made to replace him with a new actor. [[ItsAllAboutMe Being a tad egotistical]], he went crazy and attempted to take over the movie and kill his replacement. The end result lead to set exploding and Jim, believing that it was all the replacement's fault, embraced his evil side. Oh, and the replacement? [[CanonCharacterAllAlong A young Drake Mallard]], who is convinced by Launchpad to be the ''real'' Darkwing Duck.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' episode "The Secret Orgin of Denzel Crocker," it is explained [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin how Crocker became obsessed with fairies]] and why he's so bitter toward his students and life. It's due to Timmy accidentally costing him his fairies (ironically Cosmo and Wanda in the 70s) when he travels back in time to discover what made Crocker so bitter. Naturally, Crocker doesnt remember this but before his memories were erased, he had time to scribble down "fairy godparents exist" on a magic detector he managed to hide, leading to his lifelong obsession with proving their existance.
* The ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'' episode "Passing" for Clay Puppington. We see him as a child, when he discovers that [[spoiler:his mother miscarried ten times before he was born]], he becomes upset and [[spoiler:briefly fakes his own death]] which causes [[spoiler:his mother to have a heart attack and die]]. This puts him at a distance with his father, who Clay [[AttentionWhore intentionally tries to provoke into hitting him so he'll be "worth it."]]
* In an alternate universe in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', President Lex Luthor had [[TheHeart Flash]] executed, and then taunted Superman about the fact that, since Superman historically wouldn't kill or otherwise do anything more than have him incarcerated, he would basically get away with it, as always. This prompted Superman to cross the line and kill him, thereby starting the Justice League on the path to becoming the [[KnightTemplar Justice Lords]].
* Implied with Emperor Belos in ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse''. What's been seen of his backstory indicates that [[spoiler:back when he was known as Philip Wittebane he was deeply influenced by the [[DeliberateValuesDissonance normal views of his time period]] into seeing witches as beings to be feared and hated, leading to him being [[FantasticRacism naturally antagonistic]] towards the denizens of the Boiling Isles. A closer look into his memory portraits reveal he used to have an older brother named Caleb whom he was very close to until the day a witch entered into Caleb's life. The episode "Thanks to Them" reveals that Caleb had went with the witch to the Demon Realm and fell in love, while Philip had went on after his brother to find and retrieved him. Finding out that they eloped angered Philip due to his anti-witch beliefs and the two brothers fought which led to Caleb's death. This incident is implied to be the driving force for Belos' genocidal plans and the Grimwalkers, as he's still haunted by that memory in spite of his sociopathic attitude in present day.]]
* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "The Seemingly Never-Ending Story". In [[NestedStory Moe's story-within-the-story]], it's revealed that Springfield's recidivist criminal Snake Jailbird used to be an AdventureArchaeologist until he came into Moe's Tavern. After Moe steals his Mayan coins, Snake declares "I'll take my revenge on society — by which, I mean convenience stores."

* The ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' episode "Along Came A Spider", where we find that Blackarachnia's hatred against Autobots began when Optimus Prime and his friend [[{{Jerkass}} Sentinel]] accidentally left her behind on an alien planet inhabited by spiders. While still inside the caves, Blackarachnia is accidentally mutated into a technorganic spider, causing her to join the Decepticons as revenge for Optimus and Sentinel's betrayal.

* The tie-in comic "Mad Love" and it's later tv adaptation gives one to Harley Quinn. Originally Harleen Quinnzel, she was a young, new therapist at Arkham Asylum hoping to make a name for herself treating the patients there, starting with the Joker. Unfortunately, Joker's mind games and manipulations slowly turned her into the mad moll we all know.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': {{Implied}}. What's been seen of his backstory indicates that [[Characters/TheOwlHouseEmperorBelos Philip Wittebane]] was deeply influenced by the [[DeliberateValuesDissonance normal views of his time period]] into seeing witches as beings to be feared and hated, leading to him being [[FantasticRacism naturally antagonistic]] towards the denizens of the Boiling Isles. A closer look into his memory portraits reveal he used to have an older brother named Caleb whom he was very close to until the day a witch entered into Caleb's life. The episode "Thanks to Them" reveals that Caleb had went with the witch to the Demon Realm and fell in love, while Philip had went on after his brother to find and retrieved him. Finding out that they eloped angered Philip due to his anti-witch beliefs and the two brothers fought which led to Caleb's death. This incident is implied to be the driving force for Belos' genocidial plans and the Grimwalkers, as he's still haunted by that memory in spite of his sociopathic attitude in present day.

