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

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)

[@EditorOfSL]

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]

Oh yeah

[@patrickzalatoris3206]

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

[@howlpendragon26]

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]

There's a small connection

[@JODA93]

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.

[@charlierios6629]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

I can’t explain

[@garfoonga1]

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]

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

[@kauske]

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]

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

[@slashbash1347]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@zoidlloyd7736]

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

[@duranls1]

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

[@beckykennedy6886]

Plus Nigel was wearing the same shirt as donnie’s biological dad… eventually

[@seangriffin2053]

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]

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]

.....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]

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

[@sofyuchiha9]

And poor kids today are subject to something atrocious like breadwinners

[@RevanLockheart-]

This is right up there with chuckys mòm.

[@Soundwave0fKaon93]

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]

Awww

[@clintbrew]

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]

@@clintbrew The church scene is my favourite.

[@dinolover]

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]

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.

[@davidfiore4677]

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]

But they have lost to the poachers

[@davidfiore4677]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@davidfiore4677 Yeah

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@jedhawkins1769]

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]

No comment.

[@zoidlloyd7736]

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

[@t-rexcellentreviews1663]

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.

[@OliviaLaferriere]

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

[@antmichael2493]

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

[@nathanseper8738]

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]

that's good to know

[@nathanseper8738]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@nathanseper8738 oh

[@LesangdesdieuX]

The feels are strong xD

[@nathan-jjgfan]

this made me grow 3 inches !!

[@ErenYega747]

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]

*mother orangutan

[@brianhalljr.2637]

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]

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

[@brianhalljr.2637]

@@gettyfanatic8860 Huh.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@brianhalljr.2637]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@pedroisaac01]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

How sad

[@SkipRoche31]

I bought a DVD of this, so worth it

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@SkipRoche31 Was it a region 1 DVD?

[@DaveRedsky]

Stop with the feels !!

[@SkipRoche31]

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

[@biancagrottolo]

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]

Yes that was Arnold’s Christmas

[@sunflowerlady2057]

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

[@ZoeBeingLPS]

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]

Awww

[@viben2735]

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]

Wow, that’s weird

[@tree_alone]

Plus its hilarious when he goes nuts

[@marlondavis9450]

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.

[@mania4270]

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]

Okay

[@MRS.TRIPLE-A321]

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]

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

[@mania4270]

@@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]

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.

[@avery2041]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Yeah tell me more

[@Savagewolver]

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]

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

[@micklemackle207]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Oh

[@ecstasycalculus]

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

[@Blossom44100]

Didn't know that

[@LessettFoster479]

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

[@TheAngriestReptileAlive]

I never thought of that

[@YuliaAutumn]

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]

Thank you

[@WickedFireBird69]

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]

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

[@WickedFireBird69]

@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]

@@WickedFireBird69 Yeah. That too.

[@abbieprice3430]

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]

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

[@abbieprice3430]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@abbieprice3430]

@@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]

@@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]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

bruh

[@loraprater7242]

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]

awww

[@devinmoody136]

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

[@zoidlloyd7736]

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 🦍❌

[@TheeDeadDoll]

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]

That's good to know

[@thomassizemore5814]

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 KZbin

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@thomassizemore5814 okay

[@johnnyboy-ws3we]

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]

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

[@CastleBlackWatches]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

its alright

[@Site19Series]

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]

Damn!

[@animequeendrawer]

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]

Wow! Thats cool

[@halohybrid5496]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Bruh, I don't know what to say.

[@nave712]

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]

This was part of the Nick Flicks series in 2001

[@Lollmaoevenrofl]

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]

Good to know

[@TheRecordNut]

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

[@Hazbin_Hotel_1643]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Glad to hear that

[@rosetheis1403]

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

[@Adamguy2003]

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).

[@Destinychanged]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

He…he…he was raised by orangutans

[@dominickdirienzo8266]

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

[@zoidlloyd7736]

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

[@dannigro8794]

@@zoidlloyd7736this came first

[@D93-w5q]

This was in the movie.

[@KBdotHAQ]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Man I wish it would happen

[@thedoge9590]

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

[@bigpulgalokes]

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

[@bigpulgalokes]

@@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]

@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.

[@jonathancruz5932]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Oh my

[@zoidlloyd7736]

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

[@donaldaaron3812]

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

[@TomAndersonn]

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]

*nowadays

[@TomAndersonn]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@TomAndersonn oh

[@obobob1867]

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

[@Arcademan09]

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]

Yeah I know right

[@elsakristina2689]

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]

Just like it said in my comment

[@ичо-й3п]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Dark

[@denverlambino6738]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

My childhood is stuck in my brain

[@DMH62291]

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]

I know

[@stevarino1989]

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]

more like his latest single

[@Ronldbx6]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

To me, man I’m good.

[@AngieCarr]

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]

more like PURE EPIC!

[@thecrashito]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

How sad

[@StareachValcin]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Good to know

[@mistressraevyn3820]

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]

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

[@kryptonianpowers]

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]

@@kryptonianpowers in which episode?

[@tierefuerimmer9635]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@tierefuerimmer9635 ikr

[@hicuptheandroid9766]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

yeah i know

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

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]

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

[@kfc28371ify]

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]

You’re welcome

[@yakupsahin4710]

this special still makes me cry to this day 😢

[@nicholasdevito7155]

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

[@christianparrish3292]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

ReallY?

[@christianparrish3292]

@@gettyfanatic8860 what?

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@christianparrish3292 They got killed instantly.

[@christianparrish3292]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Really?

[@MrStickman1997]

3:31 Is when you hear where part of Donnie's signature language comes from, it's an amalgamation of his baby talk and orangutan language.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

How epic

[@spectralvoodoo5233]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

What?

[@katieb1300]

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.

