CAN serious stories still happen even if the drawing is like a cartoon/childish?

[u/Sakujinori]

I'm asking if serious stories, like, with mature content, can still be seen as serious even with an upfront childish/cartoonish arts styles

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[u/JeyDeeArr]

“A Witch’s Life in Mongolia” would be the most recent example.

I’d even argue that Osamu Tezuka’s works can get serious despite the cartoonish style.

[u/Sakujinori → u/JeyDeeArr]

Thank you sir/madam

[u/Sweet_Frost_Comics]

Absolutely.

Made in Abyss, Madoka Magica, the Higurashi series, Bo jack Horseman, Steven universe, Adventure time and Rick and Morty.

All have very childish art styles but an underlying dark and serious story.

[u/Sakujinori → u/Sweet_Frost_Comics]

Thanks madam

[u/AvenoD]

I guess depending of the story and the art

[u/Sakujinori → u/AvenoD]

Like how?

[u/AvenoD → u/Sakujinori]

By using the uncanny valley. We can see first something looking as an utopia and then we realize this world is horrible, and the past cute designs start looking weird

That's an idea among others

[u/Armepos]

Are you asking about serious, solemn comics with silly art styles or comics that mix humour and silliness with dark, solemn themes? The answer is the same, anyway: Yes. I'd even say most comics fall into one of those 2 categories. 

[u/Sakujinori → u/Armepos]

Okay sir I'm just asking cause I'm currently working on a story but Im bad at drawing

[u/Stan_Corrected]

Jeff Smith's Bone, the art isn't childish but the main characters are very much on the cartoon end of the spectrum.

Similarly, Tove Jansson's Moomins comic strips.

[u/No_Purple4766]

Ever read Maus? Completely heart-wrenching and... Cartoon! Silly cats chasing silly mouses! Until you get to actually read it, of course.

[u/Qweeq13 → u/No_Purple4766]

Maus makes it very obvious what it is about from the its famous cover images. Even before you read it you'll get what its about.

I think that is also very important, even if the art looks a bit cartoony the atmosphere certainly isn't.

Some idiots back in the day attempted to make a game about transatlantic slavery and they didn't realize how they needed to keep a very serious tone.

Resulting the entire game looking like pro slavery.

[u/Prize_Consequence568]

So you equate cartoon or cartoony style with being childish? 🤔

[u/Sakujinori → u/Prize_Consequence568]

No no I mean I'm just asking if it will be applicable

[u/Playest_4247]

Yep, extra points if it's a horror series

[u/Sakujinori → u/Playest_4247]

REALLY HOW SO?

[u/egypturnash]

“Maus”, the first comic to win a Pulitzer, was about a boy confronting his family’s history as Holocaust survivors. Jews all drawn as cartoon mice. Nazis as cats. It’s all pretty cutely drawn.

[u/FantasyToast]

Goodnight punpun is a good example of an extremely serious story where the childish drawings add to the weight of it. Very dark

[u/PapaSmurfs_Right_Ear]

That’s literally Centar World

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[u/ThatFinalDOMiNO]

No doubt. Study Bill Watterson

[u/Visible_Shallot5187]

yes they can, often times a cartoon/childish drawing style can be used to help make the serious topic more digestable so that it can get across bypassing the immediate adversion and rejection that it would recieve otherwise

[u/JIB-TheArtist]

I believe it can be absolutely! I think about shows like Rick and Morty, Steven Universe, and others that, while have a more stylized, cartoony design, still cover more serious and mature topics!

[u/wildmooseking]

Not a comic, but I'd argue that The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker has a very cartoonish/childish style and it's way sadder and more serious than both Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess combined.

[u/disgracefulthings]

this is certainly the case for my comics and people like them! just walk into any non-superhero comic shop and you’ll see tons of books like you’re describing. :•)

[u/Lechefrio]

My comic's art style is very much inspired by the style I used when I was a child and I don't think it detracts from the story at all

[u/Neko1666]

There is an amazing anima/manga out there called Made in Abyss. It's super cute and bubbly, but also includes some of the most horrific scenes I've seen in media. So the answer is yes (also read/watch that if you can stomach it, it's so good)

[u/Israbelle]

Two of my biggest inspirations, Don Hertzfeldt and vewn, prove so in my book!

[u/ThalassaMermaid]

Avatar the Last Airbender.  Only example you need.

[u/paradoxiforme]

Ranking of king is a perfect example.

[u/Crococrocroc]

Grave of the Fireflies is a big one.

[u/Samus_Aram]

Yes absolutely! My example is "Lock & Key"

[u/Armepos → u/Samus_Aram]

How is it childish or cartoonish?