https://3dsamm.deviantart.com/art/90s-Cartoons-365453010
When many think of cartoons today, they think of how kid’s animation today doesn’t live up to the chaotically creative standards of 90s animation. Bold new and distinctive styles, wacky characters, settings somehow both relatable and wildly out-of-this-world – 90s cartoons have definitely made a name for themselves in the world of cartoons as well as media in general. While it’s true that 90s cartoons were unique and wonderful (and quite frankly, I adore them), many cartoons of the new millennium are just as good, and they’re making their way to the mainstream critical world.
From cartoons with beautifully complex world-building like Avatar: The Last Airbender to quirky family-centric mysteries like Gravity Falls to gorgeous and heartfelt movies like Disney’s Moana, the children’s cartoon industry is only growing as a medium for storytelling. The philosophy of family animation seems to continue to put more and more emphasis on the family aspect of things. Just because shows and movies are marketed to children and aired on children’s networks doesn’t mean that the content should be less creative, artistic, or intelligent than a show or movie marketed to adults. In the wise words of Walt Disney himself:
“You’re dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.”
And considering recent trends, this only seems to be more and more true. The shows that have made a splash in communities online aren’t cash grabs like Teen Titans Go, they’re shows that animators have poured their hearts and souls into like the Cartoon Network miniseries Over The Garden Wall or the upbeat magical Star vs the Forces of Evil, or the original Teen Titans. Critics are taking notice, as well. Animated shows and movies can win awards such as The Annie Award and The Reuben Award. On top of that, The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature was first given out in 2002, marking a turning point for animation as a form of film making, bringing it further towards the forefront of the mainstream adult world.
It’s not just children’s cartoons and movies that are gaining traction; it seems as if animated adult shows are more popular than ever now. Long-running animated comedies such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, and South Park continue while new shows like Rick and Morty, Bob’s Burgers, Archer, and Bojack Horseman grab attention. Newer shows also seem to utilize animation abilities much more than the older longer-running adult cartoons ever did.
http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/712091-back-to-the-future https://www.hercampus.com/school/uab/good-bad-and-ugly-or-bojack-horsemans-unwillingness-shy-away-truth
For instance, Rick and Morty (first picture above) uses interesting, bright, color palettes when animating different universes, giving the show much more character. Bojack Horseman, on the other hand, uses an entirely different style of animation during one stream of consciousness episode (4×06) to illustrate Bojack’s intrusive thoughts (second picture above). These animated shows have also been stepping away from the streamlined form of animated sitcom most adult cartoons used to take on to create overarching narratives and character arcs.
As surprising as it may be to CEOs in big corporations, sticking to the same formula is never going to continue to succeed at appealing to audiences. Allowing for room to take risks and add substance to shows and movies is essential to the survival of the industry. This is exactly what animation needed to really grow as a medium. Entering the new millennium, animation has shown itself to be a force to be reckoned with, and I’m excited to see how it will continue to rise and gain traction in society.
A Neat Video Illustration The Evolution of Animation Through the Years
Kacie's Kinetoscope 