Cartoon/cartoon images/cartoony images/cartoonish images

Question

Could someone please tell me which of the following phrases is the best?

1. They used real images instead of cartoon.
2. They used real images instead of cartoon images.
3. They used real images instead of cartoony images
4. They used real images instead of cartoonish images.

Answer 1

This is a difficult one to answer because "cartoon" and the related adjectives you are asking about can be used in different ways.

A cartoon can refer to either:

• a single-frame, humorous drawing
• a short multi-frame strip, like the kind found in newspapers (longer strips are usually called 'comics' or 'comic-books')
• an animated tv or film feature

Traditionally, cartoons depict people or animals in humorously exaggerated ways - for example, people often have large eyes or disproportionate bodies; animals are often anthropomorphised. However, some artwork in comic books and animations eschews this style and attempts to be more realistic and/or feature anatomically correct characters.

Adjectives like "cartoony", or "cartoonish" tend to be used to describe the exaggerated style of drawing - that is, to describe a drawing or depiction which is not realistic. Even a cartoon could be described as "cartoony" if it uses that particular style.

So the answer to your question depends on what you are trying to say. If you are describing a piece of art that uses photos instead of drawings - perhaps a composite image - then arguably this is "a cartoon". You should perhaps say that it "uses photos rather than drawings".

If instead you are trying to describe a live-action film feature and state that it is not an animation, you should perhaps say that it "is a live-action film, not a cartoon (or an animation)".

If I have not covered what you are trying to describe please add detail to your question or in comments and I will try and address it.

Answer 2

I think Astralbee has covered it. I would only add that if you choose sentence 1, you might want to pluralize "cartoon" as in "They used real images instead of cartoons" - if, of course, that is your meaning.

You could also simplify sentences 2 through 4 by saying, "They used real rather than cartoon images." That way you do not have to repeat the word "images". That strikes me as a cleaner sentence.

Looking through the various online dictionaries, "cartoonish" appeared more often than "cartoony". To be on the safe side I would use that word if you have to decide between them.

"They used real rather than cartoonish images" might be a good choice to consider.