The article deals with studying specific features of functioning of allusions in the English mass culture by the example of titles of cartoons. Allusion is an intertextual device which has a unique mechanism of apposition of the two contexts - the precedent text and the final text. An allusion or a reference as an intertextual device is a sign which contains the whole precedent text in one name at the expense of apposition of the two texts. This provides the author of the final text with the ability to save on lexical means and at the same time enrich the final text with the new meaning and increase its expressiveness at the same time. In the context of the modern movie text an allusion is to refer to some widely known or popular work of classical or “high class” literature, movie or a TV series. For new meaning to be incorporated into the new text the allusion is to be recognized by the reader. In this context two elements should be mentioned: 1) cartoons are aimed at a small viewer, hence the reference is to be understood by the respective age group, and 2) such allusions are supposed to be aimed at booth a kid and a grown-up audience as well - their parents, and in this case the restraint on precedent texts is within the limits of mass culture. Allusion in cartoon titles is an integral part of the modern movie text and taking into consideration the globalization and spreading of the English language as an international one they are sure to enrich the final text.