Emotions don't always make sense. They can be triggered by the most unexpected of sources, up to and including a children's cartoon show. Indeed, some animated series are more effective at inducing tears than even the most tragic of live-action romantic dramas, even if the latter are often specifically designed to make viewers cry. This is a testament to the power of good writing, and the medium of television in general, which allows us to feel unusually close with the characters we revisit week after week.
Though most animated series are intended first and foremost to score laughs, the best of them take advantage of these emotional connections to do something more with their characters, exploring their hopes and heartbreaks in surprisingly poignant ways. It doesn't matter how outlandish a cartoon's premise may be. Here are some of those shows that get a little too real, and end up producing cartoon episodes that are all but guaranteed to make you cry.
