"Why does this person who is sitting behind a desk and never watches cartoons is arguing about what cartoons should be like. Its so creepy realizing that this person is a lunatic"

When someone who lacks personal experience or genuine appreciation for a field tries to dictate its direction, their arguments often ring hollow. Jhonen Vasquez addresses this dynamic by pinpointing the disconnect between decision-makers and creators. He highlights the frustration that arises when authority rests with individuals who are out of touch with the subject matter. In this instance, the subject is cartoons, a medium defined by creativity, vibrant storytelling, and a nuanced understanding of both the art form and its audience. The desk-bound individual Vasquez refers to hasn’t immersed themselves in the actual content; their knowledge isn’t derived from firsthand engagement but likely from abstract metrics or preconceived notions about what cartoons “should” be.

This external meddling can feel intrusive, even unsettling, to creators who devote passion and energy to their craft. The reference to feeling “creepy” upon realizing the nature of this person suggests a violation of creative space, a governing hand motivated by control or ignorance rather than understanding. Calling this individual a “lunatic” is rooted in the sense of absurdity and disconnect: it’s as if a stranger who doesn’t read novels set the rules for literature, or a tone-deaf bureaucrat instructed composers on melody and harmony. This signals a broader frustration familiar to artists and innovators, the struggle against gatekeepers whose decisions shape creative realms, often without respect for their inner workings.

Vasquez’s words speak to the anxiety artists feel when faced with stakeholders prioritizing profit, market trends, or superficial standards over authentic engagement. The “creepy” nature of such interference is a loss of integrity, where creativity is overseen by those least suited to nurture it. Ultimately, the quote warns of the risks inherent in divorcing decision-making from real knowledge or passion, reminding us of creativity’s need for stewardship by those who genuinely understand and love the medium.