Disney Animation Research Articles

The Disney Animation Renaissance: Behind the Glass at the Florida Studio. Ed. Mary E.Lescher. U of Illinois P, 2022. 280 pp. $29.95 paper.

The Disney Animation Renaissance: Behind the Glass at the Florida Studio. Ed. Mary E.Lescher. U of Illinois P, 2022. 280 pp. $29.95 paper.

The Psychological Impact of the Changing Images of Female Characters in Disney Animated Films on Teenagers

The animation film is an art form that reflects human social life and meets the needs of spiritual life. As a forerunner of popular culture, Disney animated films record many social changes. This article discusses the presentation and impacts of female characters in Disney animated film on young people. The evolution of its classic animation themes and female princess images reflects the change in women's status and the development of the feminist movement. The continuous enrichment of the female image in the identity, appearance and personality of Disney animated films reflects its diversified development and the establishment and promotion of female status in personal growth, marriage and love. Social learning theory considers how both environmental and cognitive factors interact to influence human learning and behavior. Through the social learning process, young people accept the values expressed in Disney animated films.

자막 수정 활동이 학습자의 영어 독해 성취도에 미치는 영향

Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the effect of subtitle correction activities on learners' reading achievement, analyze learners' attitudes and reactions to learner participation activity, and identify areas to consider when using subtitle correction activities in EFL classes.
 Methods This study attempted to propose a subtitle correction activity as a learner participation activity in English reading classes, using movies, and presented a class procedure to which this was applied. This study used the Disney animation, Frozen 2, as a textbook and Movavi Video Suite, a video editing program, to edit the subtitles.
 Results This study conducted two reading achievement tests and an open-ended survey for evaluation. The reading achievement tests indicated that the subtitle correction activities affected learners positively, and the open-ended survey showed that learners were generally satisfied with the subtitle correction activities that encouraged participation in learning (75.4%). This high level of satisfaction is attributable to how the subtitle correction activities aroused interest and fun in the class, encouraged direct participation, and helped boost reading comprehension learning and group activities.
 Conclusions Instructors need to encourage learners to approach the use of movies in reading classes critically, without passively accepting the meaning of subtitles.

Gender Representation in the Arabic Dubbing Disney Animation: A Feminist Perspective

The study aims at understanding how the developments in gender representation are transferred linguistically into the Arabic dubbed versions of the films and recognizing the extent to which these translations may affect the discursive construction of gender in the dubbed films. In order to explore the changes in the representation of gender in the Arabic dubbed Disney films, the study focuses on answering the two main research questions: how is gender textually represented in the three selected Arabic dubbed films in comparison to their original animations? and how far is Disney's gender representation in the original films is discursively reflected in the Arabic dubbing? The study focuses on analysing three themes: gender roles, gender identity, and gender relations in the Arabic dubbing, produced by Masreya Media, of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Mulan (1998), and Frozen (2013). To answer the research questions, the study adopts the first two dimensions of Fairclough‘s (2013) Critical-Discourse-Analysis (CDA) three dimensional model, which perceives any communicative event consisting of three interconnected aspects: text, discursive practice, and social practice, as the methodological framework for the analysis. As for the first dimension, text, the study uses Van Leeuwen‘s (2008) socio-semantic Social Actors Inventory as a tool of analysis. For the second dimension, discursive practice, the study adopts Sunderland's (2004) four sets of gendered discourses. The findings involve differences in gender representation in some scenes in the dubbed versions of the three films, which have implications on the discursive representation of gender in the Arabic dubbing.

Gender Representation in the Arabic Dubbing Disney Animation: A Feminist Perspective

