What is the current childhood fad for cartoons these days?

*CyberCubed* · 05-20-2015, 03:40 PM

As everyone knows there's always that one "Big" show that comes out that becomes a childhood fad for kids of that generation.

In the mid 80's it was Ninja Turtles, then in the early 90's it was Power Rangers, then Pokemon in the late 90's/early 2000's, then Dragon Ball Z, etc. In 2005-2007 Avatar The Last Airbender was really popular, but I don't think it was ever on the same level as the shows I mentioned above. Sponebob also had a huge following when it first started in its early years.

But what is the huge childhood fad show today? Do shows ever get that big anymore? I can't think of any recent show that's huge and popular with kids nowadays unless I'm forgetting something.

*TheSkeletonMan939* · 05-20-2015, 03:45 PM

Only ones I can think of are Adventure Time and maybe Regular Show; most shows don't last long enough to become fads these days.

In terms of themes, the big "fad" seems to be randomness.

*Redeemer* · 05-20-2015, 04:07 PM

Actually Pokemon is making a comeback as well as Ninja Turtles.

*BubblyShell22* · 05-20-2015, 04:09 PM

I would say TMNT since it's always been big and still is. Spongebob still has a following as well. But other than that, I can't think of any shows that would qualify as that show that's a "fad" for kids except for maybe those CN shows listed already. I've never watched them because they never appealed to me.

*Master Splinter* · 05-20-2015, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I can't think of any recent show that's huge and popular with kids nowadays unless I'm forgetting something.

My guess is My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

-ms

*plastroncafe* · 05-20-2015, 04:27 PM

I don't know what the kids are watching, but I'm enjoying the hell out of Steven Universe and Over the Garden Wall.

Plus I just found out Daria is streaming on Amazon, so...that's going to happen.

*CyberCubed* · 05-20-2015, 04:51 PM

There are some shows that have a fanbase, but I'm talking about HUGE fad shows. Shows that were EVERYWHERE when they began and all kids were talking about it and buying toys, watching the shows, etc.

I don't think we've seen something on the level of TMNT, Power Rangers or Pokemon, or Dragonball Z ever again.

*Powder* · 05-20-2015, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redeemer

Actually Pokemon is making a comeback.

How could something that literally never left be making a comeback?

senpai · 05-20-2015, 05:03 PM

Probably Adventure Time. I don't know. I hardly watch TV and the only thing my nephews like is Minecraft. If that had a show Minecraft would take over the whole world.

*CyberCubed* · 05-20-2015, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powder

How could something that literally never left be making a comeback?

It did die down in popularity a bit in the early 2000's, but yeah, it never stopped being popular. The games always sold extremely well every gen, and the anime is still going.

Peanut · 05-20-2015, 05:56 PM

It doesn't seem like there's an "IT" show, just a more diverse group of successful stuff.

I mean, if we're talking TV shows, how many kids still actually watch TV exclusively like we all had to? On demand streaming of stuff on Netflix and Hulu, YouTube and the like are what command kids attention more and more these days. It's no longer about what's hot NOW, because I know tons of kids who just watch the same old sh*t on Netflix of YouTube over and over. It's not about that coveted Saturday morning spot anymore, because it's more meaningless than ever.

I honestly think the latest "fad" things that compare to those shows are games. Minecraft in particular has been enormous and it's not only the game kids play, but it's what they watch. There are thousands of YouTube users who create nothing but Minecraft videos and raking in views in the hundreds of thousands and even millions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

My guess is My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

lol Popular with kids.

*Powder* · 05-20-2015, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peanut

lol Popular with kids.

Manchildren.

*Master Splinter* · 05-20-2015, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peanut

lol Popular with kids.

Just going off what my daughter and niece are into right now. It's been all about MLP for quite some time. As well as Frozen but the question was about cartoons, not movies. But I'd also agree about the Youtube stuff. They are both really into Youtube videos. Not so much Minecraft but these videos of people making shows with toys and doing voices for them.

