(MOST WATCHED VIDEO) The Complete Backstory of Donnie Thornberry and his Biological Parents

Рет қаралды 271,034

Жыл бұрын

This DARK backstory shows how Donnie’s parents got murdered by poachers, why Donnie was raised by orangutans, and why he was founded by the Thornberrys in Borneo. Find out on this chilling yet heartwarming backstory of the feral child Donnie Thornberry. (Hold up, I didn’t use the questions)
from Wild Thornberrys S5E04 - The Origin of Donnie, Pt. 4 (2001)

Пікірлер: 1 400

@EditorOfSL Жыл бұрын

It’s cute that Nigel and Marianne knew Donnie’s parents in the end, because, like Nigel said, maybe they were always meant to take Donnie in.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Oh yeah

@patrickzalatoris3206 Жыл бұрын

I remember that part, it was touching, and shows that somethings are just meant to happen

@howlpendragon26 7 ай бұрын

Nigel Thornberry is a very good man at heart, and took and going to raise Donnie as his own with the rest of his family.

@tomedy_official 7 ай бұрын

There's a small connection

@JODA93 2 ай бұрын

I can understand your sympathy, but I find that conclusion mildly disturbing. I'm sure Nigel meant it in a heartfelt way, but if you go down that route, it's like saying it was necessary for Donnie's parents to die. But anyway, I'm just rambling.

@slashbash1347 11 ай бұрын

I like to think that Donnie saw Nigel's big teeth and it reminded him of his biological father.

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

Yeah. He comes up to him like he's finding a child on the street.

@zoidlloyd7736 Ай бұрын

Don't tell me u mean 4:48 ? Ok the lighting is great touch was like he was a god send huh

@duranls1 Ай бұрын

I was so close to make a british joke about that 😅

@Soundwave0fKaon93 2 ай бұрын

This, the Rugrats Mother’s Day special, and Arnold’s Christmas never ceased to make me emotional as a kid. Nickelodeon were masterful storytellers back then.

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

Awww

@clintbrew 2 ай бұрын

Rugrats in paris the scene with chuckie on the airplane with the song i wanna a mom that lasts forever (sung by cyndi Lauper) always sets me off crying

@MrNintoku Ай бұрын

@@clintbrew The church scene is my favourite.

@dinolover Ай бұрын

My mom is still alive but I honestly can't watch that special. It's too much in terms of what a mother truly means to her child be it living or dead

@Ninetails2000 24 күн бұрын

Don't forget As Told By Ginger cranking out episodes like And She Was Gone, Hello Stranger and Lesson In Tightropes. Nick understood their audience was kids but didn't pull any punches back then.

@seangriffin2053 Жыл бұрын

One of the things I liked about even the cartoons of my childhood, they weren't afraid to tell dark and tragic stories that reflected reality.

@tierefuerimmer9635 7 ай бұрын

Yeah. Wild Thornberrys was one of my favorite shows growing up and I feel like us 90s kids got incredibly lucky to grow up with such an impactful. It played in a role in shaping me into the animal lover I am today and also got me curious about other cultures.

@garfoonga1 Ай бұрын

.....this is neither dark nor tragic. This is as lighthearted as original disney movies. Hell, snow white legit almost gets stabbed to death on camera.

@p-slayer Ай бұрын

Doug, hey arnold...even f*ckin rugrats went hard with the storytelling until you shed a tear.

@sofyuchiha9 Ай бұрын

And poor kids today are subject to something atrocious like breadwinners

@RevanLockheart- Ай бұрын

This is right up there with chuckys mòm.

@charlierios6629 2 ай бұрын

Did not expect the Wild Thornberrys to go that DARK with Donnie's backstory.

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

I can’t explain

@garfoonga1 Ай бұрын

Its bot dark. Jesus fkn christ. Go watch snow white, you'll be traumatized if you think this shit here is dark. We literally watched mufasa get trampled to death in front of his son, child trafficking and people being fed to a crocodile in Peter pan, undead hoardes trying to kill.a group of kids in the black cauldron, we see a dragons heart get pierced on camera in sleeping beauty, a man literally gets ripped apart by crows in "we're back a dinosaurs tale" the rescuers details and shows severe child abuse, brave little toaster is an existential nightmare. Thornberrys aint shit.

@senister14 Ай бұрын

Cartoons back in the day weren't afraid to go there.

@kauske Ай бұрын

The parents dying doing something noble is less dark than just about any other way Donnie could have ended up being raised by animals. It'd be way worse if his parents just abandoned him, or lost him and the Thornberries found and kept him. It's kind of crummy that the parents put themselves in harm's way like they did and left their son orphaned, but at least it was a spur of the moment 'hey, you guys stop trying to poach animals!' where they likely didn't realize how dangerous getting involved would be.

