Meeting your favorite cartoon character was supposed to be one of the best parts of childhood. Judging by these photos, however, things didn’t always go according to plan. Giant heads, creepy smiles, questionable homemade costumes, and characters that looked only vaguely like the ones they were supposed to represent – the kids’ reactions make these photos even better.
The community at 'Awkward Family Photos' has been sharing amusing pictures from family albums, along with the hilarious stories behind them, for years.
Scroll down for photos that sometimes look less like a dream come true and more like the beginning of a nightmare – or a straight-up horror movie. What about you, Pandas? Do you remember any similar situations from your childhood, where your parents tried to entertain you, but you ended up with a trauma for life?
#1
“Chicago, 1982. The year I became afraid of clowns. And whatever that thing is behind me.”
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15points
#2
“My sister at her Chuck E. Cheese birthday party. I am the child on the right doing absolutely nothing to console her.”
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14points
#3
“My brother met a clown during our trip to New York City. He was thrilled.”
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14points
#4
“My mom thought it would be a good idea to hire whatever this is for my 3rd birthday party. This photo was taken moments before I started screaming and crying.”
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14points
#5
"It was 1979, and I met Miss Piggy in Pontins holiday park, Prestatyn, North Wales. It looked like she was recovering from a rough night."
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13points
#6
“Here’s me in 1986 with this terrifying Big Bird where you can see the guy’s face in the cutout below the beak.”
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12points
#7
"My cousins and I at a birthday party with Alf, who appears to be having a rough one."
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12points
#10
“My sister on the lap of the most gawd-awful Easter Bunny ever.”
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11points
#12
“We took my son to a church Easter egg hunt. Afterward, he took photos with the bunny… and a bonus clown and bird.”
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10points
#13
“Just what every kid recovering from an elbow reconstruction wants: a huge promotional fish from Long John Silver's stopping by with a care package of coloring supplies. The early 90s were a strange time.”
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10points
#14
“Still not sure why my mom wanted to take us for Halloween pics with the Michael Myers of penguins.”
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10points
#16
“1989, Texas. Me with our local mall easter bunny. Something seemed a little off.”
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10points
#17
“Found this gem while digitizing our family photos. It was taken sometime in the late 70s in Des Moines, Iowa. I’m the little guy with Cookie Monster and my brother, whose sole comment upon seeing this photo was, ‘miss that hat.'”
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9points
#18
"Bert and Ernie helped me celebrate my first birthday in 1978. That's me sitting on the lady in yellow's lap."
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9points
