There has always been talk about how anime/cartoons are for kids, and the argument against that has usually been “no it’s not, look at all these mature shows out there.”
Regardless of your definition of mature, this is not about those shows. This is about kids’ shows for kids, and watching them as an adult.
It is incorrect to think that just because a show is for kids, that it must be inferior writing-wise to shows meant for a mature audience. It may be the case that certain themes must remain simplified for children, but honest, good writing will always prevail no matter the audience.
You can appreciate shows from the distance of adulthood, or perhaps enjoy a kids’ show as is, as a fan, but either way is valid.
OGIUE MANIAX 
Ain’t that the truth!
Some of the best anime series of 2007, Tenge Toppa Gurren Lagann Seirei no Moribito and Dennou Coil. are “kid shows” that definitely prove your point.
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Hear hear! Animal Yokocho 4tw :P
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There’s also the presumption that kids’ shows cannot or should not be enjoyed by adults, to which I say is ridiculous. Looney Tunes, Animaniacs, Ren & Stimpy, Beavis & Butthead, etc. were entertaining back in the day, and they’re still damn entertaining today…hell, even more so than most of the generic, poorly-written “mature” shows syndicated on TV these days.
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Actually, certain themes are omitted entirely when it comes to children’s entertainment, not just simplified. The themes of Mad Bull 34, for instance. Barney and Friends never had songs about how you shouldn’t fuck with the crossdressing cop. BUT THEY SHOULD’VE.
It may be incorrect to think that deficient writing and children’s entertainment naturally go hand in hand, but it’s also not incorrect to say that a noticeably higher than normal percentage of children’s entertainment DOES have lackluster writing.
[DEAR INTERNET: THAT “HIGHER THAN NORMAL” PART OF THE SENTENCE MEANS YOU *DON’T* WRITE IN RESPONSE “but the fact that most of the stuff is bad is true for everything!”]
As integral as Star Blazers was to us all being here talking about this now, it was the perfect storm of that show being good in conjunction with US cartoons of the 80s being so damn BAD that led to the proliferation of anime fandom in the US. As someone with his own fair share of 80s nostalgia, even I must concede that for most children’s entertainment–regardless of country of origin–“good writing” (whatever you want to define that as) is not really a primary concern. They’re primarily interested in selling toys, merchandise, or just being a distraction. Decades ago, Sesame Street was actually about teaching kids stuff like their ABCs and how to count rather than “bug your parents for that Tickle Me Elmo doll.” I’m far more willing to respect (and adopt) the “yeah, I know this show is bad, but I like it anyway” position than the “no, this [bad] show is actually great and mature and well-written!” one frequently adopted by anime fans.
I don’t think I can really be on board with assertions that titles such as Gurren Lagann, Dennou Coil, or even Beavis and Butthead are “kids’ shows for kids” of the type this post is referencing. In the case of the anime titles, those are most assuredly titles designed *primarily* for the consumption of the otaku audience, not kids. Sure, there’ll be overlap, but they’re not quite the same as shows for kids that people still watch as adults (Pokemon, Naruto, DBZ).
Regardless, on those rare occasions where a children’s property DOES come along with “good writing,” it is promptly hijacked and ruined by the slash fiction “community” and/or the pedo brigade anyway. Until these two armies–the strongest and most powerful armies on the entire Internet, especially the former–are defeated, the status quo you speak of shall never change.
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