Are Disney Movies Bad for Children?

[Charellia]

That's because they are cartoon characters drawn in a certain style, of course they don't look realistic.

Every single one is drawn in the same style and are otherwise realistic.

Mulan?

Specifically created because of this concern

Which, in the time periods the movies are set in, isn't unusual.

But kids won't understand that.

On top of this there is a pattern in the appearances of the characters. Protagonists of both genders are beautiful, supporting characters are strange looking and villains are ugly or monstrous. This clearly sends the wrong message about appearance

.
Quasimodo was a hero wasn't he?

Villains are always darker in colour than the heroes as well. Even on the rare occasion heroes are not white they are always lighter skinned than the villains.

I assume you are referring to skin tone?
Pocahontas was darker than Governor Ratcliffe, Esmeralda was darker than Frollo, Tarzan was darker than Clayton.

I guess there are always exceptions.

[Nailed to the Perch]

The classic Disney princesses are all dangerously underweight.

That's because they are cartoon characters drawn in a certain style, of course they don't look realistic.

You are aware that cartoon characters are drawn by actual human beings, who make conscious decisions to draw them that way, right? "Because they are drawn like this" is not actually an answer to "why are they drawn like this?" Ariel didn't just spring into existence with a waist so small that apparently mermaids don't have internal organs - actual human beings consciously chose to draw her that way, and absolutely could have chosen to give her proportions that would allow her to have a digestive system.

[Ifreann]

We've got a black princess now, so next we should get a lesbian princess. *nods*

Merida was a lesbian. You can tell because she shows no romantic inclination in the course of the film and would prefer not to be forced into marriage. Also, lesbians all have masses of unruly ginger hair.

[Unicario]

We've got a black princess now, so next we should get a lesbian princess. *nods*

Merida was a lesbian. You can tell because she shows no romantic interest and would prefer not to be forced into marriage. Also, lesbians all have masses of unruly ginger hair.

Headcanon accepted.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

I find it pleasing, but amusing, that the discussion has mostly turned from "there is not racism or sexism in Disney movies" to "here is an (alleged) example of a Disney movie/character that is not racist or sexist."

It actually turned from "There's plenty of racism and sexism in Disney movies" (I agree) to "All Disney movies are racist and/or sexist" (I disagree) to "Let's not over-generalize. Here's some characters/movies that aren't racist or sexist."

[Tsuntion]

How about a healthy weight?

But don't Cartoons usually exaggerate people's bodies. For example I remember Jafaar in Aladin had a long head for example?

Yes. (Well, his head was part of the racial stereotyping applied to him as a villain, but still.) Why can't they draw a princess with exaggerated straight lines, then? Hercules often had an angular style, so Megara could have been drawn with angles and straight lines, including a straight line from below bust to below hips. But...

... she wasn't.

(Note 1: Yes, she's posing in that image. I'm too lazy to find a better one.)

(Note 2: I don't mean no-curved-lines-at-all, I just mean that thinner and thinner hourglasses aren't the only body type you can exaggerate.)

[Electroconvulsive Glee]

The classic Disney princesses are all dangerously underweight.

That's because they are cartoon characters drawn in a certain style, of course they don't look realistic.

*snip*

To the extent this is true, it rather proves the point. The "certain style" of Disney characters -- particularly females -- tends to be objectionable.

[Olthar]

That's because they are cartoon characters drawn in a certain style, of course they don't look realistic.

You are aware that cartoon characters are drawn by actual human beings, who make conscious decisions to draw them that way, right? "Because they are drawn like this" is not actually an answer to "why are they drawn like this?" Ariel didn't just spring into existence with a waist so small that apparently mermaids don't have internal organs - actual human beings consciously chose to draw her that way, and absolutely could have chosen to give her proportions that would allow her to have a digestive system.

Clearly, she subsists on photosynthesis. That's why her tail is green. *nods*

[Ifreann]

You are aware that cartoon characters are drawn by actual human beings, who make conscious decisions to draw them that way, right? "Because they are drawn like this" is not actually an answer to "why are they drawn like this?" Ariel didn't just spring into existence with a waist so small that apparently mermaids don't have internal organs - actual human beings consciously chose to draw her that way, and absolutely could have chosen to give her proportions that would allow her to have a digestive system.

