CalArts style
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A popular aesthetic in animated cartoons from the 2010s onward, with simplistic character designs, thin outlines, and flat regions of plain bright color.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “CalArts style” mean?
A popular aesthetic in animated cartoons from the 2010s onward, with simplistic character designs, thin outlines, and flat regions of plain bright color.
Is “CalArts style” formal or informal?
CalArts style is generally derogatory, slang.