Why is western animation just for kids movies?

[Soviet Heavy]

We do have adult cartoons. We have a bunch of them. They just aren't as prevalent as kids cartoons, or as profitable. That said I really want to create a hard sci-fi drama (with some action naturally) for adults that is animated. I think we can do with a cartoon that isn't strictly comedy or adult themed.

The funny thing is, this is pretty much the same way it is over in Japan. The vast majority of all anime produced is children's fare, and what gets localized abroad usually come from the late night animation blocks for adults. In many cases, adult anime series have fared better in foreign markets because of the larger audience for such stuff.

True, there is a lot of childrens anime as well, but there is nothing wrong with that. 80% childrens animation is still much much better then 99%. Noting that Japan also makes a fuckload more anime then the West do.

If Animation companies over there dialed back on how many shows they produced, and put some effort into the animation (not the details, but the fluidity of movement), I'd be a lot happier.

 

[BoredRolePlayer]

On another note, my ex once showed me this anime that should prove how mature it could be, and it was Elfen Lied, and it fucking sucked.

It was ugly, cruel, unnecesary violent, tasteless and made me barf in my mouth.
I'm not that well versed in anime, most of it seemed to me to be like Disney, for kids and adults.

But if Elfen Lied is what passes for "mature", then heck no, keep that crap away from me while I watch Beauty and the Beast for the xxxth time.

I want magic, I want feeling, I want beauty! Elfen Lied had none of that.

Please tell your ex to show you the Elfen Lied manga instead. The anime had to stop halfway through Elfen Lied and instead copped out its ending. The manga is also pretty damn violent, but it explores the nature of Dicloni and Lucy's character a hell of a lot better than the anime did.

Also, for anime being mature, I would like to direct you to:

Death Note/Code Geass (both really work here, although Code Geass has mechs)
Cowboy Bebop
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (The first two episodes are SUPPOSED to seem extremely girly, btw.)
Ghost in the Shell

There's probably a lot more too, but those are the ones that immediately come up to mind when I want to show people something that has well-written characters and story.

As for Western Animation, yeah, it's mainly due to the stigma behind animation. I know a lot of people that usually write off anything animated as "cartoons," and save for the exceptions like Futurama, South Park, and Simpsons, and some really good children shows like Adventure Time and Regular Show, it's hard to convince anyone above the age of, say, 15ish to waste their time on animation.

Ironic you say that about Elfen Lied. Pretty much everyone i know say the BEST parts of Elfen Lied's anime was the later parts and the ending, which was absolutely magnificent. The early parts however were dry, boring, and unnecessarily violent. I've never seen anyone who enjoyed the early parts. I also heard they kinda ruined the entire 'symbolic' point of Elfen Lied in the manga because they showed scientific proof that the diclonious are murders and will always become murders, regardless of how society treats them. Which makes me wonder, what is the fucking point of the story?

I must be the odd man out because I'm currently watching Elfen Lied and I'm only in episode three at the moment (Since I watch this at the gym it takes a while to get through a series) and I'm honestly enjoying it. Yeah it's very very violent for almost no reason, but then again I stopped caring if something has non nonsensical violence after a long time ago. What is interesting to me is that I want to know what is going on in this world, who are these creatures and what is their powers. The violence to me isn't distracting or hindering my wonder, what is killing it for me so far is the male lead so far seems to be getting the Harem Treatment. Where something happens with another girl and the girl that likes him slaps him, and instead of being out right with her feelings she just blames him. I get that enough in other shows I try out (At least Love Hina makes jokes about Keitaro getting knocked out into space and in Ranma 1/2 Ranma acts like a jerk most of the time instead of circumstances). Again this is just me, I know my thoughts don't match others and I can get that gore isn't for everyone.

 

[RJ Dalton]

The main reason there are few adult oriented animated shows is the same reason that Sci-Fi (I refuse to use the polish word for syphilis) keeps cancelling shows that people like and Toonami was taken off the air even though the rating were astronomical. It's not because these things are doing badly. it's because they aren't hitting the specific demographics that those networks have presold advertising for in those timeslots.

