Animated movies exists in a genre that society usually associates with young children. From a very early age, children are introduced to wonderful world crafted by hard-working animators. Titans of animation like Disney and DreamWorks have helped shape the lives of many a child. Even today we still remember our favorite movies and shows growing up as well as the lessons they taught us.
Given this huge impact, why do some companies feel the need to be lazy when it comes to entertainment aimed at children?
However, many a time I have seen animated movies that are just sub-par or even worse. These movies did not contain the effort, the love, or the appreciation that other companies give their projects. Instead of being a thoughtful and intelligent piece of entertainment, I have seen many a movie or show aimed at children filled with ugly animation, a messy plot, and crude or exceedingly simple humor. These movies feel like the diet versions of Disney and DreamWorks; they don't provide children or any viewer with any true flavor.
If a movie or television show is aimed at children, it should be taken just as seriously as one aimed for adults. Young children are at an impressionable age of their lives. These movies may keep them quiet for a little while and may keep them watching the screen. However, if these movies are poorly written and have no sort of lesson, moral, or even just a well-written plot, the children will absorb and pick up on that fact. Though there have been many warnings about this fact, children are constantly aware of their environment; they pick up cues and actions from all around them. At young ages, children are plants that require water, sunlight and care to help them grow and thrive in the garden of life.
Now, if you treat your plant badly, what will happen? If you decided to keep a plant that needed sun in the shade or denied your thirsty plant water what would happen to the plant?
It would suffer and wilt.
This may seem like an extreme example for something like children's entertainment, but it still holds some truth. If we expose our children to media without any sustenance or without good and proper lessons, they will absorb it. I am not saying that we should become helicopter parents and never let our children experience a movie or show without our consent, that would be absolutely ridiculous. However, it would be wonderful if these movies put forth a little more effort. Laziness does not have to be the norm. Instead, movies and shows aimed at children can have strong plots, well-written humor, and good lessons for children.
We always talk about how our children deserve better, so shouldn't that also be reflected in the entertainment we subject them to?