I am thinking of the song "This Used to Be My Playground" by Madonna, featured in the movie "A League of Their Own".  Madonna is singing and reminiscing about her childhood while hearing other people say, "Don't hold on to the past."  Well, at my present age--53--and as an animator, I find myself holding on to the past as well.

I grew up with the Saturday Morning kidvid phenomenon in the U.S. during the '60s, '70s and '80s, way back before there was the Internet, personal computers and a bazillion cable channels.  This was the era of Hanna-Barbera Productions, where my favorite cartoons came from, starring icons like Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, Huckleberry Hound, Scooby Doo and a host of others.  To me, H-B was the finest in animation, even though it was limited (hey, TV didn't have big movie budgets).

When I watch old Saturday Morning reruns on YouTube, I sometimes scroll down to the Comments section.  There will be at least one or two comments along the lines of "Now these are real cartoons!" or "Today's cartoons suck!" or "Flash Animation blows!"  Sometimes to myself, I'm saying things like that, only it comes out "They'd never use a toilet gag back in the day!" or "Did they just use a gay reference on a kids' show?" or "Can we have some nicer characters?"

Yes, I. too, harken back to days of old.  My web cartoon "Kawaii 5-2" comes from a heart full of Fred and Barney and Rocky and Bullwinkle and Beany and Cecil--family-friendly humor that's not too nasty for kids and not too dumbed down for their parents.  Besides, I couldn't do an R-rated cartoon gag if you put a gun to my head.  I'm better off watching "South Park", not writing for them.

What I'm trying to do with "Kawaii 5-2" is mix the old with the new:  2D computer animation in the "limited" Hanna-Barbera style with the humorous sensibilities of sixties, only updated.  My cartoons are cute and sweet--with a bit of sass to spice it up!  Something for everyone--except fans of toilet gags.