Today's Topic: Why is reality reversed in cartoons?

I think that, without much fear of contradiction, it is safe to say that most people are not crazy about mice living in their homes. Not only are they terribly unsanitary (did you know that mice, like flies, are constantly excreting waste of some sort of another as they traverse your castle?), but they're fast and noisy.

And yet, when watching Tom & Jerry, you want the mouse to outsmart the cat and escape.

Why is that?

And good old Popeye and Olive Oyl...why do we forgive her constant idiocy of going off with Bluto (or Bruno, depending on the age of the episode) because she momentarily finds him sexier, wittier and more interesting, and hold our breath until Popeye gets that can of spinach, kicks ass and rescues the girl? It certainly ain't because she's hot (the following picture, and updated "pretty Olive" notwithstanding) or puts out ("You keep your hands to you...that's what you are!")

But those are Olde Tyme toons. Let's check out one of them New Millennium toonz.

This little cutie is Pucca, a Japanese anime import who appears on Toon Disney...which automatically means that she's A-OK with parents and kiddies, right? I mean, who on Earth is more respectful of the value of wholesomeness and the delicate grip morality has on today's society than the good people of Disney???

So why are they masquerading a delusional psycho stalker chick as an adorable little girl with a major crush on Garu, a little ninja boy with a heart decorating his ninja jammies???

Here's what Pucca sees in her head:

Here's the reality:

Garu spends most episodes running away/hiding from Pucca when he isn't fighting the evil ninja guys. The girl terrifies him. And with good reason. She's EVERYWHERE! The only "benefit" is that when he is being threatened by any one of a number of ninja baddies, Pucca turns into some kind of crazed, psycho stalker one-girl hurricane of fighting fury. No one will EVER hurt Garu as long as Pucca lives and breathes. But does this endear her to him? No. It freaks him out. As well it should.

And yet, you want Garu to realize that Pucca is the cutest thing ever and that his life would be an endless rain of gumdrops and sunshine should he ever JUST STOP RUNNING!!!

Why is that???!!!

Do we allow our ordinary sense of "right" and "wrong" to evaporate when we turn on the Boob Tube? Are we (sans LSD) "turning on, tuning in, and dropping out"? Are we permitting ourselves to be lulled into a dreamy sense of acceptance via catchy (albeit nonsensical) pop tunes, bright primary colors and constant movement allowing for no time to THINK?

Perhaps this is all a plot to prepare us for the upcoming Presidential elections. I, for one, know I would pay a lot more attetion to the yadda yadda yadda if I were watching, say, hand puppets, instead of talking heads. Mayhaps that is what we have to look forward to in the upcoming weeks and months.

Sweet!

As they say...Stay Tooned...