So basically we get Adult Swim and Fox Sunday nights as a consolation prize since Cartoon Network doesn't want to risk losing a fraction of a second of that awesome Mattel or colored sugar water money during average kid viewing hours. Kids are worth more money than the average 18-30 year old in America since the average kid can rationalize any personal expense since they don't care what it costs. The average 18-30 is less likely to impulse shop on some breakable doodad-a-day because they'd rather buy transportation or pay a bill or go someplace to meet people for sex happenings.

tldr; tv execs would rather build shows around current advertising demo's than bother trying to build new one's with entirely new shows.

I see somebody already beat me to the punch on this one. Very true. And very disappointing.

 

[Brian Tams]

On another note, my ex once showed me this anime that should prove how mature it could be, and it was Elfen Lied, and it fucking sucked.

It was ugly, cruel, unnecesary violent, tasteless and made me barf in my mouth.
I'm not that well versed in anime, most of it seemed to me to be like Disney, for kids and adults.

But if Elfen Lied is what passes for "mature", then heck no, keep that crap away from me while I watch Beauty and the Beast for the xxxth time.

I want magic, I want feeling, I want beauty! Elfen Lied had none of that.

Please tell your ex to show you the Elfen Lied manga instead. The anime had to stop halfway through Elfen Lied and instead copped out its ending. The manga is also pretty damn violent, but it explores the nature of Dicloni and Lucy's character a hell of a lot better than the anime did.

Also, for anime being mature, I would like to direct you to:

Death Note/Code Geass (both really work here, although Code Geass has mechs)
Cowboy Bebop
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (The first two episodes are SUPPOSED to seem extremely girly, btw.)
Ghost in the Shell

There's probably a lot more too, but those are the ones that immediately come up to mind when I want to show people something that has well-written characters and story.

As for Western Animation, yeah, it's mainly due to the stigma behind animation. I know a lot of people that usually write off anything animated as "cartoons," and save for the exceptions like Futurama, South Park, and Simpsons, and some really good children shows like Adventure Time and Regular Show, it's hard to convince anyone above the age of, say, 15ish to waste their time on animation.

How can you make a list of mature anime and NOT include Darker Than Black? For shame.

OT: Its because kids are a prime source of revenue, so TV Producers will cater to them. After all, its children that will watch the shows and wail at their parents to buy them the toys, lunch boxes, DVDs etc.

Although, you're starting to see a subtle push towards more adult oriented animated shows and movies (well, some them are done for "artistic" purposes, like A Scanner Darkly.)

 

[likalaruku]

I grew up on adult animation, but there's so little of it, if I tried to name them all, I doublt I'd miss many.

Ah anime...Even the stuff they make for the littlest kids has some level of intelligence & don't talk down to their audiences like they have 3 forms of brain damage. Pixar & Dreamworks treat their audiences like they're retarded with ADHD, & so I hate them both.

(Skipping Adult Swim shows for being too well-known).
(Skipping anime for obvious reasons.
*Aeon Flux.
*The Maxx.
*The Head.
*Liquid Television.
*Cartoon Sushi.
*Beavis & Butthead.
*Daria (possibly for teens, but close enough).
*Heavy Metal 1 & 2.
*Gary the Rat.
*Queer Duck.
*Duckman.
*The Critic.
*The Mr. Hell Show.
*Fire & Ice.
*Wizards.
*Bakshi's Lord of the Rings.
*Rankin Bass' The Hobbit.
*The Flight of Dragons.
*The Last Unicorn (non age specific, but doesn't talk down to audience).
*Fritz the Cat (not into furries & yiffing, so I didn't like it).
*Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
*Betty Boop (even the 90s ones).
*Coonskin.
*Waltz with Bashir.
*Animatrix (not sure if it qualifies as anime).
*Cool World.
*Monkey Bone (Has Brendon Fraser, so it sucks).
*Watership Down.
*Persepolis.
*ReBoot (Season 1 is for kids, season 2 is for teens, season 3 is for adults).
*South Park movie.
*Heavy Traffic.
*The Triplets of Belleville.
*Animal Farm.
*Wallace & Gromit movies.
*When the Wind Blows.
*Stripperella.
*The Plague Dogs.
*The Secret of Nimh.
*Fantastic Mr. Fox.
*Fantastic Planet.
*Yellow Submarine.
*Twice Upon a Time.
*Starchaser: The Legend of Orin (Star Wars ripoff).
*B.C. Rock.
*The Mouse & His child.
*Gandahar.
*Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night.
*Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. (can't confirm this, but I'm told people enjoyed it more as adults than as kids).
*Bebe's Kids.

