I’d say “big kids” because I do sort of enjoy the stigma that animation still has about not being serious and because the connotation of “adults” is a bit unclear at best. Anywho The Onion AV club recently put out a list of their top 15 animated films for grown ups. I’ve seen about 5 of them and am interested in seeing a few of the others given the descriptions. Personally I find that animation can be a great stylistic choice for many films as it can allow for something beyond the mise-en-scene of typical cinematography. I would think of how Linklater used cartoon images in thought bubbles while some of his characters were waxing philosophical in Waking Life as an example of something that animation allows. I don’t know about telling typically dramatic stories in the form of animation as it seems like that extraordinary element is not used. Of course I don’t really care of melodrama in any form so my distaste for some cartoons that can more easily be placed into such a genre has nothing to do with them being animation. That said I would not feel compelled to watch something just because it is animated. But I digress. One movie I think they missed is The Brave Little Toaster. I saw this when I was a kid but that said I think this one has some adult like themes in terms of what is happening. Also An American Tail seemed a bit more serious in tone at times aswell. Who knows it is possible that this list in seeking to find “adult” animation simply wrote off the mainstream producers of animation such as Disney. That’s cool I guess a good list needs parameters.
Both the films you mention are musicals, and (apart from south park) I don’t think any of their list were animated musical films.
I mean, animation has always been for both children and adults. Even WB and Disney back in the day made their cartoons accessible to children but still entertaining for adults. BLT and AAT are both those kinds of films.
I didn’t remember BLT being having much singing. In brining up these films I was scratching the surface about what elements might make something more serious in tone?This is what I feel makes something a “grown up” issue. The mouse being lost and trapped in a large city with old time grammaphone and sewer crime syndicates seems pretty serious; certainly not something that kids from the 1980’s are going to dig. The toaster sacracifing himself to the junkyard compactor seemed very serious aswell. In both of these films I saw a higher amount of “grown up” issues being dealt with in the content of the stories (granted they were talking animals/applicances but so is Plauge Dogs which is #3 on the list) then that which would ostensibly appeal to kids; which I guess is singing and butt and pee pee jokes.
I can’t take this kinda pressure
I must confess one more dusty road
Would be just a road too long
Worthless…
I just can’t, I just can’t
I just can’t seem to get started!
Don’t have the heart to live in the fast lane
All that has passed and gone
Worthless!
There ain’t nothing you can do about it
Worthless!
Pardon me while I panic!
Worthless! Worthless! Worthless!
http://aquamarine.nu/lyrics/af/bravelittletoaster.php
you both suck