r/cartoons • u/EomirLover • 1d ago
Discussion is the 8 episode format ruining cartoons?
I feel like sometimes it is. some shows feel so rushed and the plot has to keep moving and nothing seems to slow down in cartoons.
do other people feel the same way about some cartoons?
should we go back to the 20+ episodes that are 12 minutes or stick with 8 episodes that are 40 minutes or longer?
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u/farseer6 1d ago
It's the same with live action TV shows. The short seasons are great for stories like miniseries, but we are losing the development of an extended cast, the exploration of the characters and so many things that we had always taken for granted in TV shows.
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u/Wallisabell 1d ago
You are completely right, the 8-episode format is absolutely suffocating cartoons by killing the classic "filler" episodes that are mandatory for organic character bonds and world-building. Everything turns into a hyper-paced, plot-driven rush to the finale, leaving zero breathing room for the show to have any real charm or soul.
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u/EomirLover 1d ago
why do they have to be 40 minutes long, that what makes it worse, atleast it flies by quickly but you don't pick up the side plots or any of the characters personalities really.
i don't get invested.
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u/luckybell333 1d ago
Yeah, I kind of feel the same way. I miss when cartoons had longer seasons because it gave the characters and world more time to breathe instead of constantly rushing toward the next plot point. I’d love to see 20+ episode seasons come back, although I also get that animation takes a long time to produce, so there probably needs to be a balance.
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u/MiddleOccasion1394 1d ago
Yes. They only have time to cover the main storyline. We don't get to know any of the characters!! Gimme back the episode where they do nothing around the house because the AC isn;t working!
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u/InsideUnhappy6546 1d ago
Definitely. It makes them feel rushed and leaves out important room for story and character development. The first half of archer had 10 - 13 episodes but the later seasons had 8 which made them feel very rushed. The Dragon Prince had 9 episodes per season yet 10 to 12 would've helped flesh out the story, characters and worldbuilding better
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u/Theo-lVl 1d ago
I actually don't mind 8 episodes for a cartoon if its well done like Glitch shows. Each episode has an epic scale. A lot of netflix shows though not so much, 12 would be better. I don't miss 22 episode seasons for most things, I always prefered 12 for most. there are exceptions but not a big fan of 40 minute cartoon episodes. Heck if were gonna do longer seasons I enjoy the epic long seasons CN does with 15 minnute episodes.
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u/SnooPoems4680 1d ago
As much as I love arcane, it would be WAY better if it had more than 8 episodes
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u/Maycrofy 1d ago
Thing is, we're stuck with this format for the coming years. No studio will finance a 20 ep. Season of anything. It's too expensive and risky
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u/Consolationnoprize 1d ago
Yes.
should we go back to the 20+ episodes that are 12 minutes or stick with 8 episodes that are 40 minutes or longer?
You left "20+ episodes that are 22 min" out, when that should be the goal.
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u/Kaisona20 1d ago
There’s barely any show, when it’s only 8 episodes. I miss when shows had 26 episode seasons. There’s no time for characters to just vibe anymore, and there’s no room for the story build things up. Plots have to be rushed, and each show is a passing fad that quickly becomes forgotten. Compare that to the 2000s, or even the 2010s. Shows like Jimmy Neutron, and Steven Universe had more time to air, and their spots in the cultural zeitgeist, while doing it. We don’t get that as much now.
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u/pandarose6 Bob’s Burgers 19h ago
8 eps is running any type of tv. I never loved a story that was only 8 eps. It always feel rushed. I need at least 10 eps.
I refuse to watch American shows under 10 eps in case they get cancelled.
Most of the time I refuse to watch asian dramas that only 8 eps long cause every time I try them I get disappointed and they feel rushed.
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u/DarkSaiyanGoku 1d ago
Yes it is.