A Study Whether Animated Cartoons Influence a Child’s Growth, as Assessed by Parents

Researchers:

Dimaano, James Matthew R.

Henares, Andria
Padilla, Julious BS.
Raborar, Louise Jastine F.
Torres, Daniel Annuel V.

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION AND ITS BACKGROUND

Our research is all about the effects of animated cartoons on a child’s mind and growth. This chapter
includes the Introduction, Background of the Study, Theoretical and Conceptual Framework, Statement of the
Problem, Hypothesis, Scope and delimitation, and Definition of Terms.

Introduction

The summary of this research can be seen in this part, everything related to animated cartoons and how it
affects a child.

Cartoons are the most popular form of entertainment for children all over the world. According to Sharmin
Sultana “It is a show containing a small context of story full of animated talking animals, birds, furniture, cars
or humans teaching us how to fight in life, how to laugh, how to compromise in life, how to grow up as an
individual.” Thus reminds us quotations of a well known cartoon characters, “Sometimes the smallest things can
take up the most room in your heart,” Winnie the Pooh and “To laugh at yourself, is to love yourself.” Mickey
Mouse. Cartoons and animated films plays a very important part in shaping a person effectively because
cartoons and animated shows alike are very flexible for it has the power to entertain, educate and enlighten
children and even adults.

“Cartoons have a great influence on the children and a grasp children’s attention quickly. Thus, the more
children’s interest would be the sharper their observations would be. As the twentieth-century children are more
exposed to the electronic media, especially television. Hence, it is the prerequisite of the hour that the
cartoonists must be more thorough and cautious while designing the cartoons according to the psychology of the
children. The children not only observe everything but they imitate whatever they see in the cartoons. Most
children are highly impressed by the cartoons.” (Ghilzai et al., 2017)

A child can start learning early by watching types of cartoons that teach colors, shapes, numbers, and letters.
It makes learning an enjoyable activity. The characters, moving pictures, and colorful visuals make it interesting
for children. A child starts watching at a very early age when they are not even 1 year old. Parents should only
show them most of the nursery rhymes available in cartoon forms because as the kids grow, they become
curious too. That’s why cartoons directly make an impact on their minds. So parents should try to keep it in
their hands what cartoons their child can watch and what they can’t watch. The guardian can always keep an eye
on what the child is watching and how they are reacting to it.

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) shows that children who watch realistic and frequently repeated violent
shows are more likely to repeat that behavior in their own lives.

A child must be assisted by an elder in watching animated cartoons, giving them a limited time to watch. A
child must not invest too much time for it will make them addicted to it. Due to the fact that not all cartoons are
meant for children, things will get complicated when they get to see depictions of unsafe themes or genres like
fighting, bullying, torture, sex, gore, etc. A child must have parental guidance to prevent getting these negative
influences from those said unsafe themes.

According to Dr. Ruebert Saturnine III, 2014 The first reported "toon-related" incident occurred in 1914,
when a 9-year-old upstate New York boy fell from his pony while pretending to be Winsor McCay atop Gertie
the Dinosaur. The prep school student was already an experienced rider, but was distracted during a routine trot
by fanciful thoughts of bare-backing a brontosaurus. After the release of Steamboat Willie in 1928, the number
of cases of toon-related injuries skyrocketed. Strangely enough, one of the most publicized "Willie ward" cases -
- as the hospitals use to call them was from the same upstate New York town that the aforementioned Gertie
fiasco occurred. Many scholars in the field of toon-agedies have looked into the susceptibility of the New
England states to toon-related occurrences. Some have linked it to harmful levels of cod in the groundwater, but
others feel it's simply due to the region's loose liberal attitudes.

