The word "renaissance" is being thrown around a lot these days. We have the television, soul music, and my favorite, Matthew McConaughey renaissance--the McConnaissance. Is 2015 really such a great time for entertainment and Matthews?
Let's look at the TV renaissance. Shows like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead are pushing the boundary of creating big, fictional worlds with high budgets and higher viewership. Then there are shows like Breaking Bad and Mr. Robot that have consistently good writing. If you want to look at acting, just watch the first season of True Detective, which managed to nab A-list actors Woody Harrelson and that one guy.
Television has evolved into a more respectable medium, one that's willing to take risks in storytelling, structure, and setting. You can see the improvements everywhere, from Syfy to Cartoon Network. That's right, we're also in a golden age of cartoons. Before you pelt me with Spongebob glove action figures, let me explain.
The 90s were a great time for cartoons that were funny, weird, and enjoyable for the whole family. They were shows you could tune into and enjoy, while your parents snickered at the subtle innuendos and obscure references you wouldn't catch until a decade later. However, they weren't especially mature. Sure, you could see an episode of Batman: The Animated Series that dealt with loss and identity, but shows like that were unique and, as good as they were, didn't have an overarching story. You could tune in every other Saturday morning and not miss a thing.
Shows like Gargoyles, Teen Titans, and—the crown jewel of children's animation—Avatar: The Last Airbender, paved the way for overarching stories in animated shows. Their serial format allowed them to go beyond the episodic limitations and tell stories with consequences and intricate plots. Avatar was the first series to tell a complete story, while shows like Samurai Jack and Xiaolin Showdown ended before any big resolution. Time will show if Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and Gravity Falls end with proper resolution. For now, they're developing unique worlds and fun, complex characters.
I loved growing up in the 90s. I loved watching cartoons every Saturday morning and watching repeats of Spongebob nearly every day. There were shows that respected my young intelligence and shows that made me consider the harsher elements of life. As worried as I am for my younger brother's digital generation, I'm glad that he has funny, clever, heartfelt cartoons that he can fall in love with.
And that I can watch through him. Seriously, Phineas and Ferb is awesome.
