A New Era of Psychedelic Animation for Adults
A TV spits out cathode rays, while weed smoke fills the room. But this isn’t just any ordinary TV show – it’s The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy. These cartoons have revolutionized the genre with their blend of satire, bold themes, and dark humor. And they’re not alone – shows like Rick & Morty, BoJack Horseman, and Big Mouth have taken us on wild, drug-fueled journeys through cosmic realities.
But this isn’t a new phenomenon. Psychedelic animation has been simmering since the 1930s, when creative freedom allowed for surreal moments impossible to capture in live-action. However, the rise of puritanism in the 1950s stifled the genre’s growth, pushing it towards more metaphorical fables with subtle nods to adult themes.
But in the late ’70s and early ’80s, animation for adults began to find its footing with films like Heavy Metal and Fritz the Cat, capturing the era’s vibe of parties, orgies, and counterculture. Even mainstream shows like Yellow Submarine and The Pink Panther embraced psychedelia.
And then came The Simpsons, with its controversies, improper jokes, and hallucinatory moments that defined the ’90s. This marked the beginning of the “kidult” phenomenon, where adults happily indulged in action figures, Marvel Comics, and pop culture with the money and freedom they never had as children.
But it wasn’t just TV shows that paved the way for this new era of psychedelic animation. MTV’s Aeon Flux and Liquid Television also played a crucial role in hooking the younger generation on the trippy, mind-bending world of animation.
So, are we living through a new boom in psychedelic animation for adults? It certainly seems that way, with more and more shows pushing the boundaries and taking us on wild, drug-fueled adventures. And we have The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy to thank for paving the way.
