spongebob 90s image
Maxwell
For example with shows like Adventure Time, Regular Show, 6teen, Total Drama Island, and earlier with shows like Ren and Stimpy and Rocko's Modern Life, even some Spongebob episodes feel more mature then the earlier episodes were. What happened to cartoons like The Smurfs, The Snorks, and The Gummi Bears?
Answer
The thing about those shows you mentioned (Smurfs, Snorks, and Gummi Bears) is that they all had merchandise tie-ins. A lot of cartoons from the 80s and early 90s had merchandise tie-ins, and in some cases (many, actually, if not all) the merchandise came before the series. The series really acted more as a 30-minute commercial for the merchandise, featuring simple stories that the kids could act out with said merchandise.
The more current cartoons seem more adult for one reason: Kids aren't the only ones watching. The parents will sit down and watch them, and the studios have taken note that the biggest fanbase isn't the target audience; it's adults.
Case in point: "My Little Pony Friendship is Magic". Ever since its introduction back in the early to mid-1980s, the "My Little Pony" franchise has been targeted toward young girls, ages 6 to 9. The most current incarnation, however, has unexpectedly and almost overnight developed a huge adult fanbase, who call themselves "bronies" or "pegasisters", depending on the gender.
The reason for this is that this version, unlike its predecessors, doesn't contain episodes with very simple plots that can be reenacted with the toys. The storylines are more complex, and the characters are more three-dimensional, compared to their "ancestors", who were very one-dimensional.
The same could be said for some of the other programs. They all feature very three-dimensional characters, whereas most other cartoon characters are very one-dimensional. With some of the characters in some of the cartoons your mentioned, and the one I mentioned above, you feel like you've known them all your life, and that you see a different side of them in each episode. You begin to understand that character; relate to that character. You feel like the character lives in you.
One thing that goes on with the "Brony Community" of "My Little Pony" is debate on who is "best pony". Everyone claims that this pony is best, or that pony is best, for different reasons. In most cases, it's due to what the pony represents, but in others, it's not what the pony represents when it comes to their friendship element; it's their behavior, their traits, their habits. It's their personality. It's also the pony they identify with the most. If they find they can relate more with a certain pony, they believe *that* pony is "best pony".
Cartoons were originally intended for adults. The classic cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Tom and Jerry, and other popular characters were originally shown in movie theaters prior to a feature film. The cartoons would be shown along with a newsreel, a couple of ads, perhaps a sing--long (some were animated, with a simple plot), or other forms of entertainment. Most theatergoers at the time were adults. Sure, you had kids go to the movies, and they enjoyed the cartoons, but many of them had more adult jokes. There were even some cartoons created specifically for adults. Two of them were created by Warner Bros. for the military: Private SNAFU and Mr. Hook.
A lot of the modern cartoons feature material only adults would get. These aren't always dirty jokes or sexual innuendo; it could be references to classic TV shows, movies, world events, or other things that would fly over a kid's head, but would send an adult rolling from laughter. For example: a cartoon could have a scene that parodies an episode of "The Andy Griffith Show". While it would fly over a kid's head, more than likely an adult would get it, granted they had watched the show.
The thing about those shows you mentioned (Smurfs, Snorks, and Gummi Bears) is that they all had merchandise tie-ins. A lot of cartoons from the 80s and early 90s had merchandise tie-ins, and in some cases (many, actually, if not all) the merchandise came before the series. The series really acted more as a 30-minute commercial for the merchandise, featuring simple stories that the kids could act out with said merchandise.
The more current cartoons seem more adult for one reason: Kids aren't the only ones watching. The parents will sit down and watch them, and the studios have taken note that the biggest fanbase isn't the target audience; it's adults.
Case in point: "My Little Pony Friendship is Magic". Ever since its introduction back in the early to mid-1980s, the "My Little Pony" franchise has been targeted toward young girls, ages 6 to 9. The most current incarnation, however, has unexpectedly and almost overnight developed a huge adult fanbase, who call themselves "bronies" or "pegasisters", depending on the gender.
The reason for this is that this version, unlike its predecessors, doesn't contain episodes with very simple plots that can be reenacted with the toys. The storylines are more complex, and the characters are more three-dimensional, compared to their "ancestors", who were very one-dimensional.
The same could be said for some of the other programs. They all feature very three-dimensional characters, whereas most other cartoon characters are very one-dimensional. With some of the characters in some of the cartoons your mentioned, and the one I mentioned above, you feel like you've known them all your life, and that you see a different side of them in each episode. You begin to understand that character; relate to that character. You feel like the character lives in you.
One thing that goes on with the "Brony Community" of "My Little Pony" is debate on who is "best pony". Everyone claims that this pony is best, or that pony is best, for different reasons. In most cases, it's due to what the pony represents, but in others, it's not what the pony represents when it comes to their friendship element; it's their behavior, their traits, their habits. It's their personality. It's also the pony they identify with the most. If they find they can relate more with a certain pony, they believe *that* pony is "best pony".
Cartoons were originally intended for adults. The classic cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Tom and Jerry, and other popular characters were originally shown in movie theaters prior to a feature film. The cartoons would be shown along with a newsreel, a couple of ads, perhaps a sing--long (some were animated, with a simple plot), or other forms of entertainment. Most theatergoers at the time were adults. Sure, you had kids go to the movies, and they enjoyed the cartoons, but many of them had more adult jokes. There were even some cartoons created specifically for adults. Two of them were created by Warner Bros. for the military: Private SNAFU and Mr. Hook.
A lot of the modern cartoons feature material only adults would get. These aren't always dirty jokes or sexual innuendo; it could be references to classic TV shows, movies, world events, or other things that would fly over a kid's head, but would send an adult rolling from laughter. For example: a cartoon could have a scene that parodies an episode of "The Andy Griffith Show". While it would fly over a kid's head, more than likely an adult would get it, granted they had watched the show.
Do you think Spongebob Squarepants is overrated?
Colm
I used to like Spongebob Squarepants, the old episodes anyway, but now I think it's really overrated and over-hyped because the new episodes are weird and unfunny yet the show continues to stay extremely popular. I mean it has over thirty million likes on Facebook. And it's pretty much the only cartoon Nickelodeon presents nowadays. Being a 90s kid, I miss shows like Rugrats, Hey Arnold, The Angry Beavers and Doug, which I think are better shows.
Answer
Very much so. I miss PowerPuff Girls and Dexter's Lab...
I am also a 90's kid. Cartoons in the early 90's were great! But then Spongebob appeared in '99...and won't GO AWAY.
Very much so. I miss PowerPuff Girls and Dexter's Lab...
I am also a 90's kid. Cartoons in the early 90's were great! But then Spongebob appeared in '99...and won't GO AWAY.
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