Tracing the Path of Cartoon Entertainment in Pakistan
Tracing the Path of Cartoon Entertainment in Pakistan

Tracing the Path of Cartoon Entertainment in Pakistan

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 3 (754 words)
  • Published: December 11, 2017
  • Type: Essay
View Entire Sample
Text preview

The popularity of watching cartoons on TV has significantly risen in Pakistan, starting from 10-minute broadcasts on PTV and now expanding to round-the-clock programming on different cable networks. This study aims to analyze the evolution and changes that cartoon entertainment has undergone in Pakistan.

This study aims to compare the themes, targeted audience, and impact of cartoons. The introduction of cartoons to Pakistani families was through Mickey Mouse, which was the first sound cartoon. During the 1950s to 1970s, Disney animated feature films were shown in theaters in Pakistan, and new Disney cartoons were eagerly anticipated by families. In the 1980s, PTV started airing famous cartoons such as Mickey Mouse, Tom and Jerry, and Felix the Cat.

During its early days, animation took the form of cartoons that focused on implicit comedy. Along with this, PTV

...

also aired Sesame Street during evenings which was a highly popular and informative program for preschool children worldwide (Davies 83). The true growth in cartoon entertainment happened when Network Television Marketing (NTM) began airing a half hour of cartoons on the Shalimar Television Network (STN) every day.

Cartoon classics like Duck Tales, Thunder Cats, Care Bears, The Smurfs, Saber Riders, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the Japanese Voltron were among the popular animated shows watched by teenagers in the last decade. According to a study conducted on 50 LUMS students, 48 students had watched some or all of these cartoons on NTM. During this period, the focus was on intense merchandise production, which resulted in the creation of computer games and action figures based on cartoon series. However, Cartoon Network is credited with initiating the current form o

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

cartoon entertainment.

Cartoon Network's popularity quickly spread throughout the subcontinent when it arrived in Pakistan via satellite dish. The network initially aired classic cartoons such as Road Runner, Tom and Jerry, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny and Hanna-Barbera productions like The Flintstones from the 1980s. The addition of new content like Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls only increased Cartoon Network's appeal. Today, it is the second highest rated cable network behind Nickelodeon. Cable television introduced even more animated options with channels like Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel and The Kids Channel giving rise to beloved cartoon series including Hey Arnold!, The Rugrats and Spongebob Squarepants.

The market's focus has changed to target teenagers and adults due to oversaturation of the young audience. In the past, only The Flintstones and The Simpsons were notable cartoons geared towards this demographic. However, South Park and Futurama have also made significant contributions. It is essential to note that many children's cartoons contain double entendres that convey subliminal messages and humor appealing to mature viewers. This approach has proven successful as approximately one-third of Cartoon Network's viewers are 18 or older, according to Michael Alazzo, senior vice president of programming.

Television viewing is prevalent in our country, with approximately 115 million out of 140 million people being viewers. Cartoons have become an essential aspect of children's lives, and it's difficult for them to envision existence without them. Many kids share this sentiment, as evidenced by my eight-year-old cousin's surprise upon discovering that PTV only airs ten minutes of cartoons each morning. Cable TV allows easy access to popular channels such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney Channel, resulting in waiting for favorite shows becoming

part of their daily routine.

According to pakwatan.com/main/tourism/pakgeneral.php3, it seems that cartoons have a significant impact on young people. However, contemporary cartoons have been subject to negative criticism due to the portrayal of violence, nudity and discriminatory behavior towards specific genders.

While some experts argue that shows like The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack promote violence, and others claim that Dexter's Laboratory, Cow and Chicken, and I am Weasel contain some nudity, along with Johnny Bravo possibly perpetuating gender inequality towards females, there are many who have rejected these opinions. They argue that modern cartoons are no more violent than the likes of Bugs Bunny and Road Runner, which showcased explosions and gunfire. Regardless of these debates, the entertainment genre of cartoons has evolved in Pakistan and now boasts a variety of networks available on TV. As a delightful addition to our diet of entertainment, cartoons offer much-needed laughter in our daily routine. These shows are more accessible than ever before and can be watched anytime, anywhere, from traditional hand-drawn animation like Tom and Jerry to the latest technical marvels such as Samurai Jack - all guaranteed to bring a smile to our faces.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New