@samiamtheman7379 Ай бұрын

Yeah, this show and Rugrats got surprisingly dark at times.

@davidfiore4677 Жыл бұрын

I can't believe Donnie's birth parents were incredible to the point where they sacrificed themselves to save their orangutan friends from those vile, murderous poachers.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

But they have lost to the poachers

@davidfiore4677 Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 Yes, but it just goes to show how much Donnie's parents care so deeply about animals like the orangutans.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@davidfiore4677 Yeah

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

It's okay. I know how to cheer you up

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

@heroineprincessswiftie7824 Enough of the worries. I think TWT will make a crossover with TLK

@jedhawkins1769 8 ай бұрын

The orangutans knew they couldn't keep Donnie forever. They kept him safe from those wicked poachers, so he had to go back to his own kind.

@gettyfanatic8860 8 ай бұрын

No comment.

@zoidlloyd7736 Ай бұрын

Like a reverse Tarzan ccept he grew up to become a man Disney gave me the proper details

@t-rexcellentreviews1663 Ай бұрын

The Orangutan mother loved Donnie as much as she loved her own child, but she also knew that she needed to what was best for him as well, and that was being with other humans like himself, good humans like his biological parents, like she knew the Thornberries would be.

@user-qg8qg2sp7i Ай бұрын

Reminds me of the sad ending of the original Jungle Book 😢❤

@antmichael2493 Ай бұрын

Wish Donnie’s real parents defeated the hunters in the first place so they could’ve survived without being killed.

@nathanseper8738 Жыл бұрын

I felt legit tears roll down my eyes. It is poetic that no matter what family, human or primate, Donnie found himself, he remained connected to nature and the Earth.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

that's good to know

@nathanseper8738 Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 It's a moving story. And surprisingly dark for a Nickelodeon show.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@nathanseper8738 oh

@LesangdesdieuX Ай бұрын

The feels are strong xD

@nathan-jjgfan Ай бұрын

this made me grow 3 inches !!

@brianhalljr.2637 Жыл бұрын

So that's why Donnie speaks all that gibberish. It's because he was raised by orangutans after his real parents died saving them from those poachers.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that why he was my all time favorite character

@brianhalljr.2637 Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 Huh.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@brianhalljr.2637 Donnie is. I like the way he jabbers a lot

@brianhalljr.2637 Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 Especially when he throws that plate like a Frisbee/boomerang.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@brianhalljr.2637 That became a popular meme in comparison to any fast speaking guy.

@ErenYega747 11 ай бұрын

Helped that Nigel had the same orange hair and hairiness as the mommy orangutan. And, that thornberries had the large teeth and big hair like Donny’s human family had. The subtle details that made leaving the mommy orangutan have more sense and it was a nice touch and good choice of detail, it’s totally awesome

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

*mother orangutan

@pedroisaac01 Жыл бұрын

As a child, I cried a lot watching this special movie on TV. Two decades later it still makes me shed tears

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

How sad

@SkipRoche31 Жыл бұрын

I bought a DVD of this, so worth it

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@SkipRoche31 Was it a region 1 DVD?

@DaveRedsky Жыл бұрын

Stop with the feels !!

@SkipRoche31 Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 My copy was a PAL ( plays all regions )

@biancagrottolo Жыл бұрын

I love that part when I realized they've met Donnie's parents. I love the fact that Donnie ended up becoming their little brother. It's adorable. The orangutans are known to be very intelligent. This is one of the most heart wrenching of Nickelodeon cartoons I've ever watched. The first one will always be from hey Arnold, when he when. one of the members of the. members of the border was able to be with his daughter Christmas. It was thanks to Helga who gave away her snow boots. If any one remembers that episode and I'm sure they have

@Puppetgirl93 7 ай бұрын

Yes that was Arnold’s Christmas

@sunflowerlady2057 Ай бұрын

Oh yeah thank you for the reminder that was a great one ❤

@ZoeBeingLPS 10 ай бұрын

I can't help but cry at the part where Nigel finds Donnie. I'm not crying because I'm sad. I'm crying because it's truly a beautiful thing.

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

Awww

@viben2735 2 ай бұрын

I honestly think this affected Donnie’s psyche and personality even if he was too young to form any lasting memories of it. Especially with how protective he is over his adoptive family. Literally from the first episode, he was fighting off lions to protect his sisters. I can’t help but think that he fights as hard as he does to keep his loved ones from harm because he couldn’t protect his parents back then.

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

Wow, that’s weird

@tree_alone Ай бұрын

Plus its hilarious when he goes nuts

@marlondavis9450 12 күн бұрын

I don’t think he was aware his parents were harmed back then but what is interesting is he’ll protect those he cares about just like how his parents did.

@micklemackle207 Жыл бұрын

I love how this mirror's Eliza's relationship with Darwin.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@ecstasycalculus 2 ай бұрын

What was the origin of Darwin? How did he and the Thornberrys meet?

