JOIN USWho says animation is only for kids? There are plenty of adults who have no qualms in admitting that it’s tough to beat the comfort of an old-fashioned cartoon after a stressful day at work.
Whether it’s by tuning in to a classic favourite like ‘The Loony Toons’ or ‘Tom and Jerry’ or indulging in more modern forms of animation like anime, there’s still a section of grown-ups in the City who remain faithful to their cartoon channels. For many of them, watching a cartoon is like eating comfort food; it reminds them of the toons they watched when they were children.
For instance, Pratul, a software engineer, says that he grew up on a steady diet of cartoons, which he will never get tired of watching. “Cartoons definitely aren’t just for kids. Many adults enjoy them because, quite simply, they’re good, clean fun,” he says.
“For instance, classics like ‘Tom and Jerry’ will never stop being amusing. No matter how old the show is, there are still many children as well as adults who love it. On the other hand, I’m not fond of the new breed of cartoons which are being aired these days.
Most of the are dumbed down for children and I think they’re a little silly. I prefer the old favourites,” he adds. Others, like Rhea, an investment banker, acknowledge the fact that animation is an art form which caters to all age groups.
“Those aired on popular kiddy channels are just the tip of the iceberg,” explains Rhea.
“A few years ago, a friend took me to a Japanese anime film festival and I was instantly hooked. Since then, I’ve started to take an avid interest in different forms of animation. There’s a wealth of clips out there which very few of my peers are even aware of,” she marvels.
“Animation is a challenging task and should be appreciated as such — not just as a way to kill time,” adds Rhea.
On the other hand, she does admit that for many of her peers, the more standard cartoons are simply a form of entertainment. “We generally get together to watch movies at each others’ places on weekends. But sometimes, we opt to watch a cartoon instead — something classic, like ‘The Loony Toons’. Those never get old,” she says.
While many cartoon enthusiasts feel that the newer cartoons that are taking television channels by storm aren’t up to the mark, there are others who enjoy them without thinking too much. Sheela, an HR professional, agrees that cartoons are good fun.
In fact, she admits that she often enjoys watching programmes with her children, who are understandably cartoon addicts.
“Of course, I love the older programmes. I’ll never get tired of ‘Mickey Mouse’, for instance. But often, I watch cartoons simply because my children are watching them — and the truth is that I enjoy them,” she says. In her opinion, cartoons are a nice way to unwind, nothing more or less.
“I don’t have to think too much. I can just watch the show and relax,” she concludes.