Abstract
Disney animated films continue to serve as an influential form of media that shapes children’s development of beliefs about the world surrounding them, including the construct of the family. However, a census analysis as to how Disney animated films represent depictions of families has yet to be conducted. To fill this gap, we assessed the qualities of family demographics, structure, and function in a census analysis of 85 Disney animated films from the years 1937–2018. Results indicated that single parent families (41.3%) was the most predominantly represented family structure, followed by nuclear (25%) and guardian (19.2%). We also observed that the first depiction of a non-Caucasian family was presented in the 1990s, with a growing number of ethnically diverse families since that time. However, minimal interactions between families of differing ethnicities are noted. Overall, over 75% of all Disney animated films depicted warm and supportive familial interactions, with 78.8% of the films illustrating a positive relationship between the protagonist and his/her family. Analysis and implications are offered for parents and educators who wish to further understand the content Disney animated films offer in depicting families.
Highlights
IntroductionSinger and Singer (1984) equated the degree of influence of media families to children’s real-life interactions with parents and family environment
Introduction and Literature ReviewMedia representations of the family to younger audiences have been of interest since the emergence of television (Morgan et al 1999, p. 47). Singer and Singer (1984) equated the degree of influence of media families to children’s real-life interactions with parents and family environment.media family portrayals provide children with exemplars that offer information about family construction, home environment, parent-child interactions, and family roles
Research that investigates family portrayals in film is somewhat sparse, regarding media content that appeals to children (Holcomb et al 2015; Callister et al 2007)
Summary
Singer and Singer (1984) equated the degree of influence of media families to children’s real-life interactions with parents and family environment. Media family portrayals provide children with exemplars that offer information about family construction, home environment, parent-child interactions, and family roles. Children may identify with and experience emotional bonds to certain characters to the extent to which they develop parasocial relationships, draw comparisons between media families and real-life interactions, and imitate behavioral practices (Callister et al 2007; Robinson and Skill 2001). Research that investigates family portrayals in film is somewhat sparse, regarding media content that appeals to children (Holcomb et al 2015; Callister et al 2007)
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