WE BARE BEARS: THE INFLUENCE OF CARTOONS ON CHILDREN
A THESIS
Presented to the University Honors Program
California State University, Long Beach
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the
University Honors Program Certificate
Sophia Warren
Fall 2017
I, THE UNDERSIGNED MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE,
HAVE APPROVED THIS THESIS
WE BARE BEARS: THE INFLUENCE OF CARTOONS ON CHILDREN
BY
Sophia Warren
______Adam Moore, MFA Film and Electronic Arts
California State University, Long Beach
Fall 2017 Running Head: INFLUENCE OF CARTOONS
ABSTRACT
WE BARE BEARS: THE INFLUENCE OF CARTOONS ON CHILDREN:
By
Sophia Warren
December 2017
The primary purpose of this study is to investigate Cartoon Network's show We Bare
Bears and the possible effects its subliminal messages may have on child viewers. First aired in
2014, the animated sitcom depicts the adventures of three bears living alongside humans in the
Bay Area. Though physically animals, the three bears personify both human emotions and experience, specifically the struggles of the minority experience. The comical yet relatable situations that these bear brothers withstand often touch upon social and cultural issues relevant to present day America.
As television is a powerful mechanism of criticizing and commenting on society and consequently promoting a specific bias, this thesis will explore the potential ramifications of biased children’s programming on young viewers. Because children are still developing their unique worldview and the screen time of minors is ever increasing, it is more important than ever to examine the possible consequences of a show’s subliminal messages on young viewers (Rich,
1999). The grounds for this study will be based on the research of other works such as children’s literature and controversies surrounding their deeper messages. Possible conclusions of this project could confirm the impact of the representation of the minority struggle within the context of a children’s animated program.
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The primary purpose of this study is to investigate Cartoon Network's show We Bare
Bears and the possible effects its subliminal messages may have on child viewers. As television is a powerful mechanism of criticizing and commenting on society and consequently promoting a specific bias, this thesis will explore the potential ramifications of biased children programming on young viewers. Because children are still developing their unique worldview and the screen time of minors is ever increasing, it is worthwhile to examine the possible consequences of a show’s subliminal messages on a child.
To analyze the effects of We Bare Bears, it is first necessary to reference previous studies on other cartoons made for children. This review of literature is organized into three sections.
The first section establishes education through watching cartoons. The second section evaluates research on the effects negative representations of minorities in children’s cartoons. Conversely, the third section assesses the potential repercussions of cartoons that depict more progressive representations of minorities. Analysis of these studies will conclude that while the depictions of minorities in children’s cartoons has increased over the past ten years, programs have either failed to break out of character stereotypes or been limited in their portrayals. Furthermore, research in this subject on more current cartoons is limited, which emphasizes the need for further inquiries.
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Plot Synopsis
We Bare Bears first aired in 2015 on Cartoon Network, and is currently airing its third season. The animated show centers around three bears—Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear—and their eager and often comic attempts to fit into a human society. Set in San Francisco, the three bears live in a cave on the outskirts of town and work together to make human friends and have adventures. Each of the bears has their own agendas throughout the series. For example, Grizzly
(who often goes by Grizz) usually seeks out friendships with other humans, but often his eagerness gets the best of him. From accidentally scaring passersby on the street to overwhelming himself with work to please others, Grizzly learns to navigate friendships with humans. The more sensitive Panda is on the constant search for female attention and affection, often through social media. Through his love ventures, Panda struggles with self-acceptance and being honest with himself. Despite being the youngest brother, Ice Bear fends for and takes care of his sometimes reckless brothers whether it be daily chores or saving their lives. Through their trials and escapades, the brothers support each together as they traverse through human territory.
