Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
While killing time in Wikipedia, I ran across entries for the different types of paradoxes and principles applied to time travel, such as the predestination paradox/Novikov self-consistency principle (history is immutable and every case of time travel was already part of history; nothing can occur to change history), the grand-father paradox, alternate timelines (every possibility occurs in its own parallel universe, and time travelers travel not only through time, but through probabilities as well, preventing paradoxes), etc.
Gargoyles relies exclusively on the predestination paradox for its time travel rules (Vows, M.I.A.). The DCAU has both alternate timelines, and time as a breakable entity (The Once and Future Thing). The second Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon has both one immutable ?main? time-line (Timing is Everything, The Return of Savanti Romero), as well as alternate timelines (Same as it Never Was). Teen Titans uses a version of the grandfather paradox in its time-travel episode.
So, which are your favorite portrayals of time travel in cartoons? Which is your favorite time-travel "rule"? Does the very idea of time-travel give you a headache? Talk here.
Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
I kinda like the "Gargoyles" version.....Time can't be altered,anything that happens was always meant to happen....
.....though,implausible as it is,I also loved the use of time travel in Futurama's "Roswell That Ends Well",where Fry ends up becoming his own grandfather (the episode has one of my favorite Farnsworth lines... "Oooh....a lesson in NOT changing history from Mr. "I'm-my-own-grampa".....SCREW HISTORY!!!!")
Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
Rule 0 of Temporal Mechanics: No one understands temporal mechanics.
Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
I recall the Silver Age Superman comics, where they stated that Superman couldn't change history (following the predestination paradox rule) and that he'd turn invisible when arriving in a past or future era during which he was alive... modern Superman time-travel rules (and in the TV shows/movies/etc.) of course don't follow either rule, going with the "Back to the Future" approach of the past being alterable.
Speaking of which, there's also the two early 90's time-travel cartoons based on movies, "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures" (two seasons, the first on CBS and done by Hanna-Barbera, the second on Fox and done by DIC) and "Back to the Future" (aired two seasons on CBS, done by some animation department of Universal Studios'). I enjoyed watching both, particularly BTTF---still waiting to see it come out on DVD (though guess I shouldn't hold my breath...).
Re: favorite time-travel rules: Guess the "Back to the Future" approach (past is alterable) is my favorite...
Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
The Farnsworth Parabox episode of Futurama is the best (and funniest) dealing of alternate realities I've seen. "Now, now. Perfectly symmetrical violence never solved anything."
Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
My favorite time-travel stories were from X-Men TAS: Days of Future Past and One Man's Worth. In the latter story, I liked the fact that Wolverine and Storm had to wear special devices to protect them from changes they made to their own timeline. They could have done the whole "kill your own grandfather" paradox and still survived, at least until their batteries ran out.
Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
So did they continue the predestined paradox routine as the movie or just alternate? I remember the cartoon, just the full specifics. Though I do remember when they considered recruiting the Giant from Jack And The Beanstalk to do with a bully, only for the other point out that he's a fictional character.
I suppose for myself, though, either are both equally entertaining.
Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
There was also the final season of The Smurfs in 1989-1990 when many of the Smurfs had time travel adventures to eras past.
Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
MIB had a few episodes involving time. There was a nifty device that opened up a portal to another point in time.
I think it showed up 2-3 times in the entire series.
Time Travel principles and paradoxes in cartoons
It's even funnier when the main characters by end decides to completely disregard any time mishaps and go gung-ho on Area 51 to take back their spaceship. Best plot twist ever.