--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Kids cannot follow stories. They don't…" description: "\"Kids cannot follow stories. They don't know what the hell is going on in a cartoon. They like to see funny visual things happening.\" — John Kricfalusi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/john-kricfalusi-16893_cartoon_kids-cannot-follow-stories-they-don-t-kn_2706368.png" --- # Kids cannot follow stories. They don't know what the hell… ![“Kids cannot follow stories. They don't know what the hell is going on in a cartoon. They like to see funny visual things happening.” quote by John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/john-kricfalusi-16893_cartoon_kids-cannot-follow-stories-they-don-t-kn_2706368.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/john-kricfalusi-16893_cartoon_kids-cannot-follow-stories-they-don-t-kn_2706368.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/john-kricfalusi-16893_cartoon_kids-cannot-follow-stories-they-don-t-kn_2706368.png) > “Kids cannot follow stories. They don't know what the hell is going on in a cartoon. They like to see funny visual things happening.” [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues cartoons need visual humor because audiences struggle with complex storylines. **In simple terms:** Cartoons rely on visual jokes. Key Takeaway Prioritize clear, funny visuals for engagement. Themes animation humor visual storytelling Mood playful insightful Type creative educational When to use this quote - children’s TV - online memes - educational clips Key Concepts cognitive load audience attention creative simplicity Questions to Reflect On - How can visual humor convey deeper messages? - When does simplicity limit storytelling? A Different Perspective Complex plots can alienate viewers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cartoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon/) [Cartoon Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon-like-2772445/) [Funny things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-things/) [Funny Visual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-visual-2772447/) [Going Cartoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-cartoon-2772446/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kids Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-follow-1406751/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Visuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visuals/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up on 'Spongebob.' If I had known there was an even better cartoon out there like 'X-Men,' you best believe I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-condor/i-grew-up-on-spongebob-if-i-had-known-there-was-an-even-better/) [Lana Condor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-condor/) > [I don't intend to follow in someone else's footsteps. I rather create my own footsteps and let my kids follow in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reelow-leesah/i-don-t-intend-to-follow-in-someone-else-s-footsteps-i-rather-create/) [ReeLow LeeSah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reelow-leesah/) > [Our role, to be an idol, is very important. Kids follow everything we say and we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/our-role-to-be-an-idol-is-very-important-kids-follow-everything-we/) [Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/) > [Whatever the parents are doing, the kids will follow suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/whatever-the-parents-are-doing-the-kids-will-follow-suit/) [Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/) > [My only expectation, which I tell my kids very, very often, is that they follow their heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-kim/my-only-expectation-which-i-tell-my-kids-very-very-often-is-that-they/) [Jonny Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-kim/) > [I would like my kids to follow their bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-would-like-my-kids-to-follow-their-bliss/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [It will be true work that the kids can follow, as opposed to a facade of you doin' something, and you're doin' nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/it-will-be-true-work-that-the-kids-can-follow-as-opposed-to-a-facade/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [Not all cartoon humor is just about having bugged-out eyes and tongues flying out of people's heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/not-all-cartoon-humor-is-just-about-having-bugged-out-eyes-and/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [As soon as I found out how compartmentalized the industry was, I realized, Well, no wonder the cartoons are so bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/as-soon-as-i-found-out-how-compartmentalized-the-industry-was-i/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [I don t think cartoons are only for kids, but I think kids will love anything as long as it's visually interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/i-don-t-think-cartoons-are-only-for-kids-but-i-think-kids-will-love/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [There are artists who are writers, but there was no such thing as cartoons that were written by somebody who couldn't draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/there-are-artists-who-are-writers-but-there-was-no-such-thing-as/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [I think religion is a funny thing because, when you see somebody who can really break it down, sometimes it feels foolish what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-think-religion-is-a-funny-thing-because-when-you-see-somebody-who/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [Social media, and the way the Internet works, you see a lot of funny things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicklas-bendtner/social-media-and-the-way-the-internet-works-you-see-a-lot-of-funny/) [Nicklas Bendtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicklas-bendtner/) > [Wendy, Wendy, when you are sleeping in your silly bed you might be flying about with me saying funny things to the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wendy-wendy-when-you-are-sleeping-in-your-silly-bed-you-might-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) ## More by John Kricfalusi > [My intended audience was everybody. I just want to make cartoons for human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/my-intended-audience-was-everybody-i-just-want-to-make-cartoons-for/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [There are artists who are writers, but there was no such thing as cartoons that were written by somebody who couldn't draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/there-are-artists-who-are-writers-but-there-was-no-such-thing-as/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [Mel Blanc has been gone for 30 years, even though he's still around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/mel-blanc-has-been-gone-for-30-years-even-though-he-s-still-around/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [The generic Canadian style of illustration is different from the generic American style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/the-generic-canadian-style-of-illustration-is-different-from-the/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [If you're reading a comic strip, you can read it at any speed you want. But with film and music, the audience has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/if-you-re-reading-a-comic-strip-you-can-read-it-at-any-speed-you-want/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [I don t think cartoons are only for kids, but I think kids will love anything as long as it's visually interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/i-don-t-think-cartoons-are-only-for-kids-but-i-think-kids-will-love/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [My style is very strong poses and expressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/my-style-is-very-strong-poses-and-expressions/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [As soon as I found out how compartmentalized the industry was, I realized, Well, no wonder the cartoons are so bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/as-soon-as-i-found-out-how-compartmentalized-the-industry-was-i/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [Not very many people can draw who are illustrators today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/not-very-many-people-can-draw-who-are-illustrators-today/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [You can draw Family Guy when you're 10 years old. You don't have to get any better than that to become a professional cartoonist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/you-can-draw-family-guy-when-you-re-10-years-old-you-don-t-have-to/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [I used to watch nature shows and laugh at them. Everyone thought I was crazy. "Why are you laughing at a nature show?" Isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/i-used-to-watch-nature-shows-and-laugh-at-them-everyone-thought-i-was/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [From 20 years of experience hiring artists out of the schools, I know-they get worse every year. They're absolutely ridiculously retarded now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/from-20-years-of-experience-hiring-artists-out-of-the-schools-i-know/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [The only character I ever remember actually creating in a flash of inspiration was George Liquor. God planted that in my head in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/the-only-character-i-ever-remember-actually-creating-in-a-flash-of/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [I influenced the BG style by not being able to draw perspective. The BG artists developed cool graphic painting styles to make my bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/i-influenced-the-bg-style-by-not-being-able-to-draw-perspective-the/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [To make something look real and alive, nothing can be symmetrical because nothing in real life is symmetrical. You have to make it look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/to-make-something-look-real-and-alive-nothing-can-be-symmetrical/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) [Explore all 38 John Kricfalusi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) ## More Cartoon quotes > [I was always into cartoons and animation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/i-was-always-into-cartoons-and-animation/) [Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/) > [Somebody once told me that if you laugh at a George Bush joke, or you send an email cartoon to your friends that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/somebody-once-told-me-that-if-you-laugh-at-a-george-bush-joke-or-you/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [In Roslyn, Pennsylvania, we started our real-life family circus. They provided the inspiration for my cartoons. I provided the perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bil-keane/in-roslyn-pennsylvania-we-started-our-real-life-family-circus-they/) [Bil Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bil-keane/) > [I just watched cartoons for three years, and that had a strong affect on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-just-watched-cartoons-for-three-years-and-that-had-a-strong-affect/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I enjoy the fact that we have these mobile comics now, which are sort of a cross between a comic book and an animated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-enjoy-the-fact-that-we-have-these-mobile-comics-now-which-are-sort/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I was invited to join the MGM cartoon department. 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