Rated X wrote:Cant we just call them what they are ? (cartoons and comics)
Seems like someone is just trying to make something sound overly sophisticated. Like if they feel the need justify adults watching cartoons or reading comics.
I don't think there is any misidentification in most forums. Anything published by Marvel, DW, IDW or Punpub etc... is always referred to as a comic. Anything that is published in Japan such as the in-package stories with Transformers Legends is referred to as Manga because that's what it is. It's short for
Mangajin (Romanization of Magazine in Japan). Aesthetically they may be very similar, but calling anything that comes from japan a Manga is not over sophistication, its just correct.
Would you force everyone to stop calling all of Jim Henson's creations as Muppets, and just use the general term puppets? It is true they are all puppets, but what gets the point across more-- "I saw that new Puppet movie with Kermit the Frog", or just I saw "The Muppets"
As for Cartoon. I see it this way...Can you refer to the TR series as a "cartoon" , sure. But for me
personally (and I don't expect anyone else to follow this logic...) the word "cartoon" has always been synonymous with humor (think of the film, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"- Toon Town, and all creatures from there were "Toons") -Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Popeye, Scooby-Doo and all their kin' I would consider as cartoons.
However for anything that involves action, adventure, sci-fi etc...I refer to those as an "animated series". Sure its a bit longer, but IMHO it gives a little more respect to the work, and distinguishes it from others. One case in point, I don't think I've ever heard anyone on a forum write "The batman cartoon from the 1990's", or "Fox's Batman cartoon". I've always seen it written as "Batman: The Animated Series". - that title alone makes it absolutely definitive which Batman you are talking about, among the many Batman shows that have been produced over the years.
So when speaking of any Transformers show, in context, I will always use the term "Animated Series", and
not cartoon. Though technically cartoon is not incorrect, and I don't call people out for using it. The same goes for "G1". Personally I hate that term. To me it waters down and is completely disrespectful to everything that defined what we have now, almost 34 years later. Star Trek fans use the term "OST" (or Original Series Trek), and I think that's fine. Me personally I always refer to "The Original Series" in relation to anything that occurred with Transformers between 1984-1991. You will never see me use the term "G1" unless I'm quoting someone else. But by the same token, I don't fault others for using it. I know its popular, its just not for me.