Children shows have evolved in recent years from only providing fun antics to distract kids to thought-provoking and humorous displays, which make the most ardent senior citizen giggle.
We, as a society, can be very judgmental when it comes to what we watch.
If a show doesn’t meet our standards of good entertainment, then we take to the streets in protest, especially when characters try to be socially aware, discussing issues such as race, gender, sexuality, mental illness or war.
Hunter Diehl | Argonaut
However, what most grown people don’t realize these days — unless they have children — is that TV programs aimed at small children are working just as hard to represent the times in ways even toddlers can understand.
Take the show “Steven Universe,” which has been on the Cartoon Network since 2013. It focuses on a young boy named Steven, who with the help of his adoptive alien guardians, the Crystal Gems, fight extra-terrestrial villains to protect the Earth.
In a spectacular fashion, Steven Universe takes the time to tell stories which make children and adults alike ask big questions.
From posing queries on existential dread to gender roles within our culture, Steven Universe makes its audience look at themselves, causing them to think about society in a different light.
One of the many ways “Steven Universe” does this is through its main character, Steven. He a good-natured, sweet boy who can summon deadly weapons with just a thought.
It would have been easy to make Steven like most other male cartoon protagonists, in that he would solve all of the problems in the show with violence — that’s how Bugs Bunny, Optimus Prime and even the Care Bears handled their problems.
Steven is different because even though it is within his power to stomp out any problem he faces, he’s doesn’t.
Instead, before any fight, Steven tries to talk to his enemies. He tries to understand them as a friend first before he becomes their enemy.
He shows compassion instead of violence, pity instead of anger, kindness instead cruelty. The children who watch this show are learning there is an alternative to violence.
Surprisingly, this is something you don’t see in a lot of children’s shows, where the big climax of most episodes is a throw down between the forces of good and evil. This is especially true if the protagonist is a male, who society expects to man up and beat the crap out of anyone in the way of their righteous goal.
There’s more than just Steven Universe out there as an example of the changing nature of children’s’ programming.
Nickelodeon’s recent show, “The Loud House,” has a gay couple who doesn’t rely on traditional stereotypes to get cheap laughs.
Instead, the comedy comes from these two dads being extreme helicopter parents, who try way too hard to protect their son. The fact they are gay isn’t important, but what is, is their love for their son.
Modern children’s shows don’t stop at just gender and sexuality. Some shows, such as “Adventure Time” on Cartoon Network, take the discussion of adult topics to the next level.
“Adventure Time” is a show set in a magical kingdom, which appeared after something called the Mushroom Wars happened. Sounds innocent enough until it sinks in that they mean mushroom clouds of nuclear destruction.
While children are learning the traditional lessons of being friendly and treating others with respect, they are also learning that going nuclear would be the end of human kind as we know it.
And yet, they are still filled with laughter because “Adventure Time” is funny and entertaining at its center.
That is at the heart of what makes children’s animation so incredible these days. They are able to integrate real-world problems into fantastic adventures in ways children can understand.
The writers behind these shows have been given the liberty to produce content that not only entertains children, but also teaches them about social issues. One can only imagine the positive effects this will have on the future.
By teaching kids early on that it’s OK for people to solve their problems without resorting to violence, or that who you love doesn’t matter as long as you’re a loving person, I guarantee the world of tomorrow will be a better one.
Hunter Diehl can be reached at [email protected]