@Blossom44100 2 ай бұрын

Didn't know that

@LessettFoster479 2 ай бұрын

That also explains why Donnie is so tight with Eliza and Darwin.

@avery2041 10 ай бұрын

It's like Donnie can also talk to animals but without magic like his sister

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

Yeah tell me more

@Savagewolver 7 ай бұрын

That…would’ve made for a great additional season. In the movie, the shaman did say Eliza was destined for something great. Perhaps it takes two.

@gettyfanatic8860 7 ай бұрын

@@Savagewolver What if Donnie jabbered to the animals, and the animals made animal noises?

@YuliaAutumn 2 ай бұрын

Aww Donnie's mom making that hand gesture with her hands to the orangutang is ASL I think for "Family." And the mom picked it up to guide Donnie himself to the Thornberrys. I love that little attention to detail they added. My heart smiled from that detail!

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

Thank you

@mania4270 Жыл бұрын

Can we just acknowledge that this was probably the best nickelodeon tv special. And lets acknowledge that wild thornberrys for the entirety of its run was the best show on Nick. Its sad how popular this franchise once was and now barely anyone mentions this. For all the spongebob and avatar retrospects i see, i wish I'd see more from cartoons in the 90s.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Okay

@MRS.TRIPLE-A321 Жыл бұрын

I definitely don’t think The Wild Thornberrys & Hey Arnold get enough recognition! ‘The Origin of Donnie’ & ‘The Journal’ were some heavy tv specials! It really showed how much Nickelodeon respected their audience at the time. My mom couldn’t stand SpongeBob & The Fairly Oddparents (lol), but she greatly admired The Wild Thornberrys, As Told By Ginger, and Hey Arnold. In a time of nostalgia, it’s a shame these shows don’t get discussed.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@MRS.TRIPLE-A321 yeah. I’m a young man who reminisces about the Wild Thornberrys

@mania4270 Жыл бұрын

@@MRS.TRIPLE-A321 thank you. They just don't do slice of life cartoons anymore the animation, characters, and plots always seemed relatable. Hey Arnold is at least getting more love but wild thornberrys barely has any retrospective vids. And it's sad because it was CRAZY popular. Many ppl just think nickelodeon only had Rugrats until SpongeBob came along but really, we liked them all. They were all nicktoons. Also another good tv movie was the catdog movie. And again, all of their movies were based on traffic back stories about their parents

@garfoonga1 Ай бұрын

Spongebob is from the 90's. Fkn 90's nostalgia is at an all time high, wtf are you talking about? Nigel is literally a popular meme and has been for years. Youre just living under a rock.

@WickedFireBird69 2 ай бұрын

At first Donnie just seemed like a random background character designed to just be the insanity to an already crazy world Eliza inhabited. But then you find out his backstory and where he came from...I remember my jaw hitting the floor finding out poachers killed his family! It's SO DARK for a show about a girl talking to animals!

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

That's too dark. I'm not too fond of it. I think it's too dark for a kids' show.

@WickedFireBird69 2 ай бұрын

@gettyfanatic8860 I at least give them credit for originality! I mean very few nicktoons had the balls Wild Thornberries did. Eliza, sitting with that old elephant who passed away, Nigel being poisoned and almost dying in the dessert, ecoterrorists threatening to kill Debbie in the movie! I give the show at least enough props to day it definitely committed to its dark realism...again in a show about a girl talking to animals!

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

@@WickedFireBird69 Yeah. That too.

@abbieprice3430 Жыл бұрын

I liked this special because it showed what Donnie’s life was like before he met the Thornberrys! It’s really sad that the poachers killed his birth parents when they were trying to protect the orangutans! Not to mention, I think Donnie has his father Michael’s head shape and his mother Lisa’s wild, crazy hair! Juanice (I think that was the village woman’s name) did a great job at telling this story!

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

glad to hear that. I think “Juanice” is a Spanish name, but you are finding an Indonesian name for her.

@abbieprice3430 Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 Gotcha! I remembered it was a name that sounded like it though!

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@abbieprice3430 Yeah. Was Donnie in the nude and why?

@abbieprice3430 Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 Maybe Donnie kept taking off his clothes when his parents tried to put them on him! Either way, he almost reminds me of Mowgli or Tarzan!

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@abbieprice3430 only kidding, but he stayed in the nude as a baby until the family shows up and started putting on his trademark leopard shorts.

@mitchl5220 Ай бұрын

I like how that woman noticed Donnie ran off to live with Orangtuans and just shrugged and walked off like "not my problem"

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

bruh

@loraprater7242 Жыл бұрын

It's so sad that donnie's real biological parents were murdered by poachers while trying to save the orangutans. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 Donnie is really lucky to be adopted by the thornberrys who loved animals and were able to raise him.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

awww

@devinmoody136 2 ай бұрын

I know. It was hurtful. Never trust poachers, ever.