-ms

*sdp* · 05-20-2015, 10:38 PM

Yeah, fads like in the past are more difficult to happen nowadays because kids are exposed to so much stuff, it's not like the old days were there was only a limited amount of things a kid could be interested in. But even then there have definitely been some fads, does no one remember how big Angry Birds got? It was everywhere and all the kids loved it. While not a cartoon that's probably the closest thing to a fad from the past that has happened. Before that Hannah Montana and High School Musical were definitely fads but that was more for girls. Minecraft is definitely a huge fad right now as well. Maybe Adventure Time as well but I'm not really sure how big of an impact that show has had to younger kids.

*snake* · 05-20-2015, 10:53 PM

Cartoons? No, kids today like youtube and watching other people play games for them.

Goddamn I sound old.

SophieDem · 05-21-2015, 04:08 AM

Violetta counts? Ok, it's not a cartoon but still really popular.

Adventure times. Spongebob. Ivander Zim? Phineas and Ferb. Ben 10 was really popular when it came out. Penguins of Madagascar?

*ProactiveMan* · 05-21-2015, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peanut

I honestly think the latest "fad" things that compare to those shows are games. Minecraft in particular has been enormous and it's not only the game kids play, but it's what they watch. There are thousands of YouTube users who create nothing but Minecraft videos and raking in views in the hundreds of thousands and even millions.

You're totally right about Minecraft. Pretty much everyone I know with kids say their kids love that game; from four-year-olds to teenagers, and the toys are everywhere.

*Candy Kappa* · 05-21-2015, 05:09 AM

I guess, taking Adventure Time, Regular Show and Steven Universe into account. There is a trend of doing simple but dynamic art style in cartoons.

it's not like haven't seen simplistic styles before like Invader Zim, Dexter, Samurai Jack, Powerpuff etc. But they are usually a lot more hard edges and angular styles. now it's simple, but also more dynamic and smoother animated.

*Redeemer* · 05-21-2015, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powder

How could something that literally never left be making a comeback?

I was specifically thinking of the trading cards

*pannoni1* · 05-21-2015, 01:41 PM

While not related, doing a quick eBay sold listings search among Action Figures shows that Star Wars is currently by far the hottest seller mostly due to Episode VII on the way, with TMNT still a solid #2 and Power Rangers #3. However, Pokemon despite its still popular presence ranks low on the list since that fad didn't market figures and IMO was the beginning of the shift away from Action Figures (though Halo, Lord of the Rings, and to a lesser degree World of Warcraft have their share of action figure collectors). This is due to being that today's kids don't enjoy action figures like Gen Xers and Millenials did due to a proliferation in technology and other entertainment. Not to mention the countless anime and apps that are around, there just isn't too distinctively popular like there used to be. So many lines/shows these days just don't get as much of a chance like they used to, which I find it sad.

05-20-2015, 03:40 PM	#1
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,887	What is the current childhood fad for cartoons these days? As everyone knows there's always that one "Big" show that comes out that becomes a childhood fad for kids of that generation. In the mid 80's it was Ninja Turtles, then in the early 90's it was Power Rangers, then Pokemon in the late 90's/early 2000's, then Dragon Ball Z, etc. In 2005-2007 Avatar The Last Airbender was really popular, but I don't think it was ever on the same level as the shows I mentioned above. Sponebob also had a huge following when it first started in its early years. But what is the huge childhood fad show today? Do shows ever get that big anymore? I can't think of any recent show that's huge and popular with kids nowadays unless I'm forgetting something.

05-20-2015, 04:09 PM	#4
BubblyShell22 Leo-holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 16,912	I would say TMNT since it's always been big and still is. Spongebob still has a following as well. But other than that, I can't think of any shows that would qualify as that show that's a "fad" for kids except for maybe those CN shows listed already. I've never watched them because they never appealed to me. __________________ "A warrior who never fails, never learns."-The Ancient One. "Embrace your inner a**holiness."-Mr. Anderson.

