Cartoons that turned me into the person I am

Alright, so I love talking people’s ears off about shows I watched as a young lass so why not write a thousand-page blog about it? That sounds very interesting, right? This blog wasn’t inspired by any one conversation but a tweet I once saw that said something along the lines of: “You can just tell when someone watched Steven Universe/Adventure Time.” So here came this idea. Also cartoons really did a lot to build my strong love of storytelling though I didn’t realize that was happening at the time looking back it is very obvious with a lot of things I watched.

Regular Show

Regular show followed two best friends, A Blue Jay named Mordecai and a Racoon named Rigby. They worked for their boss, a strict gumball machine named Benson in their town’s park. The both of them were notoriously lazy and not the best employees. They would get themselves into supernatural world ending predicaments usually due to them being lazy or immature. 

This show played a strong role in building my sense of humor. It’s quite juvenile but till this day I will giggle at aspects of this show and certain jokes no matter how ridiculous. I think the target age for the show is definitely teenagers.

Amazing World of Gumball 

 

Amazing World of Gumball, follows the adventures of a blue cat named Gumball. Regularly featuring his fish brother and best friend Darwin. The audience watches them tread the awkwardness middle school brings them. We witness them be big brothers to their know it all sister Anais. And sons to Nicole and Richard.

This was truly one of my favorite shows when I was little and as I have gotten older I have only begun to appreciate this show more. The mixed media and different animation style makes for no dull moments while watching this show. This made me develop interest in cartoons and how they tell stories. 

The way it was able to make connections to past moments in the show that one would have just glided past without knowing it’s important. For this show to bring those moments full circle has to be a staple of good television. 

Gravity Falls 

 

I believe Gravity Falls is one of the most widely loved cartoons among my generation. 

The show follows Mabel and Dipper, two tween twins visiting their Great Uncle for summer in Gravity Falls. A small town in the middle of nowhere known for it’s strange creatures and secretive history. Mabel and Dipper go on adventures, Dipper finds journals and becomes obsessed with unraveling the mystery that surrounds this town. 

I remember when the first episode of this show aired and from that point on I was hooked. The underlying story of this show is so strong, it’s hard to not want to follow it. This show really made me fall in love with animation. This show is the definition of “Kids deserve good television.” This shows influence can’t be ignored, almost a decade after it’s end it’s fanbase is still holding strong. The potential of the world Alex Hirsch created is undeniable. I am ecstatic that he is doing more with it. 

Fish Hooks 

These next two shows differ from the others on this list because while being adored by me, the larger audience were less than pleased with these shows resulting in both their cancellations much to my dismay. 

Fish Hooks is about these three teenage fish who are best friends. They live in tanks within a pet store. The show would often give us insights on different tanks and let us see how the other animals in the pet store were living. We watch these fish go through their adolescence and follow them through the wacky world of high school. 

This show also had aspects of mixed media which will always get my attention. I loved this show, I thought and still think it has a very creative concept. Though the storyline isn’t necessarily linear I don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s easy to watch and doesn’t require a lot of intellectual thought. Its just fun. 

Fun Fact: Alex Hirsch also had a hand in helping make this show. 

Camp Lakebottom

 

Like Fish Hooks Camp Lakebottom wasn’t widely beloved. But you better believe I was tuned into every episode. 

The show was about two opposing summer camps, one that was highly funded and fancy and another that was low funded and littered with monsters two of which were counselors. 

Again another widely creative concept. I think the animation style was endearing. 

Sanjay and Craig 

Sanjay and Craig is just a show about a young boy who’s best friend is his pet snake who happens to be able to talk and they engage in whacky adventures together. 

I believe watching this show was my first instance of brain rot. Truly just something to turn your brain off and watch for hours on end without thinking. Now this wasn’t exactly highbrow television, even for kids but it was fun and silly. I believe this show played a big role in building certain parts or aspects of my sense of humor.  

Robot Chicken 

Now I want to start off by saying THIS SHOW WAS NOT FOR KIDS. And I truly had no business watching it. It was inappropriate for pretty much every reason you could think of. It truly played a large part in traumatizing me before the internet ever could. The show didn’t follow a plot it was more of a stop-motion animated show of a variety of skits. I think the stop motion-esque style made it all the more frightening. It was my fault for staying up so late and not immediately switching channels after Cartoon Network became Adult Swim. Well you live and you learn. 

If you ever needed an explanation as to why I am the way I am there you go. I hope it cleared a lot up for you all lol. I find this concept very interesting, I think I want to do another installment with youtubers.