From Pure Animal to Critical Human. Why Do We Use Anthropomorphism in Animation?

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Chapter 1. Animal Farm
• Chapter 2. Beauty and the Beast
• Chapter 3. The Lion King
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• List of Illustrations

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation explores the use of anthropomorphism in animated film, examining how and why animals are portrayed with human characteristics and behaviors. It analyzes the motivations behind the use of animals in animation, drawing upon existing research and theoretical frameworks to understand this phenomenon. The work focuses on three specific films: Animal Farm, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King, providing an in-depth analysis of their narrative strategies, character development, and thematic content.

• The history and evolution of anthropomorphism in animation
• The role of anthropomorphism in conveying social and political messages
• The impact of anthropomorphism on the portrayal of violence and taboo subjects in animation
• The relationship between anthropomorphism and the "Disneyfication" of fairy tales
• The cultural significance of anthropomorphism in animation, particularly in its appeal to children

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: Animal Farm: This chapter delves into the motivations behind George Orwell's use of animals in his novel Animal Farm and the subsequent animated adaptation by Halas and Batchelor. It explores the film's serious approach to social commentary and analyzes its characters and scenes through the lens of Paul Wells' Bestial Ambivalence model, which examines the interplay between animal and anthropomorphic elements in animated narratives.
• Chapter 2: Beauty and the Beast: This chapter focuses on Disney's Beauty and the Beast, comparing it to the original fairy tale and examining the impact of "Disneyfication" on the story. The chapter explores the use of postmodern theory, particularly the concept of the "death of the author," to analyze the film's deviations from the original source material. It also contrasts the portrayal of violence in Beauty and the Beast with Animal Farm, exploring how the choice of an animal protagonist affects the depiction of conflict.
• Chapter 3: The Lion King: This chapter examines Disney's The Lion King, exploring how the film uses animation to create a sense of cuteness and soften potentially darker themes. It investigates the role of childhood experiences and the significance of teddy bears in relation to the film's themes and its appeal to children. The chapter draws upon theories from John Berger and Marina Warner to understand the cultural impact of Disney films and their use of anthropomorphic characters.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Anthropomorphism, animation, animal farm, beauty and the beast, the lion king, disney, fairy tales, postmodern theory, bestial ambivalence, violence, childhood, cultural impact.