Colby Price, Wyatt Taylor, Gabrielle Jackson

Draft 1

Nickelodeon Cartoons Genre Analysis

Rocket Power, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, and Hey Arnold were, and still are,
very popular television shows that were created in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These shows
were televised on the channel program Nickelodeon, which is a very popular television program
that focus on elementary and middle school kids. These show are very similar and try to display
real life problems and give real life lessons for kids to grow up and learn how to be a good kid.
The main differences that these shows have are that they each have different problems and show
how problems can be solved, but they all try to teach kids do to the right things in life.
Rocket Power, Jimmy Neutron, and Hey Arnold are all Nickelodeon Television shows the
focus primarily on kids under the age of about 13 and under. Although this is the target audience
of Nickelodeon shows, all ages are welcome to watch this show. Even at the age of 18 I can say I
have sat down and watched the shows and I know there are still adults that watch these shows as
well because of their kids. These shows also are very unique considering these shows all have
male lead characters. So you would think that the focus would be more on boys as the audience
but many girls watch the show too because there are minor female characters in the show.
These shows are also very much alike as well. All three of these shows also try to teach
life lessons in each show. Most of the time its centered on the main character getting into trouble
and trying to solve the problem he created. The other characters try to help in solving the
problem as well because the others minor characters are usually the main characters friends.
These friends also get into trouble as well sometimes and then the show focuses on them that
episode. Another unique feature about each show is that they all have a certain older friend or
family member that teaches them wisdom and helps with certain problems.
These shows have many similarities but also have a few differences. First, each show is
located in different areas and live different lifestyles. For example, Rocket Power is located
around the coast of California where surfing, rollerblading, and skateboarding is very popular
and the show is based off of that lifestyle. Hey Arnold is located in a crowded, poor city. Arnold
grows up living with his grandparents in a small apartment and plays in the street with many of
his other friends. Lastly, Jimmy Neutron lives on a nice neighborhood with his family and he is
an only child. This show is based primarily on his technology and his intelligence. The main
reason that each show presents a different lifestyle is because Nickelodeon is trying to present
different real life situations to kids that might grow up in that same lifestyle or in a completely
different lifestyle. The want to show kids how problems can be solved no matter where youre
from or your back ground.

The main argument of Nickelodeon cartoons differ based on the different shows. Hey Arnold
argues that although people are different, they are still able to get along and get by. The
characters in Hey Arnold lived in a poor city in New York and they all had something
specifically unique about themselves. These specifically unique characteristics of each of these

Colby Price, Wyatt Taylor, Gabrielle Jackson

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characters fell under a common stereotype in regards to that characters race. Although subtle
and usually unnoticeable to the intended audience, the racial stereotypes become more clear
when one tries to relive their childhood by watching a couple of episodes. Which is another
common characteristic of the cartoons we chose to focus on. Rewatching the shows when youre
older reveals a lot of hidden messages that you were at first too innocent to notice.
As mentioned before, Nickelodeon cartoons tend to end with a valuable lesson that kids should
try to take with them and remember while they go forward in life. The main points and
arguments in Hey Arnold revolved around understanding that unity is important, you may get
made fun of, but its okay to be different, it is important to respect your elders and those around
you, however, it is just as important to speak your mind and do what is right, and that if you have
a crush on someone, it isnt always the best idea to keep it to yourself.
Rocket Powers argument was that kids should have more freedom. The four main middle school
characters in this show were allowed to go where they wanted, freely, at almost any time of the
day or night. They lived different lifestyles than a typical child because they lived in California
and participated in numerous different sports (skateboarding was the main sport). The characters
had different personalities however, sports was what brought them all together. This show let it
be known that it was okay to be competitive, that you should always stick together and have your
teammates back, and that you should have fun, while being a good sport, and while trying your
best.
Last but not least, is The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. This show argued that
although you possibly might be the smartest eleven year-old kid in the world, you still need your
family and friends in order to really be happy.
The purpose of cartoons as a whole is to entertain and influence. Cartoons influence in an either
very subtle or very mild way, on a vast amount of subjects. The basis of this technique may have
began when people came up with t.v. shows that kept kids interested while also trying to help
them learn the basic principles of life. Cartoons allow its viewers to use their imagination, relate ,
interact, and even relax. On the contrary, cartoons do not allow their viewers to use their time
wisely, or to gain good ideas of things to try at home.
For the genre of Nickelodeon cartoons, the needs of kids ages from thirteen to about
kindergarten are the main consumers of the show. Jimmy Neutron, Hey Arnold, and Rocket
Power are all intended for children from the elementary school level up to the middle school
level. These shows are intended for those ages because the characters in the shows are around
that same age. Jimmy Neutron was a fiction production, so when kids watch this show it gives a
desire to do the things Jimmy Neutron does. In Rocket Power and Hey Arnold the shows are
written to be more non-fiction. These shows have a lot more sensible real life situations. Rocket
Power show the adventurous side of kids, so I think thats why many kids love these shows. For
these shows, the needs are least met by people of the ages over 16. Between the ages of 13 to 16
is a gray area, because most kids are either going to watch more shows targeted to an older
audience or keep watching cartoons.
This genre of Nickelodeon cartoons doesnt create inequalities among its users, but the
shows might portray things in a way that possibly be considered unequal. In Jimmy Neutron, it
portrays Jimmy as the superior smart man and portrays his friend Cindy, who is a girl, as
mentally inferior to him. But she is only because Jimmy Neutron is a boy genius. It also
represents Jimmy Neutrons friends as very intelligent, so that might be expressing the mantra of
every really smart person has some dumb friends. If knowledge is power then there is definitely

Colby Price, Wyatt Taylor, Gabrielle Jackson

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an imbalance in between Jimmy Neutron and his friends or schoolmates. In Rocket Power, it
shows the different qualities associated with adventurous young kids. They skateboard, roller
blade, surf, and bike. The only inequality shown in this show would be that one of the characters
is arrogant or more competitive than the others. This might show a stereotype, but not really an
inequality. It portrays the skater culture or children that possess more freedom than most others,
as more wild or reckless.
The assumptions in the genre do reflect certain ways of doing things, or how things may
be done in a certain culture. In Jimmy Neutron, its assumed that whenever a situation occurs
they rely on Jimmy to figure a solution to the problem they face. I think in life whenever people
are faced with problems they cannot figure out how to solve, they naturally look for advice or
help from someone thats is either more intelligent or has more wisdom. In Rocket Power the
children are more rebellious, so they are more privileged because of all the freedom they have.
The parent of one of the main characters runs a surf shop, and allows his kid and all their friends
do whatever they want to do. I wouldnt say thats the way of doing things when raising kids, but
I think thats partially the reason this show was so popular. It shows a wilder side that most kids
would love to have.