Attractive illustration is almost the most important aspect of a cartoon, advertisement, book, or animated movie for a kid. Small children have more interest in bright colors, bold lines and not too crowded backgrounds. And of course the drawer has to make sure that the main character looks friendly and cute.
However there is a very thin line between cute and plain creepy. Many illustrators everywhere and through the years have simply tried too hard to make their character so perfect, that at some point they unknowingly cross that line. And I’m talking of course of those drawings that aren’t intentionally made to look “too cute it’s creepy”.
The viewers then have to recover from the initial shock to slowly try and get used to and finally love them enough not flinch. The main question remains, What was the illustrator thinking? and most importantly, Why didn’t anybody stop him?
As a mildly related topic, my mother-in-law has a collection of little dolls in different posses. One day I walked into the room to find one of them in my baby’s crib. I almost screamed. I don’t know who sold that doll but it looked like a small evil leprechaun going through an exsorsism. I grabed the thing very carefully (as I had the slight feeling it might have been cursed) and returned it to it’s previous owner.
I told my mother in law that I could not keep it because I was terribly afraid of it and that I could not understand how she didn’t see how very terrifying it’s twisted face and tangled hair was. “Is just a little baby yawning” she still said.
I swear it was not. As soon as I get a picture of it I’ll post it.
the monster's lost shoe 