Cartoons

One genre that is almost completely overlooked for critical consideration is that of childrens cartoons. As you probably can tell from the blog, I am a big superhero fan, and hence have watched many superhero cartoons. As with any media their quality is a mix, but those that are good are generally unrecognized.

Let’s start with the bad. These cartoons are aimed mostly at kids, and it shows. A common problem of the shows I’ve seen is the inability to talk like humans (it’s aimed at kids, who needs writers, right?). Another issue is bloodshed; you don’t need to be bloody to have a good show, but the lengths the writers go to in avoiding any real violence is annoying. Characters classically use swords to cut villain’s guns apart and destroy robots while guns are meant to sever the ropes on booby traps or simply miss. This doesn’t quite make sense, what are we teaching kids, carrying and using weapons has no consequences?

Adults have trouble seeing past these problems too shows that are sometimes good. But to be fair, not many of them are good in any way. Shows that appeal to what they think kids must like (monsters, bright colors, action, fights, did we mention squeaky voices?) are a dime a dozen as are show that are either rip-offs or watered down stories (try watching the horribly bland, perfectly nonviolent “Spectacular Spider-Man”). Nine out of ten childrens cartoons are completely unwatchable.

Now for the good, childrens cartoons are evidence of something that is almost nonexistent in America: serious serialized animation. Yes we have a few movies every year (usually comedic) and yes there are a few adult cartoons (also usually comedic, think “south park” and “robot chicken”), but there are very few action or adventure shows told with animation. And I think this is to our loss; animation tells stories in interesting ways that are as yet untapped in live-action TV.

Apart from the teen-drama “Smallville”, what superhero tv shows have been a success? Most are supposed to be poor (“Heroes”) to awful (“Birds of Prey”). It’s partly a matter of budget, superheroes require millions of dollars to look right in live-action, and few tv budgets can support it (check out the horribly, low-budget costumes in “Smallville”). On the other hand, cartoons can support an unlimited roster of heroes, every costume and piece of technology imaginable, and new settings for every episode. This has been used to great effect in shows like “Justice League: Unlimited” and “Teen Titans”.

Also, cartoons require less of a viewing base and hence certain offbeat and interesting titles that would be cancelled for adults have made it to many seasons. For example, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (the 2003 reboot) lasted 4 seasons, and spawned three seasons of sequel shows. Good or bad, many odd and unique shows last long beyond a single season.

3D animation is changing the playing field. The largest action cartoon hit of the decade for adults and kids has been “Star Wars: Clone Wars” and is animated in 3D. DC is planning a show in much the same style about for its “Green Lantern” franchise. 3D is being planned for other franchises too, and these shows, thanks largely to “Clone Wars”, are garnering a surprising amount of attention.

So in general, while cartoons are a mixed bag, they have a surprising number of good titles. Over the next week I will write reviews of my favorite and least favorite cartoons.