💼 Careercow Andrew Dobson (aka Tom Preston)

[CWCissey]

Adventure time sort of deals with dementia pretty well with the ice king, its also dealt with the idea of mortality, parental responsibility and sanctity of life....but in a fun way.
Its been argued that Rockos modern life dealt with the idea of depression and failure to find meaning in life. I think Bev Bighead rockos frog neighbor planned on having an affair as she felt sexual unfulfilled at one point (this wasn't reading between the lines - it was made VERY clear).
Hey Arnold dealt with a bunch of issues without getting to preachy.

Not really in theme of the topic but Paranorman managed to surprise me by having

Spoiler: spoiler

dumb Jock love interest who turns out to be gay....nice to see that you dont have to be portrayed as the flowery sensitive type to be gay these days.

Talking about Rocko's Modern World, wasn't there an episode where Ed Bighead found that he liked dressing up as a clown, only to try and hide it from everyone?

 

[Mater Lachrymarum]

Can any Kiwis who really know their animation perhaps share examples of cartoons that take "mature" themes - and cover them in a mature way?

There was Up mentioned already, Secret of NIMH, American Tail, Watership Down.

Some would say that Frozen from more recent stuff, but... ehh... In my opinion, that would be reaching.

 

[MMX]

Can any Kiwis who really know their animation perhaps share examples of cartoons that take "mature" themes - and cover them in a mature way? (Powerlevelling terribly here, but - well, "Ren and Stimpy" was the last cartoon I paid any serious attention to, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about! )

Got an outright winner
Babar the elephant.
At first glance its just this posh moralizing elephant.
But go a bit deeper.
Genocide, civil war, ethnic cleansing, Rhino child soldiers and a mother gunned down in front of her child......Bleak as fuck

Then you've got the "fish" scene from Lilo and Stitch and the nightmare fodder that is Water-ship down

 

[CWCissey]

Got an outright winner
Babar the elephant.
At first glance its just this posh moralizing elephant.
But go a bit deeper.
Genocide, civil war, ethnic cleansing, Rhino child soldiers and a mother gunned down in front of her child......Bleak as fuck

Then you've got the "fish" scene from Lilo and Stitch and the nightmare fodder that is Water-ship down

I still can't hear Bright Eyes without 'Nam style flashbacks!

Animals Of Farthing Wood was very good at dealing with mature themes such as death, disease, gang warfare, racism and even fucking infant mortality!

 

[Von Clausewitz]

Whatever happened to letting artistic creation be unhindered from censorship? Freedom of expression means having the license to offend. Being offended by a piece of content in media is no even a valid argument to censor anything. Kojima's right to freedom of expression and artistic integrity are not subordinated to anyone's sense of offense towards said content.

SJWs are all about control and censorship, no wonder Dobson sympathizes with these fucking emotional totalitarians.

This is the crux of free speech. Many people use free speech in an attempt to dictate others, how they have to use theirs.

Fascist/Extremist groups are the best example: They say 'We have free speech, we can say everything we want.' - and they are right -, but once a extremist group is in charge, free speech is the first thing they restrict or ban outright. Either that or the group tries to put so much pressure on the public, until free speech is restricted by whoever is in charge. Their reason for banning free speech is, that what others say is 'offensive' and/or a 'harmful idea' to them, because it does not fit into their mindset.

Usually it is the same back and forth:
The extremist says something, then somebody else states a differing opinion, then the extremist gets offended. The next thing you know, is that they use their 'free speech' to rally their comrades up against that differing opinion, to subdue that person by sheer force of numbers (sometimes even by physical force) and not through a logical argument - as it should be. So, you see, essentially we are still at the point, where one caveman tribe is raiding the other tribe to take their land.

An yes, I said chose the word 'extremist' for a reason, this isn't just a thing SJWs do. This is more or less basic (albeit despicable) human behavior. Just let me throw in the words "Muhammed Caricatures" in here to make my point.

 

[MMX]

There was Hey Arnolds "Merry Christmas Mr. Hyunh".
Basically it was about everyone wanting dumb selfish shit for Christmas (fair enuff really) but all Mr Hyunh wants is to see the daughter who was separated from him during the fall of Saigon. Try not to get a little misty eyed at the plight of a man handing his daughter to a GI on the last chopper out, spending 20 years in a commie shit hole and praying every day to see his daughter on more time.

 

[tepid]

Can any Kiwis who really know their animation perhaps share examples of cartoons that take "mature" themes - and cover them in a mature way?

