Children's Commercials

So I watched Spongebob for the first time in a very long time yesterday. Which also means I had Nickelodeon on for the first time in a long time, because Spongebob is the only thing that's worth turning that channel on for, honestly.

The episodes were hilarious, as expected. Even more hilarious than I remember, for now that I am older I catch the hidden jokes. Sneaky animators/writers.

But that's not what I want to really talk about. What I want to talk about...is the commercials.

They've changed, I think.

From what I remember of Nickelodeon commercials for toys and what not, there would usually be action type music for the action figures, kids playing, the toy would knock down a wall of cans, and it would look awesome. For girls, there would be Pink covering every inch of the commercial and a nice quiet and catchy song would play while the little girls played in, honestly, more creative and innovative ways than the boys. Sneaky.

Now what I saw yesterday...was like what I saw only times ten. It was ridiculous. Music would be blasting with some ridiculous theme song, colors would be flashing everywhere, and children would be BEAMING with these forced smiles that looked ridiculous. I mean, the forced smiles are in every kids commercial but somehow those kids took it to a whole new level of ridiculous. It's as if someone was on a platform above them holding strings attached to their cheeks, pulling them back and far as humanly possible.

And those colors and images and special effects flashing on the screen...I'm shocked that kids haven't collapsed onto the ground seizing because these commercials...I honestly thought about closing my eyes to hide my eyes from the ridiculousness and for my own safety.

If I thought this generation was frightening....then I'm petrified to see what's coming up next for the world that is the ever developing stereotypical image that is known as the teenager.

We're lucky. We grew up as technology did, and I honestly didn't have much contact with it until I was almost in middle school.

They're growing up as technology is pretty much where it's going to be for awhile. My nine year old cousin has an iPhone. This scares me.

Added note: I've said this before and I'll say it again...Nickelodeon desperately needs to revive the classics. Hey Arnold... Rocko's Modern Life...Figure it Out....Rugrats....all had huge impacts on me. Now the common cartoon world is...really non existent. Nickelodeon either airs their awful live action shows or Spongebob, Cartoon Network's cartoons are actually getting a little bit more adult, which I like but still. And Disney channel...agh. If only I could go down to their offices and just rant to them about what Walt would have made that channel....

Well. That's all I have to say about that.