Do girls actually 'age out' of cartoons?

[downrightdude]

This week Cartoon network announced they'll be releasing a few live action stuff for their female demographic:

Article of possible DOOM

But there's one quote in particular that has ruffled a few feathers, and it's something I'd like to discuss:

“Girls often graduate out of animation. Some of our most incredible competitors have been at the live-action game for a long time. We know that’s what girls want. With live action, we’re excited to reflect the world as it is, inviting girls in without alienating the boys. We do that through single-camera and multi-cam comedies and dramas.”

Seriously? Since when were girls 'graduating' out of watching cartoons? Is this even true? The backlash this response has gotten seems to prove the opposite; there ARE girls who continue watching cartoons when they grow up, and young women continue to watch animated content today.

Another thing to consider is the treatment of female-oriented animated content in America. The Smurfette Principle (cartoons contain only one female lead character) is one way to show how male-dominated cartoons have been for ages; boys can grow up with cartoons, yet girls are expected to grow out faster?

Of course there are many cartoons that are geared towards girls, yet it' been said that older girls don't seem to have much animated content for them. And as a female-cartoon fanatic, I have noticed that certain girls-cartoons aren't given as much attention or TLC than boys-cartoons, though it depends on the network. People have brought up Anime as being more inclusive to all demographics, and I agree it is (though many titles more girls are either mishandled or never licensed in America).

That's all I can think up as a starting point, so I'd be curious to see what other people have to say. I'll also try to flesh out my own opinions.

[Killix]

I'm not convinced that a person's gender has much to do with whether or not they remain attached to the media they enjoyed when they were young.

[Blueysicle]

It boils down to sexism really.

And that quote is just plain baloney too, because even just a cursory glance at fandoms for animated shows and movies will tell you otherwise - especially when the property in question is old enough that its original audience are adults now. There are lots of older girls and women that continue to enjoy animation. But when the whole "girls graduating out of animation" does occur, it feels like a self-fulfilling prophecy. And I think there are two factors in play here:

1. Animation - in America at least - is still commonly regarded as something solely for children, even in the growing
presence of shows aimed at older audiences.

2. Girls are often pressured into growing up quicker than boys.

Because there are still a lot of people in the world with very backward views in regards to gender, and some of them end up as executives in children's entertainment and merchandise. And in their minds, it's perfectly acceptable for boys to continue to consume their media and buy their products, but girls are expected to drop off of it for more "socially acceptable" hobbies sooner than boys usually are. So their "logic" appears to go that, "cartoons = childish, live-action = mature, girls are expected to be more mature than boys, therefore girls only want live-action shows." And since they don't see girls as a worthwhile market in terms of animation, they either neglect that audience or just flat-out reject them entirely. (Such as the example I give below) Which can end up driving some girls away from animation, which in turn ends up reinforcing these executive's notions of "girls graduate out of animation." Again, self-fulfilling prophecy.

Also, of course this is coming from Cartoon Network, why am I not surprised. There was a Cartoon Network show quite a
while back (Sym-Biotic Titan I believe? Don't quote me on that, though) that was pulling in a lot of girl viewers, and was cancelled for that very reason because the executives wanted boys to watch the show instead since "girls don't buy toys." Clearly nothing has changed with them. (And clearly they haven't learned their lesson from the last time they tried producing live action shows on a channel with "cartoon" in its name. Spoiler: It was a disaster.)

[Breakingchains]

Ew. Cartoon Network already had a live action phase quite a few years ago, and it's generally looked back upon with disgust as an absolute cringefest. And recent cartoons that played their cards right have gotten mass numbers of older female fans--just look at She-Ra, Owl House, and SU. This sounds like some aging exec who hasn't been in touch with the market since the 70s.

You'd also think these goofs would have figured out by now that the "girls don't buy toys" thing is iffy, considering that The Powerpuff Girls was a terrifying unstoppable merch giant all the way back in the 90's/00's. I remember that fandom laughing about the release of a freaking Powerpuff Girls waffle iron.

[Killix]

"Girls don't buy toys" is such a baffling statement.
(Besides, the Parents/guardians are the ones who have all of the purchasing power when it comes to merch targeted at a younger audience.)


I bet those incorrigible old suits would faint from sheer disbelief upon seeing my toy-covered room.

[downrightdude]

I remember seeing Powerpuff plushies in a crane game. Oh, how I wanted them.

And the talking plushies with shiny outfits.