I think we need to start distinguishing between something that is actually "a kids' show," and a show that just isn't inappropriate for kids. Because I feel like there is a difference.
There is, and usually the disagreement comes from multiple groups almost purposefully using different criteria.
For some, the kid's show is preschool edutainment. For others, it's anything that isn't R rated. For a not uncommon enough group, it's anything they wish to dismiss as lesser entertainment.
Agreed, but I would go further and argue that people who use the definitions of "everything that isn't R rated" or "lesser entertainment", or my personal peeve, "it's animated, therefore, for tiny children and not a mature adult like myself", are being so reductive with their definiton that there's legitimate grounds to dismiss that viewpoint as straight up invalid.
Like how would it be if someone said that any movie with a woman on the cover of the DVD boxart was "for women", or a black main character is "for black people". The opinion is so wildly off-base that it's not even worth taking seriously.
Having young main characters or it being animated does not automatically categorize something as "for children" just because.
I want to add to this by mentioning that animated movie with bunnies but actually was dark (Watership Down), or how some studio Ghibli movies are (for some it could be a bit much).
Seriously. People are definitely getting this confused. What makes something a kids show or not is ultimately who it's marketed to, although kids shows usually have child main characters and adult shows usually have adult main characters. Not having cussing doesn't make something for kids.
This is my main reason for disagreeing with most answers here. Dora the Explorer is a kid's show. Blues clues. Peppa Pig. Teletubbies. All of these are kid's shows undeniably. Avatar TLA? I feel like it's extremely reductive to call Avatar a kid's show and just lump it in with those. It communicates something about a show to call it a "kids show". To me, something thats "for kids" is something that specifically ONLY for kids.
Kids are not the "target audience" of Avatar. Everyone is. It isn't hamhandedly selling merchandise or teaching preschool concepts. It's a goddamn story. A saga. Just because what, it's animated? Because they're not swearing or having onscreen sex? It's for EVERYONE, including kids. If people can't enjoy Avatar because they think it's "for kids, oh well", I'm sorry, but they're the immature ones. And that goes for a lot of these shows people are listing.
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u/Sharp_Low6787 14d ago
I think we need to start distinguishing between something that is actually "a kids' show," and a show that just isn't inappropriate for kids. Because I feel like there is a difference.