# Do children not enjoy 2-D animation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2012, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262 "2012-08-12T11:26:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/1 "2012-08-12T11:26:09Z")
I have a toddler and he has never shown any interest in watching hand drawn style animation, I’ve even tried to introduce him to some childhood favs and it simply never catches his interest. He is way too young for things like social trends to matter, and if my reaction matters like I said he shows no interest in my old favorites. However he is totally ga ga over 3-D CGI animation, he instantly took to it and showed great interest. I’ve noticed this in other small children too, they love CGI animation and simply aren’t interested in 2-D animation even when it is geared to their tastes. I’m wondering if this might account for the death of 2-D animation outside adult humor and anime aimed at teenagers somewhat, children just don’t enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/2 "2012-08-12T12:27:27Z")
Dora the Explorer is still quite popular with children, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Rubixcube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Rubixcube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubixcube)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/3 "2012-08-12T12:29:33Z")
My guess is that if he has primarily been exposed to 3D animation he associates that look with the things he likes. In other words he sees CGI animation and thinks “hey this looks like (insert favorite property here) it must be great.” Of course the opposite could be in effect, maybe he really disliked the traditional animation he was exposed to and assumes that it’s all like that. I remember refusing to watch anything B&W when I was really little because I assumed it would all like those boring westerns by grandfather watched. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/4 "2012-08-12T12:30:41Z")
Ever hear of Walt Disney? He did a handful of 2D animations that children loved to watch. I hear something called _The Lion King_ was modestly popular. CGI is usually more flashy and colorful, and most animation these days is CGI and sometimes 3D, but kids still like seeing the older non-CGI animations, and _The Princess and the Frog_ wasn’t hurt by being in traditional animation. Kids like both. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/5 "2012-08-12T12:39:00Z")
I probably should have stated that obviously children have enjoyed 2-D animation before the advent of CGI animation, and I am really talking about young toddlers the more I think about it. Obviously older children enjoy 2-D animation as well as adults, but I wonder if it is an acquired taste of sorts. But it is a strong trend I’ve noticed, I wondered if any research has been done into it. Just as a WAG I wonder if the similarity of CGI to actual objects vs. stylized 2-D not resembling any actual objects is the cause. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/6 "2012-08-12T12:43:36Z")
My kid is thoroughly familiar with Pixar, but she also loves to watch our DVD of Max Fleischer shorts again and again. If anything, it’s the latter that really appeals to her child’s sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/7 "2012-08-12T16:52:32Z")
What you’re saying is “I have noticed this trend. Please explain it.” We’re saying, “We’ve haven’t noticed any such trend.” You’re saying, “But I have noticed the trend. Explain it.” Believe it or not, it’s possible for you to have too little evidence and mistakenly think that there is a trend. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/8 "2012-08-12T17:00:51Z")
My three year old prefers season one of The Smurfs over any Pixar movie. Gummi Bears would be her second favorite. She does enjoy Finding Nemo, but would probably pick The Jungle Book, or Peter Pan first. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/9 "2012-08-12T17:13:42Z")
There’s still plenty of 2-D animation being made for kids: Phineas & Ferb, Adventure Time, Batman. In fact, on TV the pendulum seems to have swung back to 2-D from the glut of 3-D a few years ago. What were you showing him? Peanuts? Animaniacs? Maybe he’s just not old enough for it yet. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/10 "2012-08-12T17:23:30Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > What you’re saying is “I have noticed this trend. Please explain it.” We’re saying, “We’ve haven’t noticed any such trend.” You’re saying, “But I have noticed the trend. Explain it.” Believe it or not, it’s possible for you to have too little evidence and mistakenly think that there is a trend. More like if anyone else had noticed the trend whether in academia or not. Maybe GQ was the wrong forum 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/11 "2012-08-12T17:24:08Z")
Exactly how old is he? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/12 "2012-08-12T17:48:23Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Exactly how old is he? Two, I’ve noticed it in toddlers near him in age. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/13 "2012-08-12T18:28:31Z")
Let’s move this over to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/14 "2012-08-13T02:39:20Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > What you’re saying is “I have noticed this trend. Please explain it.” We’re saying, “We’ve haven’t noticed any such trend.” You’re saying, “But I have noticed the trend. Explain it.” Believe it or not, it’s possible for you to have too little evidence and mistakenly think that there is a trend. Everyone obviously knows this, and your sarcastic use of “believe it or not” indicates you know they know it. What, then, is the purpose of saying this? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/15 "2012-08-13T03:04:11Z")
It’s not at all clear to me that grude understands that he had too little evidence for making his assertion in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/16 "2012-08-13T03:14:27Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > What you’re saying is “I have noticed this trend. Please explain it.” We’re saying, “We’ve haven’t noticed any such trend.” You’re saying, “But I have noticed the trend. Explain it.” Believe it or not, it’s possible for you to have too little evidence and mistakenly think that there is a trend. This is pretty much the way every **grude** thread goes. ---
**Author:** ![listedmia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@listedmia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/listedmia)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/17 "2012-08-13T06:59:46Z")
As an alternate data point, I babysat three kids in 2007, ages 2-7, who never wanted to watch anything but old Davy Crockett videos. This was well after the advent of CGI. Kids vary a lot, what you noticed only applies to a small subset of them. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/18 "2012-08-13T07:33:36Z")
One more data point: I have a 19-month-old grandson, who like watching almost any kind of cartoon that’s shown on TV. He doesn’t show any preference for 3D over 2D animation. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/19 "2012-08-13T11:07:28Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > It’s not at all clear to me that grude understands that he had too little evidence for making his assertion in the OP. An example used was 2009’s Princess And The Frog and it was the first major release traditional 2D animated film since 2004 aimed at the family/child market, I don’t believe there have been any since. The film media constantly remarked on the fact it was the first 2D animated feature in a while. > [@](#): > > Disney had once announced that 2004’s Home on the Range would be their feature animation studio’s last traditionally animated production. After the company’s acquisition of Pixar in early 2006, Ed Catmull and John Lasseter, the new president and chief creative officer of Disney Animation Studios, reversed this decision and reinstated hand-drawn animation at the studio.[15] Many animators who had either been laid off or had left the studio when the traditional animation units were dissolved in 2003 were located and re-hired for the project.[16] So clearly for some reason 2D animation is dead in major theatrical releases, most likely the economics aren’t there for it to be profitable. Why? It is popular to think the studios are just creatively corrupt or foolish, but I think they have a better grasp on their audience than most give them credit for. TV is an entirely different market, audience and economic wise. Ok so I think I have established 2D animation is dead in major film releases, as a related but anecdotal issue I noticed a lot of toddlers given the choice prefer 3D over 2D animation. I made no definitive claims, I was curious if it was related, as clearly something must account for the death of 2D animated film in major releases. Phew! ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262/20 "2012-08-13T11:30:03Z")
Again in my OP I made no claims such as “all children hate 2D animation, they only enjoy 3D animation” instead I noticed something which is definitely true(lack of 2D animated films in wide release) and linked it to something I noticed which is that toddlers prefer 3D animation, I then wondered if there was ANYTHING definite to back this theory up. I didn’t post it as a position in great debates, but perhaps I should have posted it in cafe society rather than GQ. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-children-not-enjoy-2-d-animation/631262.md?page=2)