* The Dr. Robotnik of ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' has his origin told in the episode "Best Hedgehog" as a high school student expelled because he tried to kill a romantic rival with a robotic snake to woo a girl he liked. He made sure that rival was his first prisoner.
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'':
** In the episode [[WhamEpisode "Holly Jolly Secrets Part II"]], we learn the Ice King's [[CerebusRetcon origins]]. [[spoiler: [[WasOnceAMan He used to be a human named Simon]] [[Really700YearsOld from before]] [[ApocalypseHow The Great Mushroom War]] who bought a crown while on a trip with his fiancee Betty, whom he called "Princess." When he put on the crown he had mad visions, blacked out, and when he came to his fiancee was gone. Throughout the video he made you see him slowly morphing into his current form, wishing that whoever finds it to watch over him until he can figure out how to break the curse.]] It's ''really'' hard not to [[CryForTheDevil feel sorry for the]] [[SympathyForTheDevil guy after that]].
** The episode "Princess Cookie" was an episode all about this. Baby-Snaps the cookie is seen taking hostages and trying to steal the crown of Princess Bubblegum. Then, we learn of his past: he was an orphan living in a terrible orphanage, and one day, Princess Bubblegum showed up to read to the kids and cheer them up. The princess put Baby-Snaps on her lap and asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He jollily said: "I want to be a princess like YOU!" And the princess giggled innocently. That was the start of darkness for poor Baby-Snaps, who went on to threaten people with violence, take hostages, and attempt suicide, and end up in a mental hospital.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}'', a prequel series to ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', is one for [[TerroristWithoutACause Jinx]], showing how she ultimately became the AxCrazy anarchist she is by the events of the game.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has one of these. "The Storm", aside from telling how Aang ended up frozen in an iceberg, gives us how [[AntiVillain Prince Zuko]] got [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished his scar and banishment]]; [[spoiler:he spoke out against a general who believed WeHaveReserves, but because it wasn't his place to speak out, he had shown disrespect, and the Fire Lord declared a duel to resolve the matter. Zuko accepted, thinking he'd fight the general, but because it happened in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the ''Fire Lord'' he'd disrespected. Zuko couldn't fight his father, and begged forgiveness. Instead, he got a fireball to the face and an exile that would not be lifted until he found the Avatar, considered a SnipeHunt at the time.]]

** There is such an episode with the Riddler, wherein he creates a computer game that makes millions but is then fired by his publisher so that, as according to his contract with them, he doesn't get anything from it. And so becomes the Riddler in his attempt to punish his old boss. Notable in that this is one of the few episodes where the Villain of the Week [[spoiler: escapes, unharmed and untouched. He was never there to be caught. At the ending, where the wealthy businessman is headed to bed. Shaking in terror all the way, he locks the multiple locks on his door, climbs into bed with a double-barreled shotgun, and cringes in paranoia.]]
** The show is also credited with Mr. Freeze's backstory, who up to that point was just a cold-themed villain who turned up occasionally. The cartoon turned him into an AntiVillain [[TheWoobie Woobie]].

