Regarding Continuity

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Now, I understand what some people might say. Continuity isn?t necessary to sell merchandise and get high ratings; a certain yellow sponge would prove that many times over. However, networks have tried their best to create the next ?SpongeBob SquarePants? and it just hasn?t happened; I am nothing more than an uneducated fan and I can?t possibly determine the reason for this, but I have to wonder what role continuity has in the level of financial success that an animated program has.
 
Yes, we'd think more successful shows would get DVDs, but that's not the case. Otherwise, we'd be getting Drake & Josh and Rugrats boxsets over stuff like Avatar and Naked Brothers Band, but it's actually the reverse. (they might be releasing NBB DVDs to help promote the show, and maybe Avatar's DVDs were part of the contract and their venture into action shows, who knows)

Probably, since it got better ratings than Zim.
 
So while it's not the big show that Nick wishes it to be, it isn't the trainwreck they consider it to be either. And again, Sozin's Comet I recall had pretty good results interms of ratings.

Besides, SSM superiority in ratings compared to the continuity free shows on the KidsWB schedule proves that serial toons can work.
 
Which is why I'm surprised that more people don't support Back at the Barnyard. The characters are all adult talking animals, the stories and plots are simple, aside from the Snotty Boy character there are no children, there's some great voice talent in it...
 
What do you believe are the pros of having continuity in an animated program?
It depends on the level of continuity. If it's Avatar or Bonus Stage continuity, it could mean having engaging story arcs with cilffhangers and suspense. If it's Spongebob continuity, it means that familiar situations and locations will be done over and over, like The Krusty Krab. This can be a good or bad thing. If the same plot is literally used over and over ala Scooby Doo, it's bad. If various different plots involving The Krusty Krab are used, it's a good thing. In one episode, maybe Spongebob will introduce fast food toys, but the poison lead will cause trouble. In another, maybe Spongebob and Squidward will go on strike. Wait, they did that one. Now, let's go to the lowest level of continuity, which is Looney Tunes [other than Bugs Bunny] or Ren and Stimpy. The same characters will be in every episode, but nothing else. In one episode they're astronauts. In another they're homeless bums. In another they're cavemen. This level of continuity is good for more storyline opportunities, and seeing characters in new situations. Plus, it's pretty f***ing hilarious.

What do you believe are the cons of having continuity in an animated program?
It could make it hard for people to pick up with the series by watching one random episode. This, along with the lack of Avatar reruns, is why I never really gave the series a shot. However, this is just on the strictest level of continuity. In Spongebob continuity, we can't be having Spongebob allergic to peanuts in one episode, and eating a peanut in another. This creates some confusion. The writers might run out of ideas using the familiar situations such as working at The Krusty Krab, annoying Squidward, failing the test at Boating School, etc. The show's sense of continuity will begin to fade as more nonsensical adventures begin. Also, for events such as Spongebob being in historic periods, we'll need a continuity excuse such as time travel, reading about your ancestors, or "it was all a dream". In Ren and Stimpy and Looney Tunes [other than Bugs Bunny], there are no problems as far as I can see.

Hypothetically speaking, if two animated programs had the exact same quality and were both equally entertaining to watch, but one animated program had continuity and the other animated program had no continuity, which animated program would you choose to watch?
I wouldn't watch the one with Avatar continuity, that's for sure.

Wow. I've been writing this for nearly a half hour. I love discussing my nerdy opinions.
 
What do you believe are the pros of having continuity in an animated program?

It rewards you for actually caring about the characters. Although it's possible for you to care somewhat about characters that aren't in a show with continuity, the fact is that they are just going to be stuck in the same routine for the entire shows run, so if you want to see their life actually go somewhere you're going to be disappointed.

It also gives you a reason to watch the whole series. Then, after you are finished with the series, the character development and story arcs give you something to talk about with friends.


What do you believe are the cons of having continuity in an animated program?

It takes effort on the writer's part.

It also makes the show harder to get into if you aren't with it from the start. Of course, this is mainly if the stories are sequential (like DBZ). Strong continuity can still exist in shows with episodic stories (like Beast wars or Superman TAS).


Hypothetically speaking, if two animated programs had the exact same quality and were both equally entertaining to watch, but one animated program had continuity and the other animated program had no continuity, which animated program would you choose to watch?

Definitely the one with continuity. With serious action/drama cartoons, I probably wouldn't even watch the show if there wasn't good continuity. I'm more forgiving with comedies, but I still think continuity makes the show more enjoyable. Take the strong continuity of Futurama or Fairly Oddparents, for instance. I like seeing old characters and events referenced and re-utylized in laters stories. And at the very least, I like to see basic consistency.

Some writers, you can tell, don't even try looking back at older episodes to make sure that events in newer episodes are consistent with what happened beforehand.
 
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