@zoidlloyd7736 Ай бұрын

Those maybe that's the reason zoologist n other enthusiast travels lots 🌏 n then comes back I mean stay n well... 2:41 oh man they're next studie never happened 🦍❌

@CastleBlackWatches 2 ай бұрын

I’m glad this wasn’t flagged for kids, get to read all the comments

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

its alright

@TheeDeadDoll Жыл бұрын

This episode made me so sad and stuck with me as a child. And now as a 31 year old. I’m sitting here bawling my eyes out. This story is so sad and bittersweet still to this day. It’s a bit darker for a children’s television show but I love how they sometimes tackle more realistic issues in our shows. Because of this it’ll always be remembered.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

That's good to know

@thomassizemore5814 Жыл бұрын

Darn I’m 31 to and I never got the privilege to see this one but the wild thornberries was my first favorite cartoon growing up. The only reason I missed it was because we couldn’t afford cable anymore thank god for KZfaq

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@thomassizemore5814 okay

@johnnyboy-ws3we 11 ай бұрын

i am turning 34 in a month sometimes i try not to cry i used to live behind wood's when i lived up north

@zoidlloyd7736 Ай бұрын

Tell me bout think the Sumatran orangutan will had been more defensive ? I mean their faces are slightly different oh n glad I seen this 2x was the first time I ever seen wut an orangutan looked like long story short is like a gorilla but not as savage. Hmm funny didn't knew her baby was a boy sorry going on the other orangutan eliza was minding it was a girl infact i thought it was the same one more the reason the mom be angry at humans cuz of the scar but no different that 1 didn't had lips like the donnies' known yeah glad I seen it again n great too know she had dialogue ah

@animequeendrawer 2 ай бұрын

I think what amazes me the most about Donnie’s parents is they were just like Eliza’s parents. How they love and protect all animals and make good connections with the people and their culture.

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

Wow! Thats cool

@nave712 11 ай бұрын

I remember watching this as a kid and being surprised how long an episode it was. It was the first show I ever watched to have a scene that really disturbed me

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

This was part of the Nick Flicks series in 2001

@Lollmaoevenrofl Ай бұрын

The wheelhouse of Klasky-Cuspo studios is insane when you think about it. They made Duckman, the McDonald's VHS tapes, Jumanji, Rugrats, Ahh Real Monsters, All Grown Up, As Told By Ginger, and Wild Thormberries. Scenes like this shows you exactly why Nickelodeon kept them for so long.

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

Good to know

@TheRecordNut Ай бұрын

Not only that, but they helped Matt Groening lift The Simpsons off the gound in 1987, for The Tracy Ullman Show, and worked on at least the first six seasons of the series

@Adamguy2003 Жыл бұрын

Such a sad and yet heartwarming story! As others here have observed, Donnie had a connection with nature in one form or another pretty much literally from birth, between his infant year(s) with his dear late birth parents interacting with the villagers and all the animals particularly the orangutans, to then being raised by the mother orangutan for a while, to then finally being adopted by the Thornberrys who perfectly epitomize a love of nature and modern/ western sensibilities coexisting in harmony. That the Thornberrys were actually acquainted with Donnie's birth parents is all the more poignant and makes it really seem like fate that he'd ultimately end up with them. What those barbaric poachers did to Donnie's parents reminds me of the real- life death of famous gorilla expert Dian Fossey. She was brutally murdered in 1985, almost certainly by poachers angry over all that she had been doing to try and protect the gorillas from them (This was back when the hideous practice of poachers killing gorillas and cutting off their heads and hands to sell in the souvenir trade was common).

@Arcademan09 2 ай бұрын

I remember this special, it was a big deal when they aired this, i remembered the promotions too. A lot of people write of this animation studio as a one trick pony with Rugrats but ALL their shows were popular

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

Yeah I know right

@Hazbin_Hotel_1643 Жыл бұрын

This is why I enjoy (most) 90's and 2000's Nicktoons

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that

@rosetheis1403 6 күн бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 I like it as well I even have the Thornberry's movie at home on DVD

@jonathancruz5932 Жыл бұрын

Donnie's parents love Orangutans and they're the finest Primatologists. I can't believe they were both murdered by poachers

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Oh my

@zoidlloyd7736 Ай бұрын

Think they're the ones too teach apes too sign ? I mean is in their study 🗒️🦍🐒🦧

@halohybrid5496 11 ай бұрын

Showing us you can’t have peace and sh*t in this world without heinous people ruining it for everyone else.

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

Bruh, I don't know what to say.

@obobob1867 Ай бұрын

As a child, I actually cried because the poor kid lost his parents. 😢 I am glad the Thornberrys were acquainted with his parents though.

