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Adult animation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An episode of Camp Camp, an adult-oriented animated cartoon published by Rooster Teeth

Adult animation, also known as mature animation, and infrequently as adult-oriented animation, is a term of any animated type or media that is catered specifically to adult interests and is mainly targeted and marketed towards adults and adolescents, as opposed to children or all-ages audiences. Adult animation is also identified as a subgenre of animation.

Characteristics and themes

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Animated media (includes animated films, television series, and web series) in this medium could be considered adult for any number of reasons, which include the incorporation of toilet humour, nudity, sexual content (either explicit or suggestive), graphic violence, profanity, dark comedy, political themes, or other thematic elements inappropriate for children and/or younger viewers. Works may explore philosophical, political, or social issues.[1]

Some animated productions are noted for their complex and/or experimental storytelling and animation techniques, the latter with many distinct styles have defined such unique artistry.[1]

Definitions

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Adult animation is typically defined as animation that is aimed at an adult audience.[2][3][4][5] It is also described as something that "formative youths should stay far, far away from"[6] or has adult humor[7][8] and comes in various styles,[9][10][11][12] but especially sitcoms and comedies.[13] Some have stated that it refers to animations with "adult themes and situations", which uses "explicit language" and make jokes that adults, and often teens, are "more likely to understand" than others.[14] On television, such animations often run in the evening, but they are not generally pornographic or obscene.[15][16] AdWeek called adult animation "animated projects aimed at grown-ups, not kids."[17] They also focus on issues that adults handle,[18] and have cheeky, and occasionally crass, humor "that has no limits—bouncing between funny and offensive," while evoking a "balance of reality and fantasy". They may also contain violence or sexual themes.[19][20]

Notables

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Animators and filmmakers

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Lists of international animators, filmmakers and television creators are among the notables of adult animation works:[21][22]

Ralph Bakshi marked as a pioneer to adult animation in the United States.
Academy Award-winner Hayao Miyazaki
Primetime Emmy Award-winner Genndy Tartakovsky

Channels, segments and blocks

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Some television channels and their segments or blocks that focused on broadcasting adult animation:

In different countries

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Specifically, the use of adult-oriented elements in animation of the United States and Japan influenced several countries to dominate their own work over the years, most notably the United Kingdom, China, France, Spain, South Korea and the Philippines.

Countries Films and television series
Philippines Philippines Tadhana, Fly Aswang, Manang Biring, The Leaving, Hayop Ka!, and The Missing

Reception

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Wax statues of the main protagonists in The Simpsons, one of the most famous and recognizable animated series for general audiences, mostly young adults.

Several highly acclaimed adult animated films and television series have received substantial recognition from critics. Thanks to Bakshi's Fritz the Cat, the film influenced American animators and filmmakers over the course of the late-20th century and into the 21st century, catering such important artistic and narrative structures with mature subject matter.[21]

Conversely, several works have been largely ignored by many detractors for their depiction of graphic subject matter and sensitive topics, such as violence, race, gender, and sexuality. They still show a bias towards live-action and raunchy animated sitcoms, compared to early pioneers. However, the result is a new audience that is ready for narratively-sophisticated adult animated works and a new crop of creators exploring the adult animation space. This development allows creators to continue challenging the perceived limitations of animation.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Martinez, Sam (5 March 2024). "Adult animation: An ever-changing industry". The Butler - Collegian. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  2. ^ Motamayor, Rafael (10 March 2020). "11 Adult Animation Shows We Can't Wait to See in 2020". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  3. ^ Vargas, Alani (1 October 2018). "7 Animated TV Shows On Netflix That Adults Will Absolutely Love". Bustle. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  4. ^ Jaworski, Michelle; Riese, Monica; Weber, Sarah (10 January 2019). "The 17 best cartoons for adults". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  5. ^ Collider Staff (21 April 2020). "The 25 Best Cartoons for Adults Streaming Right Now". Collider. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. ^ Fowler, Matt (25 March 2019). "The 25 Best Adult Cartoon TV Series". IGN. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  7. ^ Krell, Jason (8 April 2014). "Why Saying Animation Is Only For Kids Is Bullshit". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  8. ^ Laux, Cameron (27 November 2019). "Is Japanese Anime Going Mainstream?". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 May 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  9. ^ Baron, Reuben (23 December 2019). "Adult Animation Is Better Than Ever - So Why Does It Draw Ridicule?". CBR. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  10. ^ Barrett, Duncan (2 November 2020). "Animation nation: how Covid fuelled the rise of adult cartoons". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  11. ^ Sarto, Dan (19 March 2020). "What Future Lies in Store for Non-Comedy Adult Animation?". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  12. ^ Silliman, Brian (2 November 2019). "SYFY drawing in more animation with a midnight-ish block of adult genre fun". SYFY. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  13. ^ Sanderson, Katherine (30 June 2020). "The Future of Adult Animation (With and Without Comedy)". Animation Ave. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  14. ^ Mokry, Natalie (15 July 2017). "A Brief History of Cartoons for Adults". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  15. ^ Kunkel III, Earl Monroe (2009). Why ARE people laughing at rape? American adult animation and Adult Swim: Aqua Teen Hunger Force as contemporary humour (Masters). Lehigh University. pp. 5–6, 9. ProQuest 304916287. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  16. ^ Mak, Phillip (10 July 2020). "Why is everybody talking about adult animation?". Toon Boom Animation. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  17. ^ Sutton, Kelsey (12 April 2020). "How Adult Animation Became the Hottest Genre for Streaming Services". AdWeek. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Advertising Embraces Adult Animation's Existential Turn". LBB Online. 12 March 2020. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  19. ^ Habib, Ayesha (20 May 2020). "Why Adult Animation Shows Like Netflix's Midnight Gospel Are the Perfect Form of Escapism Right Now". Nuvo Magazine. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  20. ^ Heckleton, Jeff (27 October 2017). "The Double-Edged Stigma Faced By Western Animation". The Artifice. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  21. ^ a b Krol, Chris (26 January 2024). "The Rise Of Adult Animation: A Mature Take On Cartoons". Toons Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  22. ^ 10 Worst Adult Animated Shows - CBR.com
  23. ^ "Let's Get Animated: Reaching the Adult Animation Audience". Disney Advertising Insights. Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
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