[@TheDeeba2]

This scene traumatised me as a kid

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Yeah, but me, man I'm good

[@TomAndersonn]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@TomAndersonn oh

[@TomAndersonn]

@@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]

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

[@SuperCosmicMutantSquid]

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]

Aww man

[@randogai2915]

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

[@carlostuckjr]

One of the greatest TV shows of all time

[@matthewallen2273]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Yeah

[@SpongicX]

I only saw this when it first aired long ago, but I remembered this going differently. I remember the fight being more intense, showing the shadow of Donnie's dad holding the poacher back, as the poacher slowly raises a dagger and stabs him. I mean, it's still implied that the parents were stabbed to death, but my childhood memories recall it being even darker.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

It's Donnie not Darwin

[@SpongicX]

@@gettyfanatic8860 fixed

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@SpongicX perfection!

[@monkeycat48]

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]

Sad but true

[@tierefuerimmer9635]

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]

@@tierefuerimmer9635 That's terrible.

[@monkeycat48]

⁠​⁠@@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]

Heartwarming ending

[@afrikasmith1049]

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]

Wow

[@HebiHouse]

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.

[@damonika09]

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]

That’s sad

[@jnx666]

why am i crying in the club

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@jamescorvus6709]

I cried when this first aired back in 2001 (I was a little kid) and I'm not gonna lie I was feeling it. It might be the music.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Oh the misery

[@bonedeth925]

I was not ready to get emotional over this.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Yes you are

[@Romanov117]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

I know

[@NOs-1991]

I remember crying my eyes out after what happened to Donnie's parent's. They literally sacrificed their own lives to save the Mama Orangutan & her baby from those evil poachers. I'm glad that the villagers gave Donnie's parent's a heart touching fair well funeral, the mother Orangutan & her baby took care of him until the Thornberries took him into their family. This was definitely one heart touching special of the Wild Thornberries. Thank you very much for uploading this.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

You’re welcome

[@RaynmanPlays]

"They even taught the youngsters at the same time, as if they were all one family." Most people: "Awww, that's so sweet!" People who know about the Gua and Doland experiement: *Nervous laughter*

[@gettyfanatic8860]

That’s weird

[@Embermoon91]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

They died

[@Godzillakingofkaiju1]

It's rather poetic that Nigel and Marianne raised the son of their late friends.

[@12roses8]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Me, I like the Wild Thornberrys

[@gablit-gt8kk]

It reminds of hey arnold

[@Melissa0774]

I always thought he was supposed to be autistic, but they just didn't want to address that, for whatever reason, so they just made up the whole thing about him being a so-called wild child, so they wouldn't have to explain about autism, or risk offending anyone. At least, that's what I thought before I saw this episode. Actually, this could be based on a true story. There was a woman in, I think, Brazil or Columbia, I don't remember, who was raised by monkeys for a long time because she was either kidnapped or her parents died. It made her regress a lot when she was little, but she eventually caught up and was able to go to school and everything. I saw a video about her on KZbin a long time ago, but I don't remember what it was.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

oh sorry

[@Melissa0774]

@@gettyfanatic8860 for what?

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@Melissa0774 It's okay

[@typoriver3651]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@typoriver3651]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@typoriver3651]

@@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]

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

[@TheAllSeeingEye2468]

Jesus Christ this is the saddest backstory

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Awww

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

KING Jesus Christ

[@gettyfanatic8860]

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

[@Nintendoguy13]

​@@gettyfanatic8860oh yeah,remember the ten commandments?

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@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.

[@Illumisepoolist]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Damn!

[@tankenming4760]

This backstory bought tears to my eyes. As a local Malaysian though, it's really interesting to see orangutans learning sign language, even though it's 100% fiction.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Bruh, did someone say “fictitious”

[@aesirhog4811]

❤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]

Thanks for telling the world that

[@ag9953]

It's good that the orangutan mum knew when to say goodbye so Donnie could be with his kind.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Yeah

[@BCZ21]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Man, they should’ve used firearms bro

[@gablit-gt8kk]

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

[@irawilliams343]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

I know

[@TERRELL_GASKINS]

5:35 those words made me cry Debbie

[@gettyfanatic8860]

dang

[@tss3393]

This hits a lot harder as a parent.

[@dakotaenloe8035]

It's a shame the poachers who killed Donnie's parents got away scott free. I wonder if they ever encountered Donnie, both would see the resemblance and realize he's their son. That would make an interesting revenge story for an older Donald Thornberry.

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Lisa and Micheal are like Klasky and Csupo

[@gablit-gt8kk]

No wonder they're so unique

[@akirayamaguchithekitsune4010]

The saddest darkest scene

[@Sleepwalker91]

Nickelodeon has some of the most emotional Cartoon Episodes ever

[@JoshuaBenitez407]

Like Avatar the last airbender.

[@jeffgoode9865]

The people in the village, watching Donnie leave with an Orangutan: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Ha ha

[@abeiscool40]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Yeah

[@silverstrike5904]

Spongebob would be crying for 24 hours

[@gettyfanatic8860]

@@silverstrike5904 yeah

[@The-Autistic-Rat]

The tribe would've been like "oh shoot free meat" irl lol

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Is the meat Donnie or the orangutan?

[@MRS.TRIPLE-A321]

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]

I know

[@DavidRodriguez-gl5pn]

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]

Yeah

[@aliostrowski1935]

Donnie's parents probably watched from heaven smiling because they knew the Thornberrys were people very simular to them and that they love Donnie like he was their own

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Oh right

[@EvstsxdeDreams]

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

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Great inspirational quote

[@drewcounts4238]

They don’t make Nicktoons like this anymore

[@gettyfanatic8860]

Awww man

[@gablit-gt8kk]

Anyway all good shows fans love must have a series finalevon time