It actually varies quite a lot. You can tell when a cartoon is aimed for immature audiences, but you can also tell when it could be enjoyed by both adults and children. The American cartoons such as Camp Lazlo, My Gym Partner's a Monkey, Foster's Home, etc., are obviously aimed at the 5-11 age group. Dragon Ball, brought to America perhaps lowered the age group slightly, because of the dialogue and editing (you could also buy the DVDs uncut)--but all around it's nothing like those American children shows, in comparison. Dragon Ball attracted a much, much wider audience than most cartoons intended for the 11-16(yes?) age group. I may have mentioned this previously, but when Dragon Ball was in its prime several years ago ('99) I would meet 20+ year old people in malls who were always eager to talk about it. There were a lot of people who were interested in it you never thought would be; I knew 40 year olds with children who would ask me about the show. So, a majority of the fans are children... but the show's fanbase also contained many, many older college students who are obsessed with anime.
In Japan, everyone liked it, I believe. It was kind of like Superman here, but more violent.. as the Japanese are apparently desensitized to any form of violence, even the children.
-.-...Naruto's far from ground-breaking.
