Disney’s Criminal Anthropometry
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Disney’s Criminal Anthropometry

What patterns do Disney villains follow and what does it mean?

400
Disney’s Criminal Anthropometry
disney.wikia.com

What do Jafar, Frollo, Dr. Facilier and Captain Hook all have in common that Gaston, Clayton and Syndrome don’t? They were all created using the Ugly + Thin formula.

In the world of animated, human (or humanoid) Disney villains, there seems to be a pattern in the way the characters were designed. The villainous men of Disney fall into five categories: Handsome, Ugly + Buff, Ugly + Fat, Ugly + Thin, and Short. The women fall into three: Beautiful, Ugly + Fat, and Ugly + Thin.

Out of a selection of Disney villains, here are the categories each belong to:

Handsome Men: Gaston (jerk and attempted murderer) and Prince Hans (jerk and attempted murderer).


Ugly + Buff Men: Shan Yu (murderer), Hades (conman and attempted murderer), Clayton (animal abuser), the Stabbington Brothers (thieves and attempted murderers) and Commander Rourke (thief and murderer).

 


Ugly + Thin Men: Captain Hook (attempted murderer), Jafar (traitor and attempted murderer), Frollo (child abuser, racist, and attempted murderer), and Dr. Facilier (conman and attempted murderer).


Ugly + Fat Men: Governor Ratcliffe (racist and attempted

murderer), Sykes (loan shark and kidnapper) and Syndrome (murderer).



Short Men: Chef Skinner (traitor) and Turbo/King Candy (attempted murderer).



Beautiful Women: Evil Queen (attempted murderer), Evil Stepmother/Lady Tremaine (child abuser), Mother Gothel (child abuser), Maleficent (attempted murderer) and Queen Narissa (attempted murderer).


 


Ugly + Fat Women: Ursula (conman and attempted murderer), Queen of Hearts (murderer) and Madam Mim (attempted murderer).



Ugly + Thin: Cruella De Vil (animal abuser), Madame Medusa

(child abuser) and Yzma (traitor and attempted murderer).


But what are these design themes saying?

Well, for one thing, Disney using certain formulas to denote villainy – especially for certain types of criminal activity – is a little too similar to Cesare Lombroso’s concept of criminal atavism, the modern birth of criminal profiling. This 19th century Italian criminologist believed that if one was a criminal, they were born that way because it was in their biology and physical attributes. Some of the attributes include a protruding chin, a receding forehead, a beaky nose, high cheekbones, a thin neck, excessive or diminished height, bushy eyebrows, tattoos and masculine-looking women. Any of these look familiar?

Disney showing kids that bad people can come in all shapes and sizes is a good thing. Abuse and danger can come from the people who are supposed to protect you, say they love you, or say they’re trying to help you. However, using the same formulas for almost all of their villains could be conditioning children to profile people with these types of looks. Not every tall, thin man with a protruding chin is trying to deceive people. Not every heavy, masculine woman is trying to murder people. Not every stepmother is evil.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

53256
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

34219
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956805
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

181563
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments