Violence in Animated Feature Films: Implications for Children

Mustafa Turkmen

doi:10.12973/edupij.2016.51.2

Abstract

Cartoons and animated films occupy a significant proportion of a child’s viewing time, but may be considered questionable in terms of their content. Although parents prefer such films in order to shield their children from daily problems and potentially harmful images in the media, examination of their content has so far been limited. In this study, violence depicted in popular animated cinema films was analyzed using content analysis, tabulating categories and frequency. Twenty-three animated films from among the 100 highest-grossing feature films of all time were examined. Results indicated that the most violent physical elements were punching and kicking, the most violent verbal elements were taunting and threatening and there were 18 scenes of killing. It is concluded that the frequency of the violence shown in some of the animated films may be disturbing for the healthy mental development of young children.

Highlights

The presence of violent elements on social platforms and in the media has been striking in recent decades
The most comprehensive, from the American Psychiatric Association (1993), defines violence as: immediate or chronic situations which harm the psychological, social or physical well-being of individuals and groups
When we examine the characters committing acts of violence, and those exposed to it (Table 2), we see the aggression is directed from a good character towards a different good character in 571 cases (45.9%), from a bad character against a good character in 396 cases (31.8%), from a good character at a bad character in 258 cases (20.7%), and there are 20 acts (1.6%) targeted by a bad character towards a different bad character

Summary

Introduction

The presence of violent elements on social platforms and in the media (television, cinema, internet, press, etc.) has been striking in recent decades. When instances of violence in schools and the community in recent years are considered, together with those in daily life, it is not surprising that the favorite characters with whom children feel comfortable may affect them negatively (Hoffner et al, 2001; Bonds, 2002; Zuckerman & Zuckerman, 1985; Gentile, Walsh, Ellison, Fox, & Cameron, 2004; Groebel, 1998; Kalayci, 2012; Huesmann et al, 2003; Browne & Hamilton-Giachritsis, 2005; Jipguep & Sanders-Phillips, 2003; Ozdemir, Ozan Boydak & Aydogan, 2013; Walsh & Gentile, 2001; Anderson et al, 2003; American Psychiatric Association, 2005) For this reason, establishing which characters perpetrate violence in animated films, and by what means, needs to be investigated. The present analysis of animated films in terms of their violence quotient will be useful for families, researchers, educators, animated film makers, and children

Methodology

Findings

Conclusion and Discussion