05-21-2015, 04:08 AM	#16
SophieDem Foot Soldier Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Hungary Posts: 133	Violetta counts? Ok, it's not a cartoon but still really popular. Adventure times. Spongebob. Ivander Zim? Phineas and Ferb. Ben 10 was really popular when it came out. Penguins of Madagascar? __________________ Tono-sama is Tono-sama. - Kotoha Shinkenger The heart is a soft muscle, man. - Michelangelo Leo and Long-Neck Alien is my otp. - Candy Kappa SHIPPER! SHIPPER I TELL YOU!

05-21-2015, 05:09 AM	#18
Candy Kappa The Agenda of Existing Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vikingland Posts: 14,596	I guess, taking Adventure Time, Regular Show and Steven Universe into account. There is a trend of doing simple but dynamic art style in cartoons. it's not like haven't seen simplistic styles before like Invader Zim, Dexter, Samurai Jack, Powerpuff etc. But they are usually a lot more hard edges and angular styles. now it's simple, but also more dynamic and smoother animated. __________________ devianArt Instagram Youtube Tumblr Art Blog Patreon

05-21-2015, 01:41 PM	#20
pannoni1 Foot Elite Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: USA Posts: 3,447	While not related, doing a quick eBay sold listings search among Action Figures shows that Star Wars is currently by far the hottest seller mostly due to Episode VII on the way, with TMNT still a solid #2 and Power Rangers #3. However, Pokemon despite its still popular presence ranks low on the list since that fad didn't market figures and IMO was the beginning of the shift away from Action Figures (though Halo, Lord of the Rings, and to a lesser degree World of Warcraft have their share of action figure collectors). This is due to being that today's kids don't enjoy action figures like Gen Xers and Millenials did due to a proliferation in technology and other entertainment. Not to mention the countless anime and apps that are around, there just isn't too distinctively popular like there used to be. So many lines/shows these days just don't get as much of a chance like they used to, which I find it sad. __________________ http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/sho...d.php?t=37065- MY WANT LIST TMNT FAN CLUB LINK: http://sot.ag/gCjK/ 30 years of Turtle Power!

05-20-2015, 04:07 PM	#3
Redeemer Technodrome Technician Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: third earth Posts: 4,737	Actually Pokemon is making a comeback as well as Ninja Turtles. __________________ GT:Reedeamer *THE TECHNODROME REDESIGN 2015* http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=51594

05-20-2015, 04:51 PM	#7
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,887	There are some shows that have a fanbase, but I'm talking about HUGE fad shows. Shows that were EVERYWHERE when they began and all kids were talking about it and buying toys, watching the shows, etc. I don't think we've seen something on the level of TMNT, Power Rangers or Pokemon, or Dragonball Z ever again.

05-20-2015, 05:03 PM	#9
senpai Stone Warrior Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: new york sewers yo! Posts: 673	Probably Adventure Time. I don't know. I hardly watch TV and the only thing my nephews like is Minecraft. If that had a show Minecraft would take over the whole world.

05-20-2015, 10:38 PM	#14
sdp Detoxed Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tokio, Italy Posts: 11,222	Yeah, fads like in the past are more difficult to happen nowadays because kids are exposed to so much stuff, it's not like the old days were there was only a limited amount of things a kid could be interested in. But even then there have definitely been some fads, does no one remember how big Angry Birds got? It was everywhere and all the kids loved it. While not a cartoon that's probably the closest thing to a fad from the past that has happened. Before that Hannah Montana and High School Musical were definitely fads but that was more for girls. Minecraft is definitely a huge fad right now as well. Maybe Adventure Time as well but I'm not really sure how big of an impact that show has had to younger kids.

05-20-2015, 10:53 PM	#15
snake Disgusting Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Outer Heaven Posts: 12,231	Cartoons? No, kids today like youtube and watching other people play games for them. Goddamn I sound old.