*** Temple Fugate’s case is a bit of a DeconstructiveParody of this trope; Temple had NoSocialSkills and was a MeanBoss long before the fateful day he took Hill’s advice. Even when confronted with the fact that Hill meant him no harm, Temple ''reconstructs'' this trope when he refuses to admit he's taken his obsession too far, being a ScheduleFanatic, ''being punctual is the only thing he cares for.''
--->'''Batman''': Give it up, Fugate! Hill committed no crime against you!\\
'''Clock King''': [[BlueAndOrangeMorality He did worse]]! [[HarmonyVersusDiscipline He made me late!]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' episode "The Color Ruckus" shows the events in the life of Uncle Ruckus (no relation) that lead him to becoming a BoomerangBigot; his father Mister was monstrously abusive and beat his sons for basically any reason, with Ruckus getting the worst treatment. This, combined with the stories his caucasian-idolizing mother told him to comfort him, led to Ruckus inventing a ridiculous backstory for himself about being an abandoned white child with "reverse vitalargo" because he couldnt deal with being his fathers biological son. Ironically, the episode ALSO shows how his father got that way; a lifetime of abuse heaped on him by both his horrid bitch of a mother, and a parade of abusive white employers (Mister having been around during the worst of the Jim Crow era.)

* The main purpose of the four-part ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' episode "City of Stone" is to provide a framing story for one of these for [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Demona]] and [[AntiVillain Macbeth]].
* Skeletor got one in ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2002''. Turns out he was a powerful wizard trained by Hordak who wasen't ''completely'' bad (or at least not crazy). Then his face got flash fried off. After seeing that he has a skull for a face now, he completely lost it. The scene where his sanity finally snaps can scare someone as he starts laughing into the sky like the god damned Joker.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'': Mojo Jojo's origin was intially revealed in the episode "Mr. Mojo's Rising". As Jojo, he was once Professor Utonium's unruly pet monkey, but was ignored when the Powerpuff Girls were created (to which he learned he played a part of in the end). This would lead him into becoming the supervillain we all know. The story and trope were further expanded in ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirlsMovie''.
** Mojo's telling of the origin paints him as someone who might come off as sympathetic but Utonium reveals that Mojo was just as unsympathetic when he was Jojo. In fact, Mojo may actually be ''more'' likable and sympathetic as a supervillain than he ever was when he was just a normal monkey.
* While ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'''s first episode explains the basic premise behind Aku, the episode "The Birth of Evil" tells his exact origins as a castaway shred of an EldritchAbomination which the Gods fought among the stars.

* ''WesternAnimation/TangledTheSeries'' gives us [[ChemistryCanDoAnything alchemist]] Varian, who has one of these in [[WhamEpisode "Queen For a Day"]] after his father is encased in a combination of his own mixtures and the black spikes popping up around Corona. As a direct result of Rapunzel's reluctant refusal to help Varian due to the kingdom facing an EndlessWinter, [[BreakTheCutie his optimism is replaced with hardened cynicism]] and he [[UsedToBeASweetKid goes from happy, eager-to-help child]] [[FromNobodyToNightmare to one of the series' darkest villains]].
* The ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' episode "Along Came A Spider", where we find that Blackarachnia's hatred against Autobots began when Optimus Prime and his friend [[{{Jerkass}} Sentinel]] accidentally left her behind on an alien planet inhabited by spiders. While still inside the caves, Blackarachnia is accidentally mutated into a technorganic spider, causing her to join the Decepticons as revenge for Optimus and Sentinel's betrayal.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' offers a Start of Darkness for Phantom Limb in "The Invisible Hand of Fate". At one time he was a MadScientist in the dotty/well meaning sense, and chivalrous enough to turn down future-Mrs-the-Monarch's sex-for-grades proposition. Long story short, both he and Billy Quizboy were victims in a GambitPileup.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'':
** "The Legend of Goultard" reveals how Goultard became a demonic berserker in the game. He was originally a brave and mighty hero who had a good life with a wife and three children. Then a villain named Katar kidnapped them to lure Goultard into a fight. Goultard tracks him down and is horrified when he discovers that Katar has already murdered his entire family. After a brutal NoHoldsBarredBeatdown, the defeated Katar explains that he did this to free himself from the demon inside him by presenting it with a tastier target. The demon is drawn to Goultard's hate and fury and possesses him. Goultard finishes off Katar and eventually becomes an immortal demonic warrior who rules over a realm of madness and horror. [[spoiler:Though in the series proper, he is eventually freed of the demon but retains the immortality and becomes Sadlygrove's mentor.]]
** "Noximilien" shows how Nox, the BigBad of the main series' first season, became such a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds. Essentially, the discovery of the Eliacube -- an extremely powerful AmplifierArtifact (and, unfortunately, ArtifactOfDoom)--and Noximilien's subsequent obsession over it led him to neglect his family, which resulted in their loss. [[FreakOut He did not take this well]]. [[DespairEventHorizon At all]].
* Nerissa of ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'' gets one for both her comic and cartoon selves, both the same: a leader of her generation's Guardians, the Oracle feared she was becoming too attached to the Heart of Candracar and gave it to her friend Cassidy. When Nerissa demanded it back and Cassidy refused, Nerissa slew her in misguided rage.

