I agree with you about the distinction between "childish" and "kid-friendly." It's why I think the MPAA ought to make another rating (something like "C" for "Children"), because the meaning of the rating "G" is "General Audiences," meaning "anyone should be able to watch this movie." However, there are G-rated films that are entertaining to both children and adults, and then there are G-rated films that are great for kids but make adults want to pull their eyeballs out.
Roald Dahl is my favorite person to bring up in discussions like this. No one would say his books are intended for anyone but children, but Dahl books are filled with creepiness, vengeance, and generally dark themes as compared to other literature for the same target audience. And kids love them! I loved Dahl as a kid. I think it's because instead of hiding all that darkness and creepiness that can be in the world, he brings it out into the open and makes it part of a fun, engaging story. Kids hate feeling condescended to, or lied to. And, like you said, if kids can't get that "adult content" in a safe, controlled form, they're going to seek it on their own with no guidance. Usually they'll turn out fine; sometimes they don't.
I don't find it bizarre that the manga's rated A - I mean, like Dahl, it's obviously targeted towards kids with ages of the characters and the way conflicts are resolved - I just find it bizarre that so few manga are given this rating ever, and that the ones that do look generally to be giant Sugar Bowls of Inane Cute. (I've seen the manga ads in the back of the Viz volumes for other A-rated manga. Brr.) It's like Pokemon has gotten lumped into a category that guarantees it's not going to reach anyone who's going to enjoy it.
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winterfish
no subject
Date: 2010-06-17 05:07 pm (UTC)Roald Dahl is my favorite person to bring up in discussions like this. No one would say his books are intended for anyone but children, but Dahl books are filled with creepiness, vengeance, and generally dark themes as compared to other literature for the same target audience. And kids love them! I loved Dahl as a kid. I think it's because instead of hiding all that darkness and creepiness that can be in the world, he brings it out into the open and makes it part of a fun, engaging story. Kids hate feeling condescended to, or lied to. And, like you said, if kids can't get that "adult content" in a safe, controlled form, they're going to seek it on their own with no guidance. Usually they'll turn out fine; sometimes they don't.
I don't find it bizarre that the manga's rated A - I mean, like Dahl, it's obviously targeted towards kids with ages of the characters and the way conflicts are resolved - I just find it bizarre that so few manga are given this rating ever, and that the ones that do look generally to be giant Sugar Bowls of Inane Cute. (I've seen the manga ads in the back of the Viz volumes for other A-rated manga. Brr.) It's like Pokemon has gotten lumped into a category that guarantees it's not going to reach anyone who's going to enjoy it.