Anyone who tries to say that cartoons are made only for kids are sadly misinformed. The majority of my watching, of course, comes from my love for the visual arts, and the studying of things like backgrounds, framework/animation, and overall visual delivery. Ed, Edd, and Eddy in particular has always intrigued me a little, as do most Squigglevision cartoons. (Home movies started out with Squigglevision, and later moved on to flash animation.)
As with graphic novels, I enjoy art that projects a feeling of movement. I can definitely see why it would appeal to children to use this type of animation as well; the constant motion, even while the subjects remain in static poses, is hypnotic. It makes me grin to think just how easy it must be to get away with so many adult references, just for using this one particular process. Because while keeping the kids distracted, the parents slash guardians slash babysitters have plenty of reasons to also enjoy watching it. This show in particular uses a wide range of vocabulary words I never would have understood pre-high school. It isn't unheard of for some jokes to be on the verge of crude, but mostly I just find them funny.
For example, today's episode of the Eds involved the first day of the new school year. The stereotypical, middle-eastern kid walks by them in the hall and says, "Prepare yourselves, boys. It is here we shall be mercilessly judged."
About a minute later, the schizo-kid that carries a piece of wood around named Plank is seen, miserable, leaning against a vending machine. The plank is resting nearby, and the boy, clearly suffering, says, "Keep looking, friend! I've had a hankering for a bag of nuts alllll dayyyy."
It's moments like these on the Cartoon Network that make me wish I had cable.
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