Cartoons Aren’t Just for Little Kids - And They Never Really Were
- Spidercade Studios
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
For a long time, cartoons have often been treated as something you eventually “grow out of.”
An unfortunate common assumption is that once you become a certain age, animated stories or characters with simplistic designs are supposed to only be simple, light, and aimed at young children.
But that idea doesn’t really hold up either historically or creatively.
Some of the most loved or impactful stories people remember weren’t live-action but were instead, animated or drawn in a simple style. And many of those stories tackled themes that went beyond what we usually associate with “little kids’ content” and were enjoyed by both kids and adults alike.
And of course there are cartoons that are purely just for adults as well even though they're cartoons.
Cartoons Have Always Smuggled in Deeper Ideas
Even older cartoons often explored various topics like loss, responsibility, fear, moral choices, and good vs evil that adults resonated with. Some even did it in a way that was accessible to younger audiences as well.
Animation and simple character designs have always had the unique ability to present serious ideas through exaggerated visuals, expressive characters, and symbolism.
That doesn’t make the stories weaker — it often makes them more memorable.
Art Style Does Not Equal Age Rating
One misconception is that visual style automatically defines who a story is for. Some may think if the art in a story is more cartoony, they're automatically "too old for that". It's a classic "judging a book by its cover" scenario.
But bright colors don’t necessarily mean shallow themes. Cartoony proportions don’t have to mean childish stakes. In fact, using a stylized or cartoon look can sometimes make difficult topics easier to approach. It can allow readers to process heavy ideas without being overwhelmed. That contrast — playful visuals paired with serious storytelling — can be intentional.
Growing With the Audience
People sometimes wish their favorite cartoons had grown up alongside them.
Meaning, the characters, the worlds, and the sense of wonder stayed the same — but the stories matured, reflecting the questions and struggles of adult life.
That’s the space Zero Hour Epsilon Force lives in.
It's a comic that respects faith, explores real human struggles, and uses superheroes, sci-fi, and fantasy, while still embracing the visual language of cartoons. Because growing up doesn’t mean abandoning imagination. It means learning how to use it with purpose.
Cartoons Are a Medium, Not a Limitation
Animation and cartoon art styles aren’t genres. They’re tools. What matters isn’t whether a story looks “cartoony,” but whether it has something meaningful to say or if the story resonates with viewers.
And sometimes, the most honest way to talk about faith, identity, suffering, or hope… is through a medium people may be more likely to underestimate.
What Age Group Is Zero Hour Epsilon Force For?
While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the OG version of Zero Hour Epsilon Force is meant to be designed for a 13 and up audience.
Much like the older cartoons mentioned above, Zero Hour Epsilon Force with its simplistic comic art, addresses topics that adults resonate with while still being accessible to some children (teens in this case).
Despite it's serious and darker tone that adults can identify with, Issue 1 of Zero Hour Epsilon Force won a Black Author's Children’s Book Award in 2023—not because it talked down to teens, but because it trusted them with real impactful ideas like Black history and overcoming past trauma for example.
Conclusion
Cartoons aren't purely just for little kids. They can be for teens and adults as well and many cartoons are.
One of the most interesting things about Zero Hour Epsilon Force is that even though it can have darker and grittier ideas that adults prefer, it is still accessible to teens without being shallow.
And many of the same qualities that make a story fit for teen readers are often what allow adults to engage with heavier topics without being overwhelmed.
Purchase Zero Hour Epsilon Force Today
Zero Hour Epsilon Force is a fantasy, sci-fi and superhero comic series that takes place in a raw Christian universe. It brings lots of action and fun to the page using its nostalgic Saturday morning cartoon art style, but doesn't shy away from darker and grittier themes such as the pain of racism, family issues or illness for example. And both teens and adults like it. You can buy the comic at our online store and feel free to join our email list as well.
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