@Destinychanged 10 ай бұрын

It’s been almost 20 years since I watched this show. I never knew Donnie’s story.

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

He…he…he was raised by orangutans

@dominickdirienzo8266 2 ай бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860After the tragic death of his parents. They were killed by poachers. It wasn’t fair!

@zoidlloyd7736 Ай бұрын

Yeah I get confused did this come first or the movie ?

@dannigro8794 Ай бұрын

@@zoidlloyd7736this came first

@user-lj6jp8qp7z Ай бұрын

This was in the movie.

@elsakristina2689 Жыл бұрын

I love this show, I wish it got more attention. I first saw this episode when I was nine and it’s one of the best. I was too young to watch or remember the show during its original run but I first saw the movie when I was about six and I used to watch it all the time and I started watching the series when I was nine. I was shocked at how dark this was for a cartoon but it was still amazing the story they came up with for Donnie’s background. The character designs for his biological parents were actually based on Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo themselves.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Just like it said in my comment

@KBdotHAQ Жыл бұрын

I loved this growing up. I wish this kind of serious storytelling would come back to tv.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Man I wish it would happen

@thedoge9590 Жыл бұрын

Yeah sadly cartoons stay away from serious topics, the 90s and early 2000s truly was a golden age for cartoons

@bigpulgalokes 11 ай бұрын

There are but when it is on, you or the same type that goes “it’s a cartoon stop being so serious!”

@bigpulgalokes 11 ай бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860there are you just don’t watch them. There are so many serious and heartwarming cartoons y’all just don’t watch and bitch

@KBdotHAQ 11 ай бұрын

@bigpulgalokes Wrong! I like cartoons that are deep and entertaining. That's why I watch a lot of Japanese cartoons too. Steven Universe did a great job.

@TomAndersonn Жыл бұрын

Cartoons like this taight me alot. They teach the gruesome reality of the world. Kids now and days don't have shows like this

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

*nowadays

@TomAndersonn Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 Grammer police 🚨 Jk but I know you understand what I was saying lol

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@TomAndersonn oh

@stevarino1989 8 ай бұрын

I still love how earlier, Debbie sarcastically calls Donnie’s drawing “his latest masterpiece.” 🤣but I still recall watching this special when it originally aired and being really into the backstory. It’s been so long since I’ve seen this! But I remember it like yesterday and how heartbreaking the parents fate was, despite it also being a sacrifice. I also love how Betty White is the voice of Grandma Sophie 😹

@gettyfanatic8860 8 ай бұрын

more like his latest single

@denverlambino6738 Жыл бұрын

This show alsways pops up in my head. Glad I was able to rewatch it now.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

My childhood is stuck in my brain

@SuperGreatSphinx 11 ай бұрын

Primatology is the scientific study of primates. It is a diverse discipline at the boundary between mammalogy and anthropology, and researchers can be found in academic departments of anatomy, anthropology, biology, medicine, psychology, veterinary sciences and zoology, as well as in animal sanctuaries, biomedical research facilities, museums and zoos. Primatologists study both living and extinct primates in their natural habitats and in laboratories by conducting field studies and experiments in order to understand aspects of their evolution and behavior.

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

That’s why Donnie’s parents study orangutans in their natural habitats

@user-vm2ci7hk6d Жыл бұрын

I was 9 when I watched this episode for the first time. It felt SO dark and poignant.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Dark

@hicuptheandroid9766 Жыл бұрын

Man when I saw this episode I just felt heart broken that Donnie's biological parents died to poachers

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

yeah i know

@AngieCarr 9 ай бұрын

I remember being a kid and seeing the advertisement of this episode. It was pretty much an event considering we had gone a couple seasons with little to no info about Donnie’s backstory. It was EPIC!!! 🔥🔥🔥

@gettyfanatic8860 9 ай бұрын

more like PURE EPIC!

@katieb1300 Ай бұрын

Wild Thornberry’s was one of the few children shows that felt like it was made with the idea that children have feelings, can learn true kindness, and deal with heavy subject matter. There were a few KS shows that hit on all those points.

@StareachValcin 7 ай бұрын

What happened to Donnie's biological parents was a tragedy. At least Donnie found a new family with the Thornberry family.

@gettyfanatic8860 7 ай бұрын

Good to know

@kinky.kat95 Жыл бұрын

I have a hardcore hatred for poachers after watching THIS episode and The Wild Thornberries Movie.

@donaldaaron3812 Ай бұрын

The backstory for Donnie is straight perfection, the writers pushed that pen!!!

@randogai2915 7 ай бұрын

I’m always so taken aback with just how real these stories were back then like with rugrats and hey Arnold they don’t dance around the topic at all but because of this it truly leaves an impact

@DMH62291 Жыл бұрын

Boy, watching these again on paramount plus, the origin of these Nickelodeon characters such as Donnie, Catdog and Arnold and his parents were truly gut wrenching and well done by the writers.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

I know

@matthewallen2273 Ай бұрын

Kinda wish he started speaking english later in the show. Like the care he was given was helping adjust into human society.