When the Wind Blows (1986)

Definitely not the sort of thing Dobson was talking about but I'd love to see him watch it, it'd give him the prickly wicklies.

 

[CWCissey]

When the Wind Blows (1986)

Definitely not the sort of thing Dobson was talking about but I'd love to see him watch it, it'd give him the prickly wicklies.

Oh God no! Not that! It's so awful!

 

[has]

Hey Arnold in general was quite good for having more 'mature' scenarios that at the same time didn't beat you over the head with morals. Unfortunately, Arnold was the most boring character on the show because later on they started making him a do-no-wrong, knows-everything sort, rather than how he originally was which was a generally down to earth kid that tries to do good but makes mistakes on occasion.

Also I can't deal with those bad renderings of cartoons that Dobson drew there. Why is there three Spongebob characters there? Is he trying to say Spongebob is more mature than the other cartoons he drew there? Or did he run out of examples that easily?

 

[Silvana]

King Of The Hill is probably the best example, Rugrats had it's moments.

Adventure time sort of deals with dementia pretty well with the ice king, its also dealt with the idea of mortality, parental responsibility and sanctity of life....but in a fun way.
Its been argued that Rockos modern life dealt with the idea of depression and failure to find meaning in life. I think Bev Bighead rockos frog neighbor planned on having an affair as she felt sexual unfulfilled at one point (this wasn't reading between the lines - it was made VERY clear).
Hey Arnold dealt with a bunch of issues without getting to preachy.

Not really in theme of the topic but Paranorman managed to surprise me by having

Spoiler: spoiler

dumb Jock love interest who turns out to be gay....nice to see that you dont have to be portrayed as the flowery sensitive type to be gay these days.

Wow - that got a fast response! Just kidding - thank you! Adventure Time, Hey Arnold and Paranorman, I'm not familiar with - but my other half and I used to watch KotH. And though 'll never be a fan of Mike Judge's art style, on reflection, I agree - it was gentle, bittersweet and capable of true profundity. (But wouldn't you say it was a show intended for adults? Where I am, it always aired late at night...) Rocko, I vaguely remember - but wasn't that just a silly, funny cartoon in the style of "Ren and Stimpy"? Just 'cause Rocko was a sort of modern-day Droopy, it doesn't necessarily follow the show was especially adult, surely? Though Rocko's neighbour planning on cheating - that makes me blink!

And just so this thread doesn't derail...

Whatever happened to letting artistic creation be unhindered from censorship? Freedom of expression means having the license to offend. Being offended by a piece of content in media is no even a valid argument to censor anything. Kojima's right to freedom of expression and artistic integrity are not subordinated to anyone's sense of offense towards said content.

SJWs are all about control and censorship, no wonder Dobson sympathizes with these fucking emotional totalitarians.

I couldn't agree more. This is why free speech (or "freeze peach" as SJWs say ) is non-negotiable and not in any way dependent on notions of "offence". If anything, it includes the right to say that which is wrong-headed, disagreeable or outright offensive. It must do so - because otherwise, it then becomes a question of, "whose idea of offensive? Yours? Mine?" And a world determined by your, my or Dobson's view of what's "offensive", is of course, nothing less than a dictatorship. Which makes me wonder - just what would a world ruled by Dobson be like? *cue harp music as the picture goes all wavy*...

 

[MMX]

Can any Kiwis who really know their animation perhaps share examples of cartoons that take "mature" themes - and cover them in a mature way? (Powerlevelling terribly here, but - well, "Ren and Stimpy" was the last cartoon I paid any serious attention to, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about! )

My memory's a little vague on this one but Hey Arnolds "helga on the couch" kind of not only gave the message that behind every bully theres a sad story but also that some people are just totally damaged goods, cannot really be helped and should just try and make the best of it. Helga accepts that she has a shitty life with shitty parents........but she loves them.

Then there was the episode were the cool new girl turns up. Helga turns the school against her after perceiving her to be a rival....but soon learns that some girls......like girls.

And for sheer tearjerkers we have the "mothers day" rugrats episode....sucked to be chuckie.

And so this tread doesn't derail......Dobson ignored these examples cause of triggers.

 

[Von Clausewitz]

Can any Kiwis who really know their animation perhaps share examples of cartoons that take "mature" themes - and cover them in a mature way? (Powerlevelling terribly here, but - well, "Ren and Stimpy" was the last cartoon I paid any serious attention to, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about! )

Nearly all of the recent TV-Kid-Shows cover mature "themes" to some extend, what makes them enjoyable for adult audiences (...and attract so many man-children).