The study aims at understanding how the developments in gender representation are transferred linguistically into the Arabic dubbed versions of the films and recognizing the extent to which these translations may affect the discursive construction of gender in the dubbed films. In order to explore the changes in the representation of gender in the Arabic dubbed Disney films, the study focuses on answering the two main research questions: how is gender textually represented in the three selected Arabic dubbed films in comparison to their original animations? and how far is Disney's gender representation in the original films discursively reflected in the Arabic dubbing? The study focuses on analysing three themes: gender roles, gender identity, and gender relations in the Arabic dubbing, produced by Masreya Media, of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Mulan (1998), and Frozen (2013). To answer the research questions, the study adopts the first two dimensions of Fairclough‘s (2013) Critical-Discourse-Analysis (CDA) three dimensional model, which perceives any communicative event consisting of three interconnected aspects: text, discursive practice, and social practice, as the methodological framework for the analysis. As for the first dimension, text, the study uses Van Leeuwen‘s (2008) socio-semantic Social Actors Inventory as a tool of analysis. For the second dimension, discursive practice, the study adopts Sunderland's (2004) four sets of gendered discourses. The findings involve differences in gender representation in some scenes in the dubbed versions of the three films, which have an effect on the discursive representation of gender in the Arabic dubbing.

Walt’s Art History: Late Style, Digital Aesthetics and the ‘Disney Baroque’

This article examines the critical and cultural framing of the Walt Disney Studio’s cel- and computer-animated feature films according to an enduring art-historical narrative. It traces the critical evolution and historical periodization of Disney animation from the 1930s and 1940s to the post-millennial period, arguing that the studio has often been understood according to ‘early, middle and late’ phases of production that are typically held as both complementary and in tension with each other. Supported by the well-established art-history vernacular that has defined discrete Disney eras, this article then argues for post-2012 Disney Feature Animation as an example of the studio’s ‘late style’ – a later phase not of transgression or alienation, but one that adheres to a more positivist mode that signals pleasurable formal dissidence, confident deformation, and artistic creativity. This article subsequently advances the term ‘Disney Baroque’ to describe such playful transformations of digital aesthetics and effects present across the studio’s nine features released between Wreck-It Ralph (Rich Moore, 2012) and Encanto (Jared Bush and Byron Howard, 2021), its longest run of computer-animated films. By sharpening contemporary Disney’s connections to the ahistorical or atemporal logic of Baroque theatricality, this article identifies how contemporary Disney animation engineers spectacular moments of upheaval that rest on specific Neo-Baroque qualities (concealment, illusionism, representationalism, polycentricism, seriality, the labyrinthine) in ways that further contribute to an understanding of Disney’s own internal history and critical periodicity.

A Study on Reading Strategies for English Reading Class Using Movies: Focusing on the Movie Zootopia

This study aims to introduce reading strategies in which learners can directly participate and present class activities, using them to consider the activation of reading strategies. In addition, the study analyzes learners’ attitudes and reactions to using specific reading strategies to determine the points to be considered when using these strategies. The Disney animation, <i>Zootopia</i> (Howard & Moore, 2016), was used as a case study, and reading strategies focusing on the topics of prejudice, discrimination, and diversity were used. The research evaluation was based on an openended survey conducted in the last week of class and self-reflection notes drafted at the end of each week’s class. According to the survey, most learners were satisfied with the use of various reading strategies in reading classes using movies (70.3%). This satisfaction was mainly based on opinions that reading strategies helped learners to participate in class activities, understand movie topics, and efficiently focus on classes. Furthermore, it was found that when using movies in English reading classes, reading strategies centered on the movie themes may prove to be a sound approach. Therefore, it is necessary to further activate a theme-tailored reading strategy that uses various films with diverse and interesting themes.

Customer experience through online reviews from TripAdvisor: the case of Orlando theme parks

In the last years, the development of social media and digital technology has empowered customers to strongly engage with firms, to freely behave choice wisely and to influence other customers either positively or negatively. This study sought to extract latent information on theme park visitor perception and experience through sentiment analysis from user generated content. In general, satisfaction and sentiment differed between the eight theme parks, wherein the three theme parks with higher positive sentiment were Disney's Animal Kingdom, followed by Universal's Islands of Adventures, Discovery Cove and finally SeaWorld. Furthermore, it was found on the one hand that drivers of customer's satisfaction were associated with sentiments such as 'fun', 'great', 'lovely' and 'amazing', and on the other hand experience and services like 'rides', 'water', 'dolphins', 'experience' and 'show'. Those results are valuable to support theme park management to improve guest experiences and consequently achieve sustainable competitive advantage.

Eve Benhamou, Contemporary Disney Animation: Genre, Gender and Hollywood

Eve Benhamou, Contemporary Disney Animation: Genre, Gender and Hollywood

Children’s comprehension of time in audiovisual narratives: A multimodal discourse and empirical approach

Children’s understanding of time is essential for success in literacy, history and science education, and narrative is often adopted as a cross-curricular vehicle for promoting its development. This study proposes a social-semiotic, multimodal framework for analysing the co-patterning of temporal relations in audiovisual narratives and its effect on children’s comprehension. Moving beyond the focus on individual temporal devices in previous research, our framework combines three systems of time features in audiovisual narratives - event time, sequencing and frequency. To illustrate the framework’s value for investigating the interaction and combined effects of different temporal devices in narratives, we present an exploratory study in which 28 children aged 7–10 years watched and interpreted temporally-complex segments from two Disney animations. The findings support our argument that the co-patterning of temporal features plays a key role in children’s comprehension of audiovisual narratives and have implications for research on multimodality and education.

Translation Procedures of Cultural-Bound Expressions in the Egyptian Vernacular Dubbed Versions of Three Disney Animated Movies

Abstract Egyptian Vernacular Arabic is often used when Disney animated movies are dubbed in Arabic. Since vernacular varieties reflect culture, the present article aims to study the translation procedures used in dubbing culture-bound expressions in Disney animated movies. Three Disney animated movies were selected for this purpose, The Lion King, Toy Story 2, and Finding Nemo. To analyse the dubbed culture-bound expressions, I adopted Tomaszkiewicz’s procedures of dubbing and subtitling. The study revealed that the most frequently used dubbing procedures were adaptation taken from the target language and providing cultural equivalents. These two procedures are recommended by previous scholars who suggested that culture cannot be translated literally and translators should always find an equivalent that the viewer understands in the target language. The procedure literal translation was seldom used, whereas omission, generalisation, and replacement were not used at all. It has also been concluded that manipulation of the original text was done by using dubbing procedures that mainly aim to make the text closer to the viewer in terms of adjusting to their native language and culture. The article concludes with recommendations for further research.

From Entombment to Entertainment: Death Ritual in Disney Animation.

The presentation of death in popular culture via media texts can not only serve as a reflection of death's religious and cultural nuances, but also occupies the potential to influence specific audiences. As developing social beings, children witness ample death-related messaging, including how to deal with death through ritualistic practices. The following article considers the observation of character behavior as an important element to message dissemination and uses 15 animated Disney films to analyze death ritual. Through various themes rooted in symbolism and mythos, Disney demonstrates within these films how death rituals in children's media remain imbedded with cultural and religious ideology.

Using behavior and genital swellings to monitor social dynamics and track reproductive cycling in zoo-housed lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus).

Though lion-tailed macaques are managed ex situ as an assurance population, little information is available on the relationship between behavior and reproductive physiology to ensure successful management and evaluate welfare. To facilitate social and reproductive management in a group of one male and three female lion-tailed macaques at Disney's Animal Kingdom®, we observed behaviors associated with dominance and reproduction, rated genital swellings, recorded menses, tracked ovarian cycles as determined by measurement of fecal immunoreactive progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2), and monitored fecal cortisol (CORT). We analyzed the dominance hierarchy of females, compared hormone patterns of ovarian cycles with genital swellings and copulations relative to menses, and tested for correlations between hormones and behavior. The strength of the dominance hierarchy indicated moderate linearity, but relaxed after the dominant female received anxiolytic medications to reduce intraspecific aggression. Fecal P4 and E2 patterns revealed ovarian cycle lengths averaging 29.7 ± 0.8 days. The timing of single-day E2 peaks varied between and within females' cycles. However, on average, E2 peaks occurred 6-10 days after the first day of menses, with maximum genital swellings and copulations occurring slightly thereafter in uncontracepted females. Female-to-female aggression and sexual behaviors with the male were related to ovarian cycle phase, but correlations between behaviors and hormones varied between females. Initiated aggression was positively correlated with E2 in the dominant and mid-ranked females, while aggression received was positively correlated with P4 or negatively correlated with E2 in the mid-ranked and subordinate females. In one uncontracepted female, sexual behaviors with the male were negatively correlated to P4. CORT was positively correlated to aggression in the dominant and mid-ranked females and negatively correlated to grooming in the subordinate female. Results indicate observations of visual and behavioral cues can be used to track ovarian cycles and evaluate social dynamics and welfare in zoo-housed lion-tailed macaques.

〈모아나〉에 나타난 여성 영웅 서사 구조와 어머니 여신 원형(原型)의 양가성

This study examines the Disney animation <Moana>(2016) as 9 stages of a female hero narrative model based on the ancient Sumerian Inanna goddess archetype, and analyzes the ambivalence of the Great Mother Goddess archetype. Moana dreams of sailing far away from the rules of the tribe, and wants to go out to sea like the her ancestors who were sailors. In the course of her quest to return the heart of Te Fiti, goddess of creation and life, with the aid of her mother goddess. With the help of the Mother Goddess, Moana sets out on an adventure to return the heart of Te Fiti, the goddess of creation and life. In the process, she takes on the lead role as a pure warrior and navigator, although she is helped by the male hero Maui. In the narrative of <Moana>, 9 stages of a female heroic narrative are implemented based on the myth of the descent of the goddess Inanna. In <Moana>, the goddess Te Fiti, the lava monster Te Kā, and the ‘sea’ show the ambivalence of the great mother goddess archetype. Moana is the mediator who unites and reconciles the ambivalence of the great goddess. She is also a mythical female hero who sets the world order right by restoring her original identity overturned by masculinity.

Donald Duck and Edward Elgar: English March in Disney Animation

Relevance of the study. The interdisciplinary approach is one of the advanced methods of studying artistic phenomena in the modern science of humanities. It is especially relevant for the study of the compositions of E. Elgar, as his orchestral music has taken the place of a kind of migratory content in modern culture, which is increasingly presented not in academic concerts, but in interspecific formats of mass cultural affiliation: ceremonial events, cinematic soundtracks, different shows, etc. Scientific consideration of the process of this functional transformation of E. Elgar’s works and the nature of the interaction of his music with the visual range is a perspective and creative vector of musicology.
 The scientific novelty of the study. For the first time the principles of the interrelation of “Pomp and Circumstance marches” with the eponymous episode “Fantasies 2000” are described at the historical-chronological, compositional, imaginative, dramaturgical as well as intra-thematic levels. A new perspective on the artistic and genre content of E. Elgar’s marches (which are the original cultural component of the modern multimedia space) is proposed and argued.
 The main objective(s) of the study is to reveal the nature of the interaction of music and animation on the example of the episode about Noah’s Ark from “Fantasy 2000” with Donald Duck in the lead role and the soundtrack based on “Pomp and Circumstance marches” by Edward Elgar.
 The methodology is based on the principles of interdisciplinary research and concentrates on the interaction of two types of art — animation and music. The biographical-historical method, genre, and thematic methods of music analysis are used. The approach to animation is a study of the artistic features of the character, analysis of the technical features of his drawing, and characterization of the principles of visual composition and dramaturgy.
 Results of the study. Characteristics of Donald Duck as the main hero of the episode about Noah’s Ark from the film “Fantasy 2000” is described. In parallel, the artistic portrait of Edward Elgar as the creator of “Pomp and Circumstance marches” (which became the basis for the soundtrack of this episode) was studied. The general structure and artistic material of these works of art are analyzed.
 The nature of the interaction between the visual component of the animation and the thematic complex of the Elgar’s cycle of marches is studied. The following principles of interaction of music and animation are singled out and argued: affinity of forms; the relationship between mosaicism and integrity; monothematism as a structural and compositional basis of the material organization; figurative and emotional flexibility as a dramaturgical basis for development; quoting a concert ritual within the cinematic genre; features of humor; imaginational and dramaturgical parallelism.
 The significance of the research lies in the expansion of the array of scientific intermedia works devoted to the connections between the music and animation arts. The article enriches the panorama of analytical research on the work of E. Elgar as part of English orchestral modernism.

