During the early 2000s, Cartoon Network boasted an embarrassment of riches in terms of the volume of high-quality shows on its platform. Cult classic series like Teen Titans, The Powerpuff Girls, Codename: Kids Next Door, Samurai Jack, and Ed, Edd, n Eddy were daily fixtures on the network, delivering round-the-clock entertainment to its largely Gen Z audience. Beloved series such as Johnny Test, Total Drama Island, Totally Spies, Chowder and Ben 10 also helped establish Cartoon Network's golden age. While most Cartoon Network series carry a lighthearted, playful tone, there is one series with a hilariously dark origin story that surprisingly became a network favorite — The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.

The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy is an animated television series created by Maxwell Atoms for Cartoon Network. The series is centered around the exploits of Billy (Richard Steven Horvitz), an idiotic and happy-go-lucky boy; Mandy (Grey DeLisle), a deadpan,...