History Main / ChasteToons

* In the Scrappy Age of Animation (1980s), ComicBook/PlasticMan in his animated series was given a son in the second season. Unlike most of his contemporary toons, Plas actually married his longtime girlfriend and had a kid. An odd fate for Hugh Hefner's favorite superhero.

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' knowingly references this with Looney Leo, a cartoon character who was brought to life by a bit of indiscrete mad science. He remembers having three rascally nephews before entering our reality, but no apparent siblings. Subverted later on, as, having grown depressed from the decades in our world, he is confirmed to have had countless sexual relations... including with a prostitute who turned out to be ReallySeventeenYearsOld.

Note: The concept of an uncle at least looking after a child is an old tradition: if a parent died, the uncle would become the foster father (and in many cases marry the [[NotBloodSiblings mother]]). For instance: ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'',[[note]]Technically, Bilbo was Frodo's first ''and'' second cousin once removed, but for simplicity, and due to their 78-year age difference, they call each other "Uncle" or "nephew". [[/note]]''Literature/HarryPotter'', ''Franchise/SpiderMan'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', etc. In some cultures, (such as the [[{{Troperiffic}} ludicrously-often-used-for-examples]] Trobriand Islanders), the uncle is the "standard" parent while fathers have very little to do with raising their biological children (they're busy raising their sister's children instead, obviously).

* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'': Kermit the Frog often looks after his nephew, Robin, whose parents have never been shown. When Robin (as a tadpole) is introduced on ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'', there's a very brief mention of his mother being Kermit's older sister. She doesn't get a name or anything, but she exists.

* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'': Kermit the Frog often looks after his nephew, Robin, whose parents have never been shown. When Robin (as a tadpole) is introduced on ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies'', there's a very brief mention of his mother being Kermit's older sister. She doesn't get a name or anything, but she exists.

-->-- '''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse''' to WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck in [[http://www.grimmy.com/images/MGG_Archive/MGG_2005/MGG-2005-08-31.gif this]] ''ComicStrip/MotherGooseAndGrimm'' strip (actually, Mickey has TWO nephews... at least that we know of)

Note: The concept of an uncle at least looking after a child is an old tradition: if a parent died, the uncle would become the foster father (and in many cases marry the [[NotBloodSiblings mother]]). For instance: ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''[[note]]Technically, Bilbo was Frodo's first ''and'' second cousin once removed, but for simplicity, and due to their 78-year age difference, they call each other "Uncle" or "nephew". [[/note]]''Literature/HarryPotter'', ''Franchise/SpiderMan'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', etc. In some cultures, (such as the [[{{Troperiffic}} ludicrously-often-used-for-examples]] Trobriand Islanders), the uncle is the "standard" parent while fathers have very little to do with raising their biological children (they're busy raising their sister's children instead, obviously).

Note: The concept of an uncle at least looking after a child is an old tradition: if a parent died, the uncle would become the foster father (and in many cases marry the [[NotBloodSiblings mother]]). For instance: Literature/TheLordOfTheRings[[note]]Technically, Bilbo was Frodo's first ''and'' second cousin once removed, but for simplicity, and due to their 78-year age difference, they call each other "Uncle" or "nephew". [[/note]]Literature/HarryPotter, Franchise/SpiderMan, Franchise/StarWars, etc. In some cultures, (such as the [[{{Troperiffic}} ludicrously-often-used-for-examples]] Trobriand Islanders), the uncle is the "standard" parent while fathers have very little to do with raising their biological children (they're busy raising their sister's children instead, obviously).

* While it doesn't directly involve children, one of the funniest variations on this idea appeared on ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''. Or, rather, it's what ''didn't'' appear in the cartoon: a female ninja turtle. Why did we have to wait until the live-action series for a female ninja turtle? According to an old interview with the [[ExecutiveMeddling show's handlers]], apparently the presence of a female ninja turtle would inspire children to "ask where baby turtles come from." However, the real reason that there were no female turtles in the cartoon was that the original creators, Eastman and Laird, ''absolutely hated the idea.'' One shot character (and brief LoveInterest for Raphael) Mona Lisa was intended to be a turtle, but Eastman and Laird basically said "no way!", so she was changed into a lizard instead. When Venus de Milo was introduced in the live-action series, this was the result of ExecutiveMeddling. When Peter Laird got sole ownership of the Turtles later on, he made sure to remove her completely from canon and reinforce the "no female turtles!" rule. (Kevin Munroe, writer/director of the 2007 movie, said that you don't even ''joke'' about Venus to Peter Laird.) Funnily enough, the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW IDW comics]] would introduce two female turtles--Jennika and Lita--only these ones [[WasOnceAMan mutated from humans]] and aren't presented as love interests, Jennika being more of a CoolBigSis (and later entering into a relationship with [[PigGirl Sheena Murphy]]) and Lita [[TagalongKid being a little girl]].

