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 Bronzefists42 wrote:
Even the best kids shows really don't come close to the sort of narrative depth and quality you see in more adult oriented shows like Breaking Bad, GoT, House of Cards, etc.

True, but I think it’s a mistake think quality can only be found in things like depth. Simple, light & breezy shows can be excellent as well.

I can see how someone over the age of 12 can get die hard fanatical over something like GoT or Breaking Bad, but over something like MlP? (Especially MlP. Is it internet trolls going for the long con or something far more insidious like a cult or world wide pyramid scheme ?)

I agree that it’s weird the people get fanatical about some kid’s shows, but I have to say I think it’s weird when people get fanatical about any TV show. How can anyone take on as a major part of their identity a thing in which their involvement is to sit on their couch and just stare at it?

I'm not saying its wrong to love tv shows, but when it moves over to this kind of fanaticism where people identify themselves in part through watching that show, that's pretty strange.

I don't take issue with MlP itself, more so the revolting stuff produced by (admittedly small) portions of the adult fan base surrounding it.

I can easily see how someone could like the show (the cult part was in jest) I just don't sees how some fans could have such a weird (and occasionally disturbing) fixation with it.


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 sebster wrote:

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
Even the best kids shows really don't come close to the sort of narrative depth and quality you see in more adult oriented shows like Breaking Bad, GoT, House of Cards, etc.

True, but I think it’s a mistake think quality can only be found in things like depth. Simple, light & breezy shows can be excellent as well.

I can see how someone over the age of 12 can get die hard fanatical over something like GoT or Breaking Bad, but over something like MlP? (Especially MlP. Is it internet trolls going for the long con or something far more insidious like a cult or world wide pyramid scheme ?)

I agree that it’s weird the people get fanatical about some kid’s shows, but I have to say I think it’s weird when people get fanatical about any TV show. How can anyone take on as a major part of their identity a thing in which their involvement is to sit on their couch and just stare at it?

I'm not saying its wrong to love tv shows, but when it moves over to this kind of fanaticism where people identify themselves in part through watching that show, that's pretty strange.

I agree that TV show fanaticism is bad in all forms, but it seems even more strange when it's about a children's tv show.

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
I agree that TV show fanaticism is bad in all forms, but it seems even more strange when it's about a children's tv show.

It only seems 'more' strange because we have this odd societal idea that it's weird for someone to like something that is intended for a different audience to them.

That's the thing that I find stange.

The fact that something is tailored specifically to appeal to kids, or women, or men, or goats, or whatever, doesn't mean that other people can't like it. It just means that the people who designed that thing were aiming for a specific market, and so when they made that thing, they kept in mind the things that their target group generally find appealing.

But we're (generic 'we're') so quick to judge anyone who dares to like anything that's outside of their assigned box.

Let people like what they like, for Bob's sake.

I want to clarify that my issue isn't so much that older people like things aimed at younger audiences, its how that interest is often channeled into very disturbing by-products.

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
I want to clarify that my issue isn't so much that older people like things aimed at younger audiences, its how that interest is often channeled into very disturbing by-products.

Yes, I got that. Hence my point.

It would be less disturbing if you accepted that being a 'kids' show doesn't make something exclusively the domain of kids. It just means that it's marketed primarily at kids.

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
I agree that TV show fanaticism is bad in all forms, but it seems even more strange when it's about a children's tv show.

That's a pretty good way of summing it up.

 insaniak wrote:

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
I want to clarify that my issue isn't so much that older people like things aimed at younger audiences, its how that interest is often channeled into very disturbing by-products.

Yes, I got that. Hence my point.

It would be less disturbing if you accepted that being a 'kids' show doesn't make something exclusively the domain of kids. It just means that it's marketed primarily at kids.

Of course its not exclusive. Obsession does not equal liking something. I have no problem with someone liking MlP or another kid's show.

I do have a problem with the production/consumption of bizarre and obscene articles relating to it, something that seems to be growing more prominent outside of MlP and even kid's shows.




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 insaniak wrote:

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
I agree that TV show fanaticism is bad in all forms, but it seems even more strange when it's about a children's tv show.

It only seems 'more' strange because we have this odd societal idea that it's weird for someone to like something that is intended for a different audience to them.

That's the thing that I find stange.

The fact that something is tailored specifically to appeal to kids, or women, or men, or goats, or whatever, doesn't mean that other people can't like it. It just means that the people who designed that thing were aiming for a specific market, and so when they made that thing, they kept in mind the things that their target group generally find appealing.

But we're (generic 'we're') so quick to judge anyone who dares to like anything that's outside of their assigned box.

