Mirthworms were a trio of animated TV specials with earthworms. Produced by Perennial Pictures, a total of three were made: A Merry Mirthworm Christmas (1984), A Mirthworm Masquerade (1987), and Mirthworms on Stage (1988).
The protagonists of the show were Bert Worm and his neighbor Crystal Crawler. Each special revolved around them and their conflict with the very egotistical Wormaline Wiggler.
Mirthworms provides examples of:
- An Aesop: The show's obligation.
- Christmas Episode
- Driven by Envy: In "Mirthworms On Stage", Wormaline gets jealous of Crystal Crawler getting the part of Sleeping Beauty in the local theatre. She plots to ruin Crystal's performance as revenge.
- The '80s
- Jerkass: Woramline Wiggler
- Laser-Guided Karma: Wormaline and her lackey, Teddy, in the end.
- Punny Name: Many of the character names had to do with worms.
- Psychotic Smirk/Slasher Smile: Wormaline does one of these in at least each special.
- Recycled In Space: The Smurfs with worms.
- Verbal Tic: Adding "worm" to every sentence
- Very Special Episode
