“However, the scene does endorse the view that ‘a cartoon’ (read ‘animated film’) can carry important meanings and engage with social issues. In short, the animated film has the capacity to redefine the orthodoxies of live-action narratives and images, and address the human condition with as much authority and insight as any live-action film…The animated film creates a narrative space and visual environment radically different to the live-action version of the world. The cartoon here connotes escapism and unambiguous visual pleasure, albeit unthreatening and comforting, but the way Sturges contextualises the cartoon demands that its difference and effect be recognised.”
The best way I could give my insight to this passage is through using my favorite cartoon called, Doraemon. Doraemon is a story about an anthropomorphic cat that was sent back in time to help Nobita, a kid full of unlucky breaks, so that his future generation could have a better life. Episodes consists of Doraemon assisting Nobita by giving him a futuristic gadget to solve his problems which usually ends up causing more trouble.
In one episode, Nobita came home crying to Doraemon (like he always does). He tells Doraemon that he almost got bit by a dog and his friend is bullying him again. Doraemon, like a good friend that he is, could not resist but to give Nobita a gadget that could vanish any living thing he encounters with just a press of a button. Nobita used it on the dog, the bully, on his mom and to everyone who was giving him a ‘hard time’. :Later that day, Nobita ends up falling asleep on it which made everyone on earth “vanished”. Initially, he was happy because he could virtually do anything that he wants without anyone telling him what to do. He could go to any toy store and play all the toys that he wants. It was every kid’s dream. Soon, however, he felt lonely because he had no one to play with and his mom wasn’t there too cook for him.
I saw this episode when I was 6 years old. It left a mark on me because it captured my wildest imaginations, but yet it played with my emotions because of how dumb it is. Like Wells said, it creates a different feel to the live-action version of the world. It made me think for a moment what would happen if that could happen in real life. I dreamed of having my own Doraemon so I could easily breeze through my childhood. It gave me this feeling that I am in an entirely different universe, much like the same effect that playing video games does to me.
Anime and cartoon has come a long way since the dawn of time, when I was growing up I thought animated films were made merely for children.. Now, however, we have Family Guy and South Park aired in major television networks to address and make fun of the current social issues. South Park, for example, tackle hot issues on weekly basis that would be costly or impossible for film or a live-action series to do. I do agree that animated film can elicit the same authority that cinema can provide. Not only through its message, but through the visual aesthetics because of how advanced the animation technology that we have today. Most movies today are filled with CGIs to capture the things that are impossible to create in real life. Animated film opens up endless possibilities for our imaginations to explore. It may still feel artificial at times, but it provides another medium for artists and viewers to adopt.