Let people like what they like, for Bob's sake.

I'm not saying people can't like X thing, I'm saying I just find it a bit odd at times.

In the instance of kid's shows they're entertainment (with exceptions) designed for the sole purpose of entertaining people below a certain age.

I have no problems with someone enjoying a kid's show for what it is (something for kids) but I do take issue with fandoms that treat their respective shows like it's the next Shakespeare.

 insaniak wrote:
It only seems 'more' strange because we have this odd societal idea that it's weird for someone to like something that is intended for a different audience to them.

That's the thing that I find stange.

Just for some context, I'm the guy who said Ben and Holly's was better than most adult tv. It's aimed at kids under 3. Hell, talk to any parent and they'll give you opinions on which kids shows that quite like.

So, at least from my point of view, this isn't just about adults watching kids shows, but about something more - when people take on that kids show as part of their identity. They don't just watch MLP, they self-identify as a brony. That's a very different thing.

Let people like what they like, for Bob's sake.

Of course people are allowed to like whatever they want. I mean, even if society wanted to control who could and couldn't watch a certain tv show, how would they enforce that? So no, this isn't about telling people what they can and can't watch. It isn't even about telling people what they should watch.

But it is a fairly important thing for society to talk about social trends. About why somethings are happening. The more unusual a trend is, the more important it is to figure out why it is going on. And, well, people forming a large part of their identity around a show for children is pretty weird.

 sebster wrote:
So no, this isn't about telling people what they can and can't watch. It isn't even about telling people what they should watch.

Sure it is. The moment you label someone as 'odd' because they watch something that you think was intended for a different demographic, you're telling that they you don't think that it's appropriate for them to watch it.

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
In the instance of kid's shows they're entertainment (with exceptions) designed for the sole purpose of entertaining people below a certain age.

Ignoring for a moment that many kids shows are not actually designed with that sole purpose... So?

Why should the market a product is designed for dictate how it is consumed?


It's the other way around. Design choices are intended to sell a product to your target audience... not to exclude everyone else.

I have no problems with someone enjoying a kid's show for what it is (something for kids) but I do take issue with fandoms that treat their respective shows like it's the next Shakespeare.

Which brings us right back to the idea that people shouldn't like something more than you do.

Like Bronzefists has said... the show isn't the problem, it's the suddenly spawning "fansites" for things like MLP erotica, or "Twilight erotica" (which, coincidentally IS what 50 shades of grey is, lol).


However, as others have pointed out, writing children's TV shows in such a way that an adult can find enjoyment is good business, because as a parent myself, I'm probably not going to let my kids watch many shows, even cartoons or Y7 (US rating scheme) rated shows without having seen at least a couple episodes with them.

Just about the only exceptions to that would be Mickey Mouse (as in, MM clubhouse, classic short videos, etc. the animated stuff) SW Rebels, and maybe Jake and the Neverland Pirates.


I think the trend of "writing to the parents" has definitely come to fruition in the animated movie market. Movies like Shrek and Megamind, and even Wreck-It Ralph definitely have some "adult humor" in them where adults and kids are laughing at different times, for different reasons. Again, this is a strategy to try and get more money, because a parent who enjoys the movie is more likely to allow their kids to watch it.

There's a clear difference between having a passion for something in pop culture (which I get) and borderline worship of a certain piece of media (which I don't get).

I got past TV fanaticism when I was done with MLP. Now, if I buy merch, its maybe something I put on my wall or shelf of my fav character. I even tossed alot of my MLP stuff.
I think I realized that when you put yourself to much into a show, game, or even something else, you use it as a security blanket to avoid the real world. I mean I joined the anime club, so maybe im not done, but that is more just meeting people who have the same interest

 insaniak wrote:
Sure it is. The moment you label someone as 'odd' because they watch something that you think was intended for a different demographic, you're telling that they you don't think that it's appropriate for them to watch it.

You’re missing two distinctions. The first is that a piece of behaviour can be seen as odd without labelling the whole person as odd. The second is missing that we can accept that it is okay to be odd without pretending nothing people do could ever be seen as odd.

Because the basic reality is that lots of things people do are really, really odd - they are miles outside the norm, and done for reasons that people outside those sub-cultures can find very hard to fathom. There is no judgement inherent in recognising that basic reality.

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
I want to clarify that my issue isn't so much that older people like things aimed at younger audiences, its how that interest is often channeled into very disturbing by-products.

If you want, I can share a letter that made its way online in which the writer asked a hentai artist to stop drawing Twilight Sparkle in compromising images, as the writer of the letter got a large plushie TS and found a minister willing to marry him to it!! I kid you not. Pure comedy gold. His argument? He knew that twilight sparkle was not a submissive, and shouldn't be drawn that way!

People like that are why I left fandoms in general.
Now im just content watching anyshow i like

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
In the instance of kid's shows they're entertainment (with exceptions) designed for the sole purpose of entertaining people below a certain age.

Definitely.

nkelsch wrote:
The reason "Teen titans go" is hated is because all the other DC cartoons, especially "young justice" were cancelled. Especially young justice which ended without a wrap up.

I love Teen Titans Go.

It's probably my favorite show that my 8 year old son watches. I think i like it more than he does.

Then again i'm not a DC comics fan, so the cancelling of other previous shows means essentially nothing to me (though i appreciate why its gakky to fans of the show). I think i saw one episode of a more mature looking version of Teen Titans (apologies, don't know the show's proper name), and though it was a little melodramatic. Full disclosure: in my youth I tended to gravitate more towards Marvel comic books with the exception of Batman and Hellraiser (especially the Dark Knight books).




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 hotsauceman1 wrote:
People like that are why I left fandoms in general.
Now im just content watching anyshow i like

Probably not a bad thing.

Zealotry, even of the fan variety, is rarely healthy.

Litcheur wrote:

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
In the instance of kid's shows they're entertainment (with exceptions) designed for the sole purpose of entertaining people below a certain age.

Definitely.

That's a quick, mildly rude joke that didn't even get a faint smirk out of me. As I said stuff like that is thrown in to make shows like this tolerable for adults to watch (and yes I've watched a decent amount of MlP to know it isn't for me).

Litcheur wrote:

 Bronzefists42 wrote:
In the instance of kid's shows they're entertainment (with exceptions) designed for the sole purpose of entertaining people below a certain age.

Definitely.

Nah man, if you're gonna go with something from MLP then go with the good ol' Big Lebowski reference in the bowling alley

Love seeing The Dude, Jesus, Walter and Donny in pony form

https://youtu.be/nR6xlOZZRyY

 LordofHats wrote:
Young Justice was not one of those shows. It had a good time slot (a prime one even). It wasn't being constantly shifted around. There really wasn't any competition on other networks. CN advertised the hell out of it. Reality is it just fell flat. Despite critical acclaim, it just didn't have good ratings. There really isn't a way to spin that. On top of that, its merchandising power pretty much turned out to be zero. The best CN could hope for was DVD sales, which with the horrendously low ratings on reruns, were unlikely to be enough to justify the high production values of the series.

This discussion has prompted me to do some digging, since, as an Aussie, I got to consume the series in a manner that was potentially very different to a US audience. And while I can neither confirm nor deny the stuff about timeslot (or ratings for that matter, anyone have a link?), I did read that the schedule was pretty horrible. Particularly for a non-episodic show (one without any pre-existing footprint what's more), the several large hiatus it was put on wound not have done it any favours. Weather or not that accounts for the ratings problems, I'm not sure.

 LordofHats wrote:

*sigh* Times like this I am glad BTAS got made in the 90s. It wouldn't have lasted a whole season in the current climate.

The climate where people judgmentally (and narcissistically imo) assume TV networks must be out to get their favorite shows just because the ratings were gak and they got canceled? Seems like a stretch

We can joke about this, but Bruce Timm faced much of the same opposition to making the show he wanted to make (from WB marketing) that supposedly sunk shows like Young Justice. "It's too dark for Kids", "it's too complex," "it's not funny enough." Luckily he got to call enough of the shots that mattered and retain creative control where needed, something I think would be a lot harder today. Particularly if you listen to Giancarlo Volpe or Paul Dini .

Adventure Time is the best and I love the show. My 5 year old love the show. This show is really deep and in the adult level in certain way. Little kids don't know or understand about the mushroom wars, many many planes of existence, etc.... They just love the funny ( kids friendly ) animation and the comedy on the show. I just love the story and the comical acid trip animation and creepy bad guys like Lich and Lemongrab.

My favorite kids show was "Riders Of Berk" so much good humor in there

I enjoy watching Spongebob from time to time.

feth you for judging me.

 david choe wrote:
Adventure Time is the best and I love the show. My 5 year old love the show. This show is really deep and in the adult level in certain way. Little kids don't know or understand about the mushroom wars, many many planes of existence, etc.... They just love the funny ( kids friendly ) animation and the comedy on the show. I just love the story and the comical acid trip animation and creepy bad guys like Lich and Lemongrab.

Adventure Time is a mind trip.