# Pop Cultoons Referring to cartoons for insight into consumer minds. By [Bianca](https://www.trendhunter.com/bianca), Brand & Innovation Strategist | Published Sep 21, 2008, updated Nov 19, 2009 | Category: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/technology-trends-and-gadgets) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/topical-pop-cultoons-refering-to-cartoons-for-insight-into-consumer-minds ## Key Figures - Trend score: 5.6/10 - Evidence articles: 12 ## What is the Pop Cultoons trend? **Pop Cultoons:** For centuries, cartoons have been strong indicators of cultural needs, desires and interests, as they continue to be today. The importance of social issues is revealed in the form of animated PSAs; and the infatuation with celebrity gossip, in animated stars and defamatory caricatures of modern icons. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 12 featured examples - Articles from: Jan 30 to Jul 11, 2008 - Published: Sep 21, 2008 - Patterns: [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Curation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/curation), [Nostalgia](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/nostalgia), [Prosumerism](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/prosumerism) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Pop Cultoons trend ### Cartoon PSAs as Social Commentaries Animated PSAs reveal the cultural needs, desires and interests of society, providing a platform for social commentary and discussion. ### Animated Characters in a Modern Setting Modernizing classic characters with technology and pop cultural references creates novel opportunities for new and old audiences to relate and engage with beloved fictional universes. ### Animated Art and Graffiti as Alternative Street Culture Consumers seek out the unique and subversive qualities of animated art and graffiti as an alternative to mainstream art forms, making it a potentially disruptive way for businesses to connect with audiences and demonstrate an appreciation for alternative street culture. ## What the Pop Cultoons trend means for industry ### For Entertainment The entertainment industry can leverage the use of animated PSAs, modernized characters, and alternative street culture to diversify content and better understand audience tastes. ### For Advertising Advertising professionals can benefit from using animated art and graffiti to make campaigns more eye-catching and appealing to modern audiences. ### For Social & Political Awareness Animated PSAs and art can help raise awareness for important social and political issues and encourage meaningful discussion and engagement with societal problems. ## Trend signals for Pop Cultoons Trend score 5.6 out of 10, from popularity 89%, activity 72%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 89% - Activity: 72% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Pop Cultoons trend 12 featured examples from Jan 30 to Jul 11, 2008. - [Humanized Cartoons II](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/humanized-cartoons-jessica-rabbit-is-made-to-look-human): Jessica Rabbit Untooned (Category: Art & Design) Implication: The character design industry can benefit from the trend of untooning as it allows artists to explore new ways of creating lifelike characters by merging cartoonish features with… - [Untooning (Part IV)](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/how-sonic-would-look-alive): How Sonic Would Look Alive (Category: Art & Design) Implication: The animation industry is embracing computer graphic technology to create realistic characters that captivate audiences. - [Cartoons Against Cigarettes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cartoon-magical-amount-truth-campaign): "A Magical Amount" Truth Campaign (Category: Unique) Implication: The advertising industry can leverage emerging mediums such as animated advertisements to create new campaigns that resonate with an increasingly digital audience. - [Animated People Get Freaky and Realistic](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cgi-creepy-girl): MotionPortrait (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: The entertainment industry can leverage realistic animated characters to create captivating and immersive experiences for audiences, revolutionizing storytelling and content creat… - [Celeb Cartoon Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/headcases): Headcases (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: The entertainment industry can leverage celebrity caricature shows to attract audiences through humor and social commentary, creating unique content that resonates with viewers. - [Animated Art as a PSA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burma-viral): 'Burma Viral' for Myanmar (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunities in creating visually stunning and emotionally resonant animated campaigns for social causes. - [Animated Graffiti](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/animated-graffiti-from-the-walls-of-buenos-aires): MUTO in Buenos Aires (Category: Art & Design) Implication: Opportunity for businesses in the advertising and marketing industry to incorporate graffiti art and alternative street images into their campaigns to connect with consumers. - [Modernizing Dr. Seuss](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dr-seuss-horton-hears-a-who-whospace-manga): Horton Hears a Who Features WhoSpace, Manga, Cell Phones (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: The success of modern Seuss movies represents an opportunity to gain insights into what audiences find newly appealing in classic stories and how to blend older books with modern… - [Controversial Fashion Parodies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vogue-cover-wintour-newhouse): Vogue Cover Spoofed (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Fashion industry can explore disruptive innovation by embracing diversity, satire, and social commentary in their designs and marketing strategies. - [Animated Fashion Icons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lagerfeld-grand-auto): Karl Lagerfeld in Grand Theft Auto (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Fashion brands can explore opportunities to integrate their products into video game platforms. - [13 Customizable Commercials & Animations](https://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/13-customizable-commercials-animations-super-gallery) (Category: Art & Design) - [Animated Celebrity Bashing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/animated-celebrity-bashing-amy-winehouse-and-pete-doherty-headcases): Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty "Headcases" (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Leveraging animation technology to create visually engaging content that mocks celebrities can revolutionize the entertainment industry. ## Recent trend clusters - [Connected Filtration](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/connected-filtration) (Tech) - [Embedded Assistance](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/embedded-assistance) (Tech) - [Embedded Intelligence](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/embedded-intelligence) (Tech) - [Snap Utility](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/snap-utility) (Tech) ## Trending in Tech - [Accessible Fintech Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chequing-account) - [Variable Aperture Smartphone Cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iphone-18) - [Dual-Wavelength Recovery Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joint-therapy) - [Self-Cleaning Smart Vacuums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tinecos-pure-one-station-5) All articles: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech)