Die Darstellung von Gut und Böse in animierten Spielfilmen für Kinder. Eine inhaltsanalytische Untersuchung (2016)
Hemmerich, Fabian
Animated children’s films can be seen as integral parts of western children’s culture and are very popular among their young target group. Accordingly an accurate scientific examination of these film’s contents seems useful. Previous quantitative content analyses are mainly concerned with “classic” Disney animated films. There is less research regarding more modern computer-animated films from different film studios. Thus the aim of the quantitative content analysis in this study is to contribute to the research field by examining portrayals in 20 very popular computer-animated films from 2000 to 2013. The focus here is on the relations between demographic, physical, linguistic as well as on personality-based and behavioral features of the film characters and their “goodness” or rather “evilness”. In conjunction with analyses of extreme groups the features of particularly “good” or rather particularly “evil” film characters are also taken into account. In addition the features of film characters undergoing a fundamental change of their “goodness” or “evilness” during the film plot are examined. Hereby a comprehensive picture of depiction-tendencies regarding the “goodness” or rather the “evilness” of animated film characters and of the extent to which they may be associated with certain stereotypes should be enabled. In the theoretical part of this study important findings from the actual state of research concerning typical depictions in animated children’s films are summed up. Then theories and empirical findings about possible effects on children who watch such films are described. Subsequently in the empirical part of the study the methodological approach in this content analysis is explained and the corresponding results are mentioned and discussed with regard to possible effects and pedagogical conclusions. The findings indicate that the portrayal of “good” and “evil” in the films examined as a whole can be considered as stereotypical only in some points: For example “good” film characters are significantly more attractive and achieve better results at the end of a film compared to “evil” characters. But in total the findings of this content analysis can be viewed rather positive, also regarding potential effects on children. Nevertheless further research on that topic can deemed to be of concern.