The Cartoon Jalopy-Why do Characters Movies, TV shows, & Cartoons drive older cars even in the modern day?

This has boggled my mind for many years and counting that I can't describe my bemusement on why fictional characters would be driving an older car on screen.

Perhaps it was cheaper for them to buy an older car than a newer car or they wanted a car with personality so an older car would suffice for them.

Just ask Archie Andrews and his Jalopy in the comic below:

Way back when I was in my semi-final and penultimate years in High School, I always wondered about the kinds of cars that them cartoon characters drive and why they hand picked the older models.

My guess at the time is that it was easier to draw a more realistic car if it was an older model or it's due to the need for something that old just to provide all the comedy that them characters need because the more unreliable the car, the funnier it is for the car to break down.

And some of these characters are portrayed as too stubborn to take their car to the mechanic. Therefore, forcing the character to fix it themselves.

Here are characters and their many cars:

01-Homer Simpson's 1986 Plymouth Junkerolla(really a PLYMOUHTH RELIANT)

Homer Simpsons is always portrayed as a boorish father who despite his low intelligence, tries to do what he can to provide for his family.

His most prized vehicle is his Pink Plymouth Reliant.

The Season 28 Episode PORK & BUNS from 2017 did mention the car as a Junkarolla but I doubt that.

As expected, Homer doesn't really take good care of his Plymouth's exterior.

Every once in a while, Homer's reckless driving can cause physical damage.

The most famous being a FAN-FAVORITE:

The NEW YORK Episode where Homer's car gets damaged as he drives through NEW YORK CITY with that DAMN boot on his car

02-Hank Hill's 1986 Ford Ranger & 1999 Ford F20 Super Duty

In KING OF THE HILL, Hank Hill always goes around driving FORDS just because he firmly believes in MADE IN USA for products....

(No references to today's political climate please).

Throughout the series, Hank actually had to go through two trucks.

The first was his personal favorite: A 1986 Ford Ranger

Though until CHASING BOBBY, it was often drawn as a 1993-1994 Model with a Horizontally Curved Headlight/Grill look.

In 2001, Hank had no choice but to get a new Pickup Truck, even if it was no longer manufactured in the USA like he preferred.

But regardless, He'll always go for FORD because why not.

So since then, He's been driving a 1999 Ford Super Duty.

And yes, I will confirm that HANK still drives this truck even in the 2025 Hulu Revival as there was an episode I watched on DISNEY+(Before HULU entered CANADA, it was STAR)

where HANK was seen driving his SUPER DUTY implying he got the truck put into storage until he came back.

03-Peter Griffin's 1975 Ford LTD Station Wagon

Peter Griffin always drives his famous Ford LTD Station Wagon from 1975.

Enough said.

I don't know what was with SETH MACFARLANE making his character of PETER GRIFFIN choose to drive that red thing but I'm guessing it was to accentuate PETER preferring a station wagon dating from the 1970s as well as have Peter drive a Car that's made in the USA.

Who knows.

And yes, I can confirm that just like HOMER SIMPSON, PETER GRIFFIN can be a somewhat reckless driver.... Maybe even worse than Homer's driving skills. 

04-Phil Funnie's 1990 Ford Taurus

When DOUG premiered in 1991, I always get confused about the Funnie Family's Station Wagon.

Even if it's from Nickelodeon, Even if it's from Disney, 

I can't pinpoint what the artists were trying to accomplish when designing the car.

The Rather SPACE AGE design of the Funnie Family's Station Wagon has always confused the hell out of me due to the design of it.

It's just so.... BULBOUS.

In fact Early on, the cars in DOUG during the earliest NICKELODEON years were designed to be NON-DESCRIPT.

They sort of remind me of the design logic of the car in THE PHANTOM TOOLBOOTH.

Later on in the series

(I think starting in Season 3 of the Nick Series)

The Cars started to look like their REAL-LIFE Counterparts.

Probably because it was mandated by NICKELODEON who wanted more cleaner and better designs for the cars in Cartoons that weren't from JOE MURRAY.

One example is Edwina Klotz's Monster Truck.

and the Truck that DOUG & SKEETER almost took for a joyride to get to a BEETS Concert

And yes, another truck.

