Do kids still recognize or like old characters?

[Anthonynotes]

Given the lack of airplay older cartoons (which these days seems to be "anything before SpongeBob") seem to get on TV these days, I was wondering: do any kids you know still like or even know who various older cartoon characters are? What do they make of such older characters?

To start:
My niece (who's six) likes Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo (no surprise as they're the only two older characters who still get heavy airplay on TV). She also liked the Looney Tunes DVDs I gave her (still think it's a crime Bugs and the gang aren't anywhere on US television), and seemed to like the Yogi Bear cartoon she saw with me (since she hadn't heard of Yogi beforer that point).

-B.

[soundmonkey44]

Given the lack of airplay older cartoons (which these days seems to be "anything before SpongeBob") seem to get on TV these days, I was wondering: do any kids you know still like or even know who various older cartoon characters are? What do they make of such older characters?

To start:
My niece (who's six) likes Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo (no surprise as they're the only two older characters who still get heavy airplay on TV). She also liked the Looney Tunes DVDs I gave her (still think it's a crime Bugs and the gang aren't anywhere on US television), and seemed to like the Yogi Bear cartoon she saw with me (since she hadn't heard of Yogi beforer that point).

-B.

I can say they do...My little sister likes looney tunes & my youngest cousin i think he's like 5 or 7...Is a big fan of Scooby doo & Micky mouse! :anime:

[rattis1]

Well, every generation has its own cartoon icons that fades away in a decade or so. A sad thing however is that many of those characters that has actually managed to remain prominent throughout multiple generations of children seem to have faded away fromk relevance only in the last ten years or so. Popeye is a good example, since he remained a household name among kids all the way from the 1930's to the 1990's, but is probably pretty much unknown among kids born since around the turn of the millenia.

[Fool's Gil]

I had the biggest smile on my face when a five year old kid told me his favorite cartoon character is Popeye and Betty Boop. His parents and grandparent are avid cartoon watchers.

[Silverstar]

Honestly, it depends on the individual child and the environment that he/she is growing up in.

I grew up in front of the TV at a time when classic cartoons ran wild on networks and syndication, surrounded by artsy enlightened adults who exposed me to all kinds of art forms, so I grew up with a vast appreciation for the classics. A kid whose parents don't care all that much about animation and/or who don't have cable or satellite or purchase any DVDs obviously wouldn't have the same fondness for the classics that we do. If a kid has never been exposed to the likes of Popeye and Huckleberry Hound, they're not at fault for not knowing who they are or for not having the same fascination for them that we have/had.

It also boils down to personal tastes; there were some cartoons (like the 60's era 'funny animal' toons from Hanna-Barbera, just to name one example) that I was never crazy about, even back then. I can and do appreciate their contribution to the cultrual animation lexicon, but I've personally never found them to be all that entertaining.

[ABrown]

My little guy who is 8 loves watching Tom And Jerry on Cartoon Network. Personally, I don't get what he sees in it.

[Classic Speedy]

My little guy who is 8 loves watching Tom And Jerry on Cartoon Network. Personally, I don't get what he sees in it.

That kid has good taste.

[CyberCubed]

Considering most classic cartoons continually get re-booted, probably.

There are always new Looney Toons, Scooby Doo, Batman, and other shows. However I wonder about Flintsones? Do kids of today know Fred?

[Old Guy]

Yes, I'm sure kids still know Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera. These cartoons have never really gone away, even though they get less exposure every year.

The real question is: Are Betty Boop, Woody Woodpecker, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Gumby, and Inspector Gadget to name a few still household names to today's children?

Answer that.

[Lavenderpaw]

That kid has good taste.

That's for sure. I wish Bugs Bunny cartoons and such still aired.

[Blackstar]

However I wonder about Flintsones? Do kids of today know Fred?

If they have Boomerang, have seen any of the Flintstones DVDs, have eaten a Flintstones Vitamin or have seen any of the Fruity/Cocoa Pebbles ads, then yes, they do. Even Kids who have never seen the original series most likely have seen Fred's face plastered somewhere. Even if a kid goes to Universal Studios, sees a guy in a Fred Flintstone costume and says "Mommy! There's that Fruity Pebbles guy!", it still counts as recognition.

