Is romance more common in western animation nowadays?

While romance obviously has always existed in western animated media, there seems to be a general trend for it to be shoved into animated movies and tv series nowadays.

I mean, compare animated work samples from the 1990's and early 2000's to those post-2008/2009 (other than most "girl only" media). Previously, romantic interests and focus were pretty much a casual option, but now they're pretty much in every work, to the point that works were romance is non-existent or irrelevant can be counted with a couple of fingers (just the previous year, Brave, Paranorman [other than the subplot with Courtney, and we all know how that turned out] and Rise of the Guardians were pretty much the only western animated movies without a significant focus on romantic attraction).

Seems rather bizarre.

1990s-now seems like a rather narrow pool of examples.

How? That's still 23 years.

To put in perspective, let's analyse two western animated film samples:

2000:

- Mainstream animated films with romantic focus: 4

2012:

- Mainstream animated films with romantic focus: 7

edited 1st Apr '13 4:33:48 PM by Peryton

Regarding the subject - is this a good thing, or a bad thing?? Call me what you want, but I feel I have a right to know!

It all really depends if the writers do it well

I can't really say for movies (The only animated movies I watch are usually obscure and not made in the U.S) but I can say that thanks to shipping, romantic subplots are a cheap and easy way to get internet recognition.

edited 1st Apr '13 5:03:16 PM by truteal

Again, it depends - for example, in Kung Fu Panda 2, the romantic subtext really works -, but most of the time it just feels forced, as if the authors are projecting their sexual insecurities on their characters.

For example, the otherwise great Adventure Time and Bravest Warriors get quite unconfortable when they parallel each other almost perfectly in the unnecessary awkward protagonist crush.

They probably believe that there "adult" fandom has the same sexual insecurities as they do, and they're more likely than less right

You could say that about any media that involves romance, though.

Yeah but "adult" animation fans are known for being pathetic

When you put "adult" in quotes like that, it makes it seem like you're referring to pornos.

Well I mean manchildren when I say ""adult" animation fans"

Well, I would imagine that even if their audience is not "sexually immature," the members of said audience at some point in their lives have felt awkward and embarrassed around someone they liked "more than normal." That's a pretty universal experience, even if you're not a manchild.

Pretty much. And it's kind of disconcerting to imply that a large contingency of western animation fans are "manchildren".*

If they honestly think people that enjoy their works are sex-starved manchildren, wouldn't be the logic course of action to make an idealistic depiction, rather than reminding them of that? It seems a bit assholish if you ask me.

Call me a conspiracy theorist if you may, but I think it's less to adress the audience and more like a mean spirited backlash against LGBT progress. Most examples, like in Madagascar 3, seem to be trying too hard to convince their characters are straight.

I don't think that shows having more romance is a bad thing. I mean even with Adventure Time, it was basically a one-sided crush until Finn met Flame Princess. I think it's just that the shows have older protagonists, and they are trying to avoid No Hugging, No Kissing. Also if it has anything to do with LGBT people at all, it's probably because of Moral Guardians complaining about it than any personal hatred the creators have.

edited 2nd Apr '13 8:17:12 AM by wuggles

With bringing up examples... Finn + Flame Princess was a rough start, but unlike some shows where it hindered things, Adventure Time didn't forget/ has yet to forget to be entertaining first, romantic later (at least, IMHO...).

Regular Show is sometimes guilty of going too far (what with Mordecai and Margaret, Muscle Man and Starla... even in some noticeable cases Rigby and Eileen...sigh.) Then again, those are the least interesting episodes in an otherwise good/decent series anyway!

I feel Gravity Falls is guilty of being hindered by the whole Dipper X Wendy thing; Unless it's Mabel doing it, that is (where it's actually funny, in-theme, and actually entertaining to me).

An idealistic depiction doesn't have as much potential for humour (Steven Universe might do this) plus the Japanese already usually do an idealistic depiction.

They fear backlash from Hobophobic Christians/Right Wingers (Paranorman is the exception, in my view they only did that joke for shock value)

Also, putting in Heterosexual undertones legitimises heterosexual shippers and undermines yaoi/yuri shippers (which most people in animation view as distasteful)

That rabid anti-yaoi people actually influence artistic decisions probably is the most depressing thing I've ever heard.

Oh well, off to become a serial killer.

It's actually the opposite nowadays with most animators either being pro or neutral to their fandoms (Yaoi fans or otherwise )

Animators today need to maintain a balance between interacting with their show's internet fandom and not enraging christian special interest groups (due to the fact that the latter knows nothing of fandoms, it's very easy to do so)

Companies that produce animation will interact with fandoms, if it's profitable enough to do so (Otaku and Bronies)

edited 2nd Apr '13 5:01:39 PM by truteal

I would hope that, artistically, creators aren't influenced too much by the fans, at least not specifically. I can see tossing in bits you think the fans would like, but, say, tailoring stories or characters based on fan-wank would just be pandering.

Mainstream media learned of the true number of shippers out there, and the power they (may not) have.

You guys are being somewhat overly cynical.

Because honestly, why would overly zealous Christians affect anything? That group rages at everything possible so can someone give me examples of them actually affecting anything?

Heck, why were they even brought up when thats not what thread is about?

edited 3rd Apr '13 4:58:56 AM by SpookyMask

I'm almost inclined to say that it is simply because they are a nuisance that keeps us sane and normal-thinking folk from having nice things just like the rest of the actual modern world. Too bad that sounds like an insult even to the Christians out there who do know better, hence my trying to refrain from it... Even though it had to be said sooner or later.

To me it sounds like someone just wanted an excuse to whine about them again

Anyhoo, on topic,*shrugs*. If you ask me romance has always existed in western animation more or less, it might have become more prevalent perhaps but it always has existed.