Visual Representation of Gender in Selected Animated Films

Animation films represent a popular medium of communication that serves several goals, e.g., entertainment, pedagogy and aesthetics. Academic interest in scrutinizing this medium increases due to its influence on its viewers of different ages and gender. Analysts have investigated gender representation in animation films deploying various theoretical and analytical approaches, e.g., content analysis, underlining how numerous messages are reproduced and reinforced in viewers' minds which consequently influence their perceptions of gender roles and affect their actual social behavior and attitudes. However, insufficient attention has been given to the scrutiny of visual depiction of gender in animated films. Visual analysis could yield valuable findings regarding the representation of gender in this medium. Therefore, this research attempts to examine the visual portrayal of female and male protagonists in two of the highest-grossing American computer animated films released in 2013 and featuring human characters, namely Frozen and Despicable Me 2. For the purpose of analysis, Kress and van Leeuwen's (1996/2006) visual grammar is employed in addition to certain concepts of cinematography, e.g., camera angle, close-ups, and composition (Mascelli, 1998). Findings reveal the underlying gender messages delivered in the selected films highlighting implications for animated films viewers, animation producers and gender researchers.