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A powerful message
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That the Cartoon Network channel is a potent medium to influence children cannot be denied. However, the need of the hour is serials which not merely entertain but also awaken children to realities and help them grow into responsible human beings.
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THE CARTOON Network has emerged as the most favourite channel with children below 10 and they watch everything on this channel indiscriminately. But if there is one cartoon that is sure to win the approval of even serious-minded adults, it is ``The New Adventures of Captain Planet." Of all the serials being telecast at present by Cartoon Network, this one has the most powerful message for children. It sensitises them to their environment and to the dangers faced by our planet because of `bad guys, who `loot and plunder and do not worry about the future of the planet.
Created by adults, aware of the potential of this medium, this serial has fantasy and action blended with information calculated to create awareness in children. Gaaya, the spirit of the earth is conceived of as a dusky and beautiful young woman who is in danger as Dr. Blight and her team run amuck exploiting the resources of the planet greedily and selfishly. Gaaya has given five special people (the planeteers) five magic rings with the powers of earth, fire, wind, water and heart. When their powers combine, there is formed the magnified power symbolised by Captain Planet.
Each episode is a powerful allegory but the intrinsic message is simple and clear — the need to recycle plastics, to use biodegradable materials, to conserve energy, to keep the environment clean and free of pollution and to prevent deforestation. There are episodes, which point out the horror of abusing animals in laboratories and hunting animals for their skin, horns and tusks. As we listen to the title song, we feel the enthusiasm of every child who hums:
"Captain Planet
He's a hero
He's gonna take pollution
Down to zero.
We are the planeteers
You can be one too
Saving the planet is the thing to do
Looting and polluting
Is not the way
Hear what Captain Planet has to say
``The power is yours."
Each one of us can make a difference to our planet.
My doubts about whether the serial made sense to very young children vanished when a seven-year old told me emphatically, "At least Pinky and the Brain want to take over the world but Dr. Blight wants to destroy the world".
That the Cartoon Network channel is a potent medium to influence children cannot be denied any more.
It gives them what appeals most to them — fantasy, humour and action. But with children spending two to four hours watching cartoons on weekdays and more during weekends, its time we adults sat up and gave it some serious thought.
There is no point in just cribbing about it. With rapidly shrinking play space in our homes and in the cities (and Chennai is no exception), children cannot be blamed for spending more and more time in front of the TV.
Parents too find it convenient to allow their children to watch television rather than allow them to play cricket on the roads with all its attendant dangers. Unfortunately though, many of the cartoons today like Popeye and Johny Bravo are meaningless, unrealistic and irrelevant to children as very often they are woven around adult themes and depict violence without creating awareness about the consequences of violence. What children need today are more serials like Captain Planet, which while entertaining also awaken them to the reality and help them to grow up into mature, responsible human beings.
HANIFA GHOSH
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