Unit 1: History and Theory of Animation

The area of animation I will be focusing on is 2000s Children’s Animation – with an emphasis on how they shaped my childhood. I will be picking out a few of the most prominent cartoons in my childhood and exploring the distinct art styles, recurring themes, and common story tropes in the animations. This topic will help me understand how it’s impacted me and my storytelling abilities.

Starting with the earliest animation I remember watching: The PowerPuff Girls (1998-2005).

The animated series officially premiered on Cartoon Network on November 18, 1998. The show followed the adventures of three kindergarten-aged girls with superpowers – Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup – who were created in a lab accident by Professor Utonium. The trio fought various villains in the city of Townsville while dealing with everyday issues. One of the most common story tropes I’ve noticed in 00s children’s animation was the use of introducing new villains in every new episode. This was especially relevant in the PowerPuff Girls, as their airtime was limited to episodes and they had to introduce a conflict, solution, and moral to the story.

Another animated show that had similar story structures was Ben 10.

The original series followed the adventures of Ben Tennyson, a 10-year-old boy who discovers a mysterious device known as the Omnitrix. This device allows Ben to transform into various alien creatures, each with its own unique abilities. Both of these animated series were remembered for their unique blend of action, humor, and heart. A recurring theme in both shows emphasized the importance of friendship and working together as a team to overcome challenges – showcasing strong bonds between friends and family.

This era of animation was vibrant and diverse; every show was so different from another – it was a very experimental age. I think the cartoons of this time indicated a hopeful optimism to the new millennium, and as someone who grew up with them, they have inspired me to take risks, seek adventure, and build stronger bonds with my family and friends.

How does this tie into my professional practice? I may have a nostalgic bias towards this era of animation, but I really appreciate the mix of sci-fi/superpowers with the coming-of-age trope that these cartoons are known for. I’ve realized the stories I tell tend to gravitate towards my experiences growing up, but with a touch of fantastical absurdity. Going forward, I plan to incorporate more aspects from my mundane life into my animations – along with fantasy and superhero elements that was so prevalent during this time.