History SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism / WesternAnimation

** The sixth and final season zigzags with idealism vs. cynicism even more than the previous seasons. Season 6 Episode 7, "The Face of Depression," the penultimate episode of the first half of Season 6, ends in such a manner that would easily be an optimistic, tears-of-joy ending... if it wasn't immediately followed by an episode that sets up Hollyhock learning about some of the worst things Bojack has done and news reporters preparing to reveal some of the other worst things he's done. The second half of the season is much more on the cynical end, with Bojack finally being properly taken to task for his harmful behavior, especially in regards to the various incidents in which a younger woman he had a stronger power dynamic over had the quality of their life seriously lowered because of having known him, and Bojack's reputation is seriously damaged as a result. Such karmic justice isn't as cathartic as it might be if Bojack weren't the main character we've gotten to understand the mind of regardless of whether or not we actually like him, thus guaranteeing the last few episodes of the season stay pretty far on the cynical end. The penultimate episode of the series turns out to be the DyingDream of Bojack as he's DrivenToSuicide and begins to attempt to overdose on drugs and drown himself in the pool on his old house's back porch, which would make for the biggest DownerEnding in the entire show's run, which is saying something, given the kind of show this is. The series finale has a more bittersweet feel overall, with Bojack affirming where he stands with Mr. Peanutbutter, Todd, and Princess Carolyn, all of whom Bojack accepts for who they are, and all of whom accept Bojack for who he is, albeit mainly because none of them can truly claim to be better than him at the end of the day. Bojack's final conversation with Diane is less sweet, as Diane acknowledges that, as close as they are due to their mutual understanding of one another more than anyone else, Bojack kept putting her in the unenviable position of always being the one to save him from himself, keeping either of them from ever truly growing, and that after this last conversation with him, Diane will never see Bojack again. Even still, Diane acknowledges that she owes many of her professional successes in the past few years to knowing Bojack, and Bojack acknowledges that he may never have made what personal improvements he did without having known Diane, and the show ends with the two of them looking at the sky in silence. The last season is structured this way to show how life doesn't have neat and tidy happy endings, as there's always "the day after the happy ending," and how, despite Bojack seemingly having gotten sober at the end of the series, he could just as easily relapse at any point after that. The show ultimately ends in the dead middle of the idealism vs. cynicism scale, as a show with a main character like Bojack ultimately can't have a really happy ending. As Diane says at the end of the series finale, "Life's a bitch, and then you keep living," which makes it all the more important to appreciate the good moments as they come, and enjoy the peaceful nights that you do get.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'' is very much more on the cynical side but shows some optimism, especially in the final season. The bulk of the cast are concerned wholly with their appearance and popularity, though its due to their insecurities rather than complete selfishness and maliciousness. The ShowWithinAShow on Daria is called ''Sick Sad World''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' generally falls into the cynical end of the scale. As a BlackComedy SadistShow, a lot of characters are [[{Jerkass}} jerkasses]], [[TheDitz idiots]], who also [[TheChewToy have a lot of moments of bad luck]], and many of the villains have truly malevolent plans against our heroes, who, as stated before, aren’t much better than them. With that being said, it ''does'' have a sense of idealism to some extent, unlike [[WesternAnimation/CatDog many of]] [[WesternAnimation/InvaderZim its]] [[WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy contemporaries]] of similar ilk.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' generally falls into the cynical end of the scale. As a BlackComedy show, a lot of characters are {[[{Jerkass}} jerkasses]], [[TheDitz idiots]], and [[SadistShow all have]] [[TheChewToy general moments of bad luck]], and many of the villains have truly malevolent plans against our heroes, who, as stated before, aren’t much better than them. With that being said, it ''does'' have a sense of idealism to some extent, unlike [[WesternAnimation/CatDog many of]] [[WesternAnimation/InvaderZim its]] [[WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy contemporaries]] of similar ilk.

* ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'' is very cynical in comparison to most Nicktoons. Despite its cartoony aesthetics, practically everyone on that show is a major league {{Jerkass}} (except [[DogsAreDumb Dog]], who is more InnocentlyInsensitive), Nearburg is a CrapsackWorld with every business run by [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Rancid Rabbit]], and the titular characters almost ''never'' win (and episodes often ended with them being beaten up by the [[TerribleTrio Greaser Dogs]]).

** The SpinOff series ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTimeFionaAndCake'' also lies hard on the idealistic side even though it does take a darker and more adult turn.

** PBS Idea Channel has posited [[in this video]] that ''Futurama'' is the logical conclusion to a concept known as the hedonic treadmill: that no matter what good or bad things happen or how civilization changes over time, the way humans feel about their lives will ultimately return to a level of neutrality. This is shown by how the twenty-first century itself has ''not'' been the idealized future [[{{Zeerust}} many in the mid-twentieth century believed it to be]], even if our lives have indeed become easier due to better technology. Compared to how ''Franchise/StarTrek'' is an optimistic future where technological advancements have enriched people's lives, or how ''Manga/{{Akira}}'' is a dark future where military advancements have led to further suffering and death, ''Futurama'' sits in the middle as a future where technological advancement itself is the only major change, with life itself remaining just as mundane as it did a thousand years before.

