Terrorism in Animation

[The Overlord]

How have cartoons handled the issue of terrorism? Are there any good examples of terrorists appearing in cartoons?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

They have started popping up more in anime, but I honestly haven't seen many in recent Western cartoons.

[The Overlord]

They have started popping up more in anime, but I honestly haven't seen many in recent Western cartoons.

I think there are some, DCUA tends have standard "super villain" terrorists, like Ra's Al Ghul and Kobra.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I think there are some, DCUA tends have standard "super villain" terrorists, like Ra's Al Ghul and Kobra.

But they've been around for decades, and you could say every super-villain is a terrorist. I thought you meant an actual terrorist organization with a political slant or goal.

[The Overlord]

But they've been around for decades, and you could say every super-villain is a terrorist. I thought you meant an actual terrorist organization with a political slant or goal.

Ra's and Kobra did have a political goal. Ra's was an eco terrorist who wanted remake the world into a eco friendly paradise, by killing off 90% of the population. Kobra was religious cult.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Ra's and Kobra did have a political goal. Ra's was an eco terrorist who wanted remake the world into a eco friendly paradise, by killing off 90% of the population. Kobra was religious cult.

I could play with this further by listing other examples and conclude that pretty much every super-villain is a terrorist, technically, but this really isn't exactly what i had in mind when you asked this question

[HG Revolution]

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is pretty much all about terrorist groups and such.

Shows like The Simpsons and South Park make fun of current events and that includes terrorists but its always charicatures of either real people or nondescript stereotypes as opposed to original recurring characters.

[The Overlord]

I could play with this further by listing other examples and conclude that pretty much every super-villain is a terrorist, technically, but this really isn't exactly what i had in mind when you asked this question

Being a eco terrorist is different than just believing in power for power's sake, eco terrorism is a valid political motive.

[Juu-kuchi]

I can't believe nobody has yet to mention the definitive terrorist organisation - Cobra from GI Joe. And for a bit, we may want to add the fictitious nation of Carbombya from Transformers.

[Han Ji-Eun]

The five heroes of Gundam Wing are all terrorists, yet are depicted in a righteous light because you see the war from their perspective. Also, their terrorist actions are considerably less extreme than their original orders (to drop a colony to Earth, etc), so it's easier for the audience to sympathize with their fight.

This doesn't change the fact that they were indeed terrorists, though. Or, "freedom fighters," if you prefer.

[GregX]

I can't believe nobody has yet to mention the definitive terrorist organisation - Cobra from GI Joe.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was my reaction the first time I watched GI Joe again after learning what a terrorist really is.

Cobra is not a terrorist organization... they're a travelling circus with missiles that never hit anything.

[HellCat]

The five heroes of Gundam Wing are all terrorists, yet are depicted in a righteous light because you see the war from their perspective. Also, their terrorist actions are considerably less extreme than their original orders (to drop a colony to Earth, etc), so it's easier for the audience to sympathize with their fight.

This doesn't change the fact that they were indeed terrorists, though. Or, "freedom fighters," if you prefer.

I love this argument. I completly agree, they're terrorists. The fact that they had a perhaps noble cause doesn't change that and people arguing otherwise are silly.

[The Overlord]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was my reaction the first time I watched GI Joe again after learning what a terrorist really is.

Cobra is not a terrorist organization... they're a travelling circus with missiles that never hit anything.

Yeah, that sounds about right. Seriously, what were Cobra's ideological goals?

[Wussycat]

In an episode of Digimon, it's revealed that the destruction caused by Parrotmon and Greymon was blamed on terrorists.

[Mr.Kurtz]

Yeah, that sounds about right. Seriously, what were Cobra's ideological goals?

Metal face plates for everybody?

I remeber reading on yojoe.com that there was a planned episode called, I believe, "The most dangerous man" where they would introduce the idealogical founder of Cobra, their Karl Marx so to speak, before Cobra Commander took over and preverted their goals.

Instead hasbro had them do that ridiculous 5 parter where they create Serpentor.

[Juu-kuchi]

Cobra is not a terrorist organization... they're a travelling circus with missiles that never hit anything.

For the majority part yes, but when done correctly (like the first minute or so of the GI Joe movie opening), they fit the definition of terrorists.

The Gundam Wing argument for the win though, so true and yet I've never really thought about it that way in the first place.

[The Weed Of Cri]

The Planeteers from Captain Planet and the Planeteers are eco-terrorists. They are an anti-capitalist, anti-free-market paramilitary force that opposes any new manufacturing technology that doesn't meet their impossibly "green" standards. They never negotiate with the owner of the plant or factory, never examine any of the potential benefits (economic revitalization, jobs, higher standards of living for the indigenous population, etc.), they simply pass judgement and attack. And despite wrapping themselves in a cloak of fairness and justice, have never reimbursed any of the owner for the damage they do.

[Hordesman]

Yeah, that sounds about right. Seriously, what were Cobra's ideological goals?

Snakes on a plane?

The Planeteers from Captain Planet and the Planeteers are eco-terrorists. They are an anti-capitalist, anti-free-market paramilitary force that opposes any new manufacturing technology that doesn't meet their impossibly "green" standards. They never negotiate with the owner of the plant or factory, never examine any of the potential benefits (economic revitalization, jobs, higher standards of living for the indigenous population, etc.), they simply pass judgement and attack. And despite wrapping themselves in a cloak of fairness and justice, have never reimbursed any of the owner for the damage they do.

To be fair, how many animated heroes actually foot the bill for collateral damage?

[Simon Trent]

To be fair, how many animated heroes actually foot the bill for collateral damage?

Superman did offer to pay for messing up Lex Luthor's city this one time on Justice League but I just know that Wayne is going to end up with the bill.

Cobra is not a terrorist organization... they're a travelling circus with missiles that never hit anything.

Well, yeah, but you're not supposed to pay attention to that part. You're supposed to be absoutely terrified that the Joes might actually get a paper cut or something from the Cobra Commander's manila folder.

[Chris Wood]

Look no further than Rambo: The Force of Freedom for plenty of war on terror excitement.