It’s been a bleak 18 months, fluctuating between varying states of lockdown and restrictions.
In that time, we’ve all found ways to occupy our time at home, whether that be learning a new skill, taking up a hobby, or simply watching the entire Netflix catalogue.
A survey conducted in January 2021 by YoungMinds, found that young people found the lockdown after Christmas more difficult to cope with than previous ones. Respondents spoke of loneliness, isolation, and fears about the future.
Adult cartoons have allowed young adults to disconnect from reality and escape the stress of daily life. A recent Ofcom report revealed that Britons spent a third of their time in 2020 watching TV and online videos.
Cartoons are a great source of laughter, releasing endorphins, improving mood and thereby having an indirect effect on mental health and happiness. According to the Mayo Clinic, “laughter is a great form of stress relief”.
Leylâ Ziyal is a registered Chartered Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist with extensive training and experience in clinical psychology. In her opinion people watch adult cartoons for distraction, as an antidote to boredom and isolation, and to forget the cares of the day. Through the positive effects she mentions, she believes an adult’s mental health can be improved in the short term.
Brittany Lyons [31] enjoys the unrealistic comedy that animation allows and says, “I love laughing, and the exaggerated emotions / reactions and personalities of the characters really tickle my funny bone”.
So too does Brian Jeremy [24], who says “It makes me laugh and forget about the current situation that is happening around the world”. For him, cartoons are a good stress reliever and beneficial to his mental health. He also likes the nostalgia they provide, allowing him to relive childhood memories and taking him back to the carefree days of childhood.
With cartoons, we don’t see the same problems that exist in our world. Watching them is a form of escapism and distraction after a long day. Episodes are fairly short, so it’s easy to fit one or two in around a busy lifestyle. They can be viewed as an antidote to the complexities of modern life.
David Morgan [33], has been rewatching shows he started when he was younger like Evangelion and South Park. He thinks about the teams and people who have put effort into making them and explains “it’s been a nice reminder of humanity outside of my four walls”.
In his opinion “they’re also a good way to sneak social critique into something that seems lighthearted”. Cartoons often instil wise words, moral values and life lessons. For example good versus evil, building confidence and taking care of loved ones. They carry messages of social awareness.
Unreal characters tackle real problems. Animation can lighten the load of a normally difficult subject. We wince at ‘real life’ mishaps, yet laugh at the slapstick humour of a cartoon.
Kayla Watts [20], was struggling for a while to adapt to the new virtual world that accompanied the pandemic. In her first year of college, it was hard for her not having the classroom feeling and seeing people on a daily basis. She explains “I was ultimately depressed. I started to find comfort in these shows as they took me away from all of it”.
In a cartoon, anything is possible, so everything is more fun. They allow you to forget any responsibilities you may have and let your mind wander. Cherie Lovage [29], is a care worker and has worked through the pandemic. She found cartoons helped her relax after an exhausting shift. She is required to wear a mask at work and be professional, and says “once i’m home watching these, they allow me to just relax and make me feel much more myself”.
Ofcom states that further growth of streaming services is expected as the public get used to paying for popular TV shows. Services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ have given us access to more overseas content.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of South Park, recently signed a $900m (£646m) deal with US media giant ViacomCBS. The agreement includes six seasons of South Park and 14 movies. The show is notorious for its dark humour and political incorrectness, yet also coverage of a broad range of adult issues and current affairs.
So, the next time you tune into Love Island, consider switching to Bob’s Burgers or Rick and Morty for humour, escapism and disconnect from this difficult thing we call life. Watch pretty colours for 20 minutes and cut out the unnecessary drama. Your mind will thank you for it.