Clearly, she subsists on photosynthesis. That's why her tail is green. *nods*

So...she'll die without it?

[Olthar]

Clearly, she subsists on photosynthesis. That's why her tail is green. *nods*

So...she'll die without it?

Probably.

[Unicario]

Clearly, she subsists on photosynthesis. That's why her tail is green. *nods*

So...she'll die without it?

SENSE DOES THIS MAKE NOT

[Cetacea]

Just to ask how should the Disney Corporation portray woman then. Should they be more plump?

Thr Fairy Godmother was, Teapot lady in beauty and the beast and ursula in lil metmaid. Plump = old woman in Disney symbolism. Which of course means we can add ageism to the list

[Ethel mermania]

Lilo And Stitch, too?

Strong female characters, good family themes, men in supportive but not starring roles (except for a couple of semi-competent villains)....

Lilo and Stitch really is kind of a bizarre and wonderful exception within the Disney canon. Non-white characters with realistic body types doing a story about family in which romantic love is tangential at best? How did this ever happen?

the power of the king. elvis aaron preseley

[New haven america]

You know what I'm starting to think is bad for children?

All these so-called 'specialists' and 'professionals' running around inventing new ways for parents to fear raising their own kids without one of these people holding their hands through the process, creating situations where kids are no longer free to be kids, are saddled with adult issues and worries and problems at too young an age to actually understand and comprehend the why of it all, and in the end, bringing them up in an atmosphere of mistrust, fear, and dependency.

Frankly, I'm sick to death of the whole business.

And Disney takes part in this too.

[Yes Im Biop]

Can't we all just enjoy a good cartoon without searching for racial undertones?

This.


And No, They aren't Most Disney movies feature 1, 2 or all three of these things
1: Bad ass women
2: Dark themes
3: Thing's that shouldn't talk but do.

[Bottle]

How about a healthy weight?

But don't Cartoons usually exaggerate people's bodies. For example I remember Jafaar in Aladin had a long head for example?

It would be great if more cartoons actually handled female bodies that way, creating different stylized looks. But, instead all female bodies end up being "stylized" exactly the same way, so you end up with monotonous regiments of dainty princesses.

The whole thing about cartoons is that you use exaggeration of physical features to enhance someone's experience of a character. Look at the different body types of a lot of Disney leading male characters: Aladin is a lithe and young looking guy, Cuzco's reedy and llama-like frame is contrasted against Pacha's portly bulk and Kronk's ridiculous beefcake build, Tarzan is all ropey muscle and hunched posture, Hercules even goes through puberty from gangly teen to Greek God.

Now compare this to protagonist females and see if you can find anything approaching that kind of variety. Lilo is pretty much the only non-Barbie female headliner I can think of, and she's a little kid. Pixar also avoids the issue by featuring pre-pubescent girls like Boo from Monsters Inc and the Sugar Rush racers from Wreck-it Ralph. Hell, Disney even had to "age up" poor Merida, who was already slim and conventionally attractive, but apparently needed bigger tits to fit in with the other princesses.

As far as Disney is concerned, body type variety only shows up in female villains or secondary characters, emphasizing that a female hero must always fit within a very narrow range of acceptable appearance.

[Electroconvulsive Glee]

I find it pleasing, but amusing, that the discussion has mostly turned from "there is not racism or sexism in Disney movies" to "here is an (alleged) example of a Disney movie/character that is not racist or sexist."

It actually turned from "There's plenty of racism and sexism in Disney movies" (I agree) to "All Disney movies are racist and/or sexist" (I disagree) to "Let's not over-generalize. Here's some characters/movies that aren't racist or sexist."

Good point, although you skipped over the stage of denials of racism and sexism in Disney movies.

Also, "here's some characters that are not racist or sexist" does not rebut the notion that the movies they appear in may contain racism or sexism.

Despite my earlier statement re sexism, I am not going to bother to argue whether every single Disney movie is in some way racist or sexist. The point is racist and sexist images and messages are ubiquitous in Disney movies. That does not mean they are all "bad" or that any should be banned or censored. It may mean we should continue to expect better from Disney (and other media sources) and it may mean we should take measures such as discussing such messages with children if they watch such movies.

