Qualitative analysis of full-length animated Disney feature films: What do children watch?

Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitati načine prikazivanja muških i ženskih likova, obitelji, ljubavi i romantičnih odnosa u Disneyjevim dugometražnim animiranim filmovima. U svrhu istraživanja kvalitativno je i kvantitativno analizirano 12 dugometražnih filmova iz triju desetljeća, odnosno razdoblja od 1990. do 2019. godine, tj. četiri filma po svakom desetljeću. Rezultati analize pokazali su da se muški i ženski likovi, pogotovo junaci i junakinje filma, prikazuju prema uvriježenim standardima ljepote - oni su mladi i fizički privlačni, karakteriziraju ih velike oči, istaknute jagodice, široki osmijesi te dobra tjelesna građa. Po pitanju osobina i ponašanja, muški i ženski likovi često se prikazuju kroz ideal androginosti – oni predstavljaju spoj pozitivnih karakteristika koje se vežu uz femininost i pozitivnih karakteristika koje se vežu uz maskulinost. Dominantna obiteljska struktura u analiziranim animiranim filmovima jest obitelj s jednim roditeljem i jednim djetetom. Odnosi između roditelja i djece te braće i sestara pozitivno su prikazani – karakterizira ih toplina, briga, zaštita i podržavanje. U većini filmova romantični odnos između glavnih likova ostvaruje se tijekom čitave radnje filma, odnosno kroz postepeno međusobno upoznavanje likova te je obilježen pozitivnim i negativnim aspektima nekog odnosa.The aim of this thesis was to examine the portrayals of male and female characters, family, love, and romantic relationships in full-lenght animated Disney feature films. For the purpose of the research, 12 full-lenght feature films from three decades (from 1990 to 2019) were analyzed, qualitatively and quantitatively, four films from each decade. The results of the analysis showed that male and female characters, especially the heroes and heroines of the film, are portrayed according to the established standards of beauty - they are young and physically attractive, characterized by large eyes, prominent cheekbones, wide smiles and good physique. In terms of traits and behaviors, male and female characters are often portrayed through the ideal of androgyny - they represent a combination of positive characteristics associated with femininity and positive characteristics associated with masculinity. The dominant family structure in the analysed animated films is a family with one parent and one child. The relationships between parents and children and between siblings are positively portrayed, i.e. these relationships are characterized by warmth, care, protection and support. In the majority of films, the romantic relationship between the main characters is realized throughout the film, i.e. through the gradual acquaintance of the characters and is marked by positive and negative aspects of a relationship