Animated kids’ cartoons are an undervalued medium, and they’re anything but just for kids. The medium thrives through the test of time, a testament to how great an entertainment form it is. Take off your nostalgia glasses, all you '90s kids, and get ready to be introduced to a whole new childhood worth sharing.
Here are the reasons you should be watching cartoons.
1. Cartoons, with their unlimited writing potential, have an incredibly creative sense of humor. Anyone who’s sung along to Doofenshmirtz’ theme knows what I mean.
2. Some of the greatest artwork has come out of cartoons — background designs, color schemes and more! Also, look at how cute some of these characters are!
3. These seemingly light animations can take some deep turns. The story goes from silly to way too relatable.
4. The cartoons feature gender diversity! From gender-neutral characters in "Steven Universe" to a casual, brief interaction between a gay couple in Clarence, cartoon creators are taking strides in normalizing all romantic interactions.
5. And we can’t forget about some of the songs that have come out of these shows. This is some really well-written stuff.
6. Many of these shows spotlight a lot of interesting characters with really developed personalities, backstories and design. Take Wirt, the angst-filled teen who secretly mutters poetry under his breath, or Puppycat, an alien outlaw turned into a small dog-cat-thing.
7. Some of these cartoons are way too relatable, despite seeming out there. Everyone can find a character to relate to.
8. They are still for kids, so they won’t have the heaviness of shows for older audiences. If you want a refreshing break from "Game of Thrones" or "The Walking Dead," cartoons are perfect for you.
9. Every episode isn’t really going to be longer than 11 minutes. It’s the perfect bite-sized amount of time — especially if you're procrastinating on something. Less guilt per episode watched!
10. They’re actually really interesting to talk about. Shows like "Steven Universe" and "Adventure Time" have sparked tons of threads-worth of debate and theory-crafting.
11. Also, bacon pancakes.
I think I've proven my point. Cartoons are hilarious, cute, emotional and everything in between. What's your favorite reason?
