Who among us did not enjoy watching cartoons and animated films as children? They were funny, quirky and their antics never failed to amuse. But is that meaningless silliness all there is to cartoons? If yes, then why are so many adults, young and old alike, still bewitched by the charms of these imaginary ( and yet so real) friends called cartoons?
Maybe these cartoons are just a form of escapism, inviting bitter, stressed and over worked adults to a perfect world full of hope and laughter, a world where everything is possible. Or maybe it is just a case of sweet sweet nostalgia that makes us love cartoons so! How many times have you caught yourself smiling when you heard the mention of (or better yet, caught a rerun of) one of your favourite childhood shows.
But the reason I love cartoons so much is because now as an adult, they now offer me new meaning, new insights that kids so naively don’t notice. Words casually said in a goofy voice by our favourite characters, more often than not, carry deep philosophical meanings. “Listen to me. The human world is a mess.” Who knew a little red crab (Sebastian from The Little Mermaid) could be so worldly wise? They teach us important lessons of love and friendship, of courage and self-discovery, of hope and happiness. Take for example, “You are braver than you believe…” from Winnie the Pooh or “So this is love, so this is what makes life divine!” from Cinderella. Their words might sound clichéd, but they are true all the same. Why they can even give you lessons in politics and sociology! “You think the only people who are people are the people who look and think like you… Cartoons may defy the laws of physics, but they sure know the laws of life well. And that’s what I mean when I say how unreal, yet real they are!
Right from Up! , to Brave, to Despicable me, the most creative, out of the box and heart-warming stories are those of animated movies. Many will agree with me when I say that even the concept of a movie like Inception fails in front of the sheer simplicity and beautiful story of The Lion King. Such is the power of a good animation film, with memorable characters and simple (or utterly wacko) plots! What do you think? Tell us below!”
P.S.: Just wanted to mention one of my favourite Disney quotes from Peter Pan, “You know that place between sleep and awake? That place where you still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you , that’s where I’ll always be waiting!”
