Amy MacBeath

So I know that the world of blogging is generally meant to be a means to reflect and debate topical issues and invite opinions of peers…all very cultured…

BUT

Whatever happened to the classic sketched cartoons – anyone remember such delights as Charlie Chalk…Penny Crayon…Family Ness?  Delve deep into your inner child’s mind and relish the memories of the happiness these brought to our wee lives…

In an era where everything is now digitally animated from Disney to Noddy, not forgetting the crime that is the destruction of Postman Pat (never mind the fact that he has a wife and child now!), have these cartoons lost the charm that once made them so appealing?  To a generation of kids from the 70s and 80s who enjoyed the magic of now low-quality cartooning, are these enhanced tales as pleasing as the treasures we grew up with?  Is it just me or are kids today missing out on the quirkiness that were Button Moon, Dangermouse and even the later Count Duckula?

To bring in a whole other field of childhood favourites, would children today spend fifteen (golden!) minutes watching a programme about a hard-working factory machine…I doubt it! Gone are the days when presenters could stick a gopher on their arms or some random bloke could base a whole character around a mysterious hand in a glove gesturing at the side of the screen. Last time I saw Postman Pat, his son (yes, he did go there!  I know, I was just as shocked as I can quite believe you are) was emailing his buddies…I mean, come on.  At 5 years old who wants to watch a cartoon based around the hi-tech world that the children will spend the next goodness knows how many years trying to avoid.  Is it that tragic to just learn to count with a vampire anymore? 

Can kids really get the modern education they require without learning family values from the Wombles, learning about science and space from the Clangers, develop travel ambitions from Paddington, health from the Cookie Monster and the importance of saving the environment by recycling from Oscar?  I ask you.

 The Poddington Peas…

….the beginning of gang culture??? 

And what is with creating giant “creatures” with deformed one eyed faces that have freaky names which come in every colour of the rainbow….give me Fraggle Rock or Bert and Ernie any day!

Maybe I am a cynic but I think the imagination and original creativity seems to have been lost and generic animated or loony puppets appear to be taking over kid’s viewing.  What once was pure and innocent viewing brings about all sorts of controversy and all that is left is for kids to be patronised by stripy, fluffy things or laughed at by baby faced suns.

The sad reality is that maybe I have just grown up and don’t get it anymore. Sad but quite possibly true.

I will leave you with one final gem from the archives though…a personal favourite.

Enjoy kids!