[Ethel mermania]

That's because they are cartoon characters drawn in a certain style, of course they don't look realistic.

You are aware that cartoon characters are drawn by actual human beings, who make conscious decisions to draw them that way, right? "Because they are drawn like this" is not actually an answer to "why are they drawn like this?" Ariel didn't just spring into existence with a waist so small that apparently mermaids don't have internal organs - actual human beings consciously chose to draw her that way, and absolutely could have chosen to give her proportions that would allow her to have a digestive system.

like jessica rabbit. i wanna play pattycake with that hot momma.

[Lazssia]

Gosh dern Disney, poisoning the minds of our precious youths! Ruinin' this great country! I bet they're working with North Korea on this.

[Ifreann]

So...she'll die without it?

Probably.

Wow, she does not do well out of that film.

[Electroconvulsive Glee]

You know what I'm starting to think is bad for children?

All these so-called 'specialists' and 'professionals' running around inventing new ways for parents to fear raising their own kids without one of these people holding their hands through the process, creating situations where kids are no longer free to be kids, are saddled with adult issues and worries and problems at too young an age to actually understand and comprehend the why of it all, and in the end, bringing them up in an atmosphere of mistrust, fear, and dependency.

Frankly, I'm sick to death of the whole business.

I am not entirely sure how this rant fits in with this topic, but to the extent it does it is troubling at best.

Should we stick our heads in the sand? We should ignore potentially harmful influences on children (like messages that teach them to mistrust or fear people based on stereotypes)? We should simply stop studying child development and education? What exactly are you complaining about or suggesting?

[Yumyumsuppertime]

It actually turned from "There's plenty of racism and sexism in Disney movies" (I agree) to "All Disney movies are racist and/or sexist" (I disagree) to "Let's not over-generalize. Here's some characters/movies that aren't racist or sexist."

Good point, although you skipped over the stage of denials of racism and sexism in Disney movies.

Also, "here's some characters that are not racist or sexist" does not rebut the notion that the movies they appear in may contain racism or sexism.

Despite my earlier statement re sexism, I am not going to bother to argue whether every single Disney movie is in some way racist or sexist. The point is racist and sexist images and messages are ubiquitous in Disney movies. That does not mean they are all "bad" or that any should be banned or censored. It may mean we should continue to expect better from Disney (and other media sources) and it may mean we should take measures such as discussing such messages with children if they watch such movies.

You're right, I did skip over that point, though I think that "It doesn't matter/You're reading too much into it" is the more common counterargument, and a more insidious one.

And I never saw this as being a call for censorship on your part, or the part of anyone else. It's just that when pointing out the numerous things that a company is doing wrong, it can be helpful to point out what they're doing right as a foundation for constructive change.

[Luziyca]

Are Jimmy Savile's shows bad for children? Not to the average viewer. Ergo, Disney movies are not bad for the average child. Only those who know the true meaning of propaganda can find them bad.

[Bottle]

You know what I'm starting to think is bad for children?

All these so-called 'specialists' and 'professionals' running around inventing new ways for parents to fear raising their own kids without one of these people holding their hands through the process, creating situations where kids are no longer free to be kids, are saddled with adult issues and worries and problems at too young an age to actually understand and comprehend the why of it all, and in the end, bringing them up in an atmosphere of mistrust, fear, and dependency.

Frankly, I'm sick to death of the whole business.

I am not entirely sure how this rant fits in with this topic, but to the extent it does it is troubling at best.

Should we stick our heads in the sand? We should ignore potentially harmful influences on children (like messages that teach them to mistrust or fear people based on stereotypes)? We should simply stop studying child development and education? What exactly are you complaining about or suggesting?

Obviously the solution is that nobody should point out racism, sexism, or any other problematic elements in media, and certainly nobody should ever analyze children's media and then report on their findings. Instead, we should all put our babies in the tub and then proceed to throw said infants out along with the bubbles and suds.

Problem solved!

[Ifreann]

Are Jimmy Savile's shows bad for children?

What possible relevance could this have?