Present, Perceived as Old, but Not Memorable: Analysis and Perceptions of Older Characters in Animated Disney Films
Jaye L. Atkinson, Melissa S. Plew

Abstract
Disney movies reach a large audience, so understanding their portrayal of older adults, as well as how these portrayals influence audience perceptions is important. Based on ethnolinguistic vitality and cultivation theories, this mixed-method approach supports previous findings that older adults are less visible in the media. A content analysis of older adult characters inanimated Disney movies shows that they exist, lack diversity, and play minor roles in the films. Focus group participants did not remember them without prompting and often used stereotypical cues to identify these characters as older. Sometimes participants compared them to actual older adults with whom they have contact and varied in how influential they believed these portrayals were. Discussed in terms of ethnolinguistic vitality theory and cultivation theory, the mixed-method approach distinguishes between scholarly and lay interpretation of movie messages.

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