Cartoons aren't just for kids

CC Licensed by J Wynia

After a hard day at work, there are few things better than kicking back and watching your favorite cartoon to escape the turmoil of the daily grind. With a click of a button you are whisked away to an imaginary land where anything can happen. Soon you find yourself lost in a world where animals can not only talk, they can be down right hilarious!

Even though there are specific rules which the creative geniuses behind these shows must follow in order to produce quality entertainment, their number one goal is to make you laugh. That laughter is generally fueled through some strategically planned conflict. Whether it’s the intellectual coping with the imbecile, an inability to get some type of contraption to function properly or even the frantic dance of someone dealing with squirrels in their pants, the source of the conflict is usually something the viewer can relate to. Ok, so having squirrels in your pants may not be something you can relate to but you can imagine the potential for uncontrollable antics by the character dealing with such a conflict.

You can certainly find funny scenarios within comedies or sitcoms but there are certain limitations when working with real people. There are lines that simply can not be crossed since being human ourselves we are automatically thrown off when someone tries to go above and beyond our basic physical limitations. In the world of cartoons there are no limitations. Even if you’re watching a human character, they’re still allowed to flatten out like a pancake or walk away as a cube without creating that mental delay which can convert a humorous moment into stupidity. We already know animated characters are imaginary and over the top squashing and stretching is not only acceptable, it’s encouraged.

Essentially the opportunities for uncontrollable laughter are much higher in cartoons since the strings of reality are completely shredded. Nothing ties animated characters to physical requirements allowing them to entertain us in unpredictable ways. Combine this factor with a quality storyline and you have the ingredients for a perma-grin. You may not know you have one until someone walks in and notices you smiling from ear to ear or unless you start to feel your cheeks cramping. What you’re experiencing at that point is affordable therapy. It boils down to the simple fact that laughter is good for the soul and cartoons are capable of providing maximum laughability.

So next time you need a break set aside some time for yourself and turn on your favorite toons. Don’t feel bad if the kids are asleep, they’ll appreciate the fact that you’re in a better mood in the morning after having a good laugh. Better yet, call them over to the couch and enjoy a laugh together, you might be surprised at the bonding properties found in group perma-grin.