This time, the one that Splashed water on DOUG during the Halloween of 1998.

I think the idea is that the show is supposed to be timeless....

If you can ignore the fact that it's set in the 90s due to all the tape decks, Stereos, VCRs, CRT TVs, Computers who's clock speeds are in the MHz range instead of the GHz we use today, etc.

Even though the show premiered in 1991, I always think of the Nick version as being set in the 1995-1996 school year, just so I can claim that the Funnie Family's Station Wagon is 1990 model Ford Taurus with four doors...

Why is the Funnie Family's Taurus a Station Wagon?

Because a family of 4(Later 5 in the Disney series) would demand to have a car built for the perfect American Nuclear Family.

Sorry but this is the best screenshot of the Funnie Family in the car 

that I have readily available.

Good thing that even when the show started in 1991, JUMBO was wise to design the car with a front trunk just so they can have PHIL perform his mechanic work on the engine.

Gotta love the way they designed the engine on the FUNNIE FAMILY's Ford TAURUS.

Ok. So It doesn't look that much of a FORD TAURUS.... doesn't it.

It looks more like this FORD I saw in between the two Buildings I clean up:

But this FORD is from the 2000s due to the Rounded Design.

And DOUG is set in the mid-90s.........

So I can't use whatever this FORD is in my photos without running the risk of anachronisms.

Sometime late in the Nick Series, JUDY FUNNIE got her license and was legally entitled to drive the car due to matters of economics during the transition into the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.

A role that she retains come forth the Disney Series.

And yes, the Disney series still retains the car since it's set in the late 1990s but I've got a feeling that the car will have to be replaced once the HULU Revival happens.

So let me ask you a question.

Should DOUG drive a pure gas, pure electric, or a hybrid?

And if so, what Car model should he drive?

Your opinions on what he should drive can be fielded in the comments.

05-Clark Griswold's 1979 Ford Country Squire(aka The Family Truckster)

Ahh yes.

The Griswold Family's FAMOUS TRUCKSTER, the Station Wagon the family didn't want but had no choice but to accept when their intended car was revealed no to be ready for the next 6 weeks.

This car is heavily associated with the NATIONAL LAMPOON series of VACATION Movies from the NATIONAL LAMPOON franchise.

The car was described as God-Awful due to the myriad of issues revolving around an ignition that has a mind of it's own, too much wood paneling, Airbags deploying randomly, etc.

To quote the Ed the used-car salesman:

"You think you hate it now-but wait till you drive it!"

And yes, that car of similar model is used in RICK AND MORTY 

06-Bob Belcher's 1978 Plymouth Volare

There's a written rule that when you made an animated sitcom about a family of 5 regardless if it's a workplace comedy, the Nuclear Family should have station wagon for the road trips or general vehicular use.

Bob Belcher's 1978 Plymouth Volare is no exception.

It's been a while since I watched BOB'S BURGERS but I've got to say, it's surprising that the family patriarch of the BELCHER family is often seen driving such a PLYMOUTH but what are you gonna do.

And yes, I can confirm that BOB is a better driver than HOMER or PETER but his driving skills still pale in comparison to HANK HILL's.

07-North Kaio(King Kai)'s Chevrolet Bel-Air

It's mystifying me on how this guy on his car parked behind GOKU on the image above drives such a car.

Let yourself be the judge the next time you read the manga or watch the various entries in the Dragon Ball franchise.

One thing that brings to mind for me is how does a car like that even survive the heightened gravity of the KAI's planet?

08-Arsene Lupin III's 1967 Fiat 500 F

We all know that LUPIN drives this yellow Mini around and should there be more to say?

I think so. Because the Car which was introduced during the middle of the 1971 series has become more synonymous than LUPIN's other car: A Mercedes-Benz SSK

But I guess KAZUHIKO "MONKEY PUNCH" KATO wanted something much more easier not only for his wrist but also the animators to draw the Gentleman Thief to drive around.

And since then, almost all the Cars that LUPIN drives around his his trusty old FIAT.

