The first thing to address is the reality that the animation is on par with the film. It's literally art. The amount of effort, talent and imagination put into the story is nothing short of astonishing. While animation is often reduced to just children's programming, when placed side by side, the only difference between Gone with the Wind and The Lion King is that one is animated. Both are images, but one is photographed and the other is drawn. As I stated before, someone's preference may differ from another person's, but everyone would consider it an art. To understand both sides, you need to address both perspectives. As for serious cartoons, there are fewer examples, but they manage to have just as much impact and leave a lasting impression. An example can be seen in Disney's 1994 epic Gargoyles. Disney took an untried approach: an action series. This show comes from the usual Disney cartoons that had cutie scenarios that they were usually associated with. The result of this new step was a well-written saga. Often seen as a response to Batman: The Animated Series, this show was dark, serious, and complex, with fleshed out characters and an epic story. The series is about seven gargoyles who, by a twist of fate and events, find themselves in 1994 Manhattan after losing their clan in a castle raid due to betrayal. Once in New York, the gargoyles find themselves right out of time, unable to fit into a world even more dangerous than before, and of which they do not know the existence. The first human they meet, David Xanatos, offers them a new home and says he wishes to befriend the gargoyles, only to betray them once they have done his dirty work. Being cheated on... middle of paper... truly wonderful and unique stories. In 2009, IGN placed Gargoyles #45 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Animated Series of All Time", stating: "A moderate success at the time, Gargoyles has maintained a strong cult following since it ended more than a decade ago ". Gargoyles is a classic and great example of a cartoon with deep nuances and serious episodes, but considered one of the greatest cartoons ever put on screen. It proves that a show can be serious, yet still be awesome and enjoyed by kids and adults alike. But darkness is not what should elevate us to that status. Looking at the type of material released by Disney, such as Gummy Bears, Duck Tales, Chip 'n Dale, it is made increasingly clear how unique the Gargoyles are. Their first "serious show" that had never been made before and, arguably, hasn't been made since. It's a blast from the past that will surely live on.