To Everyone Who Ever Said Cartoons Are Only For Kids: Screw You.

To everyone who ever said cartoons are only for kids: I’m very sorry, but today I’m going to prove you wrong. 

Over the last years, talking about my fascination with animated movies and tv-shows has been a constant struggle. A soft blush would reach my cheeks and phrases like: “you know I’m alone at home, I’m allowed to be as childish as I decide,” were the first things to appear when an anime reference escaped my mouth or someone saw my watching list filled with series like the Teen Titans (2003), The Dragon Prince (2018), InuYasha (2000), Ranma ½ (1989), and Carmen SanDiego (2019).

Embarrassment and resignation were two of the most familiar feelings whenever someone invited me over for a series marathon. I would always let them because saying I was dying to watch the next season of The Dragon Prince was not an option. I had long ago grown uncomfortable and irritated with the usual responses: “That’s so silly, why would you watch it?” and “That’s so stupid, it must be torture to watch this with your sister! Change it already!” 

Well, I’m sorry to tell you, I was the one watching that.

Even at home, there was nothing more frustrating than the moment I finally had time to watch Ranma ½ for a little while to laugh my butt off, and then someone would arrive. Goddamn it! My silly, comforting, and relaxing hour was instantly changed for Liam Neeson's last violent film or Timothee Chalamet’s handsome face.

Don’t mind me, I enjoy watching two beautiful hours of Timothee Chalamet, but sometimes life is hard, exhausting, and you need the silliness of cartoons. 

You need a distraction, comfort, and relaxation.

And this is exactly what cartoons offer you: an escape. 

The amazing thing about cartoons is that in animation, everything is possible. You get to experience what it would be like for a human to have a dog’s senses and instincts. You get to experience what a war could be like in a place where magic and mythical creatures exist. You get to experience what different universes may look like. You get to experience what it would be like for someone to be a boy and a girl.

Animation is also about understanding and creativity.

Even with the simplest plot cartoons sometimes offer, they still have very complex implications. 

I bet many of you never noticed that in The Lion King (1994) when Scar starts singing with the hyenas, the scene is pretty similar to a video of a Nazi army; or you failed to recognize that when he tells Simba that he killed Mufasa, it is straight out psychological manipulation. He is not only a villain, he is actually showing a very common case of child abuse.

A pretty similar case is found in the Tangled movie when Rapunzel finds out she is the missing princess, and Mother Gothel’s hand caress resembles a claw. Pause the scene the next time you watch the Disney movie; it is a metaphor of what mental abuse is like. At first, a caring stroke in which you don’t notice how dependent and helpless it keeps you, but the moment you want to break free becomes a claw ready to tie you up.  

Or what about the “Troq” episode of Teen Titans (2003) where things as racism and discrimination were deeply addressed when an “alien hero” comes to Earth seeking reinforces from the Titans, but absolutely mistreats and ignores Starfire - the alien princess member of the Titans - and calls her worthless.

Even Ranma ½, with its amazing style centered on absurdity, addresses issues such as toxic masculinity, acceptance, consent, and feminism. Ranma begins the anime as a very sexist and traditionally masculine character, but when he is put under a curse - to turn into a girl every time cold water touches his body - he has to learn the value and strength of being a girl, deal with the harassment that comes with it, learn to accept himself with this new condition, and unlearn many of the sexist thoughts he once had. 

Yes, you have been missing a lot - a lot that was intended for you because most kids won’t understand it. 

So please, the next time you are about to tell someone that animation is only for kids, be quiet and pay attention.

You might find something worth watching and something you would like your kids to watch because it will, in playful and joyful tones, teach them something meaningful.