In animation, it’s common to see ideas borrowed and reimagined, but sometimes creators push it a bit too far. Here’s a look at 15 of the most blatant and hilarious cartoon rip-offs, in all their low-budget glory.
The Original: Bee Movie
Jerry Seinfeld’s Bee Movie took the world by storm with its quirky premise of a bee suing humans for stealing honey. The film’s bizarre plot twist, where a woman falls in love with a bee, left audiences both amused and bewildered. However, the success of Bee Movie inspired a mockbuster titled Plan Bee, released in the same year.
The Knockoff: Plan Bee
Unlike its predecessor, Plan Bee focuses on a bee oppressed by a tyrannical queen, but its animation quality is notoriously poor, earning it a reputation as one of the worst films ever made. Critics have described the animation as nightmare-inducing, with characters sporting unsettling red eyes, making it a memorable disaster in the world of animation.
The Original: Kung Fu Panda
The beloved Kung Fu Panda, featuring the voice of Jack Black, became a massive hit, grossing over $1.8 billion. However, it didn’t take long for rip-offs to emerge, the first being Chop Kick Panda.
The Knockoff: Chop Kick Panda
This 2D animated film shamelessly plagiarizes the plot of Kung Fu Panda, following a lazy panda who dreams of mastering martial arts. Released by a yoga company, it’s a bizarre attempt to cash in on the panda craze.
The Original: Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo was a groundbreaking film that captured hearts worldwide, earning nearly $940 million. In a bizarre twist, the rip-off Finding Jesus emerged, featuring two fish named Muggles and Joy who embark on a journey to share Bible stories.
The Knockoff: Finding Jesus
Finding Jesus is eerily similar to Finding Nemo, but the characters lack the charm and depth that made the original a classic. With an abysmal IMDB score of 1.1, it’s hard to believe that the same director followed up with a sequel, Finding Jesus 2, which fared only slightly better. The concept of fish telling Bible stories underwater is as confusing as it is unoriginal.
The Original: South Park
South Park is known for its edgy humor and social commentary, but in Kuwait, the show was banned, leading to the creation of Block 13. This rip-off features a cast of Arabic boys and attempts to tackle social issues in a family-friendly manner.
The Knockoff: Block 13
While Block 13 shares some similarities with South Park, such as character designs and themes, it lacks the original’s biting satire. The show aired for three seasons but never achieved the same level of notoriety or success as its predecessor, leaving viewers wondering why they would choose a watered-down version of a beloved classic.
The Original: Ratatouille
Ratatouille charmed audiences with its story of a rat aspiring to be a chef, but it wasn’t long before Ratatoing hit the shelves.
The Knockoff: Ratatoing
Created in just four months, Ratatoing is a Brazilian knock-off features a rat running a restaurant, but the animation quality is laughably poor. The film is only 45 minutes long and includes repetitive chanting from the characters, making it feel more like a filler episode than a complete story. The business model behind these mockbusters is to release them alongside the originals, hoping to confuse unsuspecting viewers into purchasing the wrong DVD.
The Original: The Simpsons
The Simpsons has been a staple of American television since 1989, but in Georgia, a rip-off called The Samsonadzes emerged. This show features a family with striking similarities to the Simpsons, including yellow skin and a brown couch. Despite the creator’s claims of originality, the similarities are undeniable.
The Knockoff: The Samsonadzes
Overall, The Samsonadzes animation quality is subpar, and the characters lack the charm that has made The Simpsons a cultural phenomenon. The show attempted to satirize Georgian culture but ultimately fell flat, lasting only one season.
The Original: Adventure Time
Adventure Time captivated audiences with its unique animation and storytelling, leading to the creation of The Legend of Lucky Pie.
The Knockoff: The Legend of Lucky Pie
This Chinese animation features a similar art style and follows a character named Lucky who embarks on adventures. While it pays homage to Adventure Time, the animation quality is noticeably lower, and the plot lacks the depth and creativity of the original. Despite its short run, Lucky Pie serves as a testament to the influence of Adventure Time on global animation.
The Original: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles became a cultural icon, leading to the creation of Samurai Pizza Cats. This Japanese cartoon features semi-cyborg cats who work at a pizzeria, parodying the original’s premise.
The Knockoff: Samurai Pizza Cats
While it leans into its parodic nature, it also includes self-referential jokes about the Ninja Turtles. Despite its cult following, it never reached the same level of success as the original, paving the way for other copycat shows.
The Original: SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants is a beloved franchise, but in 2006, Coconut Fred’s Fruit Salad Island emerged as a blatant rip-off.
The Knockoff: Coconut Fred’s Fruit Salad Island
The show features a coconut character with an annoyingly cheerful personality, reminiscent of SpongeBob but lacking any self-awareness. Critics have noted that even the voice actor found the character unbearable. The show was canceled after just 13 episodes, proving that audiences were not interested in a subpar imitation of a classic.
The Original: The Amazing World of Gumball
The Amazing World of Gumball is known for its unique animation style and quirky characters, but it faced a direct “competitor” in Miracle Star.
The Knockoff: Miracle Star
This Chinese rip-off features a goat named Kiki and closely mimics the art style and storylines of Gumball. The creators of Miracle Star didn’t even bother to write original scripts, opting instead to copy and paste from the original. The show aired for a brief period before being canceled due to negative reviews.
