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!”
Tag: animated TV shows
Herendeen (2023) Being non-binary on Japanese Disney Channel: An analysis of the gendered language used in ‘The Owl House’
Examines the English dialogue of a non-binary character from Disney's ‘The Owl House’ in comparison to the show’s Japanese dub, analysing what linguistic features are used to index their identity. There is an extensive overview of Japanese attitudes towards queerness. The thesis goes into detail about gendered language features in Japanese - such as pronouns, … Continue reading Herendeen (2023) Being non-binary on Japanese Disney Channel: An analysis of the gendered language used in ‘The Owl House’
Hiramoto (2013) Hey, you’re a girl?
An exploration of the ways in which a Japanese anime, Cowboy Bebop, constructs hegemonic heterosexuality and masculinity through certain linguistic features and how these portrayals change between the original Japanese version and the English dubbed translation. Mostly quantitative data, however, some use of qualitative data in the discussion section including script excerpts and some linguistic … Continue reading Hiramoto (2013) Hey, you’re a girl?
Karlsson (2018) Language and gender in animated cartoons
Investigates the differences in language use between male and female characters in two animated cartoons. The cartoons have largely single-gendered target audiences and characters. Mostly quantitative analysis directly comparing male and female characters’ talkativeness, questions and interruptions. This paper would be useful for those interested in gender differences in language use in children’s animated cartoons … Continue reading Karlsson (2018) Language and gender in animated cartoons
Keys (2016) Doc McStuffins and Dora the Explorer
Takes an intersectional approach in textually analysing representations of two minority female lead characters in animated children’s television. Covers their gendered representation through their character roles, relationships with other characters and intersectionality. Some specific linguistic analysis but largely contextual. This study would be useful for those who want to consider influences of race and class … Continue reading Keys (2016) Doc McStuffins and Dora the Explorer
Leaper, Breed, Hoffman & Perlman (2002) Variations in the gender-stereotyped content of children’s television cartoons across genres
Examines the gender-stereotyped content of children’s TV network cartoons across 4 genres: traditional adventure, nontraditional adventure, educational/family, and comedy. Notes the over-representation of male characters, linking TV’s role in shaping children’s behaviour to likelihoods of gender stereotyping. Studies the frequencies of 9 labelled emotions triggered the behaviour and language across the 4 genres and Additionally … Continue reading Leaper, Breed, Hoffman & Perlman (2002) Variations in the gender-stereotyped content of children’s television cartoons across genres
Meerbergen and De Ridder (2026) Global or glocal heroes in PJs? A multimodal analysis…
Explores the impact of globalisation and 'glocalisation' on children's animated media through focusing on portrayals of female characters in Disney's 'PJ Masks' series, looking at the original and two international dubbed versions. Qualitative multimodal discourse analysis found that different countries add their own 'local flavour' to dubbed shows, including through the construction of differing gendered … Continue reading Meerbergen and De Ridder (2026) Global or glocal heroes in PJs? A multimodal analysis…
Micah (2023) English translations of gender nonconformity in shōjo manga and anime: A trans-queer materialist feminist analysis
Covers multi-modality and translation through a lens of decolonial, materialist and trans-queer feminism. Offers an extensive explanation and history of common gendered terms in Japanese and how they are commonly translated. Contains multimodal analysis of three ‘Shojo’ genre mangas and animes - “The Rose of Versailles” (1972), “Sailor Moon” (1992-1997) and “Ouran High School Host … Continue reading Micah (2023) English translations of gender nonconformity in shōjo manga and anime: A trans-queer materialist feminist analysis