We have all asked the question: Are modern cartoon reboots really necessary?
With the passing of time, it’s inevitable that franchises reboot, including your favourite Saturday morning cartoon. Since 1987’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, for example, there have been three incarnations of the Heroes in a Half Shell. ThunderCats is also on its second reboot in the form of ThunderCats Roar.
Unfortunately, any deviation from the original cartoon is often met with outrage from the original fanbase. ThunderCats Roar and She-Ra and the Princess of Power are two of the most recent cartoon reboots that have had to suffer the wrath of angry fans who want things to be the same way they were in the ’80s. The thing is, these shows aren’t marketed at the original fanbase but a new generation of fans. In other words, they aren’t made for YOU.
Teen Titans Go! is the perfect example of this. It replaced the highly popular Teen Titans animated series, choosing to focus on more light-hearted and bite-sized stories for a much younger audience. While many fans mocked this new “childish” approach, there’s no denying that Teen Titans Go! has proven to be a massive success in the younger demographic. The show has been on for seven years, sells a bucket-load of merchandise and continues to pull in the crowds—any way you look at it, it’s a hit that justifies its own existence.
Make no mistake about it, it’s easy to get lost in the nostalgia factor of a cartoon. It might remind you of a happier, carefree time, or even the first moment you fell in love with a franchise. The memories you associate with something are incredibly strong and are difficult to shake off. Like a song or band you adore, it’s hard to ignore the fuzzy feeling you get when you recall it.
In terms of animated series, fans also tend to get possessive over eras, and that period is the definitive one. The fact is, things evolve. A cartoon that’s made in 2020 will be different from one made in 1980 or even 1960. Society has progressed, people have changed—you get the picture. You can’t make a He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon the same way you would’ve before. From the technology used to animate to the stories told, there have been changes in how things are done. In most cases, it’s been for the better.
In the past, cartoons were made purely to peddle toys; however, this is no longer their sole reason for existing today. Yes, every network or streaming service wants merchandising opportunities, but there’s a lot more care taken in creating the programmes. They’re treated as big projects rather than 20-minute nonsensical advertisements for product.
As fans, the one thing we can afford the next generation of fandom is the same opportunity to fall in love with characters like we did. It might not be the version we feel in love with back in the day, but that doesn’t mean it’s terrible. It’s OK to love something nostalgic; it’s also OK to let modern-day cartoon reboots appeal to their intended demographic.
I just love it when journalists tell me EXACTLY how I’m supposed to feel! ?
The current generation of writers cares more about their own images and egos than they do the canon or integrity of the properties they are lucky to be working on. Virtue signalling, moralizing, and social justice messages are more important than basic storytelling. Maybe they’ll learn something from all this failure.
I would like to give you a different perspective. Your analysis is incomplete. Nostalgia is not reason older fans and some new ones dislike this reboot. Your assumption are based off reactions probably from social media which we both know is ill-advised if you want a true analysis why this reboot failed.
Let’s clear the air… I’m in my 40s and I know this reboot is not meant for me. Your title of your article suggest you were seeking provocation. If so, you should expect people to react in a similar fashion. I will personally say I did not like the art style, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t willing to give it a chance. I was really more concerned about how he was going to develop the characters that people fell in love with. And that is where the problem comes in. The old fans fell in love with the characters but they don’t on them but nor do new fans or writers or animators. This is art and art always has emotion. It’s naïve to believe people would not react in a negative manner when you destroy the whole reason why they love the characters they built up to be popular. Without the older fans they would not be a ThunderCats. I don’t want praise or recognition. I want respect for the characters that have a rich story and background. Look I know his job was hard and I disagree with his vision. And that’s it. This story can go both ways. I just don’t understand why some people don’t have insight as if we all live in a bubble. Victor must have known that he would receive some negative criticism for his vision. If he didn’t, then he has an opportunity to learn more about people.
I just don’t understand why Victor wouldn’t try to use all that rich history and adventures and build upon that and create a whole new world. Instead he destroyed the whole foundation of the story, yet keep the characters and made them in his own image with no past background or history to give subsidence and validity to the characters popularity.
Hey I don’t mind seeing something new and I know for some it is hard but if he wanted this to be successful he is gonna have to learn to compromise and get out of his own headspace and expand on his creation.
Take care
First off you are way off point here. They are not just restylizing an old favorite For younger audiences. They are completely changing the story and feel by turning something that had action and drama into slapstick comedy with a different art style. It would be like taking the book Old Yeller and rewriting it to look and feel like a Loony Toons short when making it into a movie. You are fundamentally changing it to where it is no longer the same or even close. There are times when stylistic changes work for art and writing. Look at the iterations of Voltron that I know of there are two additional series from the first all with drastically different stories and art styles. Yet feel is similar. They have action and emotion involved in them and the a touch of humor as well. They were not however totally wrecked because they stayed true to the feel as opposed to “making it kid friendly” both ended up being quite kid friendly anyway without becoming insanely stupid. Now we’re they as good as the original that’s always going to be argued. Personally I enjoyed them for what they were. The way these reboots are going now feels about the same as if someone tried to rewrite the Bible and make it “Atheist friendly” not a good idea. And of course it would enrage lots of people.