For anyone who grew up in the 90s, cartoons were a way of living, or should I say they were, in fact, our whole life. Unlike today, where kids are glued on multiple platforms for their amusement, back then, animated shows were a significant source of entertainment that brought a glimpse of complexity in our mundane world.
Yes, on the surface, most of these characters came across as goofy with eccentric behavior stuck in an abnormal situation. But deep down, they were layered with wisdom, knowledge, and philosophical aspects of day-to-day life. All we need to do was to look beyond their exaggerated actions and focus on how they use these actions to deal with their existing problems.
And it won’t take you much time to discover the true essence of their existence, which revealed that just like us, they were struggling too. But unlike us, they were good at dealing with these problems.
So here are ten essential lessons our animated mates taught me and many who grew up in the nineties.
1) It’s Okay To Get Rejected:
Even a character as eccentric as Johny Bravo taught us that harsh flirting is never a way to win a woman’s affection, and overconfidence isn’t going to take you long in life.
But more importantly, no matter what, constant rejection shouldn’t deter you from loving yourself.
2) Courage Matters:
Sure, it was evident by looking at those superheroes who selflessly sacrificed themselves for the greater good. But Courage, the cowardly dog, taught us that it’s okay to be scared. However, you have to face it head-on.
Life’s spookiness will haunt you, but if you stick around for longer than usual, then you can win over things beyond your control. All we need to do is, show a little courage, take that daunting step, and see ourselves becoming the hero we want to be.
3) Be Yourself:
Alladin taught us to be ourselves. Being someone else will not help you in the long run.
Once you discover your true self, even your wildest dream can turn into reality.
4) Happiness Is Choice:
The Flintstones is an excellent example of how life can be fun without technology.
Despite the lack of comfortable amenities, they were happy beyond the measures and used their creative mind to turn obstacles into opportunities.
5) Dream a Little Dream:
Dexter’s laboratory explored the concept of having a worthwhile goal in life and working towards it. Sure the cheerful banter between the siblings was its most relatable part.
But deep down, Dexter’s ambition and passion for science surely inspired many kids to wear those gloves and change the world, even if a little.
6) It’s Okay To Make Mistakes:
One of the most beloved characters, “Scooby-Doo,” taught us to never be afraid of screwing up. Because making mistakes proves that you are trying something and you never know, those mistakes can help you solve the biggest mystery surrounding us.
7) Eating Vegetable Matters:
Let’s face it, as kids, most of us hated eating those green food items, but Popeye managed to change our perception, at least towards spinach. It wasn’t the tastiest vegetable amongst the lot, but we indeed ate it in the hope of gaining some big biceps and beating our bullies.
Sure, this vegetable does have a beneficial impact if consumed on a regular basis. But later, we realize that Spinach was just a metaphorical way to show that, no matter how much life seems complicated. We can turn it around in seconds by sere willpower.
8) Planet Matters:
Sure, our schools tried their best to make us understand the impact of environmental issues on our lives. But Captain Planet motivated us to take concrete actions for protecting our mother earth through small steps like recycling and reusing.
This was the show that created that spark in our innocent hearts to care about our environment and showed us, by doing so, how anyone can become a hero.
9) Equality Matters:
Before Powerpuff girls debuted, we were not used to seeing a show led by female protagonists as we never envisioned them kicking asses and breaking jaws.
But this series changed our perception and showed us that girls are as powerful as boys, and it’s wrong to judge anyone based on gender. This show was a great advocate of equality and broke all the traditional barriers of animation storytelling. Apart from these badass heroines, this show also featured a villain, a transgender character, the first of its kind to be featured in a kid’s show, to the best of my knowledge.
10) Fear Matters:
I can go on and on about the valuable lessons that have been bestowed on us through these shows and still fall short. But if I have to choose one character that impacted my life and a whole generation more than anybody else, then it has to be “THE BATMAN.”
I remember myself as a child, running around wearing a mask made from paper, draped in a cape made of a towel. Back then, I was too small to understand the dark knight’s philosophical and psychological side until I started gaining some maturity to look deeply into his personality.
No other character has profoundly influenced a generation and their identity like Batman. Because it deals with one of the most critical aspects of human emotions, “FEAR.” It taught us that everyone has fears, but conquering them is what matters. It taught us that fear is a necessity; it helps us grow. It taught us that it takes courage to accept your fear.
Another essential aspect of human nature the dark knight deals with is “loss.” The older we get, the more things we lose; that’s life. But losing your near and dear ones at an early age can be daunting for anyone. Even though the incident of his parents being assassinated right in front of his eyes destroyed him from within. He didn’t choose to use it as an excuse to blame everyone and everything around him.
Instead, he made a conscious choice of taking the matter into his own hands and help those in need by wearing the mask and saving the needful from unholy acts. That’s how he taught us how the choices we make in our life can seal our fate and determine our destiny.
On a personal level, I can’t say that Batman has changed me because it’s continuously changing me even today in some other ways. It’s still teaching me the essential lessons life has to offer, it’s still helping me grow, and I am always surprised every time I reflect on the bright side of the Dark Knight.
I will leave you with one of his quotes which will showcase his ability to inspire and motivate you:
“All men have limits. They learn what they are and learn not to exceed them. I ignore mine.”
-THE BATMAN.
Which is your favorite show and character that made your childhood special? Do share your experience in the comments section below. And to know more about me, please check the About Me section! 🙂