Uni : Cartoons Are Just for Children

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An argumentative essay I wrote for English class during my first semester in Foundation.



CARTOONS ARE JUST FOR CHILDREN

Cartoons are just for children. This is one of the most common misconceptions directed towards this form of media. Cartoons, which are defined as a motion picture that relies on a sequence of illustrations for its animation, has been receiving this subtle form of discrimination since the very start of its creation, and it’s not hard to see why. It is viewed by the general audience as something aired exclusively on Sunday mornings, just for their little children to enjoy and probably spend a little time at home before going out to play. The content, ranging from slapstick comedy to reckless adventures drawn in colourful hues may seem childish to the adult’s eye, but there is definitely more than what meets the eye. I strongly believe that cartoons are not meant for just children, but to an even wider range of audience no matter how old they are.

             Certainly, animated cartoon seems like they’re made entirely to entertain children. However, there are times when the message conveyed in animated films becomes impossible for a child to comprehend. Studio Ghibli’s ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ for example, is a tragic story of two siblings facing the aftermath of war, as it opposes the idea of war itself, conveying that it only brings misery and unhappiness to the world. Several other animated series may also contain a heavy amount of philosophy, leaving the audience completely perplexed. The philosophy behind Hidekai Anno‘s well-known ‘Evangelion’ series for instance, still remains as a highly complicated discussion even after years pass since its last sequel in the 19th century. Though it could be explained in simpler words, you might need to go through a few philosophy books to get your head around it.

            Also, just because a film is animated, it doesn’t mean that you can show it to your children. Over the years, more animated films and series have been made directed to an older audience, containing tones of violence, gore and tragedy. The mainstream animated series ‘Attack on Titan’ for example, tells the story of a town being ravaged by human-eating titans being ten-meters in height, and how the main character struggles to oppose them. Of course, this series includes several scenes of tragic deaths, severed limbs and splashes of fresh blood which already sounds inappropriate for young children though may pique the interest of older audiences who are fans of the genre . This shows that not all cartoons are for children.

            Other than that, the animations in cartoons are more likely to be appreciated by older audiences rather than children. Cartoon fans would certainly relate to this statement, high-quality animation is definitely a treat for the eyes. Eye-candies, as we may call them, appear ever so frequently in today’s animated film and series, and they are getting even better by time. The professional usage of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and motion tracking would awe adults who are knowledgeable enough about the excruciating animation process, yet children wouldn’t really feel anything. In terms of effort appreciation, older audiences would probably appreciate cartoons more than young children. A good example of a high quality animated film that would definitely amaze you would be Makoto Shinkai’s newest film, ‘Your Name’. Being the sixth highest-grossing film in Japan of all-time, it will move you to tears with a carefully written story and absolutely gorgeous visuals which would definitely keep your eyes fixed on the screen.

            Heavy philosophy, tones of violence and top-class animation quality. Cartoons certainly don’t sound as if they’re made solely for children entertainment anymore. In fact, more and more cartoon fans nowadays range between teens and full-fledged adults as they find the charm in these so-called cartoons, turning it into a subject of interest. It is absolutely alright to embrace your inner child from time to time, especially after you find out that cartoons can also be enjoyable no matter how old you are. So the next time a cartoon comes up on your television screen, you might want to sit back, relax and watch. After all, cartoons are not just for children.  


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