Editor’s Note: Katie is a telephone triage nurse with a background in women’s and children’s health. She is also the mother of two neurodiverse teens with medical complexities. -Cara L. Coleman, JD, MPH
Animated movies are a favorite of almost every child, and change with each generation. Technology creates effects that were previously unthinkable; and in many ways, movies seem more sensitive toward issues like race, gender, emotions, and disabilities than they used to be.
However, one thing that hasn’t changed much is the way animated films use a character’s looks to signal how “good” or important a character is.
What did the study show?
Of the 500 characters analyzed from animated movies made between 1994 and 2023, just under 2% included facial differences. Here are a few of the other findings:
- Many movies did not explain the cause of the facial difference, and if they did, it was often the result of violence.
- No main characters had facial differences.
- If shown, nearly half were used for evil characters.
- Only one character spoke positively about their facial difference.
Take care of your body. …
Why does this matter?
Animated movies are generally aimed at young children, and it’s known that the media they watch can influence the way they view and accept others. Seeing facial differences shown only in negative ways or ways that signal they are less important may send the message that people who look different are scary or evil. Relatedly, data shows that children with facial differences report poorer mental health outcomes and more bullying than children without.1-4
The authors suggest that rather than perpetuating stigma, the media could instead work to promote acceptance and inclusion, regardless of how characters look. Studies have shown that positive examples of individual differences in media can improve acceptance and foster empathy.5