[Elven Moon]

They might if:

1) The character(s) in question is still heavily circulated, even if they've been reduced to little more than product mascots or plastered on merchandise.

2) Their parents or guardian watch a certain cartoon. For example, a handful of kids might know Danger Mouse or She-Ra because their parents grew up with it, bought the DVD sets, and watch it with them. But these numbers are probably very small - if you polled a 3rd grade class I doubt more than one (if that much) would know of them.

I myself grew up in the 80s and was very aware of Looney Tunes and 60s shorts like Pink Panther, because they showed the reruns on TV. I also knew Rocky and Bullwinkle because my dad was a fan and had the VHS sets.

[Dr.Pepper]

I think that they would now characters like Looney Toons, Betty Boop, Flinstones, ect. from merchandise. I don't really now too many little kids personally so I don't know if they like these old characters.

[J!!!]

All my cousins know who Mickey Mouse is and there 5 through clubhouse

[Serge1228]

Interesting topic. For the most part, I like to use my little cousins (Ages 10, 8, and 4) to see how much the current generation knows about animation. My uncle (Thier father) can best be described as a somewhat nostalgic 30 year old. He saw the cartoons, he'll mention them every once and a while, and he'll go see any remakes or updates for them, but he doesnt go out and buy the box sets, which compared to most other fathers I know, seems fair.

My cousins know about Mickey's crew, some of the Looney Tunes (They didnt know Elmer Fudd or anyone less popular then him), Popeye, and Tom and Jerry. They might know about Betty Boop, but if they do, its because of her merchandise and not because of her cartoons. Moving away from the shorts, they know the Flintstones (My uncle told them about them after they asked about the Cocoa Pebbles ads), Scooby, Yogi...and thats about it from Hanna-Barbera. The only characters they know from the eighties are the TMNT and the Transformers. Maybe they know about He-Man, Gadget, and G.I. Joe, but I doubt it. They know alot more about the 90's, nearly every Cartoon Cartoon and a good chunk of the Nicktoons. However, they probably dont know anyone from the Disney Afternoon. Anything that is currently airing (From The Simpsons to Total Drama Island) they know about. I left out most characters from other medias such as Batman and Garfield because its possible to know them from something besides thier animated shows. (The same can be said about, say, TMNT, but lets be real, they dont even know that they had a comic.)

Now, I think they know more then most other children thier age, but even then, its kindda dishearting to hear "Whose Elmer Fudd?", "Huckleberry What?" and "Rocky and Bullwinkle? Whats that?"

[Master Moron]

Yes, I'm sure kids still know Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera. These cartoons have never really gone away, even though they get less exposure every year.

The real question is: Are Betty Boop, Woody Woodpecker, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Gumby, and Inspector Gadget to name a few still household names to today's children?

Answer that.

You're younger than me, so I have to ask, how do you know who Betty Boop is? While Woody Woodpecker, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Gumby all got played when I was a kid, I never saw any Betty Boop cartoons during my childhood. Betty Boop was probably considered too old even for my generation.

[Craig Crumpton]

Kids just like to be entertained. And there are many classic and vintage cartoons that even though they may look dated and have dated gags in them, they have a timeless quality about them. And many classic/vintage cartoons will always have universal and cross-generational appeal.

I think it was Jerry Seinfeld who said that Looney Tunes just get funnier as you get older.

My brothers' kids are all Transformers fans, and they love watching the 80's stuff as much as they do newer series. And whenever I visit with them, all they want to do is watch "the old cartoons" from my DVD library like Fat Albert, Looney Tunes, Droopy, Garfield, Pink Panther, Popeye, and etc.

They don't care what it is as long as it makes them laugh.

[Classic Speedy]

You're younger than me, so I have to ask, how do you know who Betty Boop is? While Woody Woodpecker, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Gumby all got played when I was a kid, I never saw any Betty Boop cartoons during my childhood. Betty Boop was probably considered too old even for my generation.

I think her appearance in Roger Rabbit helped.

[J. B. Warner]

I saw some kids at Burger King who were all excited about the Pink Panther toys they have this month. so they obviously recognize that character. (It may just be from the Steve Martin movies, but it's still something!)

[Jave]

Betty Boop has plenty of merchandise. My sister has a Betty Boop pajamas, and I've seen t-shirts, mugs and figurines out there. She definitely has decent exposure.