caricatures vs. cartoons

caricature (car·i·ca·ture)

[kar-i-kuh-cher, -choor] noun

  1. a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of persons or things: His caricature of the mayor in this morning’s paper is the best he’s ever drawn.
  2. the art or process of producing such pictures, descriptions, etc.
  3. any imitation or copy so distorted or inferior as to be ludicrous.

cartoon (car·toon)

[kahr-toon] noun
  1. a sketch or drawing, usually humorous, as in a newspaper or periodical, symbolizing, satirizing, or caricaturing some action, subject, or person of popular interest.
  2. comic strip.
  3. animated cartoon.

Now that we have the definitions, who decides what is a caricature and what is a cartoon?  If a drawing is not humorous and has no exaggerated features, is it then considered just an illustration?  Is there s certain percentage of exaggeration required to be a caricature?  If a draw a caricature then animate it, does it then become a cartoon?  Who made up these rules?  Just curious… …I guess I should be glad I didn’t get tested on this in high school.

Cartoon or caricature?  You decide.

Seattle Mascot vs. Peyton ManningOhio State vs. Michigan 2.5 SMALL

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7 thoughts on “caricatures vs. cartoons

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