American Animation: Doesn't Suck

Postby **Joshua Christopher** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:35 pm

Since this isn't about anime, I chose to put it here. Move if you wish.

I know a lot of anime fans have a grudge with American-made cartoons.
This angers the great me. Are a lot of American cartoons horrible? Yes.
But here are three examples of, not good, but amazing pieces of American animation...

Invader Zim: absolutely crazy and not for everyone, but darn good quality.
Samurai Jack: brilliant series that never tries to act like anime.
Batman the Animated Series: one of the most well-written, nicely animated, thought provoking series ever.

Now, have at you.

Postby **Nate** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:42 pm

Impact, if anyone disagrees with you, they need to die. Invader Zim is one of the absolute best shows on TV, Samurai Jack rocks hard, and Batman the Animated Series is freakin' sweet too.

I'd also like to throw in my admiration for these:

Justice League Unlimited
Family Guy, the funniest show on TV
Futurama
Harvey Birdman

I'd go so far as to say I like most of these shows better than anime.

Postby **Azier the Swordsman** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:50 pm

Some of my favorites that have yet to be mentioned:

Superman: Equal to Batman in superb writing.

Batman Beyond: A worthy sequel to the original series which lives up to it's predecessor.

Beast Wars: This show always will have a place in my heart. I am not a Transformers fan, and I will likely see any other related show. BW, however, was an epic of fantastic writing.

Teen Titans: I discovered this show recently and I am now fully addicted. This show could easily rank up there with some of the best anime out there.

Aqua Teen Hungerforce: Some people don't care for this series, but I love. So stupidly outrageous it's funny.

I'll agree that finding the gems of American animation is a lot tougher than anime, but they are out there, and there will always be a spectacular one that pops up every now and then. To say that since it's not animated in Japan makes it worthless is simply moronic.

Postby **bigsleepj** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:52 pm

Invader Zim: absolutely crazy and not for everyone, but darn good quality.
Samurai Jack: brilliant series that never tries to act like anime.
Batman the Animated Series: one of the most well-written, nicely animated, thought provoking series ever.

Invader Zim is easily the most insane, twisted, sickening show I've seen. Off course I like it.

Samurai Jack is a favourite but it suffers from a lack of a well-developed plot arc. It always felt like its going nowhere for me.

Batman: I love the original Batman from the early 1990s. I never could like Batman of the future / Batman Beyond - it tried too hard to be anime and wasn't as thought provoking as the original by half.

I think American Animation is pretty good but it is more tuned into comedy than anime for instance. I really liked those classic Disney TV series' like DuckTales, Darkwing Duck and Talespin when I was younger. I really wish they'd bring Darkwing Duck on DVD. I'd buy it.

Postby **Mr. SmartyPants** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:52 pm

Freakazoid anyone?

I love like Justice League, Superman, Batman Beyond. That stuff

I also love ed edd and eddy (such a whacked awesome show)

Samurai Jack is very good indeed

Postby **bigsleepj** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:54 pm

Mr. SmartyPants wrote:Freakazoid anyone?

Superdude Extraordinaire,
Freakazoid, Freakazoid
Runs around in underwear
Freakazoid, Freakazoid...

Ah, I loved that show. And Animaniacs. I wish they'd bring those out on DVD as well. I'd love to see them again.

Postby **Nate** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:55 pm

Mr. SmartyPants wrote:Freakazoid anyone?

Freakazoid, free kazoo

I also would like to mention Earthworm Jim. It was a video game, and there was a cartoon that was very funny too...which has yet to be shown ever again on TV (HINT HINT Cartoon Network). Earthworm Jim is totally random and bizarre, and the creator, David Perry, is a Christian.

I'd also like to see Darkwing Duck on DVD.

I am the terror that flaps in the night...I am the bubblegum that sticks to the bottom of your shoe...I am Darkwing Duck!

Postby **Azier the Swordsman** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:58 pm

Another yet unmentioned classic: Pinky and the Brain!

Postby **bigsleepj** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:02 pm

kaemmerite wrote:I also would like to mention Earthworm Jim. It was a video game, and there was a cartoon that was very funny too...which has yet to be shown ever again on TV

I'm sorry but I did not enjoy the Earthworm Jim TV series. I found it kind of pretentious - it tried too hard to be funny. Sorry.

