As Told by Ginger vs. Pepper Ann

Hello Cartoon Lovers, today I will be critiquing As Told by Ginger (2000) and Pepper Ann (1997). As Told by Ginger is cartoon about a teenage, red-headed girl named Ginger Foutley. The cartoon centers around her and her best friends (Darren, Dodie and Macie) surviving junior-high and learning valuable life lessons along the way. After an eventful day, the show concludes with Ginger writing her thoughts and events in her diary. A lot of the advice she receives is from her mom, Lois. She is the feisty mom who's not afraid to say what's on her mind, but has a loving, compassionate heart for her children. Carl is her annoying, scheming little brother, who is always on her case—which little brothers tend to have a reputation for. Lois, Carl and Ginger make the Foutley household you see on the screen. We rarely see Ginger's father; all that's known is that he and Lois are divorced. As for Pepper Ann, it pretty much the same storyline. The cartoon also centers around...a teenage, red-headed girl...She also as an annoying, little sister named Moose, who is often mistaken for a boy because of her tom-boyish look. Her mother, Lydia, is also a single mom. The difference is, Pepper Ann receives most of her advice from her conscience, and converses with it from time to time. Yes, she does have best friends who also tag along with her through the troubling times of adolescence, but the shows are more focused on her fantasies. She expresses her emotions in her daydreams. 

As Told by Ginger

As Told by Ginger does share some similar storyline elements with Pepper Ann, but Ginger's story is more relatable. Anyone from the general audience can relate to Ginger and her life events. The story is what really makes this cartoon a hit. Not only can people relate, but it provides valuable life lessons for a younger audience to earn from, which gives it a more genuine feel. The humor is also relatable. Things that you'd probably hear from your own family members could come up in this show. What is nice about the humor, is that it changes for each character. For instance, Ginger is a smart, uplifting character, so her humor will be more cheerful and light-hearted. Dodie is the uber, nerdy girl, so humor is centered on her nasally voice, accompanied by her intellectual remarks. Macie is the bubbly, trendy girl, so her humor will be more spaced-out and airy. Carl is the scheming troublemaker, so he will have more of a dark humor.

I am impressed by the character design. The design is so different from what studios were doing in the 90s. Although, construction of the characters are very "cartoony", the rich, earth tone colors give it a realistic feel. I will admit, the placement and shape of the mouths are a little off-putting for me, but I commend the originality overall. 

The cinematic quality is fair. There is really nothing all that special or new that catches my eye, but it maintains continuity and the layout is well done. The animation is really good, but I do find their movements to be a little stiff at times. I've noticed that their backs lack spinal movement and their necks seem stiff. When the characters are walking, it looks like they're just bobbing up and down. But it all depends on the look and style the creator wants. Overall, this cartoon is very enjoyable for audiences of all ages.  

Pepper Ann

Pepper Ann is one of those shows I never get tired of seeing. It's fun, energetic and flamboyant. The colors and layout are very bright and exciting. The colors compliment the animation very well. I like this style of animation, because of the exaggerated movements. I think it just brings so much more to a cartoon. 

I like the creativity behind the story. For example, the fact that Pepper Ann talks to her conscience, in the form of her reflection, is something I could imagine doing myselfI. Ok, it would be a little creepy, but it would still be cool. I do find some aspects of this cartoon relatable, but not as much as As Told by Ginger. 

This cartoon is very fun to watch and extremely entertaining. The animation style is lively and beautifully done. 

My Opinion

I consider both cartoons to be equally enjoyable. I do prefer watching Pepper Ann over As Told by Ginger, because of the animation style. It catches my eye and I love the classic look of the character designs.