09-Mr. Bean's 1977 Leyland Mini 1000 Mark IV

What's with MR. BEAN & his fascination for small cars like his prized Mini?

That's what enduring about his fascination with them small cars.

And his car is customized to suit his needs.

For example, he's got a padlock on his doors for extra security

And if they're broken into, guess what?

Yes. He removes the steering wheel.

Much to the chagrin of this guy below

"Awwww BUGGER!!!"

I've seen a pattern within this post that with the exception of DOUG, the model of cars that I've listed above are from when Artists Mandated that no matter how cartoony a character is, their Cars have to be designed with a sense of realism whether they like it or not.

As for what my characters drive? It depends.

Until I draw more drawings on paper or on PHOTOSHOP, here are some old drawings I did back in the late 2010s

Believe it or not, I actually loved to draw this model of car during my final year of HIGH SCHOOL.

I don't know why but I have a soft spot for cars from the late 80s and early 90s.

But one of the plans is to have HAYDEN BRENTWOOD's older brother AUSTIN drive a refurbished/retrofitted with an electric engine 1988 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 ROYALE.

If the OLDSMOBILE is not working well for him or the executives when I pitch the series to a network in the future, here's an alternative:

A late 80s or early 90s VOLVO Sedan.

That front license plate has an easter egg:

That's the date I first moved to Vancouver in 1999.

And yes, I am aware I posted this is MARCH 10 which is dedicated to MARIO from Nintendo.

But sorry, I don't have any MARIO KART references to use.

Doug drawings Exercises 01-Roger mocking Doug Part 01 PRELUDE

After hearing in Late March 2025 about the controversies regarding OpenAI's then-recent addition of making a somewhat accurate take on Ghibli art while also pissing off Hayao Miyazaki greatly, as well as hearing that "X" introduced a feature that let users edit photos already posted,

My ANTI-AI tools Sentiment is now at an All Time High-Octane High.

But instead of ranting against companies refusing to take responsibility for disrespecting Miyazaki's viewpoints because INVESTORS, 

Let's vent using Jim Jinkins' logic....

BY DRAWING....... by hand that is.

How's about several rounds of Drawing Exercises using DOUG!!!

And because 2026 is the year of DOUG.

Why?

Because it's the 35th Anniversary since DOUG's premiere on Nickelodeon in 1991

&

30 years since DOUG's Disney Debut....

So let's do this exercise:

This drawing above is based off a scene from the 1991 episode of Nickelodeon's DOUG called DOUG CAN'T DIG IT.

(Though the drawing erroneously assumed it was from DOUG DIDN'T DO IT.)

The scene depicts Roger Klotz complimenting DOUG for appearing on a stage play directed by his sister Judy Funnie....because it got him out of a Math Test.

One of the defining moments of ROGER being friendly towards DOUG since the beginning of the NICKELODEON ERA.

For those who are wondering what the scene looks like originally, 

here's a VLC Screenshot from my AMAZON DVD.......

The whole point of the exercise was to redraw the scene but use the cleaner designs of the characters from Season 3 of the Nick Version or Season 6 of the Disney Version.....

But the exercise is that despite using cleaner designs of said Seasons, We still need to retain the original outfits from the Nick Version such as the lines on Doug's Sweater-Vest Collar and Roger's original bacon haircut.

No, I did not place a piece of paper in front of my ASUS Monitor or my WACOM ONE Tablet display and then merely trace the scene.

The idea was for me to draw by observing the screenshot from my Monitor while drawing on my portable easel.

As you can see from the drawing way at the top, I accidentally made Doug's Head a little smaller than what the screenshot implies.

I'll fix that up when I do the digital drawing.

Though I did nail Roger's Season 3 Nick Series face pretty well.

Though this scene had Roger with his Bacon Hair a bit more stiff.

I based the more Wavy Pattern from this screenshot below which is from the 1993 episode

DOUG THROWS A PARTY.

So until part 02, let me leave this post with a Scene of DOUG dressed as the late BOB ROSS

"And yes, even the late BOB ROSS says that REAL HUMAN ARTISTS are superior."

AHO AHO: Them Crows that appear in Anime

You ever watch an Anime,

Whether it be in the original JAPANSE or Dubbed in English,

There's sometimes a scene where a character does something so idiotic, that some crows can be heard CAWING in the background?

