There’s a scene in the ‘90s Nickelodeon cartoon Rugrats where Stu wakes up in the middle of the night to make chocolate pudding. “It’s four o’clock in the morning,” his wife exclaims. “Why on Earth ...

Many of the modern cartoons that have connected with audiences are melancholic and beautifully tragic, focusing on characters’ deepest issues and turning away from traditional narrative storytelling ...

For the most part, the animated world doesn’t get too heavy. Unless you’ve called up some Ghiblian tragedy on your streaming service of choice, you can rest relatively assured of a soothing few hours ...