Adorno says that television is often put into categories and the audience has preeconceptions of the programs based on the type of show 'We are all familiar with the division of television content into various classes, such as light comedy, westerns, mysteries, so-called sophisticated plays, and others. These types have developed into formulas which, to a certain degree, pre-establish the attitudinal pattern of the spectator before he is confronted with any specific content and which largely determine the way in which any specific content is being perceived.'(Adorno, 1954). Animation has the same structure and especially in mainstream animation this structure is solidified. However there is a lot more experimental animation, which breaks the boundaries of the categories and this makes them more unique and interesting.
The reason for television being put into categories and that it is already established in the audiences mind is to make it subdued so the audience doesn't have to think too much to understand it. Essentially just providing the audience with a quick cheap bit of satisfaction, this satisfaction could be multiplied by the reward of knowledge and understanding but that is often looked over. 'This defense is made in order to dismiss insights as irrelevant because they are actually uncomfortable and make life more difficult for us than it already is by shaking our conscience when we are supposed to enjoy the "simple pleasures of life.""(Adorno, 1954).
Adorno, T. W. "How To Look At Television". The Quarterly of Film Radio and Television 8.3 (1954): 213-235. Web.
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