--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you look back at the older cartoons…" description: "\"When you look back at the older cartoons, they're very much more observational cartoons. And the cartoon, the people in the cartoons are not making the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/robert-mankoff-12259_cartoon_when-you-look-back-at-the-older-cartoons_263890.png" --- # When you look back at the older cartoons, they're very… ![“When you look back at the older cartoons, they're very much more observational cartoons. And the cartoon, the people in the cartoons are not making the joke.” quote by Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/robert-mankoff-12259_cartoon_when-you-look-back-at-the-older-cartoons_263890.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/robert-mankoff-12259_cartoon_when-you-look-back-at-the-older-cartoons_263890.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/robert-mankoff-12259_cartoon_when-you-look-back-at-the-older-cartoons_263890.png) > “When you look back at the older cartoons, they're very much more observational cartoons. And the cartoon, the people in the cartoons are not making the joke.” [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Older cartoons focused on observational humor where characters didn't directly deliver jokes. **In simple terms:** Early cartoons used subtle, observational comedy. Key Takeaway Appreciate the nuance of classic animation humor. Themes animation history humor styles media analysis Mood nostalgic analytical Type critical reflective When to use this quote - film studies - animation retrospectives - creative writing Key Concepts observational comedy character-driven jokes Questions to Reflect On - What makes observational humor effective? - How can modern creators incorporate subtlety? A Different Perspective Modern cartoons often rely on overt punchlines, losing subtlety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The cartoon me writes the books cartoon people read in the cartoon world, because they need things to read there too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-cartoon-me-writes-the-books-cartoon-people-read-in-the-cartoon/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I'm very fond of the strictly visual cartoons I did when I was breaking in in the 1970's. Over time I migrated to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-m-very-fond-of-the-strictly-visual-cartoons-i-did-when-i-was/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [We have to know cognitively what another mind is thinking and also empathically what they're feeling. 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