Blog Post #9: Why Kids Love Cartoons pt. 2

A couple of weeks ago, i wrote this blog about why kids love cartoons so much. Well, I was thinking a little bit more on the subject and came to the conclusion that not only are cartoons able to capture a child’s attention but they are able to take kids to worlds, and gain some education, that they wouldn’t be able to experience elsewhere.

For example, a great children’s cartoon is the Little Einsteins. In this cartoon, four friends travel in a rocket ship all over the world, teaching kids about different types of music, cultures, and even teaches kids some simple problem solving. It is very interactive, getting the viewers to watch and participate by clapping or doing other various activities to get them to really take part in what they are watching and learning.

Also, what I have noticed in many cartoons, and also in those just not for kids, that they are able to teach children how to act in certain life situations by using characters that they can relate to. Children really do copy what they see, so by watching a cartoon, some of those social skills are developed into a child and are able to help them in the future.

So, why do kids love cartoons? Well not only are they bright and colorful and capture their attention, but they are really able to learn and grow by watching them too. Some really get kinds to interact with what they are doing, and are able to educate them in ways that they are able to grasp and understand.

ETA: I commented on Jeannie HIlleary’s blog and Brittany Alberry’s blog

Blog Post #8: Animated Advertisements

After watching the TV advertisements in class on Thursday, I started to think about the use of animation for marketing. Some of the most famous and longest lasting “cartoon” characters are actually results of advertising. It is because people are able to associate brands and products with a character that is able to change depending on the changes in culture, that animation characters are so popular with advertisers.

One of these animation characters, that was one of my favorites as a child, was Tony the Tiger who sold Frosted Flakes cereal. Boxes of Frosted Flakes featuring Tony began in 1951, but it was not until the 1970s that Tony became animated and developed a personality that captured the attention of kids. Tony’s look evolved over the years as the looks of animation and the different cultural styles changed.

Another example of this animation marketing that has grown over the years is the Keebler Elves. The Elves were first used in 1968 and have developed a story line over time. The “head elves” of the Hollow Tree Factory, where the elves work, has changed a couple of times and more elves continue to be added. For every commercial using these elves, depending on which product they are selling, the different personalities of the elves come out. The elves were so popular on the advertisements that they transitioned into being a part of the Keebler logo.

Some more examples of these advertisement characters are Jolly the Green Giant, the Brawny Man, and Snap, Crackle, and Pop.

ETA: I commented on Myca Taylor’s blog and Christopher DeMarco’s blog

Midterm Post

The two blogs I am spotlighting for my specimen post are…

Blog Post #1: Carl and Ellie

and

Blog Post #4: Why Do Kids Love Cartoons?

Blog Post #7: An Adult Film in Child’s Clothing

Lately, it has seemed that movies that are marketed towards the younger generation end up teaching the parents, or appealing to the parents, as much as it does the younger generation. The past two movies that Pixar has released under Disney, Wall-E and Up, are movies that I believe are more meant for the parents than they are the children.

In Wall-E, although kids are drawn to the fun characters and funny situations, the undertones of environmentalism. The movie is a commentary of what Earth could possibly turn into if we do not take care of it from the perspective of the script writers and director of Wall-E. The scenes of Earth completely destroyed and just run on technology are things that would just go right over the heads of kids, but are the things that the parents easily pick up on. And although kids probably think it would be cool to live in a space ship and just ride around in hover chairs all the time, parents can see the laziness and complacency that is shown to be a negative thing in the end.

The story line in Up is also more adult themed than most animated movies released for youngsters. The story of Carl and Ellie, and Carl being able to come out of his depression over Ellie and really be the father/grandfather he never was able to be, is certainly a story that does not relate to children. The characters of Russel and Doug are the ones that kids attach themselves to, but are not the main characters in the movie, although they play a big role.

ETA: I commented on Michael Griffith’s blog and Brittany Alberry’s blog

Special Blog Post: Wall-E

What Pixar does best is giving objects that typically have no human characteristics complete personalities and distinct human characteristics, and that is why Wall-E is such a great character. In the movie, the main purpose of Wall-E is to just collect trash, compact it, and spit it back out, however the main Wall-E of the movie has created for himself a personality that allows him to break out of the mold, and later on in the movie gives others to break out of their molds as well.

His personality and is feelings are always apparent, which is a hard feat when working with a robot that would seem to not have much movement. Although his eyes never really change, the animators are able to change up the different angles that Wall-E’s eyes sit on the top of his head that allows for his feelings to come through. There are also eyebrows that pop out of the top of is eyes that give personality. Also, the animators rock Wall-E back and forth on his wheels to give more clues as well as to the exact feelings of Wall-E at that moment.

There are simple things that the animators throw into Wall-E’s character that give him more of those human characteristics. For instance, the first time we see Wall-E come back to his “house,” Wall-E hangs up the tracks on his wheels, kind of like taking off his shoes, so that he doesn’t get his living quarters dirty. He also goes to sleep every night, even though all he really has to do is hit the off button.

The moment in the movie that solidifies how much Wall-E’s character matters is at the end when he gets crushed. Although his parts are replaced, he has lost his personality, and just goes back to what he was made to do.

Although Wall-E is the main character, every robot that is introduced in the movie has its own personality based around what their job is meant to do. The movie is a great example of the ability of animation to take objects that would not have the capability in real life to have personality, and giving them the lead role in a movie.