Even if you’ve never heard of Revolutionary Girl Utena (Ikuhara, 1997), you’ll absolutely know something that’s referenced it, if not taken direct influence from it. From Steven Universe (Sugar, 2013-2019), The Owl House (Terrace, 2020-present) and She-Ra and The Princesses of Power (Stevenson, 2018-2020), to Pokémon (Yuyama and Tomiyasu, 1997–Present), Scott Pilgrim (O'Malley, 2004-2010) and My … Continue reading The Sapphic 90s anime that inspired Steven Universe and She-ra: a discourse-focused analysis of Revolutionary Girl Utena
Tag: animated TV shows
The basics: What is “animation”?
Each of the words that make up the name of this resource (gender, language and animation) may seem like they are easily understood, and have simple meanings that most people would recognise and agree on. But if we dig a little deeper, it quickly becomes apparent that each of them can be (and has been) … Continue reading The basics: What is “animation”?
Aubrey and Harrison (2004) The gender-role content of children’s favorite television programs …
Outlines two studies examining gender stereotypes in children’s favourite animated television shows, and how this links to children’s gender-role values and perceptions related to gender. Mostly quantitative analysis examining the personalities, communicative activities and behaviours of characters from chosen television shows. Little detailed linguistic analysis, mostly data-based. This paper would be useful for those interested … Continue reading Aubrey and Harrison (2004) The gender-role content of children’s favorite television programs …
Baker (2007) Equally Super?
A study looking at the stereotypical, gendered portrayals of 70 superhero characters in 160 hours of recorded children’s animated television programming. Looks specifically at physical appearances, personality traits, physical behaviours as well as specific linguistic communicative features. The study concludes, through both quantitative and qualitative analysis, how and why specific features of superhero characters may … Continue reading Baker (2007) Equally Super?
Blush (2021) Bending the Elementary: Queering Gender and Sexuality in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Beyond
Looks at the role of television in constructing gender for children and reinforcing traditional gender roles, especially Judith Butler’s “heterosexual matrix”, with lexical analysis of how characters do and don’t escape it. Investigates the ways in which Avatar: the Last Airbender (2005-2008) either upholds or subverts the dichotomies of gender and sexuality, by analyzing the … Continue reading Blush (2021) Bending the Elementary: Queering Gender and Sexuality in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Beyond
Campanelli (2019) Gender Nonconformity and Lesbianism in the Magical Girl Genre
Explores conventions of the “Magical Girl” and “Good Witch” tropes within the Shojo/Shoujo genre. Covers older representations of heteronormativity, gender conformity and nonconformity in the 90s, analysing a variety of animes from this genre. Focuses on the demonization of “butchness” and lesbianism as well as the sexualization of adolescent protagonists, through semantic and pragmatic analysis. … Continue reading Campanelli (2019) Gender Nonconformity and Lesbianism in the Magical Girl Genre
Dahlberg-Dodd (2020) Voices of the hero
Examines the presentation of hegemonic masculinity in anime aimed at adolescent boys and its change over time. The study looks at the use of pronouns and the phonetic performance of protagonists and how these respectively relate to gender performance. This paper would be useful for those interested in the relationship between linguistic content and phonetic … Continue reading Dahlberg-Dodd (2020) Voices of the hero
Halttunen (2022) “She’s the greatest earthbender I’ve ever seen!”
Examines the presentation of female agency in two characters (Toph and Azula) in the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, looking particularly at multimodal features. Mostly qualitative analysis incorporating both visual and linguistic features through a critical stance. Linguistically, specific vocabulary and politeness strategies were analysed and evidenced with script excerpts. This thesis would be … Continue reading Halttunen (2022) “She’s the greatest earthbender I’ve ever seen!”