Is animated romance dead? - Never Forgotten: a Foster's Home Community

Mr. Marshmallow · 07-16-2007, 04:50 PM

This may sound like a weird topic but it's something that has been bugging me lately and the more I think about it, I'm noticing it more and more. I don't watch many RECENT cartoon shows, Fosters, Ben 10 and the Batman are the only toons of today that seem to have captured my attention and interest.

And one of them is simply because I'm a long time "Bat" fan. But I've noticed that most modern day cartoon shows don't have much romance, love, or couples. Most shows either avoid it or create characters that are set to make romance impossible between central characters (Ben and Gwen being cousins from Ben 10 for example).

Back in the older days of cartoons, and even anime, romance was almost rapant and that you could see characters falling in love with each other left and right. Now a days, both animes and toons seem to be making that close to impossible by eliminating love interests by killing them off or turning them inside out.

Take Fosters and Billy and Mandy for example. Both shows have pretty much zero romantic content and when it does show up, it's usually used as a comedic ingredient. Granted they are comedy based shows, comedy doesn't necessarily mean romance can't exist. Look at Futurama or Samurai Pizza Cats.

Both held romances down in an entirely comedic environment. What's worse is even the modern toons that DO have romances, bury them under such incredibly hard to find "hints" that are usually weak or barely ever on. Teen Titans took forever to actually nail down a solid working romance on the show.

There were so many speculations about who loved who and who ended up with who, because they didn't really bother making a solid romance noticed. Call me a sucker but I always loved watching romances in animated shows AND movies, i always found them to be more fascinating then RL romances.

Even GREAT shows like Batman Beyond and Justice League: Unlimited had romances and barely used them and JL didn't even resolve 2 very large couples they developed since the show began. I'm not saying make them all lovey dovey soap operas, but I am definitely feeling a "romance withdrawl" here in modern cartoons.

I think it's sad love in animation is getting harder and harder to find, either it's written out through a plot device or comedic story piece, or it's buried under such few scattered hints that by the time the characters accept their love, the shows over and you feel ripped off because its rusted over since they lasted used it.

Maybe this is just a rant of mine and it has no water to hold but I think what I say holds some truth and I just wanted to know what you guys thought of this idea.

Partymember · 07-16-2007, 06:17 PM

Bread and Circuses.

Nobody has the time or cerebral prowess to digest and dissect complex subplots in entertainment anymore. People are dumbing down like never before.

Do yourself a favor and start worrying about romance in real life and forget the televised slop the mindless piggies of today's youth are eating from the trough of mass media. Liberate yourself from televised totalitarianism.

Mr. Marshmallow · 07-16-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Partymember

Do yourself a favor and start worrying about romance in real life and forget the televised slop the mindless piggies of today's youth are eating from the trough of mass media. Liberate yourself from televised totalitarianism.

Two things:

1- That sounds a bit extreme.

and

2- I'm actually SICK of worrying about RL romance since I'm rather down in that area and I'd rather not go back and drudge up bad memories on a problem I am trying to feel less crappy about.

This is just a generalization/point of view observation thing I've noticed recently and was curious of others opinions on it.

Partymember · 07-16-2007, 06:23 PM

Yeah, it is a bit extreme.

But i was dead serious.

Sparky · 07-16-2007, 09:15 PM

I kinda always thought there was too *much* romance in cartoons ("*id's *cartoons, I mean). I never have, either in childhood or adulthood, watched a kid's cartoon to see romance. BUT then, I know I'm not typical. I'm not trying to argue with you, you asked for our opinions and that's mine.

Mr. Marshmallow · 07-16-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky

I kinda always thought there was too *much* romance in cartoons ("*id's *cartoons, I mean). I never have, either in childhood or adulthood, watched a kid's cartoon to see romance. BUT then, I know I'm not typical. I'm not trying to argue with you, you asked for our opinions and that's mine.

No, I'm glad your speaking your mind, I consider this a more VALID response. I don't watch toons to see romance but I never really complained when they put it in there either. Sailor Moon was filled with romance yet it wasn't the sole reason I watched it, I was also into the whole super hero fighting evil bit.