* While ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'''s first episode explains the basic premise behind Aku, the episode "The Birth of Evil" tells his exact origins as a castaway shred of an UltimateEvil which the Gods fought among the stars.

* The Dr. Robotnik of ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' has his origin told in the episode "Best Hedgehog" as a high school student expelled because he tried to kill a romantic rival with a robotic snake to woo a girl he liked. He made sure that rival was his first prisoner.
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'':
** In the episode [[WhamEpisode "Holly Jolly Secrets Part II"]], we learn the Ice King's [[CerebusRetcon origins]]. [[spoiler: [[WasOnceAMan He used to be a human named Simon]] [[Really700YearsOld from before]] [[ApocalypseHow The Great Mushroom War]] who bought a crown while on a trip with his fiancee Betty, whom he called "Princess." When he put on the crown he had mad visions, blacked out, and when he came to his fiancee was gone. Throughout the video he made you see him slowly morphing into his current form, wishing that whoever finds it to watch over him until he can figure out how to break the curse.]] It's ''really'' hard not to [[CryForTheDevil feel sorry for the]] [[SympathyForTheDevil guy after that]].
** The episode "Princess Cookie" was an episode all about this. Baby-Snaps the cookie is seen taking hostages and trying to steal the crown of Princess Bubblegum. Then, we learn of his past: he was an orphan living in a terrible orphanage, and one day, Princess Bubblegum showed up to read to the kids and cheer them up. The princess put Baby-Snaps on her lap and asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He jollily said: "I want to be a princess like YOU!" And the princess giggled innocently. That was the start of darkness for poor Baby-Snaps, who went on to threaten people with violence, take hostages, and attempt suicide, and end up in a mental hospital.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}'', a prequel series to ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', is one for [[TerroristWithoutACause Jinx]], showing how she ultimately became the AxCrazy anarchist she is by the events of the game.
* "The Last Tough Customer" on ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' shows Molly's in TheTeaser: when she was in maybe kindergarten or first grade, a couple of older kids teased her about her poofy hair. She took out her hairbands, letting her hair fall across her eyes, and became a bully.
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has one of these. "The Storm", aside from telling how Aang ended up frozen in an iceberg, gives us how [[AntiVillain Prince Zuko]] got [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished his scar and banishment]]; [[spoiler:he spoke out against a general who believed WeHaveReserves, but because it wasn't his place to speak out, he had shown disrespect, and the Fire Lord declared a duel to resolve the matter. Zuko accepted, thinking he'd fight the general, but because it happened in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the ''Fire Lord'' he'd disrespected. Zuko couldn't fight his father, and begged forgiveness. Instead, he got a fireball to the face and an exile that would not be lifted until he found the Avatar, considered a SnipeHunt at the time.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''
** There is such an episode with the Riddler, wherein he creates a computer game that makes millions but is then fired by his publisher so that, as according to his contract with them, he doesn't get anything from it. And so becomes the Riddler in his attempt to punish his old boss. Notable in that this is one of the few episodes where the Villain of the Week [[spoiler: escapes, unharmed and untouched. He was never there to be caught. At the ending, where the wealthy businessman is headed to bed. Shaking in terror all the way, he locks the multiple locks on his door, climbs into bed with a double-barreled shotgun, and cringes in paranoia.]]
** The show is also credited with Mr. Freeze's backstory, who up to that point was just a cold-themed villain who turned up occasionally. The cartoon turned him into an AntiVillain [[TheWoobie Woobie]].
** Temple Fugate, a ScheduleFanatic, decided to take a break from that schedule at the suggestion of then-Counselor Hill and [[DisasterDominoes things went horribly wrong]], costing him a court case. Temple snapped and vowed revenge on Hill, now Gotham's mayor, becoming the episode's titular villain, the Clock King. He orchestrates a smear campaign against Mayor Hill as a prelude to kidnapping him and putting him in a DeathTrap
*** Temple Fugate’s case is a bit of a DeconstructiveParody of this trope; Temple had NoSocialSkills and was a MeanBoss long before the fateful day he took Hill’s advice. Even when confronted with the fact that Hill meant him no harm, Temple ''reconstructs'' this trope when he refuses to admit he's taken his obsession too far, being a ScheduleFanatic, ''being punctual is the only thing he cares for.''
--->'''Batman''': Give it up, Fugate! Hill committed no crime against you!\\