Postby **Sonic_13** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:05 pm

fosters home for imaginary friends. easy to hate at first, but upon watching like 4 episodes in a row I LOVED IT!

sealab, aqua teens, brak show, space ghost are all really great!

as mentioned family guy and futurama are absolutely the best, and the simpsons! that show is a true legend. I really love american animation, maybe a little more than japanimation.

Postby **Joshua Christopher** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:24 pm

The one problem that I find with American animation is mature titles.
They seem to think that if it's aimed at an older demographic, it's gotta have sex jokes and potty humour.

Batman did this perfectly. The writing, the tone, and the humour were all very mature, but not in a crude way.

And anyone who loves Zim really needs to pick up the third DVD, which contains all of the unaired episodes.

Postby **Mr. SmartyPants** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:34 pm

batman beyone did... have a number of mature references... I recall..

woah... crazy they let little kids see that

Postby **Bobtheduck** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:35 pm

I wasn't into Zim and I DESPISE Samurai Jack, but I agree with the Main point. There is a lot of good american animation, though most of it is theatrical. Secret of Nimh is on my, perhaps, top 10 list.

As for shows, I liked the Disney TV oldies. Duck Tales, Chip & Dale's rescue rangers, Tale Spin, Goof Troop, Darkwing Duck... I loved Goof Troop, but it all got so much better when A Goofy Movie rolled around... I want to italicise, but it takes too long... Anyhow. Goofy Movie is also one of my faves... Not as high on the list as NIMH, but still rather high.

I'd wager putting Simpsons in its own category, because it is enjoyed by people who don't like animation... Simpsons is a cultural icon, wheras stuff like Zim or NIMH will always be looked at in reference to animation...

Postby **Kura Ookami** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:50 pm

So, basically american animation is great. Most of it. I think the main problem with it is what impact said. The crude jokes and such. But anime goes a different route namely hentai. What im saying is that both types of animation have their rotten apples.

One other thing about american animation is that there's not as much of it as there is japanese animation, which is a shame.

Postby **White Raven** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:53 pm

Bobtheduck wrote:I wasn't into Zim and I DESPISE Samurai Jack, but I agree with the Main point. There is a lot of good american animation, though most of it is theatrical. Secret of Nimh is on my, perhaps, top 10 list.

As for shows, I liked the Disney TV oldies. Duck Tales, Chip & Dale's rescue rangers, Tale Spin, Goof Troop, Darkwing Duck... I loved Goof Troop, but it all got so much better when A Goofy Movie rolled around... I want to italicise, but it takes too long... Anyhow. Goofy Movie is also one of my faves... Not as high on the list as NIMH, but still rather high.

I'd wager putting Simpsons in its own category, because it is enjoyed by people who don't like animation... Simpsons is a cultural icon, wheras stuff like Zim or NIMH will always be looked at in reference to animation...

I loved all of those shows
When I was about 10 I watched Gargoyles. I loved that show too.

Postby **agasfas** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:44 am

Ahh, american animation... Gosh I grew up with that stuff. *ponders* I wonder why

Anyways, I personally like:
Justice League (and Unlimited)
All batman series
Teen Titans
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Static Shock (earlier episodes)
Mighty Mouse
Superman
Looney Tunes
Underdog
Dark wing Duck
Hey Arnold... I admit it.
Rugrats: All grown up
Recess
Sonic the Hedgehog
Mario Brothers (yeah, if anyone remembers

)

Postby **heero yuy 95** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:50 am

Beast Wars: This show always will have a place in my heart. I am not a Transformers fan, and I will likely see any other related show. BW, however, was an epic of fantastic writing.

Oh yes. smae here. Back in the day when american-made cg cartoons were in their heyday. My brother and I would faithfully watch each and every episode. fond memories. Heh I still even have some old toys.

Postby **cbwing0** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:49 am

I can't believe no one has mentioned Family Guy yet... :eyebrow:

Maybe it is just a cultural thing, but I agree with those that have said that American Cartoons do a better job with comedy than most animes.

Some of my favorites:

Family Guy
Freakazoid (Yes!)
The Simpsons
The Brak Show
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Futurama (never a big fan, but it is good)
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman Beyond
Looney Tunes
The Tick
South Park (although I do not endorse the viewing of this show for any other human person

)
X-Men (the older one)
GI-Joe
The Critic (with Jon Lovitz :lol:

)

Postby **GhostPoet** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:08 am

I'd say MOST American animation sucks...but there are a small few exceptions.
The new Ninja Turtles Show is fantastic.

