Are kids turning away from animation?

Teen Titans didn't need the anime-eque expressions and bits but they executedly those things very well. What makes Teen Titans great was it wasn't afraid to deal with very serious situations. Not on a JLU scale of greatness but some episodes of Teen Titans were very well written and very well animated. People give it flack for it's style but the action was solid and so was the comedy and it also managed to have some tame but meaningful drama. What more could you want in a kids action cartoon? It's more or less... decendant Ben 10 had it's rough spots like Titans did early on but even the best episodes of Ben 10 don't feel as mature as Teen Titans could. That's a real shame too because we're never going to get more Teen Titans. Hopefully Ben 10 Hero Generation will be a bit more edgy than the current Ben 10.
 
I've started to notice this a while back. I also noticed it seems more adults are tuning in to cartoons, like Adult Swim and the stuff on FOX, and then I look back noticing that I've known kids in middle school and younger who are watching South Park. Making me realize that kids really enjoy watching cartoons that are more adult.
The problem with Cartoon Network is that they think the way to solve their problems is to air live action, when it really is just that they need to air better cartoons.
 
Yup. Believe me what I see with my three-year olds is not encouraging. They all want to have cell phones and purses and they're favorite shows seem to be Hannah Montana and High School Musical. And they're three.

I fear children's animation in this country is headed down the road to ruin.
 
Because they're live action, and thus they automatically equal mature. I bet if you ask people why they think cartoons are inmature the answers would have nothing to do with the story or characters but:

A. They aren't real.
B. They're drawings not people.

DrTooth made a good point in another thread:


The only reason they get the red carpet treatment is because they're full of real people, not sketches.
 
Kids have been watching more adult cartoons since they have had more adult cartoons. kids loved the Simpsons. When I was in middle school EVERYONE watched Beavis and Butthead. Not like it's a big change or anything. Other than the fact more 12 year old girls who watch terrible shows like HSM because they think the boys are so cute, that is.

We just have idiot execs doing what idiot entertainment execs usually do. They have a bunch of great ideas flung on their desk that they just ignore, and wind up making the same exact crap over and over, and wonder why they keep losing an audience. Look at the movies. They're losing movie goers left and right. Why? Not because of home theaters or internet pirates. The movies flat out suck, and they just remake the same film over and over. It's a joke.

Just replace Saw 4 with "My Gym Partener's a Monkey" and it's the same thing.
 
Teen Titans is one of those shows that went from eh, to cool as it progressed. YOu're right, when it first aired it was experiementing with it's Amerima style, but the writing really got good in those last 2 seasons with more serious and action driven stories.
 
But if it was such a generation thing, how do you explain the still popularity of shows from heck as far back as the 60s through the 90s. That's one long stretch of generation from then to now.

Face it, because of how they are producing cartoons now in the 2000s there just aren't as many test of time lasting GOOD shows on tv now as there were then> (And you you don't think they were, then there wouldn't be such a revolution of old animated series being collected on dvd for sale now. I dare you to find Cops on dvd or a single GIJoe in a store now. I can even get Underdog and Tennesse Tuxedo on dvd today).

Currently the 2000s aren't producing a lot of series that we will be talking about say 20 years from now that isn't DC or Marvel comics related save for a few Nick toons shows like Sponge Bob and Avatar.

Face it, the market for toons today is far weaker and inferior than to the past because A) there aren't enough networks left to experient on a variety of show types and themes, and B) we seem to just import stuff from other countries that we could make here. After all what is it about Anime that's so special that couldn't be just written in say the United States? We used to do it.

I'll never buy the "its just a generation" argument because toons were pretty strong prior to the start of the 2000s and years prior, but now, there is a clear decline in quality and quantity.
 
I'm so against kids having cell phones. I mean, for what, who the heck are they calling that doesn't require a normal phone, and don't give me that if they are out explanation because a parent should know where they are. Heh, I'm so old school.
 
It's sad that junk like this is at the top of the ratings, but what can you do? Maybe kids' tastes have changed. I sure wouldn't have watched this stuff when I was a kid. I always hated those dopey Nickelodeon live action shows.
 