'''Clock King''': [[BlueAndOrangeMorality He did worse]]! [[HarmonyVersusDiscipline He made me late!]]
** The tie-in comic book for the series described (but did not show) one for Arnold Wesker, a.k.a. The Ventriloquist. The Ventriloquist tells Batman that he was actually born into a mob family and was encouraged by his mother not to allow himself to drift into a life of crime like the rest of the family had done. Arnold promised her he'd do this... but then his mother was killed one night by a bullet meant for his father, and Arnold felt that he had to avenge her. Even after becoming a gangster, he still kept a framed photo of his mother on his person at all times--until Scarface, in a fit of jealousy (because the Ventriloquist had been keeping company with other puppets in an attempt to distance himself from Scarface), tore up the photo, causing Arnold Wesker's mind to snap for good.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' episode "The Color Ruckus" shows the events in the life of Uncle Ruckus (no relation) that lead him to becoming a BoomerangBigot; his father Mister was monstrously abusive and beat his sons for basically any reason, with Ruckus getting the worst treatment. This, combined with the stories his caucasian-idolizing mother told him to comfort him, led to Ruckus inventing a ridiculous backstory for himself about being an abandoned white child with "reverse vitalargo" because he couldnt deal with being his fathers biological son. Ironically, the episode ALSO shows how his father got that way; a lifetime of abuse heaped on him by both his horrid bitch of a mother, and a parade of abusive white employers (Mister having been around during the worst of the Jim Crow era.)
* In ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'', an episode is dedicated to the origin story of [[MeaningfulName Reginald Bushroot]], and how he became a villain.
* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'':
** "The Ballad of Duke Baloney!" features the origin story of Scrooge's fierce business rival Flintheart Glomgold. [[spoiler: In his youth he was a South African shoe-shine boy named Duke Baloney, and Scrooge offered to give him his own NumberOneDime in hopes of inspiring him. However, Duke took it as an insult that the richest duck in the world would short-change him and, after stealing a money clip containing a million dollars in cash, vowed to get even by becoming the new richest duck in the world. The newly-christened Flintheart Glomgold became determined to out-do Scrooge in everything, including being Scottish, which is why he [[{{Fauxreigner}} adopted a Scottish persona]].]]
** "The Duck Knight Returns!" does this for Negaduck. [[spoiler:Jim Starling was the actor for [[ShowWithinAShow the Darkwing Duck TV series]] in-universe. However, when a movie was being made, the decision was made to replace him with a new actor. [[ItsAllAboutMe Being a tad egotistical]], he went crazy and attempted to take over the movie and kill his replacement. The end result lead to set exploding and Jim, believing that it was all the replacement's fault, embraced his evil side. Oh, and the replacement? [[CanonCharacterAllAlong A young Drake Mallard]], who is convinced by Launchpad to be the ''real'' Darkwing Duck.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' episode "The Secret Orgin of Denzel Crocker," it is explained [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin how Crocker became obsessed with fairies]] and why he's so bitter toward his students and life. It's due to Timmy accidentally costing him his fairies (ironically Cosmo and Wanda in the 70s) when he travels back in time to discover what made Crocker so bitter. Naturally, Crocker doesnt remember this but before his memories were erased, he had time to scribble down "fairy godparents exist" on a magic detector he managed to hide, leading to his lifelong obsession with proving their existance.
* The main purpose of the four-part ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' episode "City of Stone" is to provide a framing story for one of these for [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Demona]] and [[AntiVillain Macbeth]].

* The ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'' episode "Passing" for Clay Puppington. We see him as a child, when he discovers that [[spoiler:his mother miscarried ten times before he was born]], he becomes upset and [[spoiler:briefly fakes his own death]] which causes [[spoiler:his mother to have a heart attack and die]]. This puts him at a distance with his father, who Clay [[AttentionWhore intentionally tries to provoke into hitting him so he'll be "worth it."]]

** Mojo's telling of the origin paints him as someone who might come off as sympathetic but Utonium reveals that Mojo was just as unsympathetic when he was Jojo. In fact, Mojo may actually be ''more'' likable and sympathetic as a supervillain than he ever was when he was just a normal monkey.
* While ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'''s first episode explains the basic premise behind Aku, the episode "The Birth of Evil" tells his exact origins as a castaway shred of an UltimateEvil which the Gods fought among the stars.

* The ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' episode "Along Came A Spider", where we find that Blackarachnia's hatred against Autobots began when Optimus Prime and his friend [[{{Jerkass}} Sentinel]] accidentally left her behind on an alien planet inhabited by spiders. While still inside the caves, Blackarachnia is accidentally mutated into a technorganic spider, causing her to join the Decepticons as revenge for Optimus and Sentinel's betrayal.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' offers a Start of Darkness for Phantom Limb in "The Invisible Hand of Fate". At one time he was a MadScientist in the dotty/well meaning sense, and chivalrous enough to turn down future-Mrs-the-Monarch's sex-for-grades proposition. Long story short, both he and Billy Quizboy were victims in a GambitPileup.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'':
** "The Legend of Goultard" reveals how Goultard became a demonic berserker in the game. He was originally a brave and mighty hero who had a good life with a wife and three children. Then a villain named Katar kidnapped them to lure Goultard into a fight. Goultard tracks him down and is horrified when he discovers that Katar has already murdered his entire family. After a brutal NoHoldsBarredBeatdown, the defeated Katar explains that he did this to free himself from the demon inside him by presenting it with a tastier target. The demon is drawn to Goultard's hate and fury and possesses him. Goultard finishes off Katar and eventually becomes an immortal demonic warrior who rules over a realm of madness and horror. [[spoiler:Though in the series proper, he is eventually freed of the demon but retains the immortality and becomes Sadlygrove's mentor.]]
** "Noximilien" shows how Nox, the BigBad of the main series' first season, became such a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds. Essentially, the discovery of the Eliacube -- an extremely powerful AmplifierArtifact (and, unfortunately, ArtifactOfDoom)--and Noximilien's subsequent obsession over it led him to neglect his family, which resulted in their loss. [[FreakOut He did not take this well]]. [[DespairEventHorizon At all]].
* Nerissa of ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'' gets one for both her comic and cartoon selves, both the same: a leader of her generation's Guardians, the Oracle feared she was becoming too attached to the Heart of Candracar and gave it to her friend Cassidy. When Nerissa demanded it back and Cassidy refused, Nerissa slew her in misguided rage.