History SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism / WesternAnimation

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' is like ''{{Seinfeld}}'' compared to ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' being ''MarriedWithChildren''. Some of the characters only serve to be chew toys for the others and like ''Seinfeld'', no learning or hugging allowed and there are barely any heartwarming moments, and Peter is outright abusive towards Meg and at times Chris. ''TheSimpsons'' however is generally more idealistic as far as {{satire}} goes since there are some meaningful episodes which shows the bonds of the dysfunctional family and how despite how bad Homer's life is, he will never truly betray Marge and their marriage.

** ''Flapjack'', on the other hand, is very cynical. It takes place in a CrapsackWorld where pretty much everyone is bitter, abusive, and [[GrotesqueGallery ugly]], with NightmareFuel abound.

* By contrast, ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' is quite far down on the cynical side of the scale, taking place in a small town hell where NightmareFuel abounds and has enough squick and offensive humor that no one is innocent or spared.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Total Drama|Island}}'' started out as a fairly idealistic parody of reality shows in its first season, with a few cynical moments and individual DownerEndings. In its second season, though, things took a turn for the cynical end. Tropes like the ShallowLoveInterest were {{Deconstructed}} brutally, and the cast turned into a pretty good example of BlackAndGrayMorality. Season 3 can be considered somewhat a {{Reconstruction}}, returning to the formula of the first season with some things from the second lurking in, and the series now lies at the center of the scale.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Total Drama|Island}}'' started out as a fairly idealistic parody of reality shows in its first season, with a few cynical moments and individual DownerEndings. In its second season, though, [[ItGotWorse things took a turn for the cynical end]]. Tropes like the ShallowLoveInterest were {{Deconstructed}} brutally, and the cast turned into a pretty good example of BlackAndGrayMorality. Season 3 can be considered somewhat a {{Reconstruction}}, returning to the formula of the first season with some things from the second lurking in, and the series now lies at the center of the scale.

* ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' has some fun exploring this during the Cadmus arc - memorably, Superman turns out to be the UnwittingPawn by taking the "realistic" option, but Batman manages to save everyone's bacon by doing same. In the end Superman refuses to kill a goading Luthor, providing the page quite for BeingGoodSucks, showing both a triumph of Idealism '''and''' internal fortitude, as he is sorely [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge tempted to avenge]] TheFlash, who turns out to be NotQuiteDead.

* ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' has some fun exploring this during the Cadmus arc - memorably, Superman turns out to be the UnwittingPawn by taking the "realistic" option, but Batman manages to save everyone's bacon by doing same. In the end Superman can't bring himself to kill Luthor, but whether this is a triumph of Idealism or a failure of internal fortitude is left a touch ambiguous.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' tends to be down the middle. Several known species of animal are extinct, New York City has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, crack is readily available in vending machines, the universe is threatened on a regular basis, RichardNixon is president again, the nation’s military is commanded by an incompetent, womanizing AdultChild who is more than willing to sacrifice his own men for unnecessary reasons and start a war with a race he hates, hell exists, [[PlaceWorseThanDeath and is in]] [[{{Joisey}} New Jersey]]; and the world’s leading manufacturer in robots, starship fuel, and electronics is an evil, abusive, amoral person, it is legal to eat human meat, and racism [[FantasticRacism still exists in one form or another]]. But there are episodes that show that some of the worst offenders (namely Bender) have a human side to them, that no love goes unrequited, that shows humanity can band together and make significant changes [[spoiler: (i.e. being able to give mutants, who, for the majority of the series, were treated as vermin, regulated to living in shoddy conditions in the sewers; the freedom to move about the surface and (possibly) equal rights as surface-dwellers,]] [[spoiler: legalize robosexual marriage]], and come to a fair and equal consensus on controversial subjects like evolution.

** This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric LazyBum, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, [[ApologizesALot Fluttershy]] hides her [[ControlFreak control-freakish]] [[TheNapoleon Napoleonic]] personality behind a ShrinkingViolet, [[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a {{Manchild}} and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye, and Rarity hides [[WiseBeyondTheirYears her status as the most mature of the characters]] under a [[BigEgoHiddenDepths thick facade]] of a DramaQueen.

* Interestingly ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' is a similar concept that slowly drifted from one to the other. The show was originally cheerful and vaguely sentimental with [=SpongeBob=] being somewhat relatable and most of his bumbling being treated sympathetically or as LaserGuidedKarma to meaner spirited characters. As time passed however the humor became darker and [=SpongeBob=] also became more insane and the consequences of his constant stupidity often shown to be harrowing and life destroying for innocent people. Other characters like Mr Krabs also became far more malicious ([[KarmaHoudini and unlike before didn't always fall victim to karma]]).

