Topics in Animation

Catalog description

Variety of topics offered. See current listings for updated topic/description. For Spring 2026: Disney and Asia This course investigates the representation of Asian characters and cultures in Disney feature films and Disney’s transmedial approach to expand its global market in Asia. Encompassingearly 20th century Disney’s influence in Asian animation to the contemporary boom of Asian-led stories (Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon, etc.) and the theme parks, this course will challenge the students to critique the images that we are so familiar with and explore Disney media from a wide range of cultural and theoretical perspectives. We will deconstruct fiction and documentary media informed by theories and ideas like techno-orientalism, feminism, queer theories, race, Asian diaspora, and neoliberalism (among others) to rethink what it means to be represented by Disney and how the media conglomerate shapes or is shaped by Asian identities. The students will also learn to analyze multi-media experiences like theme parks on top of traditional Disney animations.