* While it doesn't directly involve children, one of the funniest variations on this idea appeared on ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''. Or, rather, it's what ''didn't'' appear in the cartoon: a female ninja turtle. Why did we have to wait until the live-action series for a female ninja turtle? According to an old interview with the [[ExecutiveMeddling show's handlers]], apparently the presence of a female ninja turtle would inspire children to "ask where baby turtles come from." However, the real reason that there were no female turtles in the cartoon was that the original creators, Eastman and Laird, ''absolutely hated the idea.'' One shot character (and brief LoveInterest for Raphael) Mona Lisa was intended to be a turtle, but Eastman and Laird basically said "no way!", so she was changed into a lizard instead. When Venus de Milo was introduced in the live-action series, this was the result of ExecutiveMeddling. When Peter Laird got sole ownership of the Turtles later on, he made sure to remove her completely from canon and reinforce the "no female turtles!" rule. (Kevin Munroe, writer/director of the 2007 movie, said that you don't even ''joke'' about Venus to Peter Laird.) Funnily enough, the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW IDW comics]] would introduce two female turtles--Jennika and Lita--only these ones [[WasOnceAMan mutated from humans]] and aren't presented as love interests, Jennika being more of a CoolBigSis and Lita [[TagalongKid being a little girl]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'' seems to be edgy about introducing parent-child relationships, presumably because of the questions it would raise. In ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars 2}}'', the visit to Italy has the cast staying with Luigi's uncle. However, it's subverted later in Italy when Francesco points out his mother in a crowd. ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars 3}}'' went so far as to feature famed racecar-driving father and son Richard and Kyle Petty playing an uncle and nephew.

Also works as a reverse ParentalBonus. Single characters can be easily placed in risqué situations that imply they are less than fully chaste, as well as ShipTease moments. Good thing the kids are too stupid to notice those.

* While it doesn't directly involve children, one of the funniest variations on this idea appeared on ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''. Or, rather, it's what ''didn't'' appear in the cartoon: a female ninja turtle. Why did we have to wait until the live-action series for a female ninja turtle? According to an old interview with the [[ExecutiveMeddling show's handlers]], apparently the presence of a female ninja turtle would inspire children to "ask where baby turtles come from." However, the real reason that there were no female turtles in the cartoon was that the original creators, Eastman and Laird, ''absolutely hated the idea.'' One shot character (and brief LoveInterest for Raphael) Mona Lisa was intended to be a turtle, but Eastman and Laird basically said "no way!", so she was changed into a lizard instead. When Venus de Milo was introduced in the live-action series, this was the result of ExecutiveMeddling. When Peter Laird got sole ownership of the Turtles later on, he made sure to remove her completely from canon and reinforce the "no female turtles!" rule. (Kevin Munroe, writer/director of the 2007 movie, said that you don't even ''joke'' about Venus to Peter Laird.) Funnily enough, the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles IDW comics]] would introduce two female turtles--Jennika and Lita--only these ones [[WasOnceAMan mutated from humans]] and aren't presented as love interests, Jennika being more of a CoolBigSis and Lita [[TagalongKid being a little girl]].

* While it doesn't directly involve children, one of the funniest variations on this idea appeared on ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''. Or, rather, it's what ''didn't'' appear in the cartoon: a female ninja turtle. Why did we have to wait until the live-action series for a female ninja turtle? According to an old interview with the [[ExecutiveMeddling show's handlers]], apparently the presence of a female ninja turtle would inspire children to "ask where baby turtles come from." However, the real reason that there were no female turtles in the cartoon was that the original creators, Eastman and Laird, ''absolutely hated the idea.'' One shot character (and brief LoveInterest for Raphael) Mona Lisa was intended to be a turtle, but Eastman and Laird basically said "no way!", so she was changed into a lizard instead. When Venus de Milo was introduced in the live-action series, this was the result of ExecutiveMeddling. When Peter Laird got sole ownership of the Turtles later on, he made sure to remove her completely from canon and reinforce the "no female turtles!" rule. (Kevin Munroe, writer/director of the 2007 movie, said that you don't even ''joke'' about Venus to Peter Laird.)

