Something I've always wondered

[Cartman]

I just have to ask this question:

We notice in modern cartoon shows that characters do not do things like smoking or drinking since cartoons of today are mainly intended for kids (with some exceptions of course like "South Park" and "King of the Hill"). Nonetheless, they often show characters in many modern-day animated movies such as Beauty and the Beast and The Great Mouse Detective smoking or drinking.

I'm just curious as to why they show the characters doing ill-mannered things like this in animated "kid" movies, but not animated "kid" TV shows.

[Sharklady]

It does seem to be permissible for the Bad Guys to smoke and drink- I guess the implication of Badness carries over.
'Space Jam' provides another such example.

[Nin-Nin69]

I don't see what they're trying to hide from kids. I know its bad properganda, but does that automaticaly mean that kids will do it. If they don't see it on a Disney cartoon, I guarantee they will see it with their family sitting right next to them lounging by the TV having a drink or a smoke.

[DarkMaster]

Edit any animation/anime that they feel is inappropriate and in which the programming has a harmful effect for children.

Example Guns and violence

NICKELODEON and Linda Ellerbee, in their on-going effort to address the news topics that are important to kids, examines the complicated issue of gun violence through the personal experiences of kids.

New York, NY, August 14, 1996 -- "I asked him if the gun was real. He said no so I pulled the trigger," says a boy who accidentally shot his brother while playing at a neighbor's house. Another boy, whose family was attacked in their own home, says "I think everyone should have a gun because you never know when something like this is going to happen."

The need to address the topic of guns as it relates to kids is more urgent than ever. There are over 200 million guns in the United States today, in a society of 250 million people, reinforcing a perception that America has become an armed nation. Kids are caught in the middle and often fall victim to the violence.

[Novdeloth]

Interesting. I was wondering why the censors and network execs even allow cigars and bottles of wine (or another alcoholic beverage) to even show up in cartoons. Just like in PPG and Time Squad, there are characters who carry pipes or cigars in their mouths. I haven't seem them taking a puff, but the fact that they appear on-screen...

*shakes head* :confused:

[Sharklady]

> If they don't see it on a Disney cartoon, I guarantee they will see it with their family sitting right next to them lounging by the TV having a drink or a smoke. <

Not if it's a family where the parents don't drink or smoke around the kids. Which they definitely shouldn't; studies indicate that second-hand smoke is particularly unhealthy for children.

[DarthNuriko]

I miss the good old days where characters like Dumbo and Bugs Bunny could get hammered....

[Pilmedium]

It makes sense for villains to do "bad" things like that, but the reason why other characters would not is probably because of overconcerned people. As for why it would occasionally happen in animated movies but not animated television shows, maybe they think a parent is more likely to watch a movie with children, which seems true to some extent.

[HelloKittyKat]

I miss the good old days where characters like Dumbo and Bugs Bunny could get hammered....

and the Decepticons !!! :D

[RockItShipper]

One of the Beatles 'toons from the 60s was set in a winery with underage employees. That would so not pass today