Older kids anime or cartoons hit hard
Watching older shows feel different to me than what is usually modernly produced.
The issues characters face seem too complex for a kids show and I wonder who was really the intended audience. Obviously not every anime is made for kids.
For example, in "Naruto" The characters are mostly teenagers and major plots are about dealing with loss, sacrifice, rejection in very obvious and graphic ways.
Were shows actually different then?
What other shows hit hard emotionally?
Comments
-
Adventure Time comes to mind but it's not that old
2 -
Adventure Time is a great one. ❤️
I feel like there are still shows that can hit hard emotionally about characters dealing with some dark stuff like: Made in Abyss, Attack on Titan, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Erased, Invincible, Over the Garden Wall, BoJack Horseman, Gravity Falls, The Midnight Gospel, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and just recently Arcane.
2 -
Pantheon is another good one. Deals with grief, loss, human exploitation, and explores the ethical dilemmas of what it means to be human.
I think you can definitely find complex characters in some of the modern shows as well as thought-provoking philosophical questions.
Don't get me wrong, I still like OG shows like Inuyasha from 20 years ago, but we can enjoy both new and old.
3 -
Yeah those are great shows, but a lot of those are definitely not made of kids. Some I don't recognize, like made on the abyss, I'll check those out!
1 -
There was a lot more letting go than there is today when children's content is filtered.
1 -
Yeah I loved Pantheon, the fact that its only two seasons is both great as the story is completed well but also sucks for a viewer who wants more..
3 -
If your looking for emotional maybe something like the
Clannad: The Movie theres a tv show as well the movie just the end of it.
Colorful Movie
A Silent Voice (2016) Movie
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018) Movie
Your Name (2016) Movie Not that emotional but deffenaly worth the watch
Your Lie in April (2014) Tv
Angel Beats (2010) Tv
Into The Forest Of Fireflies’ Light (2011)Movie
Wolf Children (2012) Movie
0 -
I think the problem is mostly due to manga and novel, not anime. Anime is often a way that publishers use to promote sells of existing works. Nowadays, it’s easier to buy and read manga and novel online and people spend more time on their phones. Plus, there are some competitions from webtoon. Publishers and editors naturally want what sells the most, not the best content. Once a title gets super popular, everyone started to create similar things. There are so many reincarnation theme mangas and novels after the slime one got so popular.
1 -
Older shows often tackled complex themes, even in kids' media, reflecting broader storytelling trends or cultural norms. In "Naruto," the emotional depth and mature themes resonate with a wide audience, suggesting it was designed to appeal to teens and adults, not just kids.
Shows like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Attack on Titan, and Your Lie in April also hit hard emotionally, exploring loss, trauma, and human resilience. These themes have always been present in anime but vary in intensity depending on the era and intended audience.
0 -
Good point.
0