The Girl Power of Disney Princesses in Brave and Moana

In this study, I want to analyze two films called Moana and Brave by Disney Animation. In this film there is a difference in characteristics of a princess who is usually in the field of others, just quiet and waiting for others to help them. That is the reason why I wanted to focus on the main characters named Moana and Merida who have the other side of a princess usually. This thesis talks about the issue of how the characters of Moana and Merida reflect the characteristics of girl power. The thesis aims to show that Moana and Merida can reflect the characteristics of Girl power through their decisiveness, smartness and boldness. In this study, I used girl power theory that Rebecca Walker as pioneer of the third-wave pioneer. As a result, I have found that Moana and Merida reflected the characteristics of Girl power that made them show a new side of the characteristics of a princess that is usually displayed by Disney.Keywords: Disney, Girl Power, decisiveness, smartness, boldness

A Comparison Between Disney Earlier and Recent Princess of The Third Generation of Disney Animated Films as Seen in Rapunzel in Tangled and Moana in Moana

This study compares the girl power characteristics such as bravery, independence, and intelligence in identifying Rapunzel as the earlier princess character and Moana as the recent princess character of the third generation of Disney Princesses in the two Disney Princess Animated Films titled Tangled and Moana. As a result of this study, I found that in terms of bravery, Moana as the recent princess, is more daring to make decisions and take risks when compared to Rapunzel as the earlier princess of the third generation. In terms of independence, it can also be seen that Rapunzel still seems to rely more on other people to help her find a way and protect herself, in contrast to Moana, who can find the destination by herself and work together with other people and make them become her partners. In terms of intelligence, both Rapunzel and Moana are good at managing their daily activities, but in terms of solving problems, Rapunzel still uses the power of magical stuff, unlike Moana, who uses all her mind and strength to solve the problems she faces.Keywords: girl power, bravery, independence, intelligence, characteristics

Utilizing Disney Films in the EFL Classroom: Enhancing Students’ Critical Literacy Skills with Animation

This study aimed to evaluate how English teachers can utilize Disney animation in the EFL classrooms to enhance critical literacy skills with a focus on gender and environmental issues. Pocahontas (1995) and Moana (2016) have been analyzed and compared through ecofeminist thoughts as these animation movies deal with nature at the forefront with two young women assigned the role of guarding it against destruction. Through content analysis, the two films are analyzed through the central themes of ecofeminism-criticism of male-centered thinking, women’s relationship to nature, and women’s role as nature caretakers. While both films criticize male-centered thinking and emphasize the two women’s role of advocating and protecting nature, Pocahontas’s leadership is limited by binary thinking whereas Moana grows into a leader where all elements are equal and integral. Based on the analysis, students can train their critical thinking skills to further read cultural texts critically. By incorporating eco-feminist thoughts in a critical reading of Disney’s films, students can analyze issues deconstructing dominant and dualist thinking. Disney’s abundant film-text sources can serve as valuable resources for enhancing students’ English critical literacy skills.

Study on Self-growth of Female Characters in Disney Animation from the Perspective of Feminism

Disney animated films can be divided into classics, live action with animation, 3D computer animation, claymation animation, movietoons animation and video premiere. No matter what type of animation, Disney animation is famous the all over the world for its imagination, exquisite painting and delicate stories. Disney animated films constantly reflect the changes and development of the times and the development of feminism. This study analyzes the self-growth of female characters in Disney animation from three aspects: patriarchal society, the influence of feminism and modern society, and discusses the changes in the outlook on marriage and life. In a patriarchal society, feminist consciousness was suppressed, and female growth was greatly constrained. After the awakening and development of feminism, women gradually awaken their consciousness, and feminist characters show a new path to growth through their own efforts. In modern society, feminism has further developed, and female characters in Disney animation have lived a more colorful life on the road to self-growth under the influence of feminism. At the same time, this study analyzes the changes for in female characters in Disney animation from the reason of feminism, political economy and consumerism.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Has Finally Let Down Her Hair! The Feminist Evolution of “Rapunzel” from the Nineteenth Century to the Twenty-First Century

Although children’s literature and cinema are seldom studied critically for their thematic relevance in social structures, their influence on young, impressionable minds cannot be denied, and they are often the first teachers of gender politics to new generations. The study of gender conditioning in light of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale “Rapunzel” and its evolution from the classic tale to the blockbuster Disney animation Tangled in 2010, then traveling to India as a short story by Sowmya Rajendran in 2015, is the focus of this article. Feminist theories support the discussion here.