Why did cartoon openings start to stink?

[NinjaJack]

Somebody tell me why I can go to Retrojunk.com and watch great openings like Jayce And The Wheeled Warriors, GI Joe, TMNT, Dinosaucers and Thundercats. But when I turn on my television theres either a mediocre song or lack thereof?

It`s like today's shows have more depth to the stories but don't give a flying bat about the theme music. Teen Titans has a classic theme, and Kim Possible, but will there ever be another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle styled opening? Maybe thats one small but inportant factor about why Anime seems to get a bigger audience, because they seem to put effort in attracted folks with their themes?

With all the money the networks pour into new animation projects why not spend some mulah on the music too? IGPX better have some good tunes.

[Jave]

Nowadays it seems that there's a popular belief that kids like rap music in their openings. Go figure.

[Mr Cat Dog]

The only recent cartoon opening that I like (including music) is The Fairly Oddparents theme intro.

Foster's, JLU and Teen Titans has the music, but the openings aren't brilliant.

But, most of the other stuff I don't care about all that much.

[Conan-san]

To be honest, most cartoon openings stink in compatrison to the third opening to The Transfromers.

[Beat]

Someone thinks more rap is needed in intros. Why, I'll never know.

[Gokou Ruri]

What's wrong with rap? ;) There's plenty of good themes in todays animation. Fairly Odd Parents, Spongebob Squarepants, Teen Titans, Foster's, Krypto the Superdog, Danny Phantom, Juniper Lee, Jake Long, Kim Possible

[Beat]

What's wrong with rap? ;)
Nothing if it's done right. Hence my issue with a lot of modern intros themes.

[sdp]

Someone thinks more rap is needed in intros. Why, I'll never know.

because rap is very popular, so they want a popular genre in their themes.

but i don't think i see many rap themes for cartoons (or even other shows) they are all more "rock" oriented to get their attention, why they aren't as good can be for many reasons, like not growing up with them or not liking the show as much, I mean when i was little i would watch a show i liked over and over(reruns gallore) so the theme gets to you, now i only watch a said episode once, so even when the whole season is over its only been heard 13 times.

[Kurtman]

Meh. I think more shows should have Rock & Roll theme songs,not rap. That's why I love the Sonic SatAM theme song so much,it reminds me of a Sammy Hagar/Van Halen song.

[Tak Mazé]

The UK got a new show this week called Robotboy. I saw my first today. It had any intro, with no theme music O_o It boggles the mind.

[Space Chief]

Someone thinks more rap is needed in intros. Why, I'll never know.That and Bad-Simple-Plan-or-Whatever-Knockoff-Punk songs.

Of course we could spend an entire topic talking about what would happen if 4Kids used these strategies on other cartoons, but let's not. Rants and hate only fuel 4Kids. I take the route thought up by Mr. T and instead only pity the fools.

[Classic Speedy]

Sitcoms are the worst. Most sitcoms today either have an unmemorable 5 second intro, or they just go right into the show with a title briefly displayed on the screen. Goodbye hummable theme songs.

I think a lot of it has to do with time constraints. Since advertisers want to squeeze in more commercials, there's less time for the long intros of the past.

[Bearpod91]

Now-a-days I never pay attention to them. They bore me. Too far. And rap? Thats not modern. Thats more of a 90's thing. I think now there's really no top stlye music imo. I would more enjoy the type of opening music in Fosters. Calm and then let the music combine with the movement of the cartoon. Danny Phantom kinda works but I still get this erg to scream "Shut up!" because of the vioce. It's annoying. Thats why I stop paying attention to it. :shrug: I miss Dexter's Lab type intro's with that guy in the deep vioce talking.

[Yash]

Gacatchemall 'coz he's Danny Phantom!

*vomits*

Basically, the animation industry has been taken over by suits who know what's "hip", even though they really don't.

[Nin-Nin69]

Well not all theme songs have to be rap or rock and roll. Look at openings like EE&E, Beatlejuice, Bobby's World, The Critic, Animaniacs, Freakazoid, or Futurama. They can make catchy beats and use great visuals without having to rely on some 50 Cent or Green Day clone.

If you want to bring anime into the mix, that makes me upset about the American culture for animation. We don't release soundtracks of a majority of our shows. Not to mention have cast members sing songs. With all of the tallent and money put into our shows, don't you think they deserve more exposure? Japan is booming with tallent with their VA's and pop artists, but we're really lacking. Unless people like Danny Elfman can create a soundtrack for us which lacks lyrics. Then there is Seth MacFarline could create outstanding remixes or catchy songs, but crap out the most forgettable music CD I've ever lissened to.

[Gokou Ruri]

Not to mention have cast members sing songs. Lots of shows have featued characters singing.. All Grown Up, Fairly Odd Parents, Kids Next Door, Spongebob.. though it really only fits in comedy shows.

[Conan-san]

The UK got a new show this week called Robotboy. I saw my first today. It had any intro, with no theme music O_o It boggles the mind. That's because, my dear Tak, the people who made Robotboy are idiots and couldn't steal a decent song to go with the rest of thier made in taiwan accident.

[Nin-Nin69]

Lots of shows have featued characters singing.. All Grown Up, Fairly Odd Parents, Kids Next Door, Spongebob.. though it really only fits in comedy shows.
Yet how many have CD's? Marketing is the thing I'm more concerned with.

[The_Magick_Hat]

If you want to bring anime into the mix, that makes me upset about the American culture for animation. We don't release soundtracks of a majority of our shows. Not to mention have cast members sing songs. With all of the tallent and money put into our shows, don't you think they deserve more exposure? Japan is booming with tallent with their VA's and pop artists, but we're really lacking. Unless people like Danny Elfman can create a soundtrack for us which lacks lyrics. Then there is Seth MacFarline could create outstanding remixes or catchy songs, but crap out the most forgettable music CD I've ever lissened to.I recall that the voice actresses for Sailor Moon actually did their character songs and sounded quite decent, too. I think one of the voice actors for Pokemon does the themes for the english version as well. Still, the trend seems to have did. Quite a shame, too, because you would think with the way the voice actors also do theatre the industry would allow them that liscense.

Back to the topic at hand, the decline of theme songs in animation is distressing. I like the opening themes to Johnny Test and W.I.T.C.H., to name a couple, and the themes for Batman TAS and Supeman TAS were awesomely orchestrated. I agree with Speedy Boris, the advertisers want more time for commercials so themes end up being sacrificed as a result. :sad: