Why are cartoon graphics popular with adults?

Many have the misconception that anything with cartoons is strictly for children. Once upon a time, animated movies and shows were primarily targeted at younger audiences but this has changed within the last 20 years.

Various forms of media have begun to embrace cartoon graphics with fan-favourite hits such as Rick and Morty and Family Guy being more popular than live-action sitcoms. Even the iGaming world has embraced more animated graphics with games like Fluffy Favourites and Bouncy Balls standing out against the more realistically designed games.

It seems that the mentality of cartoon graphics being just for children is slowly changing – but the topic still baffles some, leading them to question why are cartoon graphics so popular with adults?

As the times are changing and cartoon driven mediums are catering to older demographics, why are they still so favoured? Stay tuned to find out…

The feeling of nostalgia

The most obvious answer is that cartoon graphics are popular due to pure nostalgia. Within the past few years, nostalgia has been on the rise as people have longed for something familiar and safe.

According to Psychology Today, nostalgia can be an effective coping mechanism as people feel more socially connected and have a greater sense of meaning in their lives when interacting with nostalgia.

That’s why cartoon driven mediums are growing in popularity as people want to return to a more peaceful time in their lives which is often childhood. Whilst shows like South Park, Bojack Horseman and Archer may look like they are for children, they are most definitely not.

Adult shows like these provide the right mixture of nostalgia and adult humour. The designs evoke fond memories from watching cartoons as a child, whilst the more adult topics boost the entertainment value for the grown-up audience.

More imaginative worlds to explore

On the surface, having more imaginative worlds in animation does seem obvious but many forget the power of animation and cartoons. Live-action films and TV shows can be quite inventive, but they lack the capability of animation.

There are endless possibilities with animation as it has the power to go further with a cheaper budget. Ultimately, this means that shows can do so much more for less. For example, Rick and Morty can explore multiple galaxies and planets with all their adventures as animation has the scope to deliver.

Creators of live-action films and TV shows can build impressive scenes with amazing sets and costumes, but they’ll never have the same complete control as animation. This is why cartoon graphics can go to extraordinary lengths that may never be explored in live-action leading animation to remain popular.

A stronger sense of escapism

As there are more imaginative areas to explore with cartoon graphics, it gives people the chance to dive into escapism. The beauty of escapism is that the stresses and tensions of everyday life can be put to rest, altering your thoughts into a more rational state.

With the pressures of modern-day life, it’s no wonder that so many people look to find escapism through films and other mediums. Cartoon driven mediums have unlimited possibilities to explore and keep people entertained.

It’s worth noting that cartoon graphics can tackle complicated topics in easy to understand ways. Not only can it provide escapism but it has the ability to help people process the negative emotions or reasoning behind them finding escapism. Most mediums have the power to provide escapism, but cartoon graphics can take it further with the imaginative worlds they can create.

Closing thoughts

Ultimately, there are thousands of potential reasons as to why animated graphics are popular with adults but the main ones stem from nostalgia, escapism and the extent to which animation can go.

It’s worth noting that just because something is animated or has a cartoon style, it does not make it just for kids. Saying that cartoon graphics are solely for children is like saying video games are just for young people – which is definitely not the case.

Various forms of media have begun to embrace cartoon graphics and recognise that they are for adults as well. Many fans of DC Comics have been constantly let down by the live-action adaptations such as Justice League and Batman vs Superman. It wasn’t until the later animated adaptations intended for adult audiences, that fans truly got to see their favourite heroes done in style.

It could be argued that early cartoons such as Betty Boop were not intended for young audiences with the risky subject matter – but somehow became driven towards children throughout the decades. Only time will tell if cartoon driven media will truly get the respect it deserves, but it’s expected to only grow in popularity within the coming years.