According to Nadia Green, 2016 A show aired on Nickelodeon in 2014 named Breadwinners. This show is
a prime example of sexual and inappropriate content in cartoons. Children gravitate to this show because of the
colorfulness and the use of animals that children are able to recognize. In this cartoon, it has a lot of the main
characters shaking their butts and slapping each other’s. The opening song that introduces the show is not
appropriate for children. “Booty kick it, party punch it. Shake your feathers, make your pants dance.”
(Breadwinners Wiki)

Background of the study

This part explains the history of animation and animated cartoons so that readers can further understand the
background of this research.

Cartoon or animated movie is a form which uses optical illusion and movements of consecutive performing
of many still images but the early cartoons only consists of pictures that are projected. During the late 1800’s,
cartoons were mostly used for presenting national key figures such as Abraham Lincoln during the 1877 civil
war in order to help with recruiting more soldiers in preparation for the war. Cartoons were also used as
advertisements and the spreading of propaganda in the west.

The first animated cartoon in the world was “Fantasmagorie” which was made by a France artist, Emile Cohl
in 1908. Produced in over 100 years ago, this film had no sound and was called silent film. With white stroke on
a black board in class table the film about the adventure of the cartoon character called “Stick figure”. All are
represented by dots and simple strokes.

Traditional animated cartoon, developed in the early 1900s, was practiced by Ubbe Ert Iwwerks, Walt
Disney and others. They had used 24 different pictures for each second of their animated movie.

The first complete cartoon was produced in 1991. However, the cartoon was not recognized by a worldwide
audience until 1914 via category animation film “Gertie the Dinosaur” by producer John Bray.

In fact, in 1913, a film studio had producing as one’s only occupation and within 5 years, the new
entertaining program was born. At that time, a lot of artists took part in animated and got a lot of success. In
1923 Walt Disney begins making short animated cartoons based on children's stories.

Early 30s of twentieth century, manufactures began to enhance the color elements and sound in animation.
The most representative works are maximum use of such elements as “Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs”
(1973), this is the long animated the first episode in the history of the genre. “Pinocchio” (1940) was a cartoon
produced by technical systems and the last complete.
 As stated above, cartoons are changing all throughout the years because cartoons are very flexible. Cartoons
were first used to present a figure to the mass media or only used as advertisements not mention there were no
sound or music used and is very limited, but the cartoons we have today can be seen everywhere like
televisions, cellphones, malls, internet, and etc. Cartoons in the present now have music, smooth animation,
colors, themes, and a story everyone can relate to at all ages. Cartoons now have to power to educate, enlighten,
or even amaze viewers while also helping them be a better person with the help of life lesson they learned from
the shows they’ve watched, especially children due to the fact that every parent’s tool to help their child growth
are cartoons.

Frequently, people think cartoons are made by many simple drawing and just put them in order. In most
people’s opinion, cartoons are several pictures describe consecutive actions. In fact, the second though is true.
However, nowadays, in order to bring out a perfect product; producers have to make a lot of specific things.

Essays, UK. (November 2018). Impact of Cartoons on Children Research.

Statement of the Problem

The general aim of this research is to know whether animated cartoons influence a child’s growth. It
specifically answers the following questions:
Specific Question:
1. What are the key factors in animated cartoons that help appeal a child’s change in behavior?
1.1 Character designs
1.2 Theme of the show
1.3 Popularity
2. Is it safe to rely on animated cartoons for your child’s growth, or proper parenting is still needed?
3. What are the current modern animated cartoons that you would recommend to children?
4. What are the reasons why animated cartoons play a very important role in a child’s life?

A theoretical framework consists of concepts and, together with their definitions and reference to relevant
scholarly literature, existing theory that is used for your particular study. The theoretical framework must
demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts that are relevant to the topic of your research paper and
that relate to the broader areas of knowledge being considered.

Figure 1.0

Theoretical Framework

Independent Interverning Dependent

Variable Variable Variable

Input Process Output

Figure 1.0 is used as the basis of the proposed system’s paradigm.

