By Tasnim Oyshi
Staff Writer
Most of us have grown up watching cartoons as children. Whether it was “SpongeBob” or “Peppa Pig,” we’re familiar with at least one animated show that was popular when we were kids. At a certain point, many grow out of this stage of their life and the form of entertainment they consume changes as they age. This is not the case for everyone, however.
Certain individuals continue to watch the series that they enjoyed in their childhood well into their adult lives. Despite being in the minority (or perhaps because of it), this group often faces criticism from others. The objections to this hobby are usually attributed to its “weird” or “immature” nature, which many claim it has.
There are, of course, animated shows that are meant for adults. A few popular ones include “Family Guy,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Rick and Morty.” These series are catered to an older audience, containing profanity, edgy jokes and storylines that children are too young to understand.
When an adult watches these, they are not subjected to the same disapproval from their peers. Rather, it is expected of them to watch such shows. While there are those who consider animation a lesser medium than live action, adult animation is still more respected than the ones made for a younger generation. An adult watching “My Little Pony” is much more likely to be ridiculed than one watching “BoJack Horseman.”
In reality, many animated shows for children end up having mature themes. Series like “Gravity Falls” deal with complex relationships between family members while exploring a supernatural world, while ones such as “The Amazing World of Gumball” are littered with jokes that go over kids’ heads.
Regardless of whether a show contains topics that pander to older spectators, it should not be considered such a bad thing for an adult to find enjoyment in a cartoon. Cartoons often deal with less gritty themes, unlike R-rated series like “Breaking Bad” or “Game of Thrones.” While these hard-hitting, drama series are critically acclaimed and enjoyed by many, they can be stressful or tedious for people to watch. Not everyone relishes the intense plots of these shows, and some would much rather prefer to relax while watching an episode of “Adventure Time.” The need to criticize such behavior truly begs the question: What is so wrong about watching cartoons as adults?
Those who contribute to the condemnation of adults who watch cartoons might claim that it is because of the childish nature of hanging onto a nostalgic thing of the past. They may consider it weird for a grown person to find joy in something that children do. The problem with this attitude is that it is completely pessimistic. This type of behavior attempts to bring down those who have found a pleasurable hobby, while also negatively affecting the mental state of those who have it as their only focus on things to hate.
Sure, there is something to be said about the notorious “Disney adults.” While it is okay to like Disney’s animated movies and shows, there is a point at which it turns into an unhealthy obsession. This is when we end up seeing cases of people spending too much money on merchandise, or even women trying to give birth at Disneyland. Most of the adults who are entertained by cartoons are not like this, however. For them, it can be a form of stress relief to watch PG-rated shows.
There are even studies by mental health professionals that show there can be benefits to watching cartoons as adults.
“Kids’ cartoons can be a support treatment because they incorporate themes like community order, friendship, family, teamwork, that good always wins over evil, and that the sun will always come out tomorrow,” said psychotherapist Dr. Laurel Steinberg in an interview with Vice.
When it comes to something as harmless as watching cartoons, it’s best to let people enjoy the things they do. There are plenty of difficult situations in the world for us to worry about. For some, watching cartoons can be a therapeutic way to decompress.
