Watching cartoons and animated films was a big deal for me as a kid, like it was for many of us. Seeing strong, relatable characters take on near-impossible challenges gave me the courage to know that I could do almost anything that I set my mind to. As I grew older, I feared that my love for animation would dissipate and be overshadowed by my various duties and responsibilities. Now, as a 24 year old university student finishing up my bachelors, animation is still one of my favorite pastimes and I appreciate it much more than before. Of course, many people don’t share the same views and feel that “cartoons” should be thrown away for more serious and realistic forms of media when becoming an adult. Growing up and doing away with childish things is a necessary part of life, but those who say that animation is something that only kids should enjoy are missing out on a lot.
While many animation films and TV shows focus on crude humor for their main form of comedy and plot movement, there are many that have more detail on the emotional side to prove their point. Disney movies such as "Bambi," "The Lion King" and most recently, "Big Hero 6," all have an essence that many people don’t believe is contained within animation - The Essence of the Heart. Coming of age, death, overcoming hardships, and enduring grief are all valued themes within our society despite how difficult they can be to fully understand. Even shows like Steven Universe and We Bare Bears have both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments that adults can find captivating when watching with their kids. Another thought to think about is that when animation is influenced by these serious aspects of life, people are always shocked to see them taking place within the genre. Our culture is always taken aback when we see tragic and emotional scenes in “something for kids” (Toy Story 3 for example). Of course, we as a society have been brought up to believe that everything that’s happy and colorful is immature while grim and realistic mediums are the only entertainment needed for adults. Because of this view, people that enjoy animation are often seen as ”nerds”, “effeminate” and “childish”, when the reality is that the genre is just as great as the most recent Oscar winning drama or the blockbuster summer hit of the year.
Despite the stereotypes that people see, animation is a powerful form of art that is truly underrated within our culture. It’s allows our imagination to flourish and it continues to inspire us to be creative or see the world and our lives in a whole new light. It gives us the ability to immerse ourselves in universes ranging from being more positive, more relatable or more captivating than what our daily lives can provide us - no matter how ridiculous they could be. It’s a truly therapeutic form of entertainment that deserves more respect than what it currently has. Because let’s be honest - sometimes we need something a little more cheerful to get us through the bleak world that we live in.
