Animated sitcom characteristics and cultural impact

Family Animation

Animated Families

When cartoons were first popularized back in the silent movies days, they were intended for children's eyes. This practice continued through decades of American culture, until the first adult oriented animated television was put on air in the late 1980s. These shows, starting with the Simpsons and then continuing with Beavis & Butthead, Family Guy, King of the Hill, and others, represented a huge shift in television programming. For the early era of television, most programming was broken until comedy, drama, and news. Situational comedies were a staple of acting and actors, and animation was far too sloppy to be considered as anything acceptable to adult standards of television. Technology has advanced, however, and adult cartoons are more popular than ever before. Animated television for adults, which airs in primetime slots on various television networks, created an entirely new genre of sitcom.

These shows often over emphasize action on the screen, and vulgarity of jokes, meanwhile offering the viewer solid plotlines usually containing a life lesson or two. Shows such as the Simpsons teaches morality, and diverse thinking as the show explores every aspect of society. From Moe the Bartender, who is constantly down on his luck, to Mr. Burns, the megalomaniac CEO of the nuclear power plant, adults and children learn to relate from the different points-of-view witnessed. The Simpsons has changed focus through more than two decades of creation, and writing styles have changed, particularly after the movie. This change has, however, only increased the presence of the Simpsons in everyday life, and has ensured that the series will not simply be ended any time in the near future.

From these animated shows one can take away at the very least a good representation of the American way of thinking and viewing the world. As globalization has spread, and satellite dishes have entered homes all over the world, a good source of American cultural values is constantly displayed to cultures which may learn and grow from seeing how things are done correctly, or incorrectly, in the United States. Also, other cultures can be portrayed much more easily via cartoon than in live action, which allows for cross cultural plots in adult animated cartoons to flourish. Cartoon Network, the cable channel which only displays cartoons 24/7, had its own subset of adult animated shows, called Adult Swim. This program allows for Japanese animation to have a place on American screens, and allows for lesser known American animators to gain widespread recognition.