Well, TV TROPES has a term for that:

IDIOT CROWS!!!

This is a gag when...... 

Ok. I'm starting to sound like a broken record so let me get into this blogpost before one of them crows starts making fun of me.

The Sound of a MURDER OF CROWS

That's the more realistic take on the IDIOT CROW.

Just a symbolism if you say so yourself.

Often at times they camera would pan up and you see a murder of crows making noises that sound like they're making fun of the character.

Or the character is left dumbfounded while the crow laughs it up in the background whether they're visible in the Backdrop or off screen.

Sometimes the crows don't appear but you can still hear a faint Cawing in the background.

Sometimes, some productions take it up a notch with a more comedic approach.

"CAW!!! AHO! AHO!"

If you've seen episodes of NARUTO,

You'll know that the production staff really love their Cartoony Crows appearing in episodes.

It's mostly filler but sometimes, they do show up in Canonical episodes too.

It's also ironic how the DUB for the first NARUTO anime allowed the crows to say AHO but SHIPPUDEN mandated that the crows' AHO be translated to IDIOT!

This cartoony style of Crows appearing out of nowhere just to verbally torment the characters often would have the crow say "AHO AHO!"

Probably because the Japanese word AHO is also the ONOMATOPOIEA of a crow cawing.

Reminds me of a one-off gag from RANMA 1/2 where a crow from Jusenkyo, China, takes a crap on poor RANMA's face. 

All while Crowing/Laughing it up.

"AHO! AHO! AHO!"

"ARGH!!!!"

"NO FAIR!!!! YOU STUPID BIRD!!!!! COME BACK HERE!!!!!"

I think this might be the only time the AHO CROWS in anime has ever taken a crap on the protagonist's ego because from the other anime, the crow just mocks the characters. Through and Through.

And yes, the correct term for a group of crows is called a MURDER.

Happy 5th Anniversary MY OWNERSHIP OF MY PS5

On November 12 2020, Sony released their PLAYSTATION 5 Console to the masses 

But it came at a time seen as most inopportune.

The COVID-19 Pandemic was still somewhat in full force and while some business were open, MASK MANDATES were still a must as the Vaccines hadn't been deployed yet.

And to make matters worse, shortly after the PS5, Xbox Series X, Nvidia RTX 30 series and AMD RADEON RX 6000 series were released, they were all subject to supply chain issues wrought out by both the semi-conductor shortage and scalpers who bought the stock of the console and GPUS and sold them off at higher prices.

So for people like me, we could only buy these newfangled consoles ONLINE and we had to act fast before the scalpers beat us to it.

Well, it was mid-February of 2021 when I looked at the WAL-MART app on my phone and bought this baby here.

It cost me about over CA$800 due to it being a TWO-Controller bundle and not because of price increases wrought out by the aftermath of the first TRUMP Administration. 

(This was during the beginning of the Tragic BIDEN Administration)

But it was worth the 3 week wait for me indeed.

I remember getting notified by either my mother or my iPhone 11 that there was a package at the front door of my house. I stepped out and there was a bigass package at the entrance and there it was, my PS5.

I went to the kitchen and unboxed the crap out of the Console.

I was choked up because I was absolutely happy to have finally got the console after griping over the stupid scalpers and the equally stupid PANDEMIC.

And yes, All of these Photos were taken on my iPhone 11 which was my then-current phone at that time-period.

And even though I've now since upgraded to an iPhone 17 Pro Max, I still have the photos in my phone's Photo Library.

Anyway,

I hooked up the console to my then current at the time

32" RCA HDTV with a built-in DVD Player, 

pressed the power button and in came that first-time boot intro.

Using this one from YOUTUBE because the one I shot on my Iphone,

I've since lost the footage.

And throughout the Spring Break of 2021 while still Social Distancing, I played the crap out of my PS5, mostly on ASTRO'S PLAYROOM, DAY OF THE TENTACLE, KINGDOM HEARTS, etc.

By the time I installed GTA 5 on my PS5, I was about to start my SPRING 2021 Semester so I had to put part of my gaming on hold due to said ONLINE SEMESTERS.