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Education through Cartoons
While many cartoon programs appear to solely be sources of entertainment for child consumption, certain characters and episode storylines convey moral messages or promote specific opinions. For example, Nickelodeon’s Rugrats showcases characters who “are a diverse, multi-generational collection of families and friends in a neighborhood having experiences with which many people can relate” in contrast with many predominantly white casted programs
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(Booth, 1997). Specifically, Chuckie is raised by a single father, and Susie Carmichael and her
African American family are not traditionally stereotyped. The cartoon presents these non- nuclear families as normal while simultaneously defying societal expectations of various stereotypes. Despite Rugrats’ progressive approach, it is important to question if children can comprehend and take note of these representations. One research assessed fourth graders’ abilities “to learn cognitive information from cartoons” through watching several Rugrats episodes (Booth, 1997). The study concluded that while this was true, students who were able to provide detailed responses to the assessment claimed they did not learn anything from watching
Rugrats (Booth, 1997). As a result, while children may be learning from entertainment focused cartoons with subtle progressive content as in Rugrats, they may not be aware that the show affects their way of thinking as they consume the information outside of the classroom. This revelation is significant because children can be unconsciously swayed by cartoons; if a cartoon that targets an underage audience then promotes hostile images of women, people or color, or those with disabilities, children are bound to internalize these ideas in their daily lives. However, it is important to note that this study consisted mostly of white student subjects. Future studies with more diverse sample groups may produce new, contrasting results.
Negative Perceptions in Cartoons and Effects
Because cartoons and children’s programming can inadvertently change and shape a child’s world view, a broad representation of race, gender, and other traits are crucial to helping make children of minority denominations feel included. However, more often than not, television as a whole either has underrepresented minorities or projected them as “the other” through stereotyping and generalizations. Animated shows prove to be no exception. According to a
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study done at Tufts University, “the fact that this world is overpopulated by males, that some ethnic groups are not represented at all, and that no villains speak SAE [Standard American
English] may give children warped perspectives on who populates the world and what personifies good and evil” (Dobrow, J. R., & Gidney, C. L., 1998). Not only is there a historical underrepresentation of women and people of color within animated films and television, in general, minorities have consistently been negatively depicted. These portrayals result in misleading information about “the other” and furthermore cause children to accept these stereotypes as fact when contrasting depictions are lacking (Dobrow, J. R. et. al, 1998). Rich
(1999) argues that animation taps into a child’s imagination and can consequently teach child viewers both positive and negative social conduct. Research shows that during childhood “every moment is a teachable moment” and therefore the cartoons that children consume inherently shape their social behavior (Rich, 1999). For this reason, stereotypical depictions of marginalized groups in cartoons not only provide children with false perceptions of others but also compels minority children to accept these harmful views.
A more recent study compared two cartoons with predominantly African American characters to see if representations have improved over the past several decades (Smith, 2004).
In-depth character analyses of both protagonists and secondary characters from both shows revealed that Fat Albert portrayed African Americans in mainly a positive light, with minority characters that were often smart and witty. Despite airing nearly thirty years after Fat Albert, many secondary characters in The Proud Family often upheld stereotypes of the lazy and aggressive African American (Smith, 2004). This revelation implies that depictions of African
Americans in cartoons have maintained unfavorable stereotypes over a span of three decades
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creating a particularly unhealthy self-image for young African American audiences. If such shows are targeted for African American audiences, it would prove more fruitful to create characters that do not conform to stereotypes but are more complex and distinct. While this study identified a lack of progressive representation in The Proud Family, it did not provide concrete reasoning as to why the show failed to do so. Racial diversity is not the only factor to consider however, and other studies may consider exploring representations of other marginalized groups.
Future studies might analyze cartoons with more diverse characters not only in terms of ethnicity or race but also sexuality or social class.
Positive Representations and Effects
While most of American broadcast television is subject to depicting a white male as the average citizen, several children’s programs have attempted to portray minorities and their non- stereotypical experiences. In his analysis of the Public Broadcasting Service’s Liberty Kids,
Andrew M. Schocket (2011) emphasizes that the show “laudably pulls off the cloak of invisibility popular culture had thrown over African Americans, Native Americans, women,
Jews, and Hispanics in the Revolutionary era.” Liberty’s Kids provides insight into the experiences of both women and people of color during a formative moment in American history and is subsequently an avenue for minority viewers to connect with. However, while minority audiences may relate to characters onscreen, Schocket (2011) highlights the limits of these representations; the cartoon is unable to delineate the social confines people of color must live within. This may simply be a result of presenting systematic oppression in a digestible manner for children to clearly comprehend. While not an all encompassing program, Liberty’s Kids is a key illustration of a children’s cartoon which depicts a diverse representation of race and gender
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that do not surrender to negative stereotypes. Thus, although genuine portrayals of minorities has increased over time in children’s television, there is still a need for more in depth all-inclusive programming. The question at hand, however, is the ability of a children’s cartoon show to do so.