Then I'm thinking the majority of parents and college administrators need some help psychologically speaking.




Not precisely what I meant when I said it's pressure over preference, but I really weep for today's youth.
 
I'd say what worries me a bit more than this is that "adult" cartoon seems to equal crappy Flash and juvenile shock jokes. Now, South Park and some of the Adult Swim shows are fun, but I'm afraid its the only type of animation most people seem to accept. CGI gets unnecessary backlash, traditional animation is in a dry period, and anime is still a niche most people are afraid to get into.
 
Yeah I don't know what is the deal know. Back when I was in the 2-11 age gruop (or whatever) I would mush rather watch cartoons than live action.
 
Anyone have the ratings for networks like Disney Channel and Nick back in the '90s? I'd be interested in seeing if live action garnered high ratings back then, too.
 
You think with adult animation being greenlit we'd have some adult toons in the style of say Gargoyles, Justice League Unlimited and Batman The Animated Series.

While I do enjoy Family Guy, American Dad and Aqua Teens, imho, Avatar The Last Airbender is more adult than either of them. To a degree Futurama also strikes me as that way if only because adult humor isn't so much a crutch for it.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silverstar
My question is: what happened to all of the decent animated comedies? Anime action/epic adventure is good when it's well-executed, but that's not all there should be on the tube. Shows like Animaniacs, Rocko's Modern Life, Beetlejuice, Eek! the Cat, DuckTales, Angry Beavers, Freakazoid!, Earthworm Jim, Tiny Toons, Tale Spin, Darkwing Duck, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab and so on were brilliantly executed and incredibly well-written, boasting jokes which worked on numerous levels, making them entertaining for both kids and adults alike; most of today's animated comedies just don't measure up.



It does, IMHO; it falls under "and so on". I knew there were going to be some shows I would forget to list.
 
Personally I don't see why video games and live action actors should be a reason for the medium to fail. Acquire some old video game based toons, or see about greenlighting some. Mario, Metroid or Zelda would be good for starters.

Or as I've suggest air some programs that are based off live action movies. Plus one idea I think Disney could try is to heavily advertise the cartoon characters that are voiced by their actors (Raven Symone, Kyle Massey, Amy Bruckner). It's really a no brainer. Use other mediums to promote cartoons.
 
1. That just could've been a situation where YOUR teachers and parents watched it. Guaranteed I didn't have that experience.

And may I remind you- I think the same thing of "classic" animation shows like Superpresident and The Roman Holidays.

Also remember- not EVERY show from our childhood was great- a lot could turn our brains to mush today...I've had the unfortunate opportunity of learning that: I literally tried sitting thru Muppet Babies, Alvin & the Chipmunks, and Camp Candy again- and just flat out couldn't. It was a very painful experience. And don' even get me started on The Littles.

In fact, I think the only reason there ARE any animated shows anymore is because a market still DOES exist for it- while it may not be even a tenth as existential as it did for our generation.

Here's another example- go to Toys R Us- tell me, does it really look to you the way it did 20 years ago? If you say yes, tell me what you're smoking. The layout is quite a bit different( though they're aiming- but failing- for that retro look) because they're trying to market to a different generation.

Here's another example- watch Dawn of the Dead( the CLASSIC original)- you'll see shopping malls as WE experienced them, as kids. They don' look like that now...if they're even around you, anymore.

In my opinion, animated shows are pretty much in the same situation as shopping malls and Toys R Us...and they're in the same situation as movie theaters were for OUR parents generation- good luck explaining to your OWN kids in 20 years what made 'em so great. I freakin' DARE ya. It's a generational thing.
 
High quality action cartoons are quite expensive. Certainly more expensive than even an expensive comedy and they are more or less "un-tested" and the general media isn't quite willing to stake a claim in that genre. Adult Swim should definently try it but they probably never will.

At least there are efforts coming from some companies like the Hellboy, DC and Marvel DTVs but no shows for now.
 
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