Talk:Captain Planet

To be fair to Captain Planet...

Despite its problems and Sunday school environmentalism, at the end of the day, i'd much prefer average Americans from the target demographic of 4 to 14 watching Captain Planet, as apposed to the 22 minute long toy and sugar commercials that typified most 80s and 90s kid's cartoon. You can't get everyone to force feed their kids PBS (like mine did), so having a show with its message reaching a larger audience at that time was ultimately a good thing for society and people of my generation (currently early 30s).--Petey Plane (talk) 13:23, 24 October 2015 (UTC)

Yeah, the article seems to say simplifying a positive message for childrens' consumption is some kind of a bad thing. Flannan Isle (talk) 17:12, 24 October 2015 (UTC)

It isn't so much that they simplified a positive message as it is the particular way they chose to simplify it, I think. Treating the environment as something sacred and inviolable rather than something that's subject to tradeoffs and diminishing returns, with strawman villains who pollute for pure love of filth. - Smerdis of Tlön, ^{LOAD "*", 8, 1.} 01:41, 25 October 2015 (UTC)

It's kind of like getting mad at the Myth Busters for not being rigorous enough in their testing. IT'S A KIDS SHOW!! It's goal is to introduce children to the subject and hopefully spark an interest that will be expanded on in the future. Sure, it simplifies things to the point of absurdity for those of a more mature understanding of the topic but it's not meant to be judged on the same level as Fall 2015 Introduction to Physical Chemistry 201 at Rutgers. That 20-30 year olds judge it as a show aimed at their own demographic is more of a commentary on them than on the show, and for something like Captian Planet to be in the middle of Mattel's Ninja Cat Robots (sponsored by Pizza Hut) and Hasboro's G. I. Joe: Desert Storm Force should maybe not be viewed so cynically. All i'm saying.--Petey Plane (talk) 01:42, 25 October 2015 (UTC)

Cynical is my middle name, and I'm a 50 - 60 year old who likes to watch cartoons. That said, my actual fear is that the message is distorted for politics' sake. They don't want the kids to be asking awkward questions about Mom's job at the oil refinery or what Dad does down at the paper mill. I can see this leading to counterproductive backlash after an uncomfortable family conversation. On the other hand, the simplistic stories and obvious morals are three quarters of the show's charm, and I tried to make that bit clear as well. - Smerdis of Tlön, ^{LOAD "*", 8, 1.} 03:53, 25 October 2015 (UTC)

I liked it back in the day ('90s), but in the same vein I liked the merchandise-driven (TVTropes is your friend here) cartoons of '80s vintage that aired early in the morning those years (Transformers, I'm looking at you), and agree that seem with an adult's perspective would likely cause a brain meltdown (Dinosaucers anyone?). Anyway, I prefer Captain Commando my main complaint as much as that was unavoidable to avoid that children JAQed off on their parents about their jobs is how villains were presented as straw men -EDIT who came again ang again and again- (and perhaps the New Agey goddess Gaia thing -I hope she'll have a good insurance policy the day the Sun goes red giant-) Panzerfaust (talk) 12:43, 27 August 2017 (UTC)

Always been a cartoon fan. Watched He-Man religiously during my last year in college. Still find them enjoyable. After having endured a decade where Superman wasn't allowed to punch the bad guys, He-Man was a breath of fresh air. - Smerdis of Tlön, ^{LOAD "*", 8, 1.} 04:29, 28 August 2017 (UTC)

I admit I've stored some episodes of this one and often watch them. As much as the series has some pseudoscience (Atlantis) mixed in (it has an educative side talking about astronomy and other topics) and animation has not aged well, soundtrack is very good (jazz, classical, synth, etc. music), ships designs (especially the Nautilus -Google it-) are quite gorgeous and the background story was solid and deep (villains have a justification to be there, some thoughts the series gives about overpopulation, the dangers of certain kind of leaders, and giving too much power to machines) Panzerfaust (talk) 08:29, 29 August 2017 (UTC)

To be honest it probably sold just as many kids on seeking jobs in the petrochemical industry because the characters were all so annoying and the bad guys got cool vehicles to cut down trees and wreck things. Kind of like how to a certain type of child, FernGully taught that working in the logging industry would be awesome because you could drive an enormous chainsaw tank and kill stupid fairies.

EDIT: Actually, I distinctly remember my own issue with this show. This came out when I was eight, and back then I was of the opinion that cartoons were made by kids. And then I saw this show. Kids that sound like grown ups! And they're trying to make me learn things, like grown ups! This is a cartoon made by grown ups! :O Nog Bogmire (talk) 09:17, 29 August 2017 (UTC)