Future studies should investigate a children’s cartoon where the main characters are minorities who traverse modern day locations and situations rather than in a historical context.
Conclusion
Cartoons are a source of extracurricular learning for children and can have notable effects on their social behavior. Studies have shown that while this impact is clear, children are not always aware that cartoons shape their cognitive and critical thinking. This is particularly concerning as childhood is one of the most formative times for establishing how people will interact with others and the world around them. If cartoons are consistently showing children of color, young women, or disabled minors that their potential in life is limited, these children—too young to differentiate reality from fiction—will accept these perceptions as innately true. As a result, surveying cartoons that are currently on air and critically analyzing their messages, intended or not, to audiences is an indispensable method to understand the content consumed by today’s children.
CHAPTER 3
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Grizzly
The oldest of the three brother bears, Grizzly is the self-appointed leader of the trio and has an innate desire to help others, though this does not always come across clearly to those he so eagerly aids. Always keen to prove himself, Grizz often finds himself in amusing
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predicaments. Often these situations, while comical, are commentary on injustices minorities face or simple allegories. Most evident in the episode “Grizzly the Bear, Grizz is confronted with a prejudiced employer and learns a lesson about the dangers of stereotyping. Spontaneously hired by a desperate director for a scary film, Grizz is cast as a grizzly bear. Despite his enthusiasm to represent his genus of bears on the silver screen, Grizz soon realizes the film’s director only wants to depict the ferocity of grizzly bears and insists Grizz reinforces this narrow-minded view. Upon refusing to comply with the director’s request, Grizz is fired and expresses his concern to his brothers when saying “this is bad for all bears.” This declaration is analogous to numerous misrepresentations and stereotyping of minorities in entertainment. While criticizing and highlighting the dangers of stereotyping of people of color and other marginalized groups has been prevalent in various children’s programming, Grizz’s observation in this episode provides a new and more engaging outlook on the issue. A research done on African American depictions in cartoons revealed that “These depictions are obviously not helpful for black children’s self-confidence and self-esteem” (Smith, 2004). We Bare Bears advances this criticism by suggesting that not only are these misrepresentations harmful for the targeted minority—African American youth in this case, but also for minorities in general. This claim sets forth that all marginalized people are hurt when the media fails to fairly represent even one minority.
For a children’s cartoon show to present a current social issue in a comprehensible manner for children to consume promotes two things for children. First, Grizzly’s suggestion reinforces that stereotyping of minorities is bad, which calls for viewers to be aware of this common transgression in entertainment. The viewer is then called to understand that minorities
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must work together to actively disprove and invalidate such inaccurate representation not only for their respective in-group, but also for any other minority. Through Grizz’s example, the audience learns how the media affects minorities and observes a positive and inclusive strategy to reverse archaic and unjust stereotyping. Thus, while Grizz learns that not everyone sees him as the lovable and helpful bear he truly is, through persistence and standing his moral ground, he is able to dismantle this narrow-minded viewpoint. Although it is not widely accepted (the movie flops upon release), “Grizzly the Bear” puts forward the idea that while progress for minorities in media is slow, it is necessary and ultimately an endeavor that all minorities must work towards.
Thus, Grizzly’s experience not only presents the issue of misrepresentation, the episode goes one step further to demonstrate how to persevere and initiate change for the better.
Panda
Themes and motifs concerning Panda, the middle brother of the trio, are often related to self-acceptance and commentary on social media. Just as Daniel Chong promoted racial inclusivity in his Twitter statement, he also emphasized We Bare Bears’ exploration of broader theme of “the need to fit and belong” (Chong, 2016). Panda so often seeks the approval and acceptance of strangers online, whether it be through posting pictures of his meals or chatting with girls on dating apps. Through various episodes, Chong and his team examine Panda’s need to fit in and often he realizes he simply must accept himself first. In “Video Date,” Panda meets a
French girl named Celine through a video chatting website and asks his brothers to help him seem attractive. In a comic attempt to gain her favor, Grizz and Ice Bear even themselves as
Panda and exaggerate their positive qualities. Panda ultimately admits to lying to Celine and confesses, “I pretended I was something I wasn’t.” He realizes that it is better to be liked for his
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true character rather than changing himself simply to cater the likes of another person. Celine also admits that she too was feigning, as her French accent is a farce. Despite the comical elements of this episode, the viewer learns alongside Panda that to genuinely and unashamedly being your true self will help you meet other like-minded and accepting people rather than putting up a pretense that is so often done through the facade of social media.
