People Are Bothered by How Animators Have Exaggerated Female Animal Characters
Unknown to many, animators follow a pattern in drawing these female animal characters.
Animated movies have a way of making even the smallest details stick, and one longtime pattern is getting fresh attention. Viewers have started noticing how female animal characters are often drawn with exaggerated curves, lashes, lips, and other features that make them look very different from the males.
That observation picked up steam after Twitter user @slimyhipster pointed it out, sparking a wave of examples from familiar films and shows. Some people see it as a harmless animation shortcut, while others think it says a lot about how studios visually separate male and female characters.
The screenshots below show just how far that design choice goes, and the reactions are part of the story too.
Male vs. female bird = normal vs. sexy bird.
slimyhipsterWomen cartoon characters are given exaggerated features like eyelashes and breasts.
slimyhipsterAs the thread has resurfaced, users were quick to provide some examples.
tmkeesey
That thread really took off once people started adding their own examples.
The exaggeration of the exaggerated: a female chicken.
polarisu
This overly sexualized lady goose from Balto III: Wings of Change.
ufopossum
Here come the male and female students of Seton Academy.
angeloratac2002
The most disturbing female duck character you've probably ever seen.
dimentiorules
Male and female deer from the movie Open Season.
worm_rights
Even the movie Ice Age portrayed its female characters similarly to others.
strawbrybunny
Here's Angelina Jolie’s character in Shark Tale.
marrongum
Lipstick at the end of this female toucan's beak, bedroom eyes, and breasts.
TicoFactory
But Otis from Barnyard has udders.
IsItWine30Yet
What about Angel from Lilo & Stitch?
Beyond_Cake
Henri vs. the lady pigeons from An American Tail.
Sorathewonder
It’s like the restrictions that led the Boy Meets World costume designer to say Danielle Fishel couldn’t show her arms.
Pink beak and breasts for Gloria from Happy Feet.
jackaboi_art
Ellie vs. Peaches from Ice Age.
GluffOfficial
Some find the female animated designs not problematic at all.
RoonKolos
One even wanted the female versions to be more colorful and prettier.
LgTeknii
Female bunnies have dewlaps, except for the makeup.
Pickledsuicune
Perhaps these are the only non-exaggerated female cartoon characters.
edenmist_
The geese from The Aristocats have colored hats in comparison.
JinMegamiTensei
The male fish seemed to be balding in Finding Dory.
LgTeknii
Feminine features give viewers a visual signal.
accioharo
Kitty Softpaws' design was great in Puss in Boots.
Miraread_tweets
These characters from Kung Fu Panda are just normal.
namseokuwu
Tigress and Viper from Kung Fu Panda.
sir_scandalous
Many have cracked jokes along the way.
igmrevaporation
Not everyone in the thread saw the designs as a problem.
Equality is being portrayed here.
Wolfie_2323
These people are emphasizing mammals.
tristanoscars
Birds aren't even mammals.
MiloZimbenMusic
When studios plan out the male vs. female look.
Neon_woof
Masculine vs. feminine.
Andrea60723281
This, though, is a greater sage-grouse.
murderparrot997
Talking about one's experience.
LouarnRanger
If not for this user who pointed all these out, perhaps many would not have noticed that female characters have been presented in this way.
For decades, we have accepted these cartoon characters. Never did we imagine them as overly sexist.
There are many ways to present female versions of animal cartoon characters, which animators perhaps need to explore further. However, there are rules and standards in animation that those in the industry follow.
What about you? What's your take on this issue?
The debate is still going strong.
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