Cartoons kill: Casualties in animated recreational theater in an objective observational new study of kids’ introduction to loss of life.

To assess the risk of on-screen death of important characters in childrenÕs animated films versus dramatic films for adults. Important characters in childrenÕs animated films were at an increased risk of death compared with characters in dramatic films for adults (hazard ratio 2.52, 95% confidence interval 1.30 to 4.90). Risk of on-screen murder of important characters was higher in childrenÕs animated films than in comparison films (2.78, 1.02 to 7.58). Conclusions Rather than being the innocuous form of entertainment they are assumed to be, childrenÕs animated films are rife with on-screen death and murder.