* Phil Mendez's "Kissyfur" had a surprisingly well-written father-son relationship at its core. (Incidentally, the show was originally to be named "Bear Roots" and to this day nobody knows how Mendez was convinced "Kissyfur" would be a better title.) The prime time special that preceded the ongoing series established that the mother died while performing in the circus the family originally belonged to. That was why the father decided escape with his son to the swamp.

* {{Averted}} in ''VideoGame/EpicMickey''. In the 80+ years that Oswald has been in Wasteland, he and his [[LoveInterest wife/sweetheart/girlfriend Ortensia]] (It's never really specified) have had ''[[ExplosiveBreeder 420 Bunny Children]]''. And to his chagrin, they all look up to their [[MickeyMouse Uncle Mickey]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'' seems to be edgy about introducing parent-child relationships, presumably because of the questions it would raise. In ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars 2}}'', the visit to Italy has the cast staying with Luigi's uncle. However, it's subverted later in Italy when Francesco points out his mother in a crowd. ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars 3}}'' went so far as to feature famed racecar-driving father and son Richard and Kyle Petty playing an uncle and nephew.

* In the 1978 animated series ''Fangface,'' teenager Sherman "Fangs" Fangsworth transformed into a werewolf every time he saw the moon (or anything remotely resembling the moon). Although this was supposed to be due to a curse that caused a werewolf to be born into his family every 400 years, the next season, Sherman's nephew "Baby Fangs" was introduced who also turned into a werewolf. (One of the episodes in the first season did mention Sherman had an uncle but nothing was ever clear about Baby Fang's origins.)

* The [[ComicBook/MyLittlePony Baby Ponies]] are an example as according to [[AllThereInTheManual one of the comics]], Majesty has a magic mirror that produces a baby pony based on whichever pony was looking in it at the time.

Thus, nephews and/or nieces become the safest way to integrate young family members into a children's show. The main character's romantic life can remain unburdened for plot purposes, and they can spend a lot of time hanging around kids without inspiring audience worry that anything untoward is going on. Unseen aunts and uncles also mean that when the plot calls for the main character to go off on some adventure where [[TheLoad having a kid in tow would hinder the plot]], the kids can disappear for a while [[NotImportantToThisEpisodeCamp without anyone asking who's watching them]].

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'': In an episode from the last season, Fuzzy Lumpkins went on a camping trip with his three nephews -- Wuzzy, Buzzy, and Scuzzy.

[[quoteright:350:[[Creator/DonRosa https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ChasteToonsImage_8562.jpg]]]]

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Due to events in their backstories, Grunkle Stan [[spoiler: and Grunkle Ford]] never had children. Although Stan was revealed in ''Literature/GravityFallsJournal3'' to be briefly married, it didn’t work out as she just wanted his car.

* The [[MyLittlePony Baby Ponies]] are an example as according to [[AllThereInTheManual one of the comics]], Majesty has a magic mirror that produces a baby pony based on whichever pony was looking in it at the time.

** The most famous example is probably WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck and his triplet nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Scrooge [=McDuck=] also took over this role in ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987''. Since Scrooge was supposed to be ''Donald's'' uncle, this means the boys now live with their uncle's uncle -- ''their'' great uncle. The in-universe explanation is typically that Donald has a sister (called "Dumbella Duck" in "Donald's Nephews", the theatrical cartoon that introduced Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and "Della Duck" in the comics by Al Taliaferro), who apparently saddled him with her kids and then [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome dropped off the face of the Earth]]. Unusually for the trope, Donald does ''not'' have the luxury of giving the kids back to their parents when the plot calls for it. He claims them on his taxes in one short, explicitly refers to himself as their parent in ''WesternAnimation/QuackPack'', and the Disney comics often mention the fact that he is their legal guardian and solely responsible for their care and upbringing.

** According to the ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'' episode "Clarabelle's Big Secret", [[WesternAnimation/TheAristocats Uncle Waldo]] is actually not only the uncle to Abagail and Amelia Gabble, but also a distant uncle to ''Donald Duck''.