There are many characters, but I have decided to only touch on a few...
In one of Disney's early films from 1941, Dumbo, the main characters mother is termed to be a "mad elephant" and subsequently locked up because of it. It is shown that
she was judged to be mad because of a violent outburst where she tried to protect her son from the audience. The viewer realises that the mother (Mrs.Jumbo) is not mad
and that she has been unfairly judged. The other elephants are also seen making fun of Dumbo, going as far as saying they "would not eat at the same hay bale" as him. In this case, it is a complex portrayal of madness which instigates that madness is a condition which needs segregating and shutting away from society [4]
In another film from 1991, Beauty and the Beast, there is once again accusations of madness. People of the community comment that the main character, Belle, is odd, crazy,
peculiar, and even strange. She is thought to be crazy because she is not like the rest of the community because she is a bookworm and enjoys daydreaming. Belle's father is a mad
inventor in the movie, and he has to undergo a trial of his sanity because the villagers accuse him of "raving like a lunatic". This film also shows one of the only animated representations
of a psychiatrist. He is depicted very unfavourably and in exchange for gold he offers to cart away Belle's father in a lunacy van, even though he knows the father is harmless. Once again it is portrayed that people with mental illness should be confined. [3,4]
The Lion King to this day remains very popular among young and older audiences alike. The hyenas in the movie depict them as mentally ill, with Ed being the "craziest" often shown with his tongue hanging out, and his eyes looking in different directions. In one scene he starts gnawing on his own leg. This further emphasizes the view of fear, social distance, and alienating in regards to those characters. [3]
she was judged to be mad because of a violent outburst where she tried to protect her son from the audience. The viewer realises that the mother (Mrs.Jumbo) is not mad
and that she has been unfairly judged. The other elephants are also seen making fun of Dumbo, going as far as saying they "would not eat at the same hay bale" as him. In this case, it is a complex portrayal of madness which instigates that madness is a condition which needs segregating and shutting away from society [4]
In another film from 1991, Beauty and the Beast, there is once again accusations of madness. People of the community comment that the main character, Belle, is odd, crazy,
peculiar, and even strange. She is thought to be crazy because she is not like the rest of the community because she is a bookworm and enjoys daydreaming. Belle's father is a mad
inventor in the movie, and he has to undergo a trial of his sanity because the villagers accuse him of "raving like a lunatic". This film also shows one of the only animated representations
of a psychiatrist. He is depicted very unfavourably and in exchange for gold he offers to cart away Belle's father in a lunacy van, even though he knows the father is harmless. Once again it is portrayed that people with mental illness should be confined. [3,4]
The Lion King to this day remains very popular among young and older audiences alike. The hyenas in the movie depict them as mentally ill, with Ed being the "craziest" often shown with his tongue hanging out, and his eyes looking in different directions. In one scene he starts gnawing on his own leg. This further emphasizes the view of fear, social distance, and alienating in regards to those characters. [3]