Cartoons: An imaginary world creating a real impact on today’s kids

Authored by Abhishek Dutta, Head of Kids Networks – South Asia, WarnerMedia

Children, armed with curious minds and an insatiable appetite for laughter, easily relate to animated characters. While cartoons are a mainstay in the kids’ entertainment space, the genre itself is witnessing an explosion of themes in storytelling. The cornerstone of it all? Relatability.

This concept has undergone a sea change over the years. What was identifiable and relevant for Generation X and Y is different for those of the current generation, where gaming and animated content are the go-to platforms for enjoyment and entertainment.

Keeping pace with this evolution, content creators and kids’ entertainment broadcasters are developing concepts, characters and themes that echo with local audiences while retaining their global appeal. What makes kids engage and resonate with this content, is the localisation, presented in languages they speak and with native flavours. All while sparking children’s imagination and entertaining them with their families.

Impacting young minds in fun and positive ways

A report by BARC suggests that kids in urban India spend about four hours daily watching television. Another report by The Insights Family Agency suggests that approximately 60 per cent of kids that watch television, do so with their families. These two trends present a huge opportunity for animators, storytellers, and broadcasters to create content that has a positive impact, while being light-hearted, delightful and relished by all.

With increasing television and screen penetration in recent years, animation content has influenced children’s minds a great deal. For instance, ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ series has shown that cartoons aren’t just pure entertainment, but inspirational as well. This iconic trio of sassy characters with superpowers that blend action with comedy has positively influenced millions of fans around the world.

In every episode, these heroes overcome challenges by demonstrating relatable courage and empathy. Interestingly, what seemed like a show for young girls has significantly evolved to be loved, enjoyed, and appreciated universally by almost everyone. Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup with their unique qualities, and traits have been inspiring fans for over two decades.

Empowering kids with homegrown content

In India, according to a report released by EY in 2020, eight out of ten animated kids’ entertainment shows on television were locally produced. The availability of a variety of homegrown or ‘desi’ animated content and international shows with local flavours means that kids today have plenty of choice. New characters like Ekans from the 2021 original ‘Ekans – Ek Se Badhkar Snake’ on Cartoon Network. Starring a teen with snake-like superpowers, but also has problem-solving abilities and compassion – just like any kid next door. The show empowers children to believe that anything can be achieved once they set their minds to it.

Classics such as ‘Chhota Bheem’ instil confidence and fearlessness in young minds, while also inculcating values of inclusiveness and respecting individuality. But all of this is presented in fun and innocent ways that, again, kids can relate to. Bheem has managed to redefine Indian mythology to inspire kids and adults alike, with timeless tales of bravery and intelligence.

Inspiring inquisitive minds, these iconic characters are among a host of others available on Indian screens. They encourage young kids to explore the world and create excitement about automobiles, technology, action and adventure akin to the ‘Smaashhing Simmba’ on POGO.

Cartoons enable kids to have fun and be comfortable in their own skin

Children tend to imagine themselves in these exciting characters and storylines while also exploring ideas of relations with friends and family. Animated content typically portrays day-to-day situations while conveying different emotions, at times against the backdrop of fantastic situations like the intergalactic battles of the globally loved franchise ‘Ben 10’. While they are friends, Ben and Gwen do get upset and fight over things occasionally, but always make sure to talk it out and resolve their problems.

Such an approach can help kids understand emotional responses, in addition to experiences in real life. This is reflected in homegrown content such as POGO’s ‘Titoo - Har Jawab Ka Sawal Hu’, where Titoo, an intelligent and kind eight-year-old boy is always ready to help everyone around him. Another example that perfectly captures joy in the ordinary, is POGO’s ‘Bandbudh Aur Budbak’. Best friends Badrinath and Buddhadeb are always seen getting in trouble at school for their antics, but always manage to get away with their companionship and wit.

Shows such as Discovery Kids’ ‘Fukrey Boyzz’ and Sony YAY’s ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Chhotah Chashmah’ also exhibit issues which characters face in real life and how they overcome them.

Helping kids suit up for the real world

Today, cartoons continue to satiate growing, curious minds – a much-needed time out from the stresses of school. In this golden era of content, there has never been a better time for us to explore imaginary worlds that can often be windows to real-world examples.

Animators such as Vaibhav Kumaresh – creator of Cartoon Network’s Emmy-nominated original show, ‘Lamput’, and Shilpa Ranade – filmmaker behind the award-winning ‘Goopy Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya’,  offer a world of possibilities in design and animation with their accomplishments. Their creations can inspire kids to paint their canvas differently to redraw their world.

We all adore relatable, entertaining stories – and cartoons can achieve this better than most. Parents and caregivers should remember this as they look to nurture and encourage young minds.