A Bridge Toon Far

Ok, I'm trying to follow some logic here. Admittedly, I'm mixing the logic of the entertainment industry and politicians. This is dangerous under the best of circumstances. It's difficult enough taking them on one at a time.

But here we go:

Did any of you see this? They're eliminating smoking from Tom and Jerry cartoons. (Heaven help them when Tom or Jer get blown up and wind up in Al Jolsen blackface, but that's another issue.)

"Turner recognizes that it is not suitable for cartoons aimed at children to portray smoking in a cool context and has additionally pledged to review the entire Hanna-Barbera catalog to remove scenes that appear to glamorize or encourage smoking," Cecilia Persson, a Turner VP, said in a statement. "

"Turner, however, won't simply cut each instance of smoking from the classic 'toons, simply the ones, per Ofcom, "where smoking appeared to be condoned, acceptable, glamorized or where it might encourage imitation."

Here's where I get confused. Kids don't LIKE 2D animation. It doesn't sell. It's old. Kids don't like old stuff. It has to be new. That's why Disney eliminated it's 2D animation division. That's why Star Wars, etc. have shiny new special effects. 'Cause otherwise the Younger Generation wouldn't watch them. Seriously!

But now, we're told, these old cartoons (Good grief, they're talking Popye. Popeye was crusty when I was a tot!) are so influential that they will unerringly lead to imitation! Kids will be unable to resist! No other cultural force (*cough*PARENTS*cough*) will be able to combat their insidious influence! From this I will also infer that little boys and girls will be seen dressing in flapper skirts and zoot suits. They cannot resist. Hey, maybe this means hats and ties will come back. This could be an up!

Oh, and for those of you that think this is just a Brit thing, a few years ago Disney released Pecos Bill on DVD. There's a scene where under the influence of sighting the lovely lass he is destined to fall for (and who will be his DOOOOOM - there's the lesson!) he is seen ineptly rolling a cigarette, pouring the tobacco on his tongue and rolling the paper over nothing is what is surely comic depravity at it's most brazen. This was wisely removed by the Disney editors. Well, the tobacco was removed. He now waves his hands in the air for no apparent reason with his tongue hanging out. I bet the handicapped are offended now.