Wow Captain Planet was pretty hardcore for it's time and audience. I should've watched it more often. Sure it sucks, but every children's show sucked at that time to some degree. At least in this one people get shot.
Someone on Facebook recently made this viral thing that pointed out the kids from Magic School Bus are all just younger versions of the Planeteers. Animators steal from each other all the time.
The illustrated Magic School Bus books were published in the mid-80's with most of the cast's general appearances set, only the mexican boy and black girl were added later. Captain Planet began in 1990.
Though both series did some time traveling I guess...
Hell half the shows I grew up watching in the 90s were LIBERAL INDOCTRINATING PROPAGANDA by Fox and Friends' standards. But Captain Planet is like, the king of them. Some episodes are like "Oh yeah, we went THERE."