Ice Bear
Amongst the three bears, Ice Bear proves himself to be the most capable and technically skilled. Unlike Grizzly, Ice Bear does not eagerly flaunt his abilities, and instead humbly helps those he cares about. Ice Bear’s marked difference in personality from his brothers’ is key to his character growth. Ice Bear’s more reserved nature is never treated negatively, but rather adds to his charm. In the episode “Chloe and Ice Bear,” Ice Bear’s almost aloof behavior is hard for
Chloe to crack as she spends the day trying to find something to do that both of them will enjoy.
From failing to see any views of the San Francisco Bay due to fog, to finding popular pastry shops and tourist sites, Chloe almost gives up her attempts to have fun with the seemingly uninterested Ice Bear. However, upon seeing a bus ad for the albino alligator at the local museum, Chloe finally discovers something of Ice Bear’s interest. After a hurried adventure and intimate encounter with the hungry albino alligator, Ice Bear reassures Chloe with a slight smile, finally suggesting a breakthrough in their friendship. This episode suggests to the viewer that because we are all different, it is natural for us to open up and relate to others in unique ways.
Chloe’s continual efforts to get to know Ice Bear reveals that we too can get to know others
(especially more reserved individuals) with a little bit of persistence and patience.
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Another key trait of Ice Bear’s personality is his innate determination to stand up for what is right. This is evident in the episode “Ice Nights” and “Icy Nights II.” Ice Bear’s personalized robot is stolen by a young techie, who wants to use Ice Bear’s technology for his own use. Ice
Bear’s resolve to get his robot back never wavers even as he endures several, often dangerous obstacles to achieve his goal. Not only does this double episode highlight Ice Bear as a crusader of justice, but also exemplifies how to take action positively in the face of unsolicited aggression.
Chong’s Twitter statement claims much of human character’s “treatment [towards the bears] often felt unmotivated” (Chong, 2016). Here then is another example of the minority experience in America. The techie has no personal connection to Ice Bear, and therefore his acts are unprovoked. Ice Bear, just like many marginalized people, does not let this unfair treatment disencourage him; the polar bear instead rises above this negativity and perseveres to the end to get back his robot. Ice Bear not only exemplifies for the viewer the experience of being targeted by unsolicited aggression, but displays a positive and constructive way to react to such a negative situation. Like his brothers, Ice Bear learns that while not everyone may like him, he need not get discouraged when facing adversity.
Charlie
Charlie, an enthusiastic sasquatch, is an unexpected yet loving friend of Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear. As he is a bigfoot, Charlie shies away from public places and is terrified of even the average human hiking through the forest he inhabits. We Bare Bears demonstrates the effects this isolation (although sometimes self-inflicted to avoid human mockery) has on Charlie through his countless attempts to befriend others and seek acceptance. Charlie acts as a mirror for the bears, which often tarnishes their self-image. Any time the bears reject Charlie in an
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episode is simultaneously a rejection of self. Because the bears are so physically different from
Charlie, they initially are unable to relate or empathize with him. However, comparing the bears’
treatment of Charlie to humans’ treatment of the bears, there are striking similarities in their
behavior. Marked by impatience and a feeling of superiority, this behavior often leaves the
outcast feeling unwanted and isolated. As humans have made the bears feel like monsters or
dangers to society, they establish their dominance over the bears. Similarly, the bears often
criticize Charlie’s inability to mesh seamlessly into society and tire of his lack of etiquette when
entering their house unannounced. Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear too then treat Charlie as less and
thus reinforce the arbitrary hierarchy which the humans have placed over the three brother bears
themselves. In this regard, Charlie represents the main purpose of We Bare Bears―to explore the meaning of belonging and to accept others despite any flaws they may have (Chong, 2016). The depiction of this, while digestible for children viewers, is complicated and multifaceted.
