12 Moments in Anime 2015 #7: Western Animation's Revival

[juliko25]

Let's just say that when I was young, I thought anime gave me everything I ever wanted in cartoons. Anime gave me the stimulation I needed: lush animation, three-dimensional characters who I could care about, compelling stories, and everything else. I thought Western animation was going down a downward spiral, especially since Code Lyoko got cancelled and CN started going into its CN Real phase. I didn't even like many cartoons at the time, because anime was all I watched anymore, and I thought it'd be all I needed. But now that even anime is going through a bad phase (the wish fulfillment harem anime full of boobs and panties and stupid sexual situations), it seems Western cartoons are making a comeback, not just from America, but from other countries as well, such as France and Belgium.



I saw an episode of a French cartoon from 1985 called Clementine recently, and I hear it's really good. But there's no subtitles, so I'll have to watch it RAW when I can. I liked what I did see. I have heard that Lolirock is really good, and it's actually being subtitled, so I might watch that when I get the chance. Miraculous Ladybug has won over many fans, and is coming to Nickelodeon in December. I saw the 2G promo video and while I'm bummed they ditched the 2D style, I like the 3D CGI version, and really, anything that tries to have some kind of substance rather than just be another dumb gross-out comedy show with no substance is good enough for me, so I'm definitely checking out Ladybug (Also, Bryce Papenbrook is in the English dub. That's reason enough to watch it for me!). Steven Universe has totally won my heart recently, and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is still going strong. My graphic novel class made us read a graphic novel called Persepolis, which had been adapted into a movie, and I fell in love with both (and own both the comic and the DVD!)!

However, for me, the rise of Western animation that's NOT from America began when I heard about Song of the Sea. I wasn't sure what to think of it at first, but I saw the trailer on YouTube and something about it just touched me. After that, I convinced my dad and I to watch it in our local theaters. After seeing it, I knew I just had to get the DVD for myself...and now I do.

Moment #7: Witnessing the glorious return/rebirth of serious Western animation.