[Fugitoid Jones]

I think both adults and TV execs are to quick to think that kids can't enjoy cartoons plots that involve deeper emotinal issues and tragidy. Just look at some of the cartoons from the eighties and early ninites. There where quite a few that managed to be both silly and pc in some ways but also have some dark themes and serious issies. Like the orginal Care Bears (especially the movies), The Gummi Bears, The Real Ghostbusters, My Little Pony. Heck I even remeber watching Nick jr. a version of Nick specically aimed at preshoolers, and seeing some pretty silly yet serious cartoons that incorporated some emotinal themes. Like the Lil' Bit's, Grim's Fairy Tale Classic, (which sometimes had episodes dealing with death, and dealings with the Devil), and the Noozels's. The Noozel's had a plot that involved the the husband of the main character's grandmother getting lost, and her emotional turmoil at finding out what really happened to him. And David the Gnome probably one of the most immagintive and intelligent cartoons I remember from my childhood that even had the main character die at the end of the series. I liked how the cartoon of David the Gnome had faith in the audiance's abilty to grasp complex information (by childtren's standards) since they never really dumbed down the the medical, cutural, or geographical information that was prevelant in that series.

I agree. I hate the idea of "dumbing" shows down for kids. If we do nothing but feed kids stupid shows, kids are going to grow up stupid. I've watched alot of stupid cartoons, and look at me.
It's the same with children's movies. Look at such stupid and "dumbed down" movies like Madagascar and Open Season, and then look at such Don Bluth classics as the Land Before Time and An American Tale. LBT and AAT both had some serious and dark themes, but both have proven to be children's movies that have lasted, while Madagascar and Open Season will be forgotten before you know it.

EDIT:: ooops, double post.