to think cartoons have way more heart than most TV shows these days?

[inkzooka]

I'm so tired of dreary, soulless TV shows but whenever I can talk to a friend or family member's kid about the TV shows they enjoy watching that are cartoons (things like Star vs the Forces of Evil, Steven Universe, even MLP to some extent) they give me incredibly dirty looks or start treating me like I'm somehow weird for enjoying cartoons

I don't know if I legitimately AM being weird in this. I'm learning animation on my own time while I do a university degree and general elements of cartoons, but I also don't feel like I should have to justify myself in enjoying cartoons that aren't necessarily for kids anymore? I mean, anybody who lets their 5yo watch Rick & Morty has some issues.

Am I being a dick in thinking it's not weird to talk to kids about cartoons they watch? Most of the time I know more about the universe than them (Steven Universe has surprisingly in depth lore for example) but I don't act like that, I just chat with them on the level that they enjoy the show and talk about the characters we like and stuff.

I just really don't enjoy depressing shows like Game of Thrones and Broadchurch. There's definitely merit in them and I'm sure some are masterpieces in cinematography and whatnot, but I would much rather watch something bright and colourful that still has a wide universe.

I mean, even (old) Spongebob has some really funny jokes and a lot of nostalgia. It's more annoying than funny now, though. I can't say I'd sit and watch Peppa Pig for fun but that telephone call whistling scene still makes me laugh.

The dog episode of Futurama.

The Amazing World of Gumball is top notch. My children would talk forever about Steven Universe and think you were cool not weird.

We all like different things.

Are your family's children the 'mean kids' in school?

Bojack Horseman was a real surprise for me. Starts off fluffy and generic, but as the story progresses it's given some of the most poignant scenes I've seen in years.

Teen Titans is great. I love Raven and DD loves Starfire. Futurama, some American Dad. All the Pixar stuff.

Hey Duggee is pure joy. Even Bing has had a noticeable effect on me as a parent - I now speak in an Amma voice sometimes when I want DS to listen to me, and it 'flicks a switch' and I get really good attentive listening from him. I LOVE the gentle approach that the programme portrays and reinforces.

Well most of them are made for adults these days but because of their style they can be plugged to kids. Just gives them a much wider fan base. I absolutely love Gravity Falls! They play it on Disney but 90% of it goes completely over children's heads and it is shown to be set in the same "universe" as Rick and Morty. Oh and the guy who voices Spongebob also voices that alien in Rick and Morty that tried to rape Morty. Would be crazy to think of cartoons as just for kids. It's an art form.

Bob's Burgers

Oh, and I cannot wait until the new Duck Tales starts in a couple of weeks. I get to meet David Tennant on Saturday and I'm trying to decide if I would be an even bigger dork to tell him how excited I am about it.

@steff13 sooooo awesome

Are your family's children the 'mean kids' in school? wink

Ah, I meant their parents give me dirty looks sometimes! I think my brother and his gf are the only people who don't think it's weird and are more just glad they don't have to pretend to know all about cartoons because somebody else is there to chat to them about it

I'm not a big fan of Family Guy and American Dad, but I love Gravity Falls and Bob's Burgers!

I need to watch Bojack too, everybody keeps telling me how good it is.

DD and I love Adventure Time, but probably me more than her. It's got such a breadth of story telling and the episodes range between very simple little stories to wild, mind bending metaphysical things. The backstory behind Marceline and Ice King makes me cry, especially the I Remember You episode. I lost my grandfather to dementia and Simon losing himself to the crown is so reminiscent of the way he changed.

Bobs Burgers in another favourite in my house, I really like the way that unlike other cartoon dads Bob isn't a drunken buffoon. He's a good dad and he accepts his kids for who they are. Also I think Tina is possibly the best on screen teenage daughter ever.

I've been known to leave Regular Show on if dd isn't around.

A lot of the cartoon network cartoons are fab.

Dd is a bit big for MLP now, but I used to love the messages in them cartoon.

Gumball is funny and complex and steven Universe is so good.

And of course, the weird, but totally wonderful Adventure Time.

Gravity Falls is a big hit too.

So no OP, yanbu, most of the time, cartoons are much better than the soaps etc.

He's a good dad and he accepts his kids for who they are.

Bob and Linda are such supportive parents.