It's just a cartoon, man.

[Moussa Balla]

I often hear this response to justify plot holes, character inconsistencies, inaccurate facts, wacky physics, etc. Is this a fair response to mistakes found in animated storytelling or should cartoons be held to same standard as live action?

 

[sam56sg]

Several things to considers as far as that goes:

- If the show is more serious in nature then consistency should be used more often. Not perfect, just more effort.

- Inconsistency occurs even in live action, thus you could use the arguement, it's just a tv show.

 

[ChadC]

It depends on the cartoon. There's certain cartoons (like in live action) where logic doesn't apply.

 

[Jessyca H]

Avatar applies to the take-more-seriously cartoon.

Spongebob applies to not taking seriously;if at all.

 

[zbelmontez24680]

"This is comedy" is the better descriptor. Comedies often don't make sense, but they have to not make sense to be funny.

 

[theatrelover554]

I don't like it when people say "its just a cartoon" but then complaine about the same mistakes in live action.

 

[Lepard m]

Inconsistencies for the sake of comedy are okay.

Inconsistencies as a lack of care? No way.

This reminds me of a columnist in a newspaper commenting on his last family trip to a restaurant: a kid's meal shouldn't be an inferior produce, it should be a smaller portion of the same food given to adults.

I think the same applies to cartoons. Just because its animated doesn't mean continuiting and consistant physics should be forgotten.

 

[Nutzz :)]

Yes, very well put! (applause)

 

[Streeta J]

I think when it comes to comedy cartoons, nowadays most of them have fallen into that trap of making plot holes a meta-reference, like, "this goofy thing that made no sense happened, but we're aware of it". It was funny the first couple of times when The Simpsons did it back in the day, but now it's become too much the norm.