Raised eyebrows. Perhaps a smirk to accompany it. A condescending look. And then the person speaks, “Aren’t you too old for cartoons?”
If you’re an adult who likes animated movies you’re probably used to reactions like this. While some complain others have a solution. “I don’t rebel, I just make people watch it and they fall in love with it. All they need is to give it a chance,” said Ranjan Iyer (30), 3D Designer at Decathlon.
The misconception that animation is equal to children’s entertainment could actually pose a problem for parents as shows like ‘The Simpsons’, ‘South Park’ and most anime are really not meant for children. In fact, some animated movies like ‘The Haunted World of El Superbeasto’ and ‘Mutant Aliens’ are R rated.
However, even with “children’s” cartoons, there are many things that only an adult will understand. “I think most adults can enjoy animated movies more than kids because of the hidden innuendo that is usually present,” said Drishti Rakhra (19). Maria Celine Liya (28), a teacher at Christ Junior College felt that there were often deeper meanings that the child would not understand and gave the example of a quote from ‘The Lion King’. (“Yes, the past can hurt but the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it.” – Rafiki)
Vivek Thomas, formerly a creative producer at Disney, explained that these movies were meant for the entire family and there were always aspects aimed at each member of the family. He added, “A story can be perceived in a thousand different ways. A kid may only be looking at whether it is good or bad. Only when he’s 15 or 16 will he understand all the different perspectives.”
And the number of adults who love animated movies is larger than one would think. According to John Kennedy Y. (20), “There are lots more adults than kids at the movies because kids can’t go alone to watch something. I see a lot of couples and sometimes only a few kids.”
Rahul Kumar, Marketing Manager for the INOX theatres in Bengaluru, confirmed that more adults go to watch animated movies. He attributed this to the special effects and the storylines becoming more mature.
So while many still get the looks of condescension, a large number has also become more accepting about it. “I think, nowadays more people are open about adults watching animation. They’re breaking free from the notion that it’s only for children,” said 18-year-old Neha Menon.
Perhaps it is time to turn the tables and to feel sorry for those who still mock and raise their eyebrows. Or maybe just quote Arthur from the Disney movie ‘The Sword in the Stone’, “Just because you can’t understand something it, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”
