Disney and Sexualization

These images are early sketches from Disney animators of the popular characters Minnie Mouse, Tinkerbell, and Shanti, the little girl from the Jungle Book. Along with each sketch is a text box discussing the intentions behind the visual and how they approached the design they ultimately achieved. Through the visuals and the text, we can see how some of the characters are intended to have some sort of a sexual appeal to them despite their nature not reflecting it. 

Minnie Mouse’s design is said to be purposefully feminine. This is evident when looking at the visual. Her eyes are lidded with long eyelashes, she wears high heels, and a short skirt which exposes her underwear. All these observable aspects of her character contribute to the sexualization with which her animators draw her. As the text describes, not only do the visuals of her appearance characterize the intentions of her design but the way she exists in animation does as well. In order to maintain the atmosphere of sensuality they have written her to display, the way she is staged in the animation is meticulously designed. 

Tinkerbell’s character, similar to Minnie Mouse, had been designated as feminine not just by her design but by the way the scene was animated. Tinkerbell’s outfit demonstrates one aspect of her character’s sexualization based on how short it is. It works to accentuate her legs while making the rest of her body look smaller. As gleaned from the text, one of the goals around Tinkerbell’s design was to make her appeal as small and dainty, therefore feminine, as possible. It also serves to draw connections between her and the “bathing beauties of the time”, or women in swimsuits.

 Shanti’s design also includes aspects of sexualization that are both notable in her design as well as acknowledged by her creators. This is mostly manifested in her eyes which have long lashes and are considered by the animators to hold a “seductive quality”. Considering her age, it can be especially surprising that Shanti was sexualized in her portrayal. This goes to show the extent that these creators often went through to achieve their view of women and the sexuality they wanted it to represent. 

Each aspect of the characters, from their design to how they interact with the world to the way the animation moves around them, has been done with the goal of making them appeal as feminine and sexual as possible. Considering the context of the characters, most notably the little girl from the Jungle Book, this aspect can be especially concerning.