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

Yeah

@thecrashito 11 ай бұрын

Even now as an adult, I'm still crying a river when I see Donnie's past 😭😭

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

How sad

@mistressraevyn3820 11 ай бұрын

I swear, between this show and Steve Irwin, I grew up with such a deep love and appreciation for nature and animals. I wish they made shows like this still, its so special 😭😭😭

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

Yeah, I remembered that show, along with Really Wild Animals

@kryptonianpowers 10 ай бұрын

Now that you mention it, I personally believe that Steve Irwin should've had a special cameo on this show as a cartoon version of himself meeting the Thornberrys and working with Nigel when they traveled to Australia.

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

@@kryptonianpowers in which episode?

@tierefuerimmer9635 7 ай бұрын

I never saw Steve Irwin that much on TV but I loved the episode where Jane Goodall guest stars.

@gettyfanatic8860 7 ай бұрын

@@tierefuerimmer9635 ikr

@christianparrish3292 11 ай бұрын

So that's Donnie's backstory. Those evil poachers. His parents didn't deserve to be killed.

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

ReallY?

@christianparrish3292 11 ай бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 what?

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

@@christianparrish3292 They got killed instantly.

@christianparrish3292 11 ай бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 I know, I'm saying they didn't deserve it. The poachers are dicks.

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

Really?

@Ronldbx6 Жыл бұрын

😢😢😢 seeing this so many years later is incredibly sad. I'm crying

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

To me, man I’m good.

@aychfriday 15 күн бұрын

Must have missed this episode. Never too late to find out! Thanks for the upload.

@gettyfanatic8860 15 күн бұрын

You’re welcome! Cheers!

@carlostuckjr Жыл бұрын

One of the greatest TV shows of all time

@spectralvoodoo5233 2 ай бұрын

Jesus, that story is so dark and beautiful you could make a feature about it

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

What?

@yakupsahin4710 11 ай бұрын

this special still makes me cry to this day 😢

@kfc28371ify 2 ай бұрын

How did I miss seeing this as a kid?? I definitely don't remember this! Thank you for sharing this! So sad and sweet!

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

You’re welcome

@afrikasmith1049 Ай бұрын

This is one of many examples of why I am glad I grew up in the Animation Renaissance era. There were many cartoons that told great stories.

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

Wow

@damonika09 2 ай бұрын

It really was fate that Donnie found them. I remember watching this special when it first premiered. Oh it tugged at my heartstrings at what happened to Donnie’s parents.

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

That’s sad

@monkeycat48 Жыл бұрын

Unlike Rebecca the elephant's death this was the saddest and most gruesome death of all. To go down the way they did being macheted. That's got to be the most gruesome way to go even as a kid watching this I was like wow at least it didn't show the rest. 😢😢😢 When it comes to poachers there are those that are pretty dangerous enough to want to kill that get in the way. I will say this I was reminded about mighty Joe Young. The reason I say that is because well are two main characters both Joe a giant gorilla and Jill a human girl who would later grew up to be a scientist like her mother. Both lost their moms and became orphans do to poachers. There are some that will just go as far to literally harm even humans. In The wild thornberrys movie when we meet our two villainous poachers you can tell how determined they are to want to kill anyone that gets in their way. Unlike the other poachers that are working for the two main villains. They do not want to harm a human. It's kind of odd that we never saw kipp and biederman ever again they were the most hilarious of poachers out there. I'm willing to bet they would draw the line on other poachers murdering humans

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Sad but true

@tierefuerimmer9635 Жыл бұрын

Technically, Rebecca's death was very sad and emotional, but I wouldn't necessarily say it was gruesome as she died of old age/ natural causes. Donnie's parents' death was extremely dark though and I'm surprised they were allowed to get with even showing as much as they did, despite there being no blood or gore. And as for Kip and Biederman, even though they're bumbling thugs who always get thwarted by Eliza, and they're fairly goofy villains most of the time, there have occasions where they were more of a threat as they kidnapped Eliza and Darwin and were planning on using a machine to crush them to death. Plus they've caused an oil spill, sabotaged reindeer race, causing multiple injuries, have kidnapped Donnie to use as entertainment/ child labor and possibly attempted to kidnap Eliza for her rescue attempt.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@tierefuerimmer9635 That's terrible.

