I watched Tangled again with my kids today and the question if it's realistic or cartoony popped to my mind, since we do tend to have topic of 'realistic vs cartoonish' visuals around here fairly often.

I would most likely label it as 'stylized reality', probably would pick Fable as something that it reminds me most of (would love to see Zelda like this), but wondering what do you folks think.

Japanese dub version of Kingdom Dance for added flavour.

Stylized reality sounds spot on. It's a very unique style that few seem to attempt and/or pull off.

You're right, stylized reality is a good definition of it and I would love to see a Zelda on this vein as well. I guess the Wii U one is looking a bit like it at least.

We need more games like this! It's the best of both worlds.

The animation is cartoony, the characters are cartoony, the environment is cartoony, the colors are cartoony.
The only thing slightly realistic is the light I guess?

Why realistic? :D

A Cartoon can't be Realistic ? this words nowdays are far from beeing opposites. this for me is 100% a Cartoon, it simply looks more realistic than elder cartoons due to technology advancement

This is good point, WW HD is all cartoonish, but lighting, sun, sky are realistic and that's pretty good combination.

Both, I like realistic animation in movies like Avatar and the recent WoW cinematic and the cartoon styles in Pixar/Disney movies. Both will always have and serve a place.

Yeah, not so many games tend to use (or attempt to use) that style, P&C Adventure games are probably the genre where it's most predominant, but not many AAA titles go with it...which is pitty really, I really like the blend of realistic, semi-realisitic and cartoony elements like this.

I would say both.

Cartoony.

Cartoons are a stylised reality, it's just sometimes more stylised than others. Basically, big eyes and exaggerated facial features. Cartoony styles don't have to be mickey mouse. Historically it has always be a spectrum across all mediums.

Ignoring the shading and textures, which comes with most modern cgi, you'll find the evil queen in snow white had a more realistic human form than these characters.