Topic > The Impact of Cartoons: Analysis of Shrek

The Influence of Animated Films on Viewers Since the days of cartoons, children have been watching them avidly. The funny on-screen characters go on wacky adventures with their friends and learn along the way. Without realizing it, the characters learn lessons that, in turn, the observer will also learn. Judith Halberstam, in Animating Revolt and Revolting Animation, sees the lessons that animated films teach as unsuitable for children to learn. Animation imprints lessons on people's minds, especially younger children. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay A great lesson that many movies have taught children is that death is inevitable. Family or friends may die, but that shouldn't stop what you do. The Lion King or The Land Before Time both teach about death. In The Lion King, Simba's father is killed but he manages to become stronger from this. The Land Before Time shows that death happens and cannot be prevented. The Lion King also teaches that if you want success, someone has to die. Both Simba's father and uncle died before he could become the next Lion King. His family's sacrifice helped him become the Lion King, though he would still ultimately succeed his father. In Shrek, he teaches that beauty doesn't matter as long as you are yourself. After Fiona returns to human, a kiss from her true love, Shrek, transforms her back into the ogre she hated being. But he accepted being an ogre, knowing who he is and who he loves. In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimodo fails to win over the girl because of his appearance. He saved the day but because he wasn't a handsome man, the woman he loved had her sights set on another man. Both animated films share the theme of beauty, but one is happier than the other and teaches that beauty doesn't matter. Beauty and the Beast shows Belle in an abusive relationship with her captor. It ultimately turns him into a better person, but that's not what happens in real life. Teach children, or even adults, that if they find themselves in an abusive relationship, they can make that person change. Many times this will not happen and gives the wrong impression that human beings will change because someone showed them love. The story is toxic but as children they don't understand that the movie shows something incredibly harmful to many people in real life. As Halberstam stated, “Fairy tales have always occupied the ambiguous territory between childhood and adulthood, home and remoteness, harm and security” (286). When it comes to fairy tales, people move closer to danger or are hurt, like Belle in Beauty and the Beast, where she doesn't appear to be being abused but actually is. Movies teach children about adult topics or messages and may even appeal to adults through subtle jokes that children wouldn't understand .In these animated films “difficult topics are raised and contained in children's films precisely so that they do not have to be discussed elsewhere” (Halberstam 293). difficulty understanding the importance of topics at a young age, so they won't argue against what the movies portray. Kids won't question the government or start rebelling against it. Animated movies aren't just terrible though. They also help children, or even adults, to overcome difficult moments in life. A character in a movie or cartoon might experience the same thing as the observer, giving him hope for his future. If the character takes action, it may inspire the viewer to do the same and.