The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, or simply Billy & Mandy, is an American supernatural black comedy created by Maxwell Atoms for Cartoon Network. The pilot, "Meet the Reaper," was produced by Hanna-Barbera and aired on June 9, 2000, although the studio crumbled into dust when co-founder William Hanna died, and Cartoon Network Studios took the reigns. The series proper began on August 24, 2001, and ended on November 9, 2007, with 77 episodes across six seasons. During this time, there were also two TV movies, and a post-series spin-off movie, Underfist: Halloween Bash, in 2008.
The series is about an idiot, happy-go-lucky boy called Billy, his best friend, the cynical and coldhearted Mandy, and a Jamaican-accented Grim Reaper, who they tricked into being their friend for eternity.
Due to starting out as Hanna-Barbera cartoon, as well as airing on a channel that claimed its fame on Hanna-Barbera reruns, as well as new series from the studio in the 1990s, Billy & Mandy makes several references and even guest appearances from Hanna-Barbera's properties.
Dexter's Laboratory
- The Grim Adventures of the KND: Dexter, Dee Dee and Mandark are some of the characters who explode out of the Delightful Reaper. Also, one of the made up crossovers in the end credits is called "My Gym Partner's a Mandark," which is a crossover between Dexter's Laboratory and My Gym Partner's a Monkey.
- "Billy and Mandy Moon the Moon:" A cardboard cutout of Dexter is seen as one of the "replacements."
Flintstones
- "Modern Primitives:" Fred Flintstone is found in a block of ice by Billy, who thinks he can keep Fred as a pet named Jack Steele. The end credits segment of the episode also features appearances from both Barney and Betty Rubble.
- "Wrath of the Spider Queen:" During the beginning of the flashback sequence in part one of the special, a prehistoric environment is shown which bears a strong resemblance to Bedrock.
Grape Ape
- "Giant Billy and Mandy All Out Attack:" Grape Ape is blasted in the face by a volcano.
Huckleberry Hound
- "Irwin Gets a Clue:" Hoss Delgado runs Huckleberry over with his truck.
Jonny Quest
- "Wishbones:" During Billy's segment of the episode, he wishes to go on an adventure. What follows is a scene that features Billy, his father, and Irwin sporting appearances similar to Jonny Quest, Doctor Benton Quest, and Hadji, respectively, and an adventure that takes heavy inspiration from the series and Raiders of the Lost Ark. The scene also uses an underscore from Jonny Quest during the trio's chase from the temple.
Powerpuff Girls
- "My Fair Mandy:" When Mandy smiles at the beauty pageant, it alters reality, which creates a new world where Billy, Mandy, and Grim have replaced Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, respectively. They wake to discover they are now the Powerpuff Girls, with Professor Utonium telling them the city of Townsville need their help. They unhappily fly to it. Irwin also appears during the end credits, taking the place of Mojo Jojo.
- The Grim Adventures of the KND: When the Kids Next Door arrive at Billy's doorstep, he exclaims, "Hey! You're not the Powerpuff Girls!" Later in the special, all three of girls are seen exploding out of the Delightful Reaper along with the other characters.
Scooby-Doo
- "Reap Walking:" When Gladys says "I would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for those meddling kids," referring to her own son, Billy, and Mandy, although the screen switches to Mystery Incorporated. Mandy corrects the camera by saying, "No, no, no, down here."
- "Keeper of the Reaper:" Scooby stands as a witness against Mandy's cruel treatment; in his case, she has made fun of the way he talks.
Secret Squirrel
- "Irwin Gets a Clue:" Hoss Delgado almost runs Secret Squirrel over with his truck.
The Smurfs
- "The Schlubs:" There is a race of creatures known as the Schlubs living in the mushrooms in Billy's front yard. Grim wants to melt the 100 Schlubs into gold bars to revive My Troubled Pony, in reference to Gargamel wanting to melt the Smurfs into gold. There is also a single female Schlub like Smurfette, only she is giant-sized and fiercely jealous of any competition. Mandy ended up melting all the Schlubs herself, except for the female Schlub.
Snagglepuss
- "Irwin Gets a Clue:" Hoss Delgado runs Snagglepuss over with his truck.
Yogi Bear
- "Here Thar Be Dwarves:" Billy takes a picnic basket into the woods, and is harassed by Yogi and Boo Boo, who look like drug abusers. They chase him until he runs into a cave, which apparently they are unable to follow him in.
- "Irwin Gets a Clue:" Hoss Delgado runs Boo Boo and Yogi over with his truck.
- "Keeper of the Reaper:" In the "Keeper of the Reaper" song, Billy sings that "Grim is the pic-a-nic in [his] bear!"
Other
- "Dream Mutt:" Billy adopts a talking anthropomorphic dog called Wiggy Jiggy Jed, with all the makings of a stereotypical Hanna-Barbera animal character such as Yogi Bear. There's also an intentional walk cycle error, when Billy is showing him around his house. The events are later referenced in "Keeper of the Reaper."