What have people told you about cartoons?

[Toony Loon]

Has anyone told you all cartoons are for kids?
Has anyone told you all cartoons are unfunny or uncool?

I've been told these things, but what have people who don't know animation that well told you about animation?

[Darklordavaitor]

One thing I don't get about the "cartoons are for kids debate":
Adults make and enjoy them

[DarthGonzo]

I couldn't give a crap about what people tell me about cartoons. I enjoy them anyway and if someone has a problem with that well then so be it. I don't care.

[Dr.Pepper]

I rember once my mom said that I will probably lose interest in cartoons soon and prefer live action. Yeah she said that when I was like eight or nine.

[USSManhattan]

My parents have been increasingly critical of me watching cartoons, especially since I do fanfic.

[Light Lucario]

I remember some of my classmates getting on my case on how I like to watch cartoons, mostly in elementary and middle school since I didn't talk too much in high school about what I like. They would usually just bother me about how it's childish to watch cartoons. Yet, to this day, I prefer cartoons over live-action shows. I just find them more enjoyable and more relaxing.

[Dudley]

Until I went to high school in Japan, everyone made fun of me about liking cartoons.
Conversations include:

"Man, I can't believe you watch cartoons! Cartoons are for kids!"
Me: But what about South Park and the Simpsons?
"....That's different!"

Or my favorite, and this occurred on a school trip:
"You're immature, because you love cartoons!"
and within 24 hours he said this as well.....
"Don't turn off the lights! I'm afraid of the dark!"

I am so ********* glad I'm not in grade school anymore.

[Darklordavaitor]

Come to think of it, my friends don't really have problems with it. In fact, most of them are totally into anime and Family Guy. My mother and sister, not so much.

[Atoon]

I think it's worse when I believed that cartoons were the only thing I can watch as kid.

[Antiyonder]

The answer is simple. Those who strongly insist that cartoons are just for kids say that about any hobby that isn't pornographic or depressing in nature.

Some have disagreed with my answer. But how come those who bash cartoon viewers use labels like 40 year old virgins?

[zoombie]

With shows like Family Guy, South Park, and Adult Swim, cartoons are no longer just for kids.

It has changed since the 1980's, when I grow up cartoons were exclusvely for kids.

[Wanted]

I haven't had much flack from anyone... except for my mom when I wanted her to buy me DVDs off of the Internet. She has a problem with that.

[Antiyonder]

With shows like Family Guy, South Park, and Adult Swim, cartoons are no longer just for kids.

It has changed since the 1980's, when I grow up cartoons were exclusvely for kids.

But some do have adult appeal, if rare. But even with the adult cartoons you get the sterotype that they are just kids stuff.

Like I said, if it's not pornographic or depressing then it's consider trash in the minds of many.

[GregX]

Like I said, if it's not pornographic or depressing then it's consider trash in the minds of many.

No offense, but a statement like that is just as inane as "cartoons are just for kids". No offense, but, and I'm basing this on things you've said in the past, but you are coming at this from the opposite extreme.

[Antiyonder]

No offense, but a statement like that is just as inane as "cartoons are just for kids". No offense, but, and I'm basing this on things you've said in the past, but you are coming at this from the opposite extreme.

But then why do cartoon viewers get labeled as 40 year old virgins. Then there are the vandalised comments on GargWiki which supports the idea.

And I still do give the shows a viewing, before I decide if it's bad or not. Whereas most adults who label cartoons being for kids won't even humor the idea of watching a cartoon.

[Silverstar]

I watch what I like, period. I really don't care what other people have to say about cartoons. I watched them as a kid, I still watch them as an adult, and I'll continue to watch them until I choose not to anymore, but they'd all have to get really, really bad for me to stop watching cartoons altogether.

[GregX]

But then why do cartoon viewers get labeled as 40 year old virgins. Then there are the vandalised comments on GargWiki which supports the idea.

Because, people are jerks. Nothing more than that. But, as I said, you come at this from an opposite extreme... and I'm just basing it on what you've said in the past.

As for the GargWiki vandalism... you'll pardon me if I don't take the petty insults of an internet troll who has no idea what he's talking about as an indication that supports any idea. And newsflash, that troll was just as big a "cartoon viewing nerd" as the people those he insulted... probably bigger.

GregX... the 26 year old, cartoon viewing NON-VIRGIN.

[Antiyonder]

Because, people are jerks. Nothing more than that. But, as I said, you come at this from an opposite extreme... and I'm just basing it on what you've said in the past.

I do realize that, but I still will give the shows in question viewing before making one last final judgement. Can you say they same for thsoe on the opposite end.