And let's just say I'm glad I made the right decision to order my PS5 from WALMART on that FEBRUARY 2021 as that when the original revision was still available.

Why am I saying this?

Because later on around AUGUST 2021, I read that Sony replaced the original heatsink with a lighter version during manufacturing as to make the PS5 lighter to carry.

But I also seen how disgruntled people were about the heatsink change as it ran the risk of making the console run hotter than it was designed to be.

I'm glad I ordered early before they changed the Heatsink.

Original Revisions of Game Consoles are always superior to the later revisions.

That's why I never replaced by PS5 with the newer slim or Pro Revisions that have come into retail in the later years.

As for my TV Setup, I've long since changed to my 43" HISENSE A68N 4K SMART TV and my PS5 is now set to both 4K & HDR colors are also set as well.

Also what I didn't have at when I first bought my PS5 was my LG Soundbar but that's a blogpost for another time.

Update as of July 11 2026:

What I didn't mention in blogposts relating to my PS5 is that when I originally bought it, the intent was just to use it as my both my streaming box and my BLU-RAY Player.

Well, that original intent may have to come back as GAMERS are in an intense uproar about SONY's decision in CANADA DAY 2026 to cease factory-pressing new PHYSICAL game discs. 

And the vitriol continues to escalate since despite the RAGE and boycott threats by PlayStation gamers, SONY is fiercely refusing to back down from their announcement and they're even manipulating their data to solidify their push.

Now I see why people are saying that PC gaming, what with the release of the 2ND GEN STEAM MACHINE & the release of STEAMOS 3.8, is lovely this time of year.

CARTOON NETWORK shows and their new home on TUBI+My personal Retrospective on classic Cartoon Network and it's impact on my childhood

For all the HATE we give towards DAVID ZASLAV for his removal of all CARTOON NETWORK shows on HBO MAX and his refusal to reinstate them,

Well about a year since he lost on his crusade to completely erase COYOTE VS ACME, 

Now he lost the fight to erase CARTOON NETWORK's legacy.

What with news of the return of CHECKERED PAST on modern CARTOON NETWORK,

Now the majority of almost every classic Cartoon Network show from your late Millennial/Early Gen-Z childhood has found a new Home on

And good thing both my PS5 & HISENSE TV have support for the service out of the box.

Like I said. It's been literal years since I last set my eyes on a majority of these classic CARTOON NETWORK original series when they originally aired back in their heyday.

With ED, EDD, N EDDY being the most recent I watched and that was back in the late summer of 2021 when I borrowed a DVD of select episodes from one of the libraries in my Vancouver hometown as well as when I borrowed some old TEEN TITANS DVDs when I was making my TEEN TITANS post back in SEPTEMBER 2024.

But anyway, A lot of these Cartoon Network shows have left an impact on me alongside some Nickelodeon shows I've also watched.

And that was because between Fall 2003 to June 2005, My mother left me in the care of her friend GREGORIA and she had the most kickass SHAW Satellite Television Plan that money could buy you back in the mid-2000s.

While sure, she preferred to get her UNIVISION Feed which is actually a USA-based TV network for the Spanish Market just so she can watch her Soap Operas,

She had a son named JOEL who also like his share of shows from Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network and with that, I watched the hell out of those shows too.

CARTOON NETWORK was actually the channel I watched the most and I sort of hold TEEN TITANS responsible for that.

While at times, I half-dreaded being at GREGORIA's, I actually am glad about these circumstances because It gave me an excuse for me back when I was 5 to 7 years old to watch the latest on what was going on with TEEN TITANS.

And yes, I'm still a Fierce Champion for the 2003 cartoon.

I was Volunteering at FAN EXPO 2026 and I commented on a Cosplayer on her RAVEN Costume but I mentally stepped back when she said she cosplayed as RAVEN from the maligned GO! iteration which did not sit well with me having always preferred the 2003 version....

Maybe even more than the original 1980s comics.

Another show I did enjoy on CARTOON NETWORK was CODENAME: KIDS NEXT DOOR.

