There has long been a stigma that anything animated or drawn in a cartoon style is unsuitable for adult audiences. In reality, cartoons designed with adults in mind date back many years, and have been a part of human culture as far back as anyone can remember. To try to help squash the stereotype, here are some of the most prominent examples today that go against it.
Film and TV
Adult-targeted animations have existed just about as long as animation in general, although, for the longest time, they were usually relegated to niche and independent producers. The last couple of decades have completely flipped that over, and cartoons aimed specifically at mature audiences are now decidedly mainstream.
Even when you put aside the most extreme examples which undoubtedly qualify for an R rating above and beyond regular adult shows, the list is extensive. Both Marvel and DC are amongst those who have produced animated shows with a deservedly high age rating, with the latter having plenty around their Batman and Suicide Squad series. That, of course, is not even mentioning the world of Japanese animation, where even fairly tame productions can contain heavy, mature themes and content.
Games and Casino
There have been a huge number of games out there which have really leaned into the cutesy aspect of cartoons, whether these are aimed at adult audiences or not. Some video games, however, love to play with that feature by using cartoony graphics to mask more serious themes. A few notable ones include games like the dark Braid or the extremely mature humour in older games like the infamous Conker’s Bad Fur Day.
In a different part of the gaming world are casino games, and just from their source, it’s impossible to argue that they are for anyone but adults. Some of the most famous casino game series, the ones that sites love to highlight in their online casino bonus spins, are cartoony by nature, including the Reactoonz series as well as any title in the Gonzo’s Quest line.
Business
Outside of entertainment, cartoons have long been used for more practical purposes. Many major brands from Michelin to Pillsbury have iconic cartoon characters as the core aspect of their branding, and using some form of cartoon character is encouraged for many types of business. After all, cartoons are often more distinctive, eye-catching and memorable than any other part of marketing.
Businesses also love to use cartoons internally. While you’re not likely to see them used in presentations in Fortune 500 board meetings, materials given to staff at the lower levels of companies often include illustrations and characters. In particular, they are used in a lot of HR-related work to make the content naturally more engaging. These may only be stock cartoons or things like emojis, but the intent is to make everything feel friendlier.
The argument that adults shouldn’t be enjoying cartoons is effectively dead at this point. If anything, expect to see more usage in the future in a culture more tuned to eye-catching and fast-paced content.
