Adult animation

"Adult cartoon" and "Mature animation" redirect here. For other uses, see Cartoon pornography.

Adult animation^[a] is an animation used for films and television series that is catered specifically to general interests and is mainly targeted and marketed towards adolescents and young adults, as opposed to children or all-ages audiences. Ralph Bakshi and Eiichi Yamamoto are the pioneering originators of animation as a medium in the 1970s.

An episode of Camp Camp, an adult-oriented animated cartoon published by Rooster Teeth

Characteristics and themes

Animated films, television series, and web series in this medium could be considered adult for any number of reasons, which include the incorporation of dark humor, violence, shock value, toilet humour, vulgar language, nudity, sexual content (either explicit or suggestive), profanity, political themes, or other thematic elements inappropriate for children and/or younger viewers. Works may explore philosophical, political, or social issues.^[1]

Some animated productions are noted for their complex and/or experimental storytelling and animation techniques, the latter with many distinct styles have defined such unique artistry.^[1]

Definitions

Adult animation is typically defined as animation that is aimed at an adult audience.^[2][3][4][5] It is also described as something that "formative youths should stay far, far away from"^[6] or has adult humor^[7][8] and comes in various styles,^{[9][10][11][12]} but especially sitcoms and comedies.^[13] Some have stated that it refers to animations with "adult themes and situations", which uses "explicit language" and make jokes that adults, and often teens, are "more likely to understand" than others.^[14] On television, such animations often run in the evening, but they are not generally pornographic or obscene.^[15][16] AdWeek called adult animation "animated projects aimed at grown-ups, not kids."^[17] They also focus on issues that adults handle,^[18] and have cheeky, and occasionally crass, humor "that has no limits—bouncing between funny and offensive," while evoking a "balance of reality and fantasy". They may also contain violence or sexual themes.^[19][20]

Legacy

Wax statues of the main protagonists in The Simpsons, one of the most famous and recognizable animated series for general audiences, mostly young adults

Thanks to Bakshi's Fritz the Cat, the film influenced among animators and filmmakers since in the 1970s, catering artistic and narrative structures in animation for general audiences.^[21]

Although its varieties received substantial attention with acclaim and cult following, it is proven controversial among parents and targeted detractors, citing its use of subject matter and sensitive topics, such as violence, race, gender, and sexuality. Despite still show a bias towards adult animation, compared to early pioneers, these controversies led to debates about freedom of expression and the responsibility of parents to supervise the content their children are exposed to.

However, the result is a new audience that is ready for narratively-sophisticated adult animated works and a new crop of creators exploring the adult animation space. This development allows creators to continue challenging the perceived limitations of animation.^[22]

See also

• Arthouse animation
• Independent animation
• Cartoon violence
• Black comedy
• Adult animation by country
• Animation in the United States in the television era
• History of animation
• List of years in animation
• Modern animation in the United States
• List of adult animated television series
• List of adult animated web series
• List of adult animated feature films
• List of highest-grossing adult animated films
• Firsts in animation

Notes

1. Also known as mature animation, mature cartoon or adult cartoon, and infrequently as adult-oriented animation or mature-oriented animation and adult-oriented cartoon or mature-oriented cartoon.