A Journey Back To The Past

 

Every time I’ve seen a child in this period, I felt a mix of feelings that I couldn’t keep under control. Why did I feel like that? Memories come back to my mind making me feel nostalgic for past times and filling my brain with regretful thoughts. I am envious because children live their childhood unaware of how lucky they are. Adulthood is filled with problems, sadness, anxiety and fears that you have to deal with. Life seems to be made up of a series of labyrinths full of obstacles. You can’t escape them or run away, but you have to try to overcome every obstacle in front of you and find the exit. Taking inspiration from what I have felt in the latest months, I want to focus on one aspect of my childhood that makes positive memories come back to my mind: cartoons and entertainment. 

The Impact of TV-Series

What kind of cartoons or TV-series did you watch in your childhood? What were your favourite ones? In the last years, cartoons have greatly changed: 3D characters and settings have replaced old 2D ones and sometimes the age and the style of characters have been modified, such as for WINX and Gormiti. In the 2010s, cartoons and TV-series for all tastes were broadcast on 7 or 6 different channels only for kids. The only ways to spend time after doing your homework or having a break for Gen Z’s kids were playing outdoor, going to the playground or watching our favourite shows on TV. This is why TV played a huge role in our lives: shows influenced our future choices, our passions and us. Thanks to them, we created our best memories like role-playing or peacefully discussing among friends about our favourite characters.

Gen-Z vs Gen-X

I would say that Gen Z is the midpoint generation in Italy. Actually growing up, it has been influenced by two completely different types of entertainment: the cartoons that are still broadcasted nowadays and the old ones, the ones that Gen Z’s parents saw and remembered as part of their youth. Pollon, Doraemon, Lupin, Dragonball, Lady Oscar, Cat’s Eyes, Mila and Shiro, Holly and Benji were the most popular Japanese anime of the 80s-90s that spread all over the world, becoming a bond between kids and adults. "That’s the way we are made" and other cartoons, born from the pen of the French Albert Barillè, explained kids different kinds of topics from scientific to historical ones. The popular comic strip, Asterix and Obelix, which shows the adventures of the two Gallic characters against Romans after the consulate of Caesar, have inspired a series of movies and cartoons, produced from the 70s until now. 

My Best Memories

Disney's overwhelming stories have captivated both adults and children, inspiring dreams. Today, as in the past, their beautiful settings have always inspired generations of young people and allowed them to escape from the world for at least two hours. How many of you remember playing roles based on Disney's new cartoons? When I was around nine years old, "Frozen" was broadcast and it became famous. One of my classmates' favorite games was to recreate a 30-minute version of "Frozen": the musical version in a classroom of an elementary school in a small town. I think that it is the best memory I have from my childhood. Watching Disney's cartoons is ageless; in recent years, Disney's cartoons have conveyed important messages of self-love and acceptance. Rewatching cartoons would not only help you understand their true meanings or the nuances you didn’t catch as a child but also fill your life with a pinch of childhood happiness. 

So many cartoons characterized Gen Z’s childhood. Writing them down would take me a long time; however, Pucca, The Daltons, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Scooby-Doo... would remain in our best memories. Despite every thought, everyone recalls positively an experience connected to entertainment and cartoons. Did you have one? What is it? Cartoons are one of the most important aspects of childhood that always make me smile thinking about them. Full of joy, charismatic, and colorful, they were the comfort zone of many children, inspiring them and letting their passions and interests grow. Why did I envy children? They could spend afternoons watching what they like, doing what they truly want, ceiling-free without even knowing what freedom is.

Today's Blogger

Hello there! I'm Giorgia Masi, and my heart belongs to reading, especially poetry. Writing and immersing myself in music are my passions, as I believe in the magic of words and the beauty of melodies, just like the lyrics from Jung Kook's 'Seven' say: "every hour, every minute, every second, seven days a week."

I'm a film enthusiast, particularly drawn to romantic and dramatic movies – perhaps my zodiac sign, Cancer, explains my penchant for emotional stories. I also have a soft spot for Asian TV series and, of course, I can't resist re-watching 'The Corpse Bride' for the millionth time, as Tim Burton is my all-time favorite film director.

In my family, I'm known as the activist, and my dream is to become a researcher with a degree in Physics. Why? That’s a question I often ask myself, and I'm eager to explore the answers.