From the top of my head, I would suggest "Over the Garden Wall" (I suggested that in another thread earlier), it is a completed miniseries. Even "Steven Universe" can be rather surprising, although the fandom surrounding it is a horrible wretched hive of scum an... well something. But I think you'll need to watch a lot of Stevens antics before the show it tackles more mature themes in a rather surprising way. Of course, if you haven't seen the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" show and it's follow up "The Legend of Korra" those might be your first stop. The "Regular Show" although essentially being "Stupid Fun for people born in the eighties" has some moments when it comes to relationship, but again you would have to watch a lot of weird stuff before it gets even slightly deep.

 

[MMX]

. Of course, if you haven't seen the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" show and it's follow up "The Legend of Korra" those might be your first stop.

I think we all know what the only "mature" theme was that interested Dobson was in that series.

 

[Von Clausewitz]

I think we all know what the only "mature" theme was that interested Dobson was in that series.

I bet he didn't care for the series until he saw the last 10 seconds...

 

[has]

Can any Kiwis who really know their animation perhaps share examples of cartoons that take "mature" themes - and cover them in a mature way? (Powerlevelling terribly here, but - well, "Ren and Stimpy" was the last cartoon I paid any serious attention to, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about! )

Ah fuck I just remembered that episode of Animaniacs where Slappy loses her mind and goes to a retirement home, and Skippy gets put up in a foster home and can only visit Slappy every so often. Can't remember the title of it.

There's that Hey Arnold episode where both Helga and Arnold skip out on thanksgiving with their families because they're unhappy with how their families celebrate it (Arnold's family celebrates it as 4th of July because his grandma is a bit loony, Helga's family once again focuses on her sister the entire time and ignores Helga). They end up missing their families and go back home, and shows that Arnolds family is willing to celebrate the holiday properly (with some flair) and that Helga's family, for all it's fuck ups, were worried sick about her.

I could list off -a lot- of Hey Arnold episodes that are like that, most of them are Helga centric though.

There's a lot of smaller moments in Gravity Falls too. I guess most obvious one is where we learn why Soos hates his birthdays (his dad never shows up for them), and later in the episode Soos realizes that his dad shouldn't matter that much to him since he was never there for them, but that the Pines family are more his family than anything since they're the ones who cared enough to try to celebrate his birthday.


Now, looking back at these examples, I'm not sure why Dobson didn't bring those ones up. -Every- damn 90's kid watched Animaniacs, but maybe he didn't see that episode because it's a later one. I know he watches Gravity Falls, why not bring up it's more mature themes?

I'm just gonna assume he ignored the obvious one (Hey Arnold has a load of episodes like these, as I said), probably because so many of them are Helga-centric so it makes us sympathize with a BULLY.

 

[MayMay]

Hm, unless I missed it via spoilers, has nobody just done this?

Like goddamn, that face is so fucking creepy I think it gave me PTSD.

Spoiler: also

Dobson raging against Japan, "CattyN" himself wanting to lecture the Japanese about sensitivity, ever-present characters in own icon that are ambiguously east-asian (very possibly Japanese)... I might have to draw something on this.

 

[MMX]

I bet he didn't care for the series until he saw the last 10 seconds...

Dobsons trail of thought likely went
"Bah copying anime style....lazy lazy lazy, remind me to mock it in a comic........LESBIANS !!!!!!! best show ever"
Honestly hes literally all the worst aspects of a fandom in one place and I mean literally not figuratively.


Gonna throw in a Toons handling mature issues in a dumb ass way

Tiny Toons - One Beer
That show made me want to drink

 

[CWCissey]

But wouldn't you say it was a show intended for adults?

You asked for cartoons. Not kids shows.

Dobson's ideal world would just be a harem of lesbians and a bicycle pump

 

[MMX]

I'm just gonna assume he ignored the obvious one (Hey Arnold has a load of episodes like these, as I said), probably because so many of them are Helga-centric so it makes us sympathize with a BULLY.

What about fat ass pseudo bully harold running out on his bar mitzvah over fear of growing up or Stoop kid a bully afflicted with agoraphobia.

Or the time Arnold was offered a three way with his hot european penpal (but it was a cultural misunderstanding)

Shit that show was awesome.

 

[Nova Prospekt]

Ok so lemme get this straight, that twitter rant was all because of a rumor? That hasn't even been confirmed yet? At all? And lumping together a country just because of this said rumor? Wow Dobson. I know you're a massive hypocritical shitlord, but this is just so stupid how do you even function. Wouldn't be surprised if weebs amass an army and attack him on twitter.