Projecting the human: anthropomorphism and anthropocentrism in animated children’s films

Abstract

This study explores how anthropomorphized nonhuman animal characters are portrayed in contemporary children’s animated films and how these portrayals are shaped by or reinforce anthropocentric worldviews. Drawing from critical animal, media, and film studies, the research used qualitative content analysis to examine language and visual elements in 100 scenes from four animated films released between 2019 and 2024. The findings showcased a close connection between anthropomorphism and anthropocentrism, which aligned with the literature. Characters with more human-like traits were typically granted more narrative importance, agency, and emotional depth. Human social hierarchies were often reflected in interspecies relationships, shaped by Western cultural frameworks. Less anthropomorphized characters were commonly excluded from emotional relatability, though some exceptions used highly anthropomorphized characters to generate empathy for others. Overall, the films primarily used nonhuman animal characters as tools to reflect human values, with some exceptions offering more nuanced, complex representations.