@monkeycat48 Жыл бұрын

⁠⁠@@tierefuerimmer9635I can’t believe I didn’t reread it. I meant to say unlike not like thanks for pointing that out. I will say this. Yes, you make a good point about Kip and Bederman there have been a few times they have frost line where it came from attempted murder but then again, we can’t be sure if they actually really were willing to go as far. Considering the fact there are comedic villains similar to the joker or just any villain out there whatever TV show there is. Where they show they actually like doing harm to others but yet at the same time they like it when the hero shows up so they don’t feel like they’re not important. I can’t be sure that again I don’t know. But I will say this, despite not having Jose do poachers in all the other future seasons along with the movie yeah, I kind of miss them. But enough about that. The only thing I will say, I was pretty damn surprised by was the fact that Donnie’s parents were in Borneo but I’m wondering did they ever have any other family members? I mean certainly there had to be people probably on both sides of Donny’s mother and father know probably wondering where are they? What’s happened to them? I mean I’m sure in the end it may be Nigel and Marianne will reach out but it’s very unlikely they’re going to want Donnie but that’s off screen so we know they’ll adopt him.

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

Heartwarming ending

@camiloiribarren1450 Күн бұрын

This brings tears of joy to my hear, so much. Beautiful series and this special brought tears to my eyes when I was 10, even if back then my English wasn’t that good

@DavidRodriguez-gl5pn Ай бұрын

Thank you so much, I’ve never seen this. I shed a tear. The thornberrys and Donny’s parents are incredible people whom we should all inspire to be like

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

Yeah

@TheDeeba2 Жыл бұрын

This scene traumatised me as a kid

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, but me, man I'm good

@TomAndersonn Жыл бұрын

It opened my eyes. It taught me a lesson not traumatized me lol

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@TomAndersonn oh

@TomAndersonn Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 some people learn from what they see others cower from it. I knew instantly that this was bad. I was too young to be traumatized by something that was handled so respectfully. OP is a snowflake ❄️

@gablit-gt8kk 2 күн бұрын

I get traumatized I'd a show doesn't get a series finale on time

@Embermoon91 2 ай бұрын

It was fate that brought Donnie to his new family because that's what Michael and Lisa would've wanted for him.

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

They died

@Draggo88 2 ай бұрын

Man, this had always been a mystery to me when I watched this as a kid, and must have missed this episode. And now I'm crying.

@animegamesmoviesandotherst3037 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for posting this it was such a great tv movie, and gave a lot of depth to Donnie. This part still makes me cry, as the story is told. The orangutan mom picked well, as I think Donnie birth parents would have been happy, The way Nigel acts as he looks at the photo his face telling how sad he is seeing two people they had meet and got to know because they knew about Africa. Who are like him and his wife who love animasl are dead.

@gettyfanatic8860 6 ай бұрын

What a horrible thing

@jnx666 Жыл бұрын

why am i crying in the club

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Don’t worry, it’s just a song by Camila Cabello

@bonedeth925 Жыл бұрын

I was not ready to get emotional over this.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Yes you are

@gablit-gt8kk 2 күн бұрын

I still wish I was a kid nowadays as long as all good shows that fans loved got a series finale on time without having to wait for any to have a series finale

@funnystuff553 Ай бұрын

I never saw this episode but i only saw like half the episodess growing up i need to watch this show from beginning to end

@MRS.TRIPLE-A321 Жыл бұрын

Man, I don’t know what these kids are watching today [and that’s not me being cynical, I’m an only child w/ no children of my own at this time, so I’m unaware what Nickelodeon is like today], but I feel blessed & extremely grateful I was a kid during this time of television. The main shows from Nickelodeon you always hear getting praised is SpongeBob & Avatar: The Last Airbender - and it’s true! SpongeBob [season 1-6] was hilarious & ATLA is indeed a masterpiece! But, when I really think back to the shows that defined Nickelodeon for me & has stuck with me - it’s definitely The Wild Thornberrys, As Told By Ginger, Hey Arnold, and Rocket Power. I won’t sit here and say shows back in my day we’re better than whatever they’re showing today, I’m just grateful God chose for me to be a kid at the time that He did. And when the time comes, I genuinely hope this generation can look back at their childhood shows and movies & say the same. *We’re all only kids once after all.*

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

I know

@Sleepwalker91 7 ай бұрын

Nickelodeon has some of the most emotional Cartoon Episodes ever

@JoshuaBenitez407 6 ай бұрын

Like Avatar the last airbender.

@SuperCosmicMutantSquid Ай бұрын

It's really f'ed up knowing the poachers went THAT FAR to rid themselves of potential witnesses and not even giving a care that they had human blood on their hands. I'd hate to think what they would have done if they had seen Donnie.

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

Aww man

@anthonyjoffrion4159 Ай бұрын

Seeing this years later, I'm still choked up

@HebiHouse 10 ай бұрын

I remember how disturbed I was as a kid when I watched this! I had to walk out of the room after this scene and reflect.

