Animation: A Genre?

Written by Joella Lin
Edited by Riley Worth
Cover Image by Leyao Xiao

The list of genres for films and shows typically look something like this: Romance, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Drama, Comedy… and Animation?

Animation is, arguably, one of the most belittled genres within film and television. Award shows like the Oscars subtly ridicule animation each year, alluding to the idea that animation is something only children can enjoy and any sophisticated adult is obviously well above what animation has to offer. Even celebrities make unwarranted remarks belittling the genre as something that is “just for kids”

But why is that?

The Cambridge dictionary defines genre as “a style, especially in the arts, that involves a particular set of characteristics.” When one watches something from the fantasy genre, one can usually expect to see mythical creatures such as fairies and monsters as well as the use of magic as these are all very prevalent features of the genre. When one watches an action film, one can expect a more fast-paced story with more violence. But what can one expect from animation other than the fact that it’s animated?

Animation has covered a variety of genres and topics, spanning from romance and comedy to horror and action; many themes that the animation medium explores are just as complex and nuanced as live-action films. There are no set characteristics of the animation “genre” besides the fact that it’s animated. Thus, it can be said that animation is, in fact, not a genre but a medium.

Although animation is not a genre, it’s often classified as such in awards ceremonies, streaming services, and by the general public. This can be harmful and disrespectful towards the animators, fans, and the industry for a variety of reasons.

As animation is considered a genre in the minds of the public, many people associate the genre with its biggest names such as Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks. When animation is recognized not as a medium but as a genre and is then associated with family-friendly brands that target children, it gives the false impression that that’s what animation is: movies and shows for kids. This can turn many people away from exploring what animation has to offer, leading to animated films and shows that are not family-friendly losing potential audiences and creating a cycle where family-friendly animation is pushed to the front. The dismissal of animation can lead to smaller animation studios closing in the long-run as they’re not able to remain profitable due to how exposure of animation is distributed. This can lead to animation becoming more monotonous as large corporations make up for the majority of animated content.

Identifying animation as a “kid-friendly” genre instead of a medium also disregards the amount of effort that goes into animation. There is much thought that goes into every animated piece, perhaps even more so than live-action as animation is frame-by-frame, and generalizing the entire medium is dismissing the effort that goes into creating animation.

There is nothing wrong with disliking animation as a medium, but people should understand that disliking animation as a genre is a false statement, because as we’ve established, animation is not a genre. If what’s holding you back from consuming animated content is because of the perception that animation only has kid-friendly content, please know that there are a variety of other genres within animation to be explored! Kakegurui and Link Click are two examples of animated shows that have some mature themes in them; Kakegurui is about gambling and Link Click touches on multiple sensitive topics. If you have time, try looking into them!