I should somewhat mention this before I do my 25th Anniversary retrospective later in 2027 but this show took THOMAS WARBURTON's artistic finesse he learnt from PEPPER ANN and wisely used it to create this bonanza of a series featuring Characters of INTERNATIONAL origin valuing the beauty of friendship and making the most out of your childhood.

I remember also getting a kick out of awaiting what kind of silly and sometimes nerve racking adventures these kids were going to embark on whether it's revolving around annoying the hell out of NIGEL"NUMBUH ONE" UNO, making fun of KUKI "NUMBUH THREE "SANBAN for her obsession with Rainbow monkeys while avoiding her wrath, jokes about HOAGIE "NUMBUH TWO" GILLIGAN's weight, etc.

Another show that seems to also strike a chord on me from CLASSIC CARTOON NETWORK was ED, EDD, N EDDY

This show is important to me, not just because it's the first Cartoon from CARTOON NETWORK to not be from a HANNA-BARBERA production, but also because it was made in CANADA.

That's right.

I didn't know at the time but it really makes me happy to see that this Cartoon was made in my hometown of VANCOUVER, BC even if the cartoon was intended to be for the AMERICAN Market due to the Network it was airing at.

And yes, I am aware that series creator DANNY ANTONUCCI was originally employed at HANNA-BARBERA but that doesn't count as he left the company in the mid-80s due to dissatisfaction during that time period.

DEXTER'S LABORATORY is another show I watched that I somehow enjoyed even if it was a bit older due to it's 1996 premiere  as it came a year before I was born.

and from what I can tell back in the day, the episodes showing were mostly reruns due to the later CHRIS SAVINO Seasons not being as well received as the earlier episodes from GENNDY TARTAKOVSKY's tenure.

GRIM ADVENTURES OF BILLY AND MANDY is another show that I watched and enjoyed.

Compared to some other shows, this one is pretty interesting and the premise is rather funny too.

It's about a JAMAICAN ACCENTED GRIM REAPER who somehow becomes a PERMANENT Servant to the both BILLY AND MANDY after he lost a LIMBO match against the two.

FOSTER'S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS...... ok so to be honest, that somehow didn't half strike a chord with me despite liking the Whimsical Theme.

The premise is about a boy named MAC who refuses to end his friendship with his imaginary friend BLU so he sends BLU over to an orphanage for Imaginary friends who's owner's have outgrown them and it's MAC's duty to visit BLU so he's committed to remaining friends forever to BLU.

Somehow, I didn't really pay attention to this show when it made it's debut in 2004, probably because I was preparing for the 1st Grade at the time.....

I guess I was more into Teenage Super Heroes, American Kids drawn by a Canadian Animator living in Vancouver, International kids fighting for their childhood, or even a Grim Reaper having to put up with two kids who he has to serve forever than I was about a boy visiting forgotten imaginary friends...

I guess I'll dedicate most of my Spring break of 2026 so I can finally give FOSTER'S the respect that 6 year old me couldn't give back in 2004.

Anyway, those were the shows I watched the most on GREGORIA's Satellite plan.

When I started LATCH KEY around the Summer of 2005, those days of me watching CARTOON NETWORK on Satellite were brought to an end because my family wasn't very wealthy and my mother controlled my viewing habits and only let me watch BASIC CABLE and with that, I was stuck with only Local Canadian Television and whatever shows them Networks could license so If I wanted to Watch SpongeBob or AVATAR, I had to tune to YTV or if I want to watch Futurama, I had to tune to TELETOON during the evening hours.

DAMMIT. 

I WISHED MY PARENTS NEVER SEPERATED or at least I WISHED MY FATHER TOOK CUSTODY OF ME BECAUSE I would have loved to have my own CABLE or SATELLITE Plan so I can watch all those AMERICAN Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network feeds

Although I still would have preferred a TELUS Cable/Satellite Plan instead of ones from SHAW or BELL.

Nowadays, I got DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K STREAMING, and the Internet Archive for my viewing needs if I want to watch those Classic Cartoon Network Shows.

So, share me your memories of Classic Cartoon Network.

I would love to hear your side of the story and how it compares to my own upbringing and what alternate history for your childhood you would like.