One of the most notable episodes which explores Charlie as an outcast of society is
“Charlie Ball.” Enlisted by Grizz and Ice Bear, solely because of his height, to be on their pickup basketball team while Panda’s injured, Charlie expresses his excitement to be part of a group even if it means appearing in public. While the bears have been friends with Charlie for some time, this sasquatch resembling creature seems to invite himself to hang out with the three brothers. Furthermore, often the bears appear unenthused to see Charlie, suggesting more often than not that Charlie is not truly welcome into their home. This continual treatment of Charlie throughout the series exemplifies how outcasts are created even within marginalized groups.
The third season’s eighth episode further explores Charlie’s loneliness and resulting eagerness to make friends. After a near dangerous encounter with humans, Charlie meets Ralph,
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a creature that looks just like him but more muscular and daring. Overjoyed to befriend someone of his own kind, Charlie tags along Ralph for a day of pranking and bullying humans. Clearly, his desperation to feel accepted and have his own in-group propels Charlie to overlook the questionable mindset of his newfound friend. Since his debut in the show’s first season, Charlie has imposed himself on the three brother bears; while he is their friend, his stature and appearance notably stand out among Grizz, Panda, and Ice Bear, who share similar traits.
Although not overtly stated, this naturally creates a distance in his friendship with the bears.
Ralph—while abrasive and mean—provides a sense of community that Charlie has been in search of for so long. Upon being saved by the bears after Ralph leaves him hanging off the edge of a cliff, Charlie states, “I was so excited to meet someone like me, I kind of ignored the fact that he was a giant butt.” This episode not only highlights the natural desire for oneness with those around us, but also warns the viewer that one’s character and values is a better judgment for making friends and building a healthy community rather than one’s mere physical appearance or superficial likeness to us. This concept is reinforced when Grizz reassures Charlie that he is a great friend, providing him the with inclusion and sense of belonging he naively searched for in befriending Ralph.
While Charlie is an ancillary character in the show, his interactions with Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear at core reinforce Daniel Chong’s main intention of We Bare Bears to function as a representation for the minority experience in the United States. An outcast amongst the brother bears—and society in general—Charlie lacks the social skills and understanding of the other
Charlie in essence is a mirror for Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear and their struggle to fit in a society of humans that do not necessarily understand them. Rather than empathizing with
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Charlie’s experience as an outcast, the bears often struggle with embracing their Sasquatch friend and the quirks that make him distinct from others. Their continual rejection of Charlie in turn reinforces a sense of the hierarchy that the bears face in their encounters with humans. We Bare
Bears successfully addresses this issue throughout the series as the three bears learn to gradually accept Charlie—and thus themselves.
This struggle is most evident through Panda and Charlie’s relationship. Charlie takes a special liking to Panda’s cuteness and often, to Panda’s dismay, refers to him as his “best bud.”
In “Chicken and Waffles” Panda and the brothers reject Charlie’s invitation to a picnic so they can dine at a trendy restaurant in town. A hurried attempt to catch the train causes Panda to forget his cell phone, forcing him to return home. In a clumsy rush, Panda loses contact lenses and begs for Charlie’s help to navigate him to the city. Despite Panda’s very recent short behavior towards him and his fear of running into humans in the city, Charlie agrees to help his desperate friend.
Throughout their transit, Panda consistently grumbles and criticizes Charlie’s inability to function in modern society. Panda’s even rejects Charlie’s help as he believes himself to be more capable despite his lack of vision; this feeling of superiority imprudently results in Panda almost being carried away in sewer water. Charlie’s continual help and saving Panda proves several things. While Charlie address his fears, the emphasis here is Panda’s realization of Charlie’s loyalty as his friend. Opting for Charlie’s pinecone picnic instead of the exclusive restaurant,
Panda begins to notice and appreciate Charlie’s efforts rather than brusquely brushing him off.
While Panda’s continual and increasing impatience with Charlie is frustrating, it is a realistic representation of both an external struggle to accept Charlie and his inner struggle to accept himself. And though Charlie and Panda by the resolution of the “Chicken and Waffles” and not
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necessarily the closest of friends, their misadventure together built the foundation to understanding one another as individuals. Here Chong and his team imply that tolerance of those we think we do not relate to begins with creating time and space to invest in that person. Only once we let go of resistance are we able to understand others as depicted through “Chicken and
Waffles.”