And I am continually impressed with Justice League Unlimited for it's maturity and it's animation quality (the battle between Captain Marvel and Superman is right up there with some of the best anime battles!)

Yes, Invader Zim is also great. Too bad it was canceled.

Hmm..those are the only ones I can think of....

Postby **Shao Feng-Li** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:40 am

A couple of my favoreite movies are Atlantis and Treasure Planet, both animations from Disney. (And no showtunes!)

Ed, Edd, 'n' Eddy. Rocks.

Hey which Batman are you talking about? THe one that was on Toonami with Superman? (When Toonami was still on the weekdays)

Postby **shooraijin** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:44 am

Do Pixar films count?

I adore the Simpsons and Futurama, but those are very atypical for American animation, I think.

Postby **yukinon** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:43 am

Freakazoid rocks my socks. If anyone says "unzip your head!" to me while I'm drinking, I will immediately spew it out my nose. ew. I really hope no one I actually know is reading this. :sweat:

I'm sure Pixar films count. Pixar films have always been fun, but quite age-appropriate. I don't think it's fair when children's films get hijacked just so they can appeal to a wider audience.

Though I'm not a big fan of most dubs, I've also been impressed with how Pixar has handled the promotion of Miyazaki's films in America.

Postby **shooraijin** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:44 am

Pixar? I thought it was straight-up Disney that was handling their Miyazaki dubs ...

Postby **yukinon** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:48 am

Dunno. John Lasseter, who's involved with Pixar, seems to have a lot to do with it, but that may just be promotion.

I think you are stalking me, shoorai. Quit replying to all my posts!

Postby **bigsleepj** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:50 am

shooraijin wrote:Pixar? I thought it was straight-up Disney that was handling their Miyazaki dubs ...

Pixar is handling the Ghibli dubs for Disney and would probably still be doing it after Pixar signs a deal with a different studio. Pixar bigwig and director of Toy Story John Lasseter is a good friend with Miyazaki and they have known each other for more than twenty years. There is a documentary (available only Japan) called Lasseter-San, Arigato, made as a thank-you to Lasseter for his efforts to bring Ghibli movies to a Western audience. It also includes footage of Miyazaki visiting Pixar around the time of the US release of "Spirited Away".

Here's a link on an article about the documentary. It also includes a link to a complete graphical summery of the movie if you're interested.

Documentary

Postby **shooraijin** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:05 am

[quote="yukinon"]Dunno. John Lasseter, who's involved with Pixar, seems to have a lot to do with it, but that may just be promotion.

I think you are stalking me, shoorai. Quit replying to all my posts! ]

Okay, I won't reply to your posts. (Ooops.

)

Btw, I stand corrected. Thanks for pointing that out, bigsleepj.

Postby **Debitt** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:10 am

American animation rocks my socks. =3 Without it, I probably wouldn't have gotten into anime. Granted, after watching a lot of anime I'm a bit more picky about the other animation I watch, but oh well, at least I'm not bigoted. ^_^

I personally love ZIM and Fairly Oddparents and watch it with my little brother all the time. :lol:

I'm a big sucker for the random humor, I guess. Family Guy and the Simpsons I'm not too big on, simply because the sex jokes are a bit too much for me. ^^; They have their funny moments, though.

Postby **BigZam** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:26 am

Johnny Quest (the old one), Spiderman Unlimited, and X-Men. Best shows ever.

Postby **Technomancer** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:15 am

Eek the Cat has definately got to be a favourite, also Titan A.E.
Cybersix (a Japanese-Canadian project)
The later episodes of Reboot weren't bad
The Brak Show
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
The Tick

Postby **GhostPoet** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:27 am

I don't think it's so much the art that is the difference between american animation and anime...Anime has it all..GREAT stories, deep characters and fantastic animation and music. (speaking in general) And maturity.

I can count on one hand how many american animations have all that in ONE series. But in anime..I can't even begin to count how many i've seen that qualify for that description.

Americans are too caught up with the thinking

Animation=Funny/Cartoon/kiddy

ugh...

American Animation: Doesn't Suck

American Animation: Doesn't Suck

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