Those are typically early warning signs that something is not right with their head. People who coddle or enable these behaviors are compliant too.

This behavior makes me think they are either manipulative, socially inept or the creepy age regressive type.

There's plenty of "cartoons" that can do darker and more well written stories (eg: over the garden wall, gravity falls, adventure time). Sonic attempted with shadow's backstory and the metal virus arc. But most of the stories outside falls flat. Dark =/= graphic.

It explains why people cry and scream when manga artists like Tite Kubo (bleach) got a ton of backlash for using a swastika for the design of the main character's sword. Sad indeed.