Cartoons: There nor for Kids.

Cartoons: There not for kids. 

Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry are all very famous examples of past children’s cartoons. South Park, American Dad, Futurama and Archer, all current examples of cartons. However, there is one major difference though; these new cartoons aren’t aimed for kids. We are currently in the midst of a new generation. The generation of the Adult Cartoon. 

However, along with this new generation, there is a stigma attached with it. That cartoons shouldn’t be for adults and that animation is a child’s medium. In today’s article, I’ll be exploring the influx of adult cartoons and the validity of the argument that cartoon’s should be for kids.

I’m not saying that adult themed cartoons are a new concept as The Simpsons and South Park have been around for over twenty and fifteen years respectively. That being said, it’s hard to ignore the influx of more mature cartoons over the last few years. But, why this sudden influx of cartoons with kick?

I think partly we can thank cartoons like Simpsons and South Park that have been able to appeal to adults and gain financial and critical success while doing so. The success of these two cartoons have shown other storytellers that cartoons are able to contain an universal appeal. 

Animation definitely opens up opportunities for stories that live action sadly lacks. Animation aids comedy as there are fewer limitations. Despite, TV shows having bigger budgets today, in live action you have to abide by certain restrictions. 

Cartoons have no such restrictions. If somebody can conceive the idea, it can be showcased in the cartoon. Just Imagine Futurama in live action. Interesting,? yes. But would it work? No. 

Some stories need animation in order to work, dependent on tone. I am of the firm belief that whatever medium that best suits the story is the medium that should be used. But, why aim it at adults? Surely, the cartoons would work if you tone down the adult themes and appeal it to a younger audience.

Well maybe not. There is a generation of young adults today that grew up with cartoons as children. Cartoons such as, The Rugrats, Hey Arnold, Loony Toons, The Angry Beavers, Pinky and the Brain, Pokémon, the list goes on. As adults we have fond memories of these cartoons. 

We can easily relate when they come on to our screen. This may be different for  an older generation, who simply can’t grasp the concept that cartoons don’t have to be ‘child friendly’.

That being said, why do cartoons have to be a ‘kids’ thing? It’s the same with animated movies. There’s a stigma with animation that it has to be for children. This is simply not the case. Animation is a medium of telling the story and it’s the content of the story which should determine a products audience. 

Just like Live Action, Animation is just another platform for story tellers to create. There shouldn’t be any stigma for attached to it. If an adult comedy works, better in live action, then have it in live action. If an adult comedy works better as animation, then have it animation. Cartoons don’t have to be just for kids.

What do you think? Any feedback is good feedback. 

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Until next time, enjoy the show.

Daniel Morris.