 

[Your Rival]

A real actor cannot only capture the emotion of a scene better than a animated figure, but they offer their own artistic interpretation. Some of the most memorable lines in all of cinematic history have been improvised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTFQBHBeleE

In short, if you can afford a talented actor, they will always offer much more than an animated figure.

 

[Your Gaffer]

It is not. Batman the Animated series. Best animated show out there.

 

[thefascistpig]

On another note, my ex once showed me this anime that should prove how mature it could be, and it was Elfen Lied, and it fucking sucked.

It was ugly, cruel, unnecesary violent, tasteless and made me barf in my mouth.
I'm not that well versed in anime, most of it seemed to me to be like Disney, for kids and adults.

But if Elfen Lied is what passes for "mature", then heck no, keep that crap away from me while I watch Beauty and the Beast for the xxxth time.

I want magic, I want feeling, I want beauty! Elfen Lied had none of that.

Please tell your ex to show you the Elfen Lied manga instead. The anime had to stop halfway through Elfen Lied and instead copped out its ending. The manga is also pretty damn violent, but it explores the nature of Dicloni and Lucy's character a hell of a lot better than the anime did.

Also, for anime being mature, I would like to direct you to:

Death Note/Code Geass (both really work here, although Code Geass has mechs)
Cowboy Bebop
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (The first two episodes are SUPPOSED to seem extremely girly, btw.)
Ghost in the Shell

There's probably a lot more too, but those are the ones that immediately come up to mind when I want to show people something that has well-written characters and story.

As for Western Animation, yeah, it's mainly due to the stigma behind animation. I know a lot of people that usually write off anything animated as "cartoons," and save for the exceptions like Futurama, South Park, and Simpsons, and some really good children shows like Adventure Time and Regular Show, it's hard to convince anyone above the age of, say, 15ish to waste their time on animation.

Also full mettal alchemist

 

[omega 616]

snip

Oh, I don't know about that. I think people who are a little too into Japan are quite numerous, especially with all the anime love nerds are into.... You know the ones "dub voice actors are shit" purists, watching anime with 0 clue what's going on 'cos subs are for like casual gamers, people who aren't that into it, trying to learn mandarin or something' cos that what they speak.

I don't want to tell people what to do, (but I'm about to) I think people can like whatever they want but don't try to be "trans-culture" ... They haven't invented that surgery yet.

 

[Quadocky]

Nah, I think its more fun keeping Animation in the age ghetto then showing some random ignorant person Cowboy Bebop and blowing their mind. Its for kids obvious

 

[Your Rival]

A real actor cannot only capture the emotion of a scene better than a animated figure, but they offer their own artistic interpretation. Some of the most memorable lines in all of cinematic history have been improvised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTFQBHBeleE

In short, if you can afford a talented actor, they will always offer much more than an animated figure.

Oh, I beg to differ. A voice actor can provide just as much emotion and improvisation as an actor if they are skilled enough. That, and animation can do PLENTY of things a flesh and blood actor can't do. Animation is only limited to the imagination and scope of the animator, it has far more unbridled potential than the limits of real life. That being sad, I don't think one is superior over the other. Both have their places and both can be equally enjoyable.

Well I'd argue that voice actors are incapable of improvisation. Not due of a lack of talent but because if any scene was improvised/adapted animators would need to re-work the scene to make the character's mouth and body language accommodate the improvised performance. I suppose its possible, but I just don't think its realistic.