Is there any great information on stereotypes in animated films?

February 6, 2024 5:32 AM

I would love to do a deeper dive into this topic by looking at interesting books and articles, rather than just encountering bite-size examples. Do you know of any materials on this that are worth tracking down? Any leads would be most appreciated.
posted by mortaddams to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

Best answer: Birth of an Industry: Blackface Minstrelsy and the Rise of American Animation might be one place to start, but did you have an idea in mind of what kind of stereotypes you're looking for? The queer-coding of villains in some Disney movies is another example that's been written about quite a bit.
posted by Jeanne at 5:41 AM on February 6, 2024 [1 favorite]

There's lots online about Disney's use of lime green to indicate evil!
posted by unicorn chaser at 6:37 AM on February 6, 2024 [1 favorite]

Best answer: You might try Animating Difference: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Contemporary Films for Children, as well as Language and Gender in Children’s Animated Films. There are also substantial bodies of research on Disney, anime, and various individual films that are either high points or low points in stereotyping.
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:45 AM on February 6, 2024

Best answer: Actor Geena Davis's Institute on Gender in Media researches topics related to this - maybe start there?
posted by panther of the pyrenees at 9:07 AM on February 6, 2024

Best answer: I was going to mention the Gina Davis one. The documentary This Changes Everything discusses the methodology and findings a bit.
posted by lookoutbelow at 12:20 PM on February 6, 2024

Tinker Belles and Evil Queens: The Walt Disney Company from the Inside Out
posted by dizziest at 2:50 PM on February 8, 2024