I think what I feel is that I don't want it to be overflowing or suffocating, but I think it wouldn't hurt to maybe mix a tiny bit in more so then they have been doing lately. One thing I've always liked seeing about them in shows is the progress, it gives you something to see more of and wonder about.

The Teen Titans romance with Robin and Starfire I found to be very interesting, and whole it was certainly more subdued then most toons have done it, it created a compelling conflict I wanted to see to it's completion. Kinda like how Batman loved so many women but never really settled down.

It's an interesting challenge to give characters a chance to love, you never know what comes out of love and that's what i find interesting about it in TV shows.

07-16-2007, 04:50 PM	#1
Mr. Marshmallow Not-So-Hopeless Romantic Gotta love being in love Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Orland Park, IL Posts: 1,924	Is animated romance dead? This may sound like a weird topic but it's something that has been bugging me lately and the more I think about it, I'm noticing it more and more. I don't watch many RECENT cartoon shows, Fosters, Ben 10 and the Batman are the only toons of today that seem to have captured my attention and interest. And one of them is simply because I'm a long time "Bat" fan. But I've noticed that most modern day cartoon shows don't have much romance, love, or couples. Most shows either avoid it or create characters that are set to make romance impossible between central characters (Ben and Gwen being cousins from Ben 10 for example). Back in the older days of cartoons, and even anime, romance was almost rapant and that you could see characters falling in love with each other left and right. Now a days, both animes and toons seem to be making that close to impossible by eliminating love interests by killing them off or turning them inside out. Take Fosters and Billy and Mandy for example. Both shows have pretty much zero romantic content and when it does show up, it's usually used as a comedic ingredient. Granted they are comedy based shows, comedy doesn't necessarily mean romance can't exist. Look at Futurama or Samurai Pizza Cats. Both held romances down in an entirely comedic environment. What's worse is even the modern toons that DO have romances, bury them under such incredibly hard to find "hints" that are usually weak or barely ever on. Teen Titans took forever to actually nail down a solid working romance on the show. There were so many speculations about who loved who and who ended up with who, because they didn't really bother making a solid romance noticed. Call me a sucker but I always loved watching romances in animated shows AND movies, i always found them to be more fascinating then RL romances. Even GREAT shows like Batman Beyond and Justice League: Unlimited had romances and barely used them and JL didn't even resolve 2 very large couples they developed since the show began. I'm not saying make them all lovey dovey soap operas, but I am definitely feeling a "romance withdrawl" here in modern cartoons. I think it's sad love in animation is getting harder and harder to find, either it's written out through a plot device or comedic story piece, or it's buried under such few scattered hints that by the time the characters accept their love, the shows over and you feel ripped off because its rusted over since they lasted used it. Maybe this is just a rant of mine and it has no water to hold but I think what I say holds some truth and I just wanted to know what you guys thought of this idea. __________________ http://www.youtube.com/user/BionicSlime http://www.fanfiction.net/~nukem999

07-16-2007, 06:17 PM	#2
Partymember super-scientist GO TEAM VENTURE! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lake George Posts: 1,500	Bread and Circuses. Nobody has the time or cerebral prowess to digest and dissect complex subplots in entertainment anymore. People are dumbing down like never before. Do yourself a favor and start worrying about romance in real life and forget the televised slop the mindless piggies of today's youth are eating from the trough of mass media. Liberate yourself from televised totalitarianism. __________________ Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?

07-16-2007, 06:23 PM	#4
Partymember super-scientist GO TEAM VENTURE! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lake George Posts: 1,500	Yeah, it is a bit extreme. But i was dead serious. __________________ Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?

07-16-2007, 09:15 PM	#5
Sparky Undisputed Ruler of Terrencania Am not Slave-O-Matic! Am Johnny Five! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,715	I kinda always thought there was too much romance in cartoons ("id's cartoons, I mean). I never have, either in childhood or adulthood, watched a kid's cartoon to see romance. BUT then, I know I'm not typical. I'm not trying to argue with you, you asked for our opinions and that's mine. __________________ Custom Machine Embroidery & More Last edited by Sparky; 07-16-2007 at 09:15 PM.