As for the GargWiki vandalism... you'll pardon me if I don't take the petty insults of an internet troll who has no idea what he's talking about as an indication that supports any idea. And newsflash, that troll was just as big a "cartoon viewing nerd" as the people those he insulted... probably bigger.

GregX... the 26 year old, cartoon viewing NON-VIRGIN.

Don't tell me you're the one secretly doing the trolling. Just kidding.

But in all seriousness, while I'm sure those insults in general are just the individual being a jerk, it seems like the 40 yrs old virgin bit is the only method used for the insults.

[Elven Moon]

I don't really have to worry, since my own dad, a 50+ year old, watches Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network! I've had friends (in their late 20s) who watch and quote Family Guy and the Simpsons, among other shows, and even enjoy the Tick or Dungeons & Dragons marathons. The only time I come across this problem is comments made on a TV show, or when I listen in on someone's conversation. I'm free to enjoy cartoons, and would anyway.

[GregX]

Pretty much the same. I've never gotten flack for it.

[Anthonynotes]

I enjoy cartoons, but my coworkers (almost all middle-aged-to-elderly and largely female) feel they're just for kids, and don't watch them at all, save for when their children or grandchildren do (and then mostly Disney films, including those direct-to-video "cheapquals" like Cinderella III). They do find it amusing how I like Superman, though...

[Antiyonder]

I've never received criticisim for it.

For those that have, you ever ask why your friends/family/coworkers/etc, give you a hard time over it.

Only because, I'm not fully convinced that some of those individuals dislike cartoons. If the reason they give is that it holds no appeal, then it is dislike.

If they reason they give is that it is kids stuff (which seems to be the case here mostly), then they're going by sterotypical standards. After all, you tell yourself the same lie, then you're bound to believe it overtime.

[Kitschensyngk]

As long as there are people who see animation as an art form and not just a medium for children's entertainment, I refuse to care for anyone badmouthing it.

As for me, I have not heard a discouraging word from anyone in my family regarding my interests in anime. They've even given me Hayao Miyazaki DVDs, a couple of books and a Princess Mononoke wall scroll as birthday and Christmas gifts.

[Desensitized]

Around here, it seems people's attitude has changed. When I was a little kid, I was told they were garbage and just for kids a lot.

As I got older, it seems the general opinion has changed. I know people of all ages (including my mother who is a big Simpson and Rocko fan) who watch all kinds of cartoons.

They're not all I watch, but they are the majority since live action TV has gotten so bad.

[kaseykockroach]

Of all things, I have been told many times that animation has improved since the golden age(40's). They tell me that classic cartoons are way too dated and corny. Now cartoons are more original. Yeah, I can't understand it either.
Oh well.
One last thing: My parents have told me once that this is all you you need to make a great cartoon.
* Lots of dialouge and a funny character.
WTH? They need to understand that it takes talent, skill, and lots of heart and hard work to make a good cartoon.

[CheezNapkin]

Oh god, there was this one girl I knew in school last year, she just flat-out hated cartoons. Everytime I had some free time and I was on the computer watching something on YouTube or whatever, no matter what cartoon it was, if it was animated, she would automatically assume that it was childish and immature.


One time we got on a fight on the bus home that went something like this:
"I'm not immature, you are!"
"Oh really, and why is that?"
"BECAUSE YOU WATCH CARTOONS!"

Seriously, what the hell? I'd choose cartoons over that MTV reality show crap anyday.

Wow, I must've said "cartoons" about *counts* 4 times.

[Shirubie]

Every time someone says "Cartoons are for kids" around me, I reply "I could show you cartoons that will give you nightmares." *Hugs her anime collection*

I think a lot of people are convinced that only kids stories and fairy tales can be told with animation. That's not true at all. Any story told in live action can be done in animation. Drama, comedy, action, horror, sci-fi, name a genre, I can show you a cartoon for it.

Animation for me is an art, like painting and sculpting. It's creating a universe out of a blank page. A cartoon can be a masterpiece. Next time someone says cartoons are stupid, hand them a pencil and say "Here, you do the same".

[cyde]

If they only knew it takes adults to make cartoons.......

[Antiyonder]

Oh god, there was this one girl I knew in school last year, she just flat-out hated cartoons. Everytime I had some free time and I was on the computer watching something on YouTube or whatever, no matter what cartoon it was, if it was animated, she would automatically assume that it was childish and immature.


One time we got on a fight on the bus home that went something like this:
"I'm not immature, you are!"
"Oh really, and why is that?"
"BECAUSE YOU WATCH CARTOONS!"

Seriously, what the hell? I'd choose cartoons over that MTV reality show crap anyday.

Wow, I must've said "cartoons" about *counts* 4 times.

Ironically many people who start a fuss like that, seem to overlook their own maturity. I'm refering to the girl of course.