* ''WesternAnimation/InfinityTrain'' leans idealistic for Books 1, 2 and 4. The characters are forced to confront deep emotional issues, no easy answers or convenient outs are provided, and it's accepted that compromises must be made, but they ultimately manage to find what they desire and come to a better understanding of themselves. The train itself can inflict brutish punishments and offers with their consent, but is a WellIntentionedExtremist that genuinely acts under what it views as their benefit, and even [[spoiler: Amelia]] is granted another chance to make up for her failings, with the only villains definitively killed being in self-defense.
** Book 3, on the other hand, is among the most cynical pieces of serious western animation ever produced, though still prevents itself from running fully into nihilistic territory and maintains a degree of hope. [[spoiler: Simon and Grace's failure to communicate and moral failings result in dire consequences. Grace's attempts to TakeAThirdOption result in her completely isolating herself from Hazel and losing the closest friend of her life. While Simon could redeem himself, the show accepts that some people will simply continue to [[HardTruthAesop spiral downwards in self-destructive ways and that you won't be able to do anything to help them]], and he is given no way out and is violently murdered. However, Grace accepts responsibility and pledges to get the remaining Apex members off the train, and still [[EvenEvilCanBeLoved loves Simon and mourns his death]] despite everything he did.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' is perhaps the most cynical kids cartoon ever created. Practically every single character, major, minor or otherwise, is a total and absolute moron [[TooDumbToLive with the self-preservation skills of a brick]]. Those that aren't are grossly {{apathetic|Citizens}} and [[BystanderSyndrome consider the world's troubles to be somebody else's problem]]. And the slim minority that aren't either are generally the universe's ChewToy. It's a CrapsackWorld, indeed. That said, when the series returned as a comic book and a television movie over a decade later, it eased up a bit: it's still plenty cynical, but not intensely so.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' is a DarkParody and GenreDeconstruction of the ideal youth adventure, ScienceHero, costumed heroes/villains, and SpyFiction genres showcasing its heavy themes of failure and the mental toll these heavy experiences may have on people as they age. Despite that, the series may not be as cynical as it sounds. In fact, the [[WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothersRadiantIsTheBloodOfTheBaboonHeart the movie]] ends the series on a surprisingly positive note for most of its characters.

* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' is cynically optimistic. It's a very interesting example because the tone of each season seems to shift from something that is overall DarkerAndEdgier than shifts to LighterAndSofter and then back to a season that is DarkerAndEdgier again. The show's ultimate message is love and happiness are definitely obtainable but not easily so. Characters face such complex obstacles with others and their own emotions that they sometimes make hurtful emotional choices or reasonable good-hearted choices that affect other people greatly. Bojack is a self-loathing yet narcissistic horse who is constantly trying to find a way get better but finds it easier to stick to his own self-destructive habits which he still hates. By the end of season 4 however, he discovers in the midst of a drug-fueled epiphany that he's a good person worthy of redemption, and follows the others' lead in downtrodden expectations with a grain of hope. However, this doesn't exactly mean the show is going on a constant upward scale from here. Season 5 was much DarkerAndEdgier than the more colorful previous season revealing Bojack is still struggling to become better. By season 5 though he finally takes a forceful decision to [[spoiler: go to rehab after he choked his girlfriend/co-star Gina not on purpose but due to drugs, felt horrible about it, and realized this is another wake up call to finally need help]].

--->'''Bob''': Let's go home, live our lives the best we can. I mean, we're poor but we're happy.

* ''WesternAnimation/CloneHigh'' has a more cynical edge than ''Creator/PhilLordAndChrisMiller'''s other projects. The series serves as an irreverent take on the ''Series/DawsonsCreek'' and ''Series/BeverlyHills90210'' generation. It's mixed with social satire and a subplot involving secret government agents who create a school for clones only so they can prepare them to join a deadly army. That said, it's not too far down on the cynical side either. It's still a surprisingly tenderhearted series. Most of the episodes do still have a happy ending and there are characters who will ultimately do the right thing. Some of the JerkAss characters like JFK do have a lot of character development that ''[[TookALevelInKindness changes them for the better]]. Overall, it's more down the middle.

* ''WesternAnimation/CloneHigh'' has a more cynical edge than ''Creator/PhilLordAndChrisMiller'''s other projects. The series serves as an irreverent take on the ''Series/DawsonsCreek'' and ''Series/BeverlyHills90210'' generation. It's mixed with social satire and a subplot involving secret government agents who create a school for clones only so they can prepare them to join a deadly army. That said, it's not too far down on the cynical side either. Most of the episodes do still have a happy ending and there are characters who will ultimately do the right thing. Some of the JerkAss characters like JFK do have a lot of character development that ''[[TookALevelInKindness changes them for the better]]. Overall, it's more down the middle.