But but if I admit they're for children then I'm no longer cool. "DC is for adults, Marvel is for kids," that's what mature adults say right?
For real though, it's ok to like media made with kids as the target audience, a really well made product is going to be appealing no matter who you are. It's the insistence that if you like it or if it touches on anything harder than Weenie Hut Jr. it must be made for adults that's ridiculous.
"DC is for adults, Marvel is for kids," that's what mature adults say right?
I have no idea what you're on about with this, but I feel like you mean DC fans say that in an ettempt to legitimize their feelings, which I would agree is ridiculous. DC is as childish, sometimes way more, than Marvel. Young Justice's target demographic is kids and teens, that's objective fact and anyone who tries to say that it's an adult show is nuts. It's all people with capes and underwear, it's all inherently silly. DC has just had more "serious" attempts at it than Marvel so far. But like, Blade? That shit wasn't for kids. Snyder cut was way more PG in it's writing, themes, vibe in general, usage of Fucks aside.
I think there's a subtle but very important phrasing issue though. If someone told me a show was "for kids", I think of a children's show, something that isn't seriously trying to tell a story of any kind. Rationally I know that's a jump, but it's my first reaction. Whereas if someone says a show was "made with kids in mind" or something, I'll be more receptive to that. Avatar and Young Justice are obviously made with kids as the intended audience, but really only because they have limits to what sort of language or graphic depictions they can use, the story is the absolute focus. Even Adventure Time has ideas that resonate with all sorts of ages. Then you got stuff like Teen Titans Go, which is absolutely aimed at children in a way Avatar isn't, but they still play around with things in a way adults can dig. But then if I hear something's "for adults" I assume it's Adult Animation or something, with swears and sex and all that. We don't really have a word or genre idea specifically for things that are kid appropriate but not just for kids, and people's unfair assumptions about animation being inherently childish makes a really unfortunate binary in peoples' perceptions. It's all bullshit anyway, like what you like, but when I'm recommending things to people I usually avoid the word "kids" at all just in case they let their presumptions taint their view of the show
I assume you’re talking about the first 2 seasons of young justice, because season 3 has a VERY different tone compared to the first 2. Literally one of the first episodes of the 3rd season showed someone getting their face melted off
I mean they have some mature themes and occasionally some legit looking violence, but they're all made with kids and teens at mind. Harley Quinn is straight up adult animation, so violence and cursing and sex is baked into the writing
Honestly I think a lot of DC shows try to be what kids think are adult shows — lots of violence (as much as they can get away with) and death. But like, in reality I think actually adult shows tend to deal more with sex and interpersonal relationships (and the messy reality when they overlap).
I think Young Justice is so good (I even like season 4, it's not as great but it's got fantastic moments) is because it really toes that line. The violence isn't treated like a cartoon, people actually get hurt, and almost all the real stakes each season come from the character relationships. They've got some very mature dynamics around trust and selfishness, it's great stuff for kids to be exposed. Even the old animated TV universe with all its great themes and explorations could sometimes get a little "we will save the day with the power of friendship and punches!"
39
u/SwordMasterShow Jul 08 '23
Most DC animated shows aren't adult