Well there are new episodes coming, we just don't know how or when, it probably comes down to contracts with cartoon network. Eventually there will probably be DVD's
CN,Disney and Nicalodeon are crashing kids shows to the ground. We need another series like batman the animated series or batman beyond. The hub is great when it comes to action shows.
It's simple math for them. Action shows cost more, and don't bring in high ratings. Comedy shows are cheaper to make and build a fallowing with their longer runs. The same kind of thinking has also killed traditional animated films, most importantly from Disney. Never mind the fact that the films they based this on were kind of crap movies. I don't know what could be done to turn things around. Perhaps it's the isolation of specialty channels that's killing the genre. Things were a lot better in the days of syndication.
Legend Of Korra (from what I've seen) is pretty action packed, TMNT 2K12 is too, Star wars the Clone wars is still airing "new" episodes here, pretty violent, ultimate crazyspider-man and blanders assemble are also pretty "action packed",Transformers Prime is too, Young Justice, and Green Lantern were too, and I recall a recent(ish) episode of Regular show, where they shoot Chuck. E Cheese type characters, with actual weapons, Adventure time also had a villain made out of organs that blew up in red gunk when he died. I think there's still action shows (Even if Regular show is seen as a animated and sit-com and Adventure time as a comedy.)
Worth pointing out that B:TAS wasn't overly violent. It was intelligent, thoughtfully paced, but not violent. Great point. Some people act like kids programming today has somehow dumbed down or is too "safe"/non-violent whatever... um, methinks you've forgotten what cartoons in the 1980s were (mostly) like. I don't remember He-Man slashing Beast Man to pieces; or real bullets being fired by robbers etc.
Not sure if action cartoons are dying, but I do think story-based cartoons are. Instead of long story driven arcs, the episodic and comedic formula seems to be favored nowadays.
Action cartoons cost more to create. They think they will be able to offset the costs by making toys for kids to buy. Honestly, however, overall toy sales are going down because of video games. It's even affecting Transformers. Only the movie toys were selling extremely well. Once the toys don't sell, Cartoon Network moves it to a timeslot with little advertising, then cite low viewership as a reason to cancel it. It's a pretty stupid cycle. If Warner Bros and Cartoon Network didn't have the DC Nation deal, I don't think Beware the Batman would be getting made. It doesn't have a toyline.
It's a set of standards that have existed since basically television began. If anything, allowances for graphic violence and "mature" themes have become more and more tolerant as time has gone on. But keep looking back to a halcyon age that never existed. Action comics are dying in the same way cartoons as a whole are dying. Ironically, while there are more and more outlets for cartoons (specialty channels, on-demand downloads, etc.) this has hurt as much as it has helped. In a lot of ways, specialty channels led to the effective death of saturday-morning and weekday afternoon cartoon/children's programming slots. Similarly, the "faster aging" trend we're seeing in action figures applies here as well (and not just because many shows are still meant to sell toys), kids are moving onto more "mature" activities like video games, texting, etc. at younger ages. Cartoons are also hurting because, as I said, there are more outlets for access, but these same outlets also tie into multiple competing mediums (video games, comics, movies, etc.), that can draw attention away from cartoons. As a result, I think we'll see more "general audience' cartoons (usually smash-hit comedies) than the overwhelming number of "action" cartoons that dominated the landscape in the mid 80s-late 90s. In addition, and as we've already seen for years, lower-cost production methods are likely going to play a role in which shows are picked up (in a movement back to the state of animation in the 60s and 70s), and dense, fast-paced, rich action sequences are at a disadvantage in this situation.
I think there's more to what he's saying by "wussification". Young males, (which was always the demographic for action cartoons) aren't being taught the same values now as they were 20 years ago. I won't say whether that is right or wrong, but it's arguably different. When I was a kid in the late 80's/early 90's, the age of "cowboys and indians" was dying out. But I still recognized the attributes of being a "hero". Even though those attributes were force-fed to me, I realize that today's generation doesn't see the same kind of "manliness" in the messages of cartoons. It's all about being unusual, acting goofy, and making sarcastic comments and references. The hipster vibe kind of strikes me as similar in this instance. That being said, most heroes (main characters) of older cartoons were self sufficient, strong leaders, had a firm sense of right and wrong, etc. Now we have characters, like in Regular show, who don't necessarily have a purpose. Shows like Gumball lack motivation or urgency in the writing, creating lackadaisical situations, and then appeal to the more "immature" nature of being a kid. I don't watch these shows so I really can't comment beyond that. Cartoons today that involve serious attitudes are generally laughed at by kids, because they've been taught to think laughing at problems is cool. At least that's how I've perceived the kids I know through family or friends to act.
I think a lot of the times it comes down to the conflict of values. The fact is, no one believes that action is without consequence: the kind of glory and reputation that typical heroes accrue is not garnered without sacrifice or loss. Say, you're the lone survivor of your platoon's contact with an overwhelming enemy force. You're tough, courageous and cunning enough to have been 'the man'.....but the fact remains your reputation was built upon the corpses of your comrades. You saw them die; and killed men in return: this sort of event will have an impact. I think the shit storm occurs when the bias of the writers affects the aftermath. The Avatar cartoons are basically the only shows that make much more than a token effort to examine the murky grey areas that spring up in conflict between two groups that are utterly convinced that they're right. Until either the rules or social expectations behind what qualifies as "children's entertainment" change, I fear action based cartoons made by US networks will remain in a nebulous state. Anime may see a resurgence thanks to thankfully moe-less successes like Attack on Titan. That and the notion of trying to emulate the Transformers/My Little Pony/Ben 10 trick of tying it's success to a toyline needs to just fucking die.
I'd prefer to have only anime, cartoons are generally stupid and pointless from what I've seen (A lot of anime as well) but there are a lot that have amazing stories that can make you think about the show and continue watching it for a very long time. Animes also allow for more violence and gore, stuff like that. I like shows having that option there as it can make the show have more of an emotional impact when characters are injured or killed.
compared to the 80s... yes...and its been for a long time now.. quite sad...the 80s had sweet cartoons..
I very much agree. I think you're spot on with the idea that in the 80's, destroying all your enemies and killing them, was very much downplayed as if it had no consequences. I think that's why when I was on active duty, and not watching cartoons at all, I gravitated towards Avatar. It was just such a different concept, with a much more realistic vibe.
