movies/tv Cartoons aimed directly at teenagers, why are they so rare?

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

In TV animation, cartoons either target kids 6-11, or adults 18-34. Both side have been successful, but why do teens never catch on? I made a topic a while ago asking if any teenagers people know like cartoons. But while they're a big periphery audience, there hasn't many successful animated series directly aimed at them. Some, were close to target 12-14 year olds at least, and there was Daria on MTV. But most attempts at teen-aimed stuff tend to be niche one shots that barely last 2 seasons. You want an example? O' Grady. An old show from The N (now TeenNick), a teen-targeted off-shoot of Nickelodeon. The best way to describe it is Daria meets Regular Show, it's from a lot of the same crew who worked on Home Movies.

 

 

With the previous successes of Bevis and Butt-head and Daria, I'm surprised Teen-aimed cartoons never caught on the same way adult cartoons did.

Edited May 23, 2015 by TheMisterManGuy

[Megas 27,045]

Because, at that point, teenagers want to feel like they're mature, so they start thinking cartoons are for kids, and for some reason would rather watch Jersey Shore, My Super Sweet 16, and all that other crap on MTV.

 

 

Either that or they go straight to watching Family Guy and South Park

Edited May 22, 2015 by Megas75

[Banul 3,831]

In the mind of a teenager, cartoons are for kids. They want to distance themselves from them to feel cool and mature. (Unless its an adult cartoon like South Park or Family Guy)

 

So, you can't really aim cartoons at teenagers because most of them aren't interested. The ones that are will watch the cartoons that are already available, or anime.

Edited May 22, 2015 by Banul

[Mesme Rize 15,681]

I wasn't watching any Cartoons when i was a Teenager, because i was going through close minded phase for a few years. Once i was out of school and started to watch a few cartoons.

[LittleMac 3,084]

Because, and this is me speaking as a teenager, teens are always trying to act more mature than they are. They think that if it's in any remote way childish, then it doesn't give them that feeling of maturity that they crave. It really bugs me how so many people my age are like that

[Wind Chaser 4,767]

Like others have said, most mainstream teens move on to more "grown-up" stuff as it were. There are plenty of teens and young adults who watch cartoons, but they're a niche audience that the networks normally don't care about enough to capitalize on. That said, Daria, unique as it was, probably was one of the greatest animated series ever made. They basically did to high school and teen entertainment what should have been done but no one else wanted to do; offer up a main character with the perspective of an observant social outsider and an IQ on the genius level as far as cartoon characters normally go.

[Admiral Regulus 2,769]

I don't see a need for it, really. Cartoons have a stereotype of being childish, even though some cartoons like South Park, Family Guy, The Simpsons, and King of the Hill are very obviously made for adults. Even as it is, though, I think there's something for everyone. I don't see any particular need to cater to a specific demographic, considering that most people within that demographic will either watch adult cartoons, all cartoons, or neither, anyway.

[TheJLeeTeam 914]

Because teenagers feel like they're too old for cartoons and get into live action shows but I feel shows like Family Guy and King of the Hill are very teen friendly even though they're considered adult cartoons.

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Because teenagers feel like they're too old for cartoons and get into live action shows but I feel shows like Family Guy and King of the Hill are very teen friendly even though they're considered adult cartoons.

That's what I mean. Kids shows like Regular Show and Steven Universe, and adult cartoons like South Park and Rick & Morty are Teen friendly, and have huge teen fanbases. But there aren't many successful cartoons specificaly aimed at teens. BTW, check out O' Grady, it's hilarious!

[Discordian 6,013]

Anime is the teen cartoon.

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Anime is the teen cartoon.

Actually, most of the popular anime like Dragon Ball and One Piece are aimed at kids in Japan. The japanese have less strict content standards than the US.

[Discordian 6,013]

Actually, most of the popular anime like Dragon Ball and One Piece are aimed at kids in Japan. The japanese have less strict content standards than the US.

For sure but as far as the US goes that's not kid-friendly content. But Dragon Ball and whatnot aren't the only anime out there. There are anime that older people can appreciate too and teens tend to latch onto anime of all sorts.

[Frostgage 7,972]

For whatever reason, it's just not a part of North American culture. Cartoons are thought of as things mainly intended to entertain young children.

[The Real Minty <3 217]

I am a teenager and I my shed some light on the subject

 

(aside from mlp at least for me)

 

Teenagers think they have matured, or at least most of them do, so they do not watch cartoons in general, many of me and my friends watch anime...

 

But its mostly a ton of teenagers going "Man, cartoons are for kids bruh"

 

But most of their puny minds have not even matured to see the fact it doesnt matter who it is for

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

For sure but as far as the US goes that's not kid-friendly content. But Dragon Ball and whatnot aren't the only anime out there. There are anime that older people can appreciate too and teens tend to latch onto anime of all sorts.

But this kinda goes along with my original point, cartoons, including the most popular anime have a large periphery audience amoung Teens, but there aren't many shows directly targeted at them. But you do have a point, Japan comes the closest.

[Tan 91]

It's just not profitable. Adolescence is an awkward phase and teens are not known for their critical thinking skills or impartiality. children have no desire to be mature usually and see cartoons without hesitation. Then they become teenagers and get this obsession with maturity because of all this new hair they have. Then they become adults and gravitate towards south park and the like, or continue to show lack of interest in toons at all. Money is the reason shows are made. Sure there are some passion projects by people with artistic integrity and thats nice and all but if it doesn't sound like a good idea to the suits, it won't be aired. This is also the reason toons die, they don't make enough money to justify their existence anymore. Sure the show creators get attached for a myriad of reasons, but when the views reach that death threshold, nothing will stop the suits from canceling the project. Its quite sad actually.

[Discordian 6,013]

But this kinda goes along with my original point, cartoons, including the most popular anime have a large periphery audience amoung Teens, but there aren't many shows directly targeted at them. But you do have a point, Japan comes the closest.

There are a lot of anime based in high schools with high school problems and humor so I'd say anime has teen-specific stuff too.

[TheMisterManGuy 344]

Because, at that point, teenagers want to feel like they're mature, so they start thinking cartoons are for kids, and for some reason would rather watch Jersey Shore, My Super Sweet 16, and all that other crap on MTV.

Funny thing about MTV, they seem way better when they do anything BUT Reality TV. Their scripted stuff like Teen Wolf, Awkward., and Finding Carter are actually pretty decent.