The Flintstones, for what it’s worth, came out in a time before cartoons were seen as “for kids” by default.
Mmyeah, I really can’t agree with that. I’d say instead that there was a distinctly ‘all ages’ intention and reception to the first popular animated cartoons, which were shown in movie theatres dating back to the silent movie era. Adults appreciated the novel technology, and kids could enjoy the simple plots and depictions. But I believe that over the years, adult audiences lost much interest in the format outside of various masterpieces such as Disney movies, leaving cartoons as a distinctly child-oriented treat, on the whole.
Indeed, part of the revolutionary aspect of The Flintstones is that it turned that formula completely upside down, airing the series on prime time and being sophisticated in plot enough that adult audiences could enjoy the stories equally as much as other sitcoms of the time. Really, that’s one of the biggest deals about the show, later paving the way for The Simpsons, South Park and a slew of others to specialise in cartoons that were probably more adult-oriented than kid-intentioned.
Mmyeah, I really can’t agree with that. I’d say instead that there was a distinctly ‘all ages’ intention and reception to the first popular animated cartoons, which were shown in movie theatres dating back to the silent movie era. Adults appreciated the novel technology, and kids could enjoy the simple plots and depictions. But I believe that over the years, adult audiences lost much interest in the format outside of various masterpieces such as Disney movies, leaving cartoons as a distinctly child-oriented treat, on the whole.
Indeed, part of the revolutionary aspect of The Flintstones is that it turned that formula completely upside down, airing the series on prime time and being sophisticated in plot enough that adult audiences could enjoy the stories equally as much as other sitcoms of the time. Really, that’s one of the biggest deals about the show, later paving the way for The Simpsons, South Park and a slew of others to specialise in cartoons that were probably more adult-oriented than kid-intentioned.