Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms In Animation

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CSgirl4587

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Foreword: I’m talking more about children’s animation. Please refrain from mentioning “Family Guy” or any other show that is meant to be mature.

While it is taboo to feature these things in contemporary animation, for the most part, I thought that it would be a neat idea to discuss the animated programs that have featured them over the years and whether or not their inclusion made much of a difference. Of course, many of the animated programs that have featured them did so in an episode that was more like a public service announcement than anything else, but I believe that this is still worth discussing.

For example, there were two episodes of “Tiny Toon Adventures” that focused on alcohol and tobacco. In one of the episodes, “Butt Out”, Babs attempted to stop two individuals from smoking in a restaurant’s non-smoking section. I always found this lesson to be somewhat bizarre, as instead of doing the right thing and speaking with the restaurant’s management, which would have forced the two individuals to move to the smoking section, she took matters into her own hands. I guess they wanted to teach children that it was wrong to smoke but perfectly acceptable to be confrontational. :sweat:

There was also an episode entitled “One Beer” that focused on the Buster, Hamton and Plucky drinking one beer and becoming complete drunks, though I’m afraid I don’t remember enough about that episode to say anything about it.

Also, an episode of “101 Dalmatians: The Series” entitled “Smoke Detectors” dealt with the characters attempting to stop Cruella De Vil from smoking, though at least their efforts weren’t entirely noble. While the episode had an obvious anti-smoking message, the characters mainly wanted her to quit so that she would move back to her own home, as they obviously hated her.

Were these episodes necessary? Not really. However, I still liked them. The episodes were tacky, but they had a rustic charm that made them enjoyable in their own right. With that, feel free to cite other examples of when these things were used in animated programs, but please answer the following questions as well, to ensure that this doesn’t become a mere list thread.

Do you believe there is anything wrong with animated programs that feature these things? Also, do you believe that they should only be featured when portrayed in a negative light?
 
For the first question, no, I don't think there is anything wrong with showing that stuff it PG-rated and under show and movies. As for the second one, as long as they aren't shown in a positive light, but rather as a neutral or negative light, then sure. :)
 
I think if the characters are adults, it's somewhat fine to show them smoking or drinking if it's done in a subtle manner, but not straight drunk I don't think. I know that the DCAU usually was pretty good about it whenever they had episodes featuring social gatherings or parties you could tell someone had wine or liquor, but it was never expanded upon.
 
I just saw a "baby" with a unlit cigar on KND

I belive that they should not be censored cuz that life people smoke, police use guns,and.....
 
For the most part, alcohol, tobacco and firearms are taboo in children's programming, you can't even show the first two, and the third has to be in a form that doesn't resemble the real thing (like a laser gun, instead of Dad's S & W .38).

But exceptions can be made for purposes of education. And even then, you are only allowed to show politically correct messages. For example, you can show how gun-related accidents can lead to tragedy (as in the "Deadly Force" episode of Gargoyles), but you can't show responsible gun ownership such as self-defense or hunting (law enforcement in the exception, but there are limitations even then).
 
There was a Animaniacs cartoon called "A Very Very Very Special Cartoon" where the Warners stopped Mr. Plotz fom smoking. That was ok because they discussed the dangers of smoking (yes, even Dot says lung cancer) in the cartoon as well. In Mickey's story of "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas", Pete was smoking a cigar.
 
That one episode of Digimon 01, they showed Matt and T.K.'s father lighting up a cigarette on screen, and let's not forget Yamaki in Tamers. I don't remember if he ever had a cigarette, but he did have a lighter every so often.
 
For some reason I notice that most cartoons allow cigars over ciggerettes, they are rarely lit, and are usually associated with an evil figure in Animation. Usually the only times I see a lit cig in kids show is during the PSA moment like in Sonc cartoon for both. Though for Drinks, it more implyed that the contents are alcoholic in nature if it a fancy party, or a sterotyped southern person. The one time that stuck out for me was that episode of Pokemon where they were separated from their trainers, and they were near some sort of Japanese style place, and I always had that feeling that the drinks they had were Alcoholic in nature.

As for Fire arms, I would like to see one show use it in a postive light. Mostly because I find it stupid that they preach one side of the arguement, they focus on the cons rather than the pros. Every time they are shown they are either space style or colored differently.
 
I remember watching Mrs. Doubtfire and the character Robin Williams was voice acting for had a cigar (Or cigarette?) and started smoking and Robin didn't like it.

I mean, I could see how someone wouldn't want their 7-year old kid watching that because they might want to mimic their favorite cartoon character but how much can you do with an unlit cigarette in a plot?

Unless it's part of the design.

They should probably just make all baddies smoke, then kids would be like "OH BUT HE'S BAD I DON'T WANNA SMOKE."

Or not.

Dang parents and they're not wanting to teach stuff!
 
I really don't see the big deal with showing these things in kids' cartoons. I mean, driving is just as much of an immitatable adult activity, yet we have no problem showing that in our cartoons.



I just saw it recently. It was pretty unintentionally hilarious the way these three characters got ish-face drunk off of a third of a beer.
 
Whether or not it's wrong is up to the individual.

Personally, I don't care. They're just cartoons. And I love cartoons, but I don't exactly share nor support the views expressed in them. But if it's entertaining, that's all that matters.
 
It's probably because smoking is bad for you regardless, whereas driving isn't really bad for you. Just dangerous if you don't know how to drive.
 
On something meant for children, I can understand why they wouldn't show smoking, though they shouldn't censor a feature like "Justice Leage: New Frontier" (especially given its historical context).

As for guns, does it really matter if they show a "real" gun or a laser? A child is just as likely to play with Dad's .38 after seeing a laser gun (its still a point-and-shoot weapon).

The most absurd censorship was GI Joe where the characters were depicted with realistic model weapons (.45 handguns, M-16A rifles, M-60 and 50 cal. machine guns) that all fired non-lethal lasers. WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS THAT SENDING? Hey, kids! Look at these completely harmless lasers that look exactly like the .45 in Mommy's underwear drawer. You can play with it, it only shoots wittle waser beams.:sad:
 
Wasn't there an episode of Pokemon (the Squirtle Squad episode, I believe) where shop owners pull out rifles on Ash thinking that he's Team Rocket?
 
well i recently decided to watch the looney toons episode "rhapsody rabbit" starring the incredibly famous bugs bunny and noticed in the beginning he shot an audience member who assuredly was killed when he prevented the witty rabbit from starting his performance. this was done in a very humorous manner and i thought how funny it was and how that would probably never pass in today's cartoons.

but to answer the questions

1. no, there is nothing wrong in my opinion of showing any of these in animated programs. i just pointed out one special that did and its not the only one of its kind. obviously many cartoons of the era did before censorship stepped in and dumbed it down.

2. i don't think it really matters how they're portrayed as long as it isn't in blatant form of, "hey kids, come do this because its the coolest thing in the WORLD!!!!" But i don't think we should restrict it to specials that focus on the negative aspect either. in the background for humor or character would be fine to. I dont think any cartoon portraying these had any major effect on me and as long as the children get proper guidance from parents about the real effects then there shouldn't be a problem.
 
the 1967-70 Spider-man showed Jameson with his cigar.

The adapted animation of Lucky Luke showed him with a straw while in the comics books until the early 1980s, Lucky Luke was with a cigarette.

Captain Haddock in the adventures of Tintin, his often drinked some whisky or scotch but in the 1960s cartoons done by Tele-Hachette/Belvision as well as the 1990s Nelvana cartoon, they don't show him drinking.
 
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