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

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Chapter 1. Animal Farm

3. Chapter 2. Beauty and the Beast

4. Chapter 3. The Lion King

5. Conclusion

Research Objectives and Themes

This dissertation explores the role of anthropomorphism in animated film, specifically analyzing how animal characters are utilized to represent human traits, complex social issues, and political critiques across different cinematic styles. The study investigates why animation serves as a unique medium for these portrayals compared to live-action films.

• The psychological function of animal characters in children's media and their connection to childhood development.
• Political allegory and satire, focusing on the use of animals in Halas & Batchelor’s Animal Farm.
• The "Disneyfication" of fairy tales and the marketing of cuteness in Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.
• Application of Paul Wells’ "Bestial Ambivalence" model to categorize the representation of animals in animation.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: This chapter introduces the dissertation's focus on anthropomorphism in animated films and establishes the theoretical framework regarding the historical shift in the representation of animals in art and literature.

Chapter 1. Animal Farm: This section analyzes the 1954 animated adaptation as a serious political satire, using Paul Wells' Bestial Ambivalence model to explain how animal characters symbolize human societal flaws and totalitarian power dynamics.

Chapter 2. Beauty and the Beast: This chapter examines Disney's adaptation of the fairy tale, discussing the impact of "disneyfication" and how anthropomorphized characters serve to teach moral lessons about human sexuality, love, and redemption.

Chapter 3. The Lion King: The final analysis explores Disney's creation of an original narrative that relies on the "cuteness" factor for marketing, while investigating how the film utilizes hierarchy and royalty metaphors to reflect human social structures.

Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, noting that while Disney uses anthropomorphism for sentimentality and escapism, other works like Animal Farm utilize it as a potent tool for social and political critique.

Keywords

Anthropomorphism, Animation, Animal Farm, Disney, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Paul Wells, Bestial Ambivalence, Totalitarianism, Fairy Tales, Intertextuality, Childhood, Marketing, Symbolism, Satire.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this dissertation?

The work examines the use of anthropomorphism in animated films and explores the reasons why filmmakers use animal protagonists to convey complex human emotions and social narratives.

What are the central themes discussed in the paper?

Key themes include the political use of animal metaphors, the psychological significance of animal figures in children's media, the evolution of storytelling in animation, and the "Disneyfication" of classic fairy tales.

What is the primary research goal?

The goal is to understand how the medium of animation, through anthropomorphism, allows creators to address serious or taboo subjects, such as politics and human psychology, in a way that live-action films often cannot.

Which scientific or analytical models are used?

The author primarily utilizes Paul Wells’ "Bestial Ambivalence" model, alongside theories from figures like Bruno Bettelheim, Marina Warner, and Roland Barthes to categorize and interpret the animated texts.

What is covered in the main body of the work?

The body provides a comparative analysis of three major films: the politically driven Animal Farm, and the Disney productions Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.

Which keywords characterize this research?

The research is characterized by terms such as Anthropomorphism, Animation, Bestial Ambivalence, Disney, Totalitarianism, and Fairy Tales.

How does the author distinguish between Disney's approach and Halas & Batchelor's?

The author highlights that while Disney uses animals to maximize cuteness and provide escapist entertainment, Halas & Batchelor use animals in Animal Farm for serious, raw political satire without relying on sentimentality.

What role does the "Bestial Ambivalence" model play in this study?

It serves as the analytical tool used to identify the stages of animal representation—ranging from "pure animal" to "critical human"—within the narratives of the analyzed films.