Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Master of Illustration, Department of Graphic Design, Faculty of Visual Arts, Art University of Isfahan, Iran, Isfahan/ Hakim Nizami St./ Isfahan University of Art.
2
Assistant Professor of Department of Graphic Design, Faculty of Visual Arts, Art University of Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract
In recent years, female characters in the role of the main character of animations have been able to strengthen the audience's sense of identification with deliberate decisions in crises and special situations. The main character in an animation is the center of important events and attracts the children's sense of identity to the character with the type of illustration and animation. Therefore, taking into account the age group of the audience, it is important to examine the elements of attractiveness and plausibility of main characters in popular animations, especially the recent productions from Walt Disney Company. The important issue is how to illustrate these characters according to events and turning points of the story. Using the descriptive-analytical method and with the aim of understanding the illustration of the main female character based on the threshold position theory of 20th century philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin, this research has investigated six main female characters in the following animations: Brave, Frozen, Zootopia, Moana and Encanto. The characters are from Disney animations from 2012 to 2021. They have been selected due to their popularity and the evolution of the main female character compared to the previous decades. The type of research in terms of method is qualitative and the result of observational and textual data analysis, and its structure is chosen based on the position of the illustrator. According to the theoretical framework, after expressing the behavioral and visual characteristics, each of the studied characters has been analyzed by specifying the level of the threshold position. Studies show that the characters have been illustrated by maintaining the style and special characteristics of Disney, based on race and culture, personality and behavioral characteristics, role and position in the story, non-verbal actions and the placement of the characters in the threshold position and critical moments. Also, each one is illustrated with a distinct element to attract the attention of the audience and strengthen the behavioral characteristics in the story and at the critical moment. From the investigations and findings of behavioral and visual characteristics, character illustration and character actions in Bakhtin's threshold situation theory, it is concluded that; based on their personality and behavioral characteristics, these characters show actions towards a specific and fateful event in their lives, due to which event they are placed in and a critical moment. Getting out of the crisis requires a decisive turn of events, which is accompanied by breaking the custom and being aware of dual confrontations such as failure/victory, death/life. This decision leads to the creation of a wonderful situation that causes regeneration in the life of an individual, family, tribe or society. As a result, the illustration and actions of the main characters are defined in order to strengthen the message of the story and clarify efforts to achieve their goals, beliefs and wishes in harmony with the critical moment and the final decision. So that the characters, by being in a threshold position, can convey the message of the story to the audience and have the greatest effect on its plausible existence.
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