* ''{{Futurama}}'' tends to be down the middle. Several known species of animal are extinct, New York City has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, crack is readily available in vending machines, the universe is threatened on a regular basis, RichardNixon is president again, the nation’s military is commanded by an incompetent, womanizing AdultChild who is more than willing to sacrifice his own men for unnecessary reasons and start a war with a race he hates, hell exists, [[PlaceWorseThanDeath and is in]] [[{{Joisey}} New Jersey]]; and the world’s leading manufacturer in robots, starship fuel, and electronics is an evil, abusive, amoral person, it is legal to eat human meat, and racism [[FantasticRacism still exists in one form or another]]. But there are episodes that show that some of the worst offenders (namely Bender) have a human side to them, that no love goes unrequited, that shows humanity can band together and make significant changes [[spoiler: (i.e. being able to give mutants, who, for the majority of the series, were treated as vermin, regulated to living in shoddy conditions in the sewers; the freedom to move about the surface and (possibly) equal rights as surface-dwellers,]] [[spoiler: legalize robosexual marriage]], and come to a fair and equal consensus on controversial subjects like evolution.

* Two of CartoonNetwork's shows from 2008 to 2010, ''{{Chowder}}'' and ''TheMarvelousMisadventuresOfFlapjack'', show an interesting contrast. They both have the same core idea: "Main character is a naive kid who drags the older main characters into situations based off his naïveté/stupidity." The contrast comes from the fact that the two shows are on the opposite sides of the scale.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Total Drama|Island}}'' started out as a fairly idealistic parody of reality shows in its first season, with a few cynical moments and individual DownerEndings. In its second season, though, [[ItGotWorse things took a turn for the cynical end]]. Tropes like the ShallowLoveInterest were {{Deconstructed}} brutally, and the cast turned into a pretty good example of BlackAndGrayMorality. Season 3 can be considered somewhat a {{Reconstruction}}, returning to the formula of the first season with some things from the second lurking in, and the series now lies at the center of the scale.
* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''idealistic by definition''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison.
** This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric LazyBum, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, [[ApologizesALot Fluttershy]] hides her [[ControlFreak control-freakish]] [[TheNapoleon Napoleonic]] personality behind a ShrinkingViolet, [[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a {{Manchild}} and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye, and Rarity hides [[WiseBeyondTheirYears her status as the most mature of the characters]] under a [[BigEgoHiddenDepths thick facade]] of a DramaQueen.
** Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine and random songs (like others).
* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' is possibly ''the'' most idealistic cartoon of the century. The writers adhere to the rule of "no evil characters", meaning that the show's biggest recurring villain is the resident ButtMonkey/partial [[TheWoobie Woobie]] whose biggest wishes are to rule the tri-state area and [[PapaWolf be a good father]], and the worst one, a DrillSergeantNasty who pretty much brainwashed the main characters was [[spoiler: just a dream]]. However, this comes off as clear proof of [[TropesAreNotBad Idealism is not Bland]], because this is where it gets all its charm.

* ''{{Futurama}}'' tends to be down the middle. Several known species of animal are extinct, New York City has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, crack is readily available in vending machines, the universe is threatened on a regular basis, RichardNixon is president again, the nation’s military is commanded by an incompetent, womanizing AdultChild who is more than willing to sacrifice his own men for unnecessary reasons and start a war with a race he hates, hell exists, and is in New Jersey; an d the world’s leading manufacturer in robots, starship fuel, and electronics is an evil, abusive, amoral person, it is legal to eat human meat, and racism [[FantasticRacism still exists in one form or another]]. But there are episodes that show that some of the worst offenders (namely Bender) have a human side to them, that no love goes unrequited, that shows humanity can band together and make significant changes [[spoiler: (i.e. being able to give mutants, who, for the majority of the series, were treated as vermin, regulated to living in shoddy conditions in the sewers; the freedom to move about the surface and (possibly) equal rights as surface-dwellers,]] [[spoiler: legalize robosexual marriage]], and come to a fair and equal consensus on controversial subjects like evolution.

** Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' is possibly ''the'' most idealistic cartoon of the century. The writers adhere to the rule of "no evil characters", meaning that the show's biggest recurring villain is TheWoobie whose biggest wishes are to rule the tri-state area and [[PapaWolf be a good father]], and the worst one, a DrillSergeantNasty who pretty much brainwashed the main characters was [[spoiler: just a dream]]. However, this comes off as clear proof of [[TropesAreNotBad Idealism is not Bland]], because this is where it gets all its charm.

** This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric LazyBum, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, [[ApologizesALot Fluttershy]] hides her [[ControlFreak control-freakish]] [[TheNapoleon Napoleonic]] personality behind a ShrinkingViolet, [[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a {{Manchild}} and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye, and Rarity hides [[OnlySaneMan her status as the most mature of the characters]] under a [[BigEgoHiddenDepths thick facade]] of a DramaQueen.

* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''idealistic by definition''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison. This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric LazyBum, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, [[ApologizesALot Fluttershy]] hides her [[ControlFreak control-freakish]] [[TheNapoleon Napoleonic]] personality behind a ShrinkingViolet, [[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a {{Manchild}} and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye, and Rarity hides [[OnlySaneMan her status as the most mature of the characters]] under a [[BigEgoHiddenDepths thick facade]] of a DramaQueen. Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''idealistic by definition''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison. This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric LazyBum, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD,[[ApologizesALot Fluttershy]] hides her [[ControlFreak control-freakish]] [[TheNapoleon Napoleonic]] personality behind a ShrinkingViolet,[[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a {{Manchild}} and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye, and Rarity hides [[OnlySaneMan her status as the most mature of the characters]] under a [[BigEgoHiddenDepths thick facade]] of a DramaQueen. Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''idealistic by definition''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison. This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric LazyBum, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, [[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a {{Manchild}} and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye. Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''idealistic by definition''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison. This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric LazyBum, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, [[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a {{Manchild}} and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye. Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

** ''Flapjack'', on the other hand, is very cynical. It takes place in a CrapsackWorld where pretty much everyone is bitter, abusive, and [[GrotesqueGallery ugly]], with AccidentalNightmareFuel abound.

* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''idealistic by definition''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison. This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric AlphaBitch, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, [[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a {{Manchild}} and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye. Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''[[{{Understatement}} idealistic by definition]]''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison. This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric AlphaBitch, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, [[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a {{Manchild}} and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye. Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''[[{{Understatement}} idealistic by definition]]''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison. This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured individuals, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, [[BoisterousBruiser Rainbow Dash]] is an egocentric AlphaBitch, [[BadassNormal Applejack]] is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, [[TheSmartGuy Twilight]] has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, [[TeamPet Pinkie Pie]] is a PsychopathicManchild and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye. Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''[[{{Understatement}} idealistic by definition]]''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison. This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, Rainbow Dash is an egocentric AlphaBitch, Applejack is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, Twilight has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, Pinkie Pie is a PsychopathicManchild and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye. Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

* To describe ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as idealistic does not exactly do it any justice, seeing how ''MyLittlePony'' is ''[[{{Undestatement}} idealistic by definition]]''. While the entire franchise is known to be insanely sugar-bowl-like, ''FIM'' is quite ''cynical'' by comparison. This comes inevitably as the Mane Characters are portrayed as quite multi-coloured, each bearing their own hidden, permanent, deeply rooted and borderline-psychotic flaws (which by the way are fully accepted in the show's continuity. May have something to do with the fact that it was co-directed by LaurenFaust). For instance, Rainbow Dash is an egocentric AlphaBitch, Applejack is a mildly bigoted workaholic with no sense of self-preservation, Twilight has a dangerous case of SuperOCD, Pinkie Pie is a PsychopathicManchild and a group motoric who can turn downright depressive or even irascible in the wink of an eye. Nevertheless, the show does have its fairly idealistic Morals and Aesops, and values the PowerOfFriendship über alles. Still, it does occasionally go out of its way to point out that many problems cannot be solved by smiles, sunshine an random songs (like others).

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' is nearer to the idealistic end; ''MyLittlePony'' in general is idealistic ([[TastesLikeDiabetes some would say too much so]]) but ''[=FiM=]'' is notable in that despite its heroes dealing with basic flaws such as pride and jealousy, it's ThePowerOfFriendship that helps them go through (or at least learn from) such flaws, every single time. It's idealistic, but in a way that's more relatable than [[SugarBowl "everybody's happy and nothing's ever wrong."]] ''Too'' idealistic ideas are in fact treated with some irony.