@aesirhog4811 7 ай бұрын

❤This was such a beautiful television show to have for kids. I hope children’s tv shows now have this kind of heart. Something tells me they do not. I’m grateful to have had this show as a kid

@gettyfanatic8860 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for telling the world that

@Saiyanwulf95 2 ай бұрын

God dammit, this episode always makes me cry every time 😭

@xSavLandx Ай бұрын

This was such a good show, wish it kept going.

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

Okay

@irawilliams343 7 ай бұрын

If only there were more people like Donnie's parents out there 😢

@gettyfanatic8860 7 ай бұрын

I know

@tss3393 Жыл бұрын

This hits a lot harder as a parent.

@Romanov117 11 күн бұрын

This is my childhood right here. I never forget it.

@gettyfanatic8860 11 күн бұрын

I know

@EvstsxdeDreams Ай бұрын

Shows like this beautiful masterpiece, Come a dime a dozen nowadays

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

Great inspirational quote

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Lisa and Micheal are like Klasky and Csupo

@gablit-gt8kk 2 күн бұрын

No wonder they're so unique

@typoriver3651 Жыл бұрын

I had nightmares about Danny that I remember vividly to this very day

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

*Donnie What nightmares do you have and explain your nightmares about Donnie?

@typoriver3651 Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 essentially finding Donnie alone in the wilderness, and him going feral and chewing my face off like a deranged ape

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Was Donnie naked in your nightmare? And where was the nightmare located?

@typoriver3651 Жыл бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 he wasn't naked. He had on a leopard skin toga. And it was him in a hole in a desert with a ramp leading into the hole, like an archeological dig site

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

@@typoriver3651 I mean he wears a caveman outfit. Are there any other nightmares relating to Donnie?

@Proteinhead92 Жыл бұрын

Wow I never seen this before and I grew up watching this. Decades later

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Cool

@Site19Series Ай бұрын

I want to mention that the more you think about it the more gruesome that Donnie's parent's deaths were. They was chopped to bits by a machete and one most likely saw the other die first. It's a slow and painful death.

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

Damn!

@12roses8 Жыл бұрын

What happened to Donny's parents and Chucky's mom was very sad 😭

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Me, I like the Wild Thornberrys

@gablit-gt8kk 2 күн бұрын

It reminds of hey arnold

@guillermocruz8148 Жыл бұрын

nice episode

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

thanks

@numberoneappgames 2 ай бұрын

I never did know the full story. Though it was sadder than I could've imagined.

@nicholasdevito7155 Ай бұрын

I still find it incredible that they alluded to such a violent death on a Nickelodeon show. I feel like today they couldn’t get away with that. Even when this first aired I remember thinking how gruesome the scene played out even though you don’t see anything

@abeiscool40 6 ай бұрын

If the other Nicktoons (SpongeBob, Jimmy Neutron, Timmy Turner, etc.) heard this story, they’d be so sad.

@gettyfanatic8860 6 ай бұрын

Yeah

@silverstrike5904 5 ай бұрын

Spongebob would be crying for 24 hours

@gettyfanatic8860 5 ай бұрын

@@silverstrike5904 yeah

@TheAllSeeingEye2468 Жыл бұрын

Jesus Christ this is the saddest backstory

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Awww

@SuperGreatSphinx 11 ай бұрын

KING Jesus Christ

@gettyfanatic8860 11 ай бұрын

@@SuperGreatSphinx Stop saying the lords name in vain. You’re a Christian, you know right?

@Nintendoguy13 10 ай бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860oh yeah,remember the ten commandments?

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

@@Nintendoguy13 You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make idols. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet.

@mysterygamer9137 Ай бұрын

Such a heartwarming story of the Wild Thornberry Donnie became part of the family who found him.

@gettyfanatic8860 Ай бұрын

that's great

@christopheredwards788 2 ай бұрын

I remember this. This was incredible to watch again after many years.

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

It’s a good movie, eh?

@christopheredwards788 2 ай бұрын

@@gettyfanatic8860 Yes!

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

@@christopheredwards788 that’s fine

@BCZ21 10 ай бұрын

I can’t believe ppl actually got chopped up with machetes in a cartoon lol

@gettyfanatic8860 10 ай бұрын

Man, they should’ve used firearms bro

@Illumisepoolist Жыл бұрын

I wonder what sentence the poachers get for not only poaching, But also murder.

@gettyfanatic8860 Жыл бұрын

Damn!

@thelivingghost5695 2 ай бұрын

Finally! It took me 25 years but now My questions are answered!

@mikechicago6200 2 ай бұрын

TWT needs to be rebooted and returned to television, sadly Tim is unable to do his acting since his accident, but the rest can still can, man we need this show again! Donnie is a good wild kid, and i sympathize with him as he reminds me of my little brother and he was diagnosed with autism, and man no matter the hardships family loves one another!

@gettyfanatic8860 2 ай бұрын

What a great story