I didn't sleep well at all last night, haven't eaten yet, and I've been working all day on coloring some comic pages. But this is something that's been at the back of my mind for about a week or so. I'm gonna just put it out there so I can focus on more important things. My apologies if this is difficult to follow.


These are a couple blog posts that I've seen circling journals recently:

[link]

[link]


I have a couple points to make on the topic of attitude, if I may.



#1:: Attitude Sells

'Tude. Attitude. This is something that is apparently plaguing our mainstream cartoon character culture. Or something to that effect. It's a selling point for some, a losing point for others.

Selling Point: If you have an "attitude" you have "confidence." People are attracted to confidence. It's appealing, it makes us feel strong, like we're important. Everyone wants to feel important.

Losing Point: If you have an "attitude" you are "egotistical." This is a negative trait. Nobody wants to be around someone who is always thinking highly of themselves and blowing everyone else off.


Yes, it's true. 'Tude is being way overused and abused in recent years. Classic characters who never exhibited such behavior are now sporting the look of "self esteem." But really, if you look at all these popular characters with the smirk and the raised eyebrow, what do you see in common? They're main characters. Sellers of a franchise. They look confident, knowing that their confidence will attract new customers. Wearing the character's confidence will then show other people how confident we are- or so, this is what the advertising marketers are going for. No, it won't work for everyone. It doesn't work for many people who create their own characters. People who can see past the 'Tude craze. But for everyone else, it's a symbol of self-esteem.



#2:: Attitude is Real

People exhibit attitude in real life all the time. It's common, it's natural, it's the way we intimidate others and make ourselves feel bigger. Attitude is not something that just fell out of an animator's ass one day. Like any other emotion you will see a character display, 'Tude is based on reality.

To up and say "it's WRONG to show attitude in your drawings!" is bullshit. I'm sorry, but that's just complete and utter bullshit. You're saying it's wrong for someone to include a completely natural emotion, sense of self, confidence, etc. in a character's personality. I don't know about you, but I have characters who's personalities are built on an over-inflated sense of self. Ego. Which brings me to the second part of this point:


Utilizing 'Tude Properly

It's OKAY to use attitude in your work, to give your characters a sense of self esteem. HOW you do this will change the effect it has on viewers.

The WRONG way: If a character is humble, has self-esteem issues, or really doesn't feel that they have anything to prove- the appearance of attitude is very deceiving and, in most cases, completely out of character. Prime examples given in the blog posts linked are those of Attitude being used on characters who normally would not sport such a thing. The most blatantly obvious of these is poor ol' Horton from Dr. Seuss' classic- Horton Hears a Who. Now the book and the film remain firm as two of my favorite things ever, but the way they portray Horton on the cover of the film case doesn't do his true character any justice. Horton is not stuck up, he doesn't have a ton of self-esteem, though he is morally sound and will stick up for himself. These traits do not warrant an appearance of attitude.

The RIGHT way: If a character is egotistical, self-confident, or doesn't give a crap about anyone else- the appearance of attitude is a very realistic way of displaying these characteristics. Someone who is self-absorbed isn't going to go around smiling humbly at everyone they pass. They're going to exert importance, self-esteem, and ego. Attitude can be displayed in many different ways. Whether it be a confident smirk (such as the ones other artists like complaining about) or a full display of action, it is simply an emotion just like any other.



In Conclusion

You can't very well go around telling people not to draw Sadness or Anger just because you're sick of seeing it. It is a shame that the media is using attitude to sell characters who may normally not sport it, but that doesn't make attitude a bad thing. As in any real emotion or reaction, characters have the right to show ego. Everyone does it. It's normal. If you don't like the display of attitude, then you are obviously NOT within the desired target audience.

I mean, c'mon. Advertising is all about "looking good." If attitude is the new cool, then it's gonna be around for a while. Just ignore it, know that you have the sense to utilize it properly, and ride it out just like any other obnoxious fad. Don't hop up on some ill-judged bandwagon and start ripping at other artists who just so happen to like what attitude can bring to the table.

When dealing with the media and pop culture cartoons, attitude is a selling point and nothing more. As long as you, we, the current and future artists and creators of the world know this to be true, there's nothing to worry about. Now stop bitching and go make some GOOD cartoons.