[HellCat]

I've had some of my geekier interests mocked. I used to collect Star Wars LEGO sets for example and one day at school was checking a collecting site. Some idiot couldn't understand why someone my age would be interested in something like that and desperately tried to hook my computer up to the demonstration projector (normally used by the class leader to demonstrate what he was doing) to name and shame me.

In general though, biggest critic I face for liking animation tends to be my sister. Being the youngest, it seems I just get branded.

[Luna]

Personally,I've never heard anyone say anything bad about watching cartoons ....though I have been teased about liking anime (mostly my two brothers,who think all anime is like Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh)....My whole family likes animation in some form....

My dad likes Looney Tunes cartoons,and has watched The Simpsons with me occasionally...

My mom likes Disney movies (even the DTV sequels),and other "family" films...

My sister likes Disney and Pixar movies,and Looney Tunes

My brothers both like The Simpsons,South Park,and King of the Hill....and one of them likes Justice League and has recently gotten into Robot Chicken...

My niece and nephew are into anime,and both really love Naruto...

and I like pretty much anything animated.....including Disney and Pixars movies,Tim Burtons two stop-motion films,South Park,Gargoyles,Futurama,Inuyasha,Bleach,King of the Hill,Daria,Robot Chicken,Fruits Basket,Animaniacs/Pinky and the Brain,Naruto,etc....

[Kuroba]

It's not "cool" to like cartoons at my school, but it's not an avid teasing-topic. A bunch of people like South Park and Family Guy. Though, my friend said that Spongebob was her favorite show once and the class laughed at her. I felt really bad, because the shows they watch (Laguna Beach and Super Sweet 16 and other "quality" programs, and are good examples of consumer America-produced brats) are 10 times stupider then Spongebob.

My family has no problems with me liking animation. My sister likes cartoons. My dad watches The Simpsons and Futurama sometimes, and he finds them very clever and entertaining. My mom likes what she's seen of Futurama (she doesn't like Leela though...strangely, whenever she happens to catch Futurama, it's always "The Sting"...funny) and she's seen some of the Studio Ghibli films and thinks they're fantastic.

[Kagetsu]

:p my parents are still like "isn't there anything else on?" And for a brief time though Middle School and most of High School i kept my cartoon viewing hidden. Even the ones that did watch animation I couldn't relate too. "No, I didn't see the whak South Park episode. :p I realized it didn't matter what I watched, they still didn't like me and I didn't like them, so it was a working arrangement. :anime:

Even now I get odd "uhhuh" looks from friends. Who won't say a word about the "Irma" hanging from my visor when it's my turn to drive somewhere. I tend to turn the screws a bit saying "Oo, you've got a big screen, I'll bring buffalo wings and anime if you get the beer" :anime: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/kagetsu/icons/drunk.gif

The sad part is I think they may like Ghost in the Shell once they saw it. But I don't watch 24 so I guess it goes both ways.

[Cobblepot1982]

Ah yeah, I know those people; I went to school with them....aaaaaaaaand half of them are now either major alcoholics, addicted to drugs, or are single parents working three jobs because they got knocked up. Many others are also 'crowd pleasers'.

Remember- most people enjoy the though of others conforming, but as the second Pokemon movie slogan went "one person can make ALL the difference". Don't be part of the crowd- be that one person :)

[tailsxcream]

i dont care what people think of cartoons i love them allways allways will. i even have cartoon tshirts and i wear them in puplic cartoons are the best form of entertainment.

[byron lomax]

My family generally don't have any problem with my love of cartoons, though none of them share it to a great extent. My father has always loved Batman TAS and Futurama, and my brother was almost as big a Daria fan as myself for a while (despite the fact that he was almost the polar opposite of her in both personality and outlook).

I can't take seriously those people (including some adults) who make blanket generalisations about all animation being for kids (while all comics and video games are for adolescent boys). There's a combination of ignorance and arrogance that's annoying, and trying to argue with these people is pointless, it just goes nowhere.

From time to time I've been sneered at by idiots behind the counter at DVD shops, but I guess for every one of them there's someone else who shows interest in what I'm buying and talks positively about it, so I guess I'll take what I can get.

In truth, I don't talk much about Kim Possible or Hey Arnold outside of internet forums with other fans.

[Kury Wagner]

"Those Japanese cartoons'll give ya seizures!"

I bet they couldn't even spell "seizure." >.>

Though, perhaps the weirdest things I've ever heard about the fact that I watch animation-

a.) "People are going to think you're a pedophile."
b.) "People are going to think you're racist."

/shakes head.

[Wanted]

My dad seems to think there's a difference between the cartoons I watch and the anime that my brother watches... and he believes that they made him more violent. He calls them "caricatures".