History WesternAnimation / BackToTheFuture

** The present is 1991, but despite 6 years passing since the events of the movie trilogy in 1985, Marty and Jennifer appear to be ''younger'' than they should. They at least put them in college--the first episode does make mention of Marty being in college, and makes a reference to DEAN Strickland--even if they were drawn looking like teenagers and seem to have become ''less'' mature than they were in the trilogy. Of course, Michael J. Fox ''still'' looks like he could play a teenager.

* {{Catchphrase}}: In addition to "Great Scott!", Doc was given more catchphrases such as "Jumpin' jigowatts!", "Galloping Galileo!", "Ouchamagoucha!" and "For Petri's sake!"

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** ''Film/BackToTheFuture'' itself seems to exist in this universe; it can be seen on a theater marquee in "Hill Valley Brown-Out."

* ChildSoldier: Doc Brown's sons Jules and Verne go to the UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar and find themselves recruited by the Union and Confederate armies. As Verne is being trained by another boy, Jimmy, he is told that they are positioned in the front lines in the line of fire:

* AdaptationalPersonalityChange: In the movies, Marty causes some problems because of his impulsiveness, but he serves as a capable, quick-witted assistant to Doc and comes across as a loyal, kind person in general. The version from the series appears more ditzy and self-centered.

** In "Clara's Folks" episode, Verne imitates a speech his mother gives, complete with it being [[VoiceoverLetter delivered by a voice over from Clara's voice actor]]. Once he's finished, Marty remarks on [[VoiceChangeling the uncanny accuracy of the impression,]] and Verne says he sometimes uses it to call himself in sick to school.

** Marty sarcastically says in one episode that he's Creator/MichaelJFox, who played him in the films. Verne admits that he can see the resemblance. This also subtly [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] the fact that he is [[PoorMansSubstitute not Michael J. Fox]] in this series.

* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: In the episode "Forward to the Past", the Cretaceous Period is stated to be in 3 million BC. Oh, and apparently there were lemon trees in California during that era.

** The Venus de Milo lost its arms after the time travelers ran into it in Ancient Rome.

* TheStinger: The Tannen for that particular episode makes a joke after each show's credits--possibly a ShoutOut to Tannen voice actor Creator/ThomasFWilson's career as a stand-up comedian.

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* SomethingCompletelyDifferent:
** The seventh episode is the only one in the series to use a TwoShorts format ("Time Waits for No Frog" and "Einstein's Adventure" specifically).
** "Solar Sailors" is largely set in the future (2091 specifically), whereas other episodes only traveled to the past.
** "[[Recap/BackToTheFutureTheAnimatedSeriesS2E7TheMoneyTree The Money Tree]]" doesn't have anything to do with time travel, with the entire plot being driven by Jules' titular invention.

* AdultFear: Verne has a winds up hanging from the clock tower in Independence Hall during "Go Fly a Kite" and Doc positively freaks out.

* IconicOutfit: Played straight with Doc in the live action segments (lab coat, Hawaiian shirt, cargo pants). Also played straight for Bill Nye; he's seen wearing the lab coat and bow tie he'd be best known for later on in the decade. Averted for Marty; he's not wearing his iconic "life preserver" getup from the first movie, but instead sticks with something resembling his 1955 garb (a red and white varsity-style jacket, white shirt, jeans, and red shoes).

* PacManFever: Every sound effect from ''Bravelord and Monstrux'' -- which is Verne's favorite video game InUniverse -- is taken directly from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros.''

* PacManFever: Every sound effect from ''Bravelord and Monstrux'' -- which is Verne's favorite video game InUniverse -- is taken directly from ''VideoGame/{{Super Mario Bros}}1.''

** Marty sarcastically says in one episode that he's Michael J. Fox, who played him in the films. Verne admits that he can see the resemblance. This also subtly [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] the fact that he is [[PoorMansSubstitute not Michael J. Fox]] in this series.

* AdoptionDiss: The episode "[[Recap/BackToTheFutureTheAnimatedSeriesS1E6GoFlyAKite Go Fly a Kite]]" has this kickstart the plot. Jules, who doesn't get along well with his younger brother, tells Verne that given that he doesn't resemble Doc, Clara, or Jules (especially in personality), it's clear he's adopted. This is a case where the insulting remark isn't true — Verne is Doc and Clara's biological son — but the idea obsesses him to the point that he runs away to look for his real father. Of course, Doc and Clara are very displeased with their eldest son. This may also count as Values Dissonance, given that the episode was aired in the 1990s; a hero implying there's something wrong with being adopted might go over much worse today than perhaps it did then.

** Marty forgets the lesson he learnt about not overreacting to being called chicken from the film trilogy.

** Biff also looks younger then he did in the movie. There, the present day version had graying hair and mild wrinklage. The animated incarnation has a brown buzzcut and no wrinkles, more closely resembling the teenage 1955 Biff than the middle-aged 1985 Biff. He also acts more like the bullying and loutish 1955 and original-1985 Biff than the cowed and meek revised-1985 Biff.

** Biff also looks younger then he did in the movie. There, the present day version had graying hair and mild wrinklage. The animated incarnation has a brown buzzcut and no wrinkles, more closely resembling the teenage 1955 Biff than the middle-aged 1985 Biff. He also acts more like the bullying and loutish 1955 Biff than the cowed and meek 1985 Biff.

** See ''Series Continuity Error'' below. Marty forgets a big one he learnt from the film trilogy.

** Biff also looks younger then he did in the movie. There, the present day version had graying hair and mild wrinklage. The animated incarnation has a brown buzzcut and no wrinkles, more closely resembling the teenage 1955 Biff than the middle-aged 1985 Biff.