In Week 05, of Design for Animation, Narrative Structures, and Film Language with Professor Nigel Mairs, the session focused on how animation functions as a medium for social and political commentary. Rather than looking at animation purely as entertainment, the class explored how animated works often reflect power structures, political tensions, and social inequalities, sometimes in very subtle ways. This session helped me understand that animation is frequently used to comment on real-world issues without directly confronting the audience in the way live-action media often does.
One of the key discussions in class was how animation allows creators to approach sensitive political or social topics through exaggeration, symbolism, and satire. Because animated worlds are already removed from reality, audiences tend to lower their defences, which makes political messages easier to embed and harder to question. This made me reflect on how animated shows can influence viewers’ opinions while still appearing humorous or fictional on the surface.
Professor Nigel also explained how political commentary in animation does not always appear as direct messaging. Often, it emerges through narrative structure, character roles, repeated visual motifs, or the way certain groups are portrayed. For example, animated satire in Western television often critiques governments, religious authority, or social norms through irony and exaggeration. In contrast, some animated films use emotional storytelling to expose injustice, inequality, or state failure without openly naming political actors.
What stood out to me was the idea that animation can comment on politics in three major ways. First, through satire and humour, which allows criticism to pass as comedy. Second, through metaphor and allegory, where fictional worlds represent real political systems. Third, through emotional narratives that humanise political consequences, such as war, displacement, or social exclusion. These approaches highlight how animation can shape political understanding without appearing overtly political.
This lecture was important because it pushed me to think critically about animation I have grown up watching. Many animated films and television shows that seem harmless often carry strong opinions about society, authority, and ideology. The session encouraged me to question who is being represented, who is being criticised, and whose perspective is being normalised.
Overall, Week 05 helped me see animation as a powerful cultural and political tool rather than a neutral art form. It also laid early groundwork for my later research interests, as it became clear that animated media plays a significant role in shaping how audiences perceive social and political realities.