Even members of marginalized groups can further marginalize within their groups and outcast those who do not fit a certain criteria. This differentiation from “the other” is evident through Panda’s micro-aggressions and overall impatient attitude with Charlie. Perhaps it is a reaction to his own mistreatment by humans, or the discomfort of seeing himself in Charlie, but
Panda’s behavior only reinforces and proliferates mistreatment of societal outcasts. Through various episodes over the series’s three seasons, Panda has gradually shifted his attitude towards
Charlie and has learned to be more accepting and friendly. Through Charlie, We Bare Bears manages to tackle the issues of outcasting within minorities as well as depicting positive ways to relate to and befriend those different from us. This in turn creates a positive and inclusive mindset that that viewer can apply to his or her own daily experiences.
CHAPTER 4
Conclusion
We Bare Bears celebrates diversity and the importance of inclusivity. Through Grizzly,
Panda, and Ice Bear’s comical adventures in the Bay Area, We Bare Bears not only represents the minority experience, but provides a safe and easily comprehensible environment to present complex concepts. Through each character—primary or ancillary—themes of wanting to fit in, learning to accept oneself, and accepting those different from us are all examined. While not
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every episode reflects aspects of the struggles of marginalized groups within modern day
America, Chong and his team have continually promoted ideas of inclusivity and the benefits of a diverse society. As “every moment is a teachable moment” for a child, this positive reinforcement surely will foster the same notions within child viewers (Rich, 1999).
Limitations
This research was primarily limited by the airing of new, often topical, episodes after the majority of research on We Bare Bears had already been conducted. Post-election, We Bare
Bears has expanded upon its themes of inclusion and commented on social issues in the modern day United States. Other limitations to this research was a narrow focus on a particular program that is still relatively new. Because this Cartoon Network show has only been airing for slightly over two years, it is hard to know or measure a tangible impact on audiences. This is another aspect that limits this project—a lack of audience reaction. As the goal of this research was to highlight more of how the show itself functioned and its potential impact on child development, there is no guarantee to its real life effects on viewers, especially children.
Directions for Further Research
Future studies may explore educating children regarding how to analyze the media which they consume and apply that to watching We Bare Bears. Children often watch cartoons and television under the guise of pure entertainment; it is important to recognize the information and biases programs present to young viewers. However, this is difficult to recognize without having knowledge of how to “read” television. Rather than permitting children to see cartoons as fun, future studies may want to delve into a child’s development of “media literacy, then they may be able to actively distinguish which messages are more stereotypical and disregard
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them” (Goodall, 2012, p. 162). With the ability to understand how media manipulates and stirs emotion, a child may be more critical when watching even animated programs. Therefore, a study of child engagement and reception to We Bare Bears may be fruitful in revealing the program’s real life effects on child development. A comparison of We Bare Bears with other current animated shows on different television networks and children’s reactions to them would also deepen understanding of the changes in modern children's programming.
Other research specifically in relation to We Bare Bears may consider character analyses of recurring human characters and their treatment of the bears. A comprehension of their unmotivated aggressions towards the three bears may provide the viewer insight on how to address such a situation in real life. Furthermore, it would be advisable for future research to analyze newer episodes from the third season and beyond, with a specific focus on the relationship between themes of the episodes and current issues in the United States at the time of release. This may reveal just how We Bare Bears not only promotes diversity and tolerance in its show, but also how to cope with and persevere through heightening tensions in an increasingly divisive environment.
For storytellers and those with an interest in children’s broadcasting, simply developing their own unique stories which promote tolerance and diversity will create a more well-rounded and accurate representation of children growing up in the United States today. Whether it be live action or animated, starring anthropomorphic animals or not, an assortment of diversified programming for children is not only beneficial but crucial for the social development of children whose nation is a melting pots of cultures, ideologies, and peoples. While We Bare
Bears has paved the way for children’s programming to actualize the minority experience in a
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comprehensible manner, it is necessary for Cartoon Network and other networks to continue and further develop meaningful children’s shows.
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