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As always the new cartoons aren’t as good as the old cartoons; why children are drawn to rambunctious comic characters; the National Cartoonist Society is looking for a few good Toon Talkers; and new comic awards and how they come to pass.
The Fairly Oddparents vs. Peppa Pig
New children’s cartoons are less entertaining and just distracting as compared to older (1990s) cartoons.
From Natalie Childers at The Reflector:
Earlier shows, like “Rugrats,” “CatDog” and “Hey Arnold!” provided even more important lessons, but with slower-paced stories and more muted colors. A notable difference from today’s cartoons.
Current cartoons are hard to keep up with, with no moments of silence and no time to digest and understand the content, which is important for younger viewers, according to Common Sense Media.
Even Spongebob Squarepants has changed over the years:
You can see this easily in long-running shows like “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Older seasons are digestible and warm, while newer episodes are overwhelming, colorful and characters are much more overwhelming and often dumbed down.
The Kid-Appeal of Comic Characters Breaking Rules
Alison Baker at The Conversation delves into why kids enjoy characters who challenge authority figures.
So what is the appeal of “naughty” characters for children? Researchers have found that different age groups find different things funny. They characterise two types of humour evident in The Beano – disparaging, such as making fun of people, and slapstick. However, despite concerns about the impact of popular reading on the morals of young people that have been evident since the 19th century there is very little evidence of children being led astray by reading about rule-breaking characters.
The National Cartoonists Society is Looking for Toon Talkers
The National Cartoonists Society is looking for some volunteers to present short sessions on cartooning during their 80th Annual Reuben Award and NCS Conference. The deadline to apply is April 15.
What is Toon Talks?
Inspired by TED Talks, this fast-paced session gives you 10 minutes to share one powerful idea with 200+ of your cartooning peers:
- A creative breakthrough that changed your work
- A business insight that transformed your career
- A technical innovation you’ve discovered
- A lesson learned the hard way
- An unconventional approach that works
When: Friday, August 8, 11:30 AM – 1 PM
Where: Renaissance Columbus Downtown
Think: Short, focused, inspiring. No sales pitches—just your best insight delivered with clarity and punch.
The Toon Talk Presenter Application
Some news and notes about the 80th Reuben Awards & NCS Conference August 6-8, 2026 | Columbus, Ohio
A New Award and How It Came About
The American Library Association instituted a new “Outstanding Comic Award” this year.
Betsy Bird for School Library Journal interviews Jennie Law, Chair of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) Outstanding Comics Award for Children committee, to find out just how it all came about.
Back in January, a fair number of librarians and children’s/YA book enthusiasts took a little time to watch the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards for the 2025 publications of the year. It was a delightful experience to see them live and in person once again in the Chicago area. Also delightful? A brand new component to the awards. I don’t know if you noticed but there was a new inaugural award announced: The Outstanding Comics Award or OCA.
But how much does the average library joe know about this award? With that thought in mind, I decided to go straight to the top. And the top, in this particular case, is none other than Jennie Law … I figured that if anyone knew how to explain what this award was and its larger significance, it would be she. And Jennie, I am grateful to report, was willing to share what she knows…
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