The theoretical framework that will be used in the study is the Input-Process- Output Model. In the IPO

model, a process is viewed as a series of boxes (processing elements) connected by inputs and outputs.
Information or material objects flow through a series of task or activities based on a set of rules or description

points. Flow charts and process diagrams are often used to represent the process. What goes in is the input; what

causes the change is the process; what comes out is the output. The IPO model will provide the general structure

and guide for the direction of study.

The Input-Process-Output Model also known as the IPO+S Model is a functional model and conceptual

schema of a general system. An IPO chart identifies a program’s inputs, its outputs, and the processing steps

required to transform the inputs into the outputs.

The IPO model has many interdisciplinary applications, and is used to convey systems fundamentals in IT

overview education and as a brainstorming, preliminary investigation tool in systems development processes. It

consists of at least three, and sometimes four, distinct components. In contemporary Information Technology, it

is almost always discussed as a three component model in which the fourth is a named optional.

.
 Researchers create theoretical and conceptual frameworks that include a philosophical and methodological
model to help design their work. A formal theory provides context for the outcome of the events conducted in
the research. The data collection and analysis are also based on the theoretical and conceptual framework.

Figure 2.0

Conceptual Framework

Input Process Output

 Demographic Profile  Survey Action plan derived from A

 What are the key factors  Questionnaire Study Whether Animated
in animated cartoons that  Data Gathering Cartoons Influence a Child’s
help appeal a child’s Growth as Assessed by
change in behavior? Parents
 Is it safe to rely on
animated cartoons for
your child’s growth, or is
proper parenting still
needed?
 What are the current
modern animated
cartoons that you would
recommend to children?
 What are the reasons
why animated cartoons
play a very important role
in a child’s life?

Figure 2.0 This conceptual framework showed the concepts presented in the study.

The input is set through the statement of the problem, the process would be the questinnaires prepared, the
holding of survey and gathering data from online articles and books. The output would be a study whether
animated cartoons influence a child’s growth as assessed by parents.
Hypothesis
States our expected outcome

This research study believes that animated cartoons have a positive and negative impact on a child. Based on
our resources, Tatev Derizan (2017) wrote “among the positive effects, scientists distinguish auxiliary role of
cartoons: education of children, additional information about the world and interesting entertainment. Cartoons
teach children the rules of behavior in society (respect for adults, teamwork, etc.), enrich the vocabulary (a child
can master languages while watching a cartoon in a foreign language), help discover the world (Dora, Dexter’s
Laboratory). Many of the animated cartoons’ characters that have healthy lives, have many positive
characteristics, and children often imitate their heroes.”
In a negative impact, Anisha Nair wrote “watching cartoons which depict violence can encourage children to
become violent in real life. There are several cartoons which show characters displaying rude or disobedient
behaviour towards their teachers and elders. Cartoons often include language that is unfit for children. There are
several cartoons that contain sexual innuendos, encourage aggression, and promote bratty behaviour. Too many
hours of sitting in front of a screen watching cartoons can cause several health issues due to inactivity and a
sedentary lifestyle.”

Scope and Delimitation

This research only focuses about how cartoons influences children. The researchers aim is to get mainly the
perspective of parents towards animated films and cartoons. The researchers would also like to find out certain
factors that contribute to a child’s behavior and overall well being.

Significance of the Study

Our research’s purpose is to give information to parents about how animated cartoons influence their
child/children’s growth, both positive and negative, depending on what kind of animated cartoons they are
watching. Children really love animated cartoons and the lessons they learn from those will affect them for the
rest of their lives.

Parents. This research serves as a guide to what certain animated cartoons can do to a child’s mind and growth,
helping them choose wisely to what their child/children should be watching. This research also recommends
animated cartoons that has a positive impact on their child/children.

Teachers. With our research, teachers that teach personal development, nursery or elementary teachers can use
our data as an example to what they would teach.

Caregivers/Babysitters. Like parents, our research could also be their guide to what animated cartoons can the
child/children they are taking care of.

Society. Since our research can help parents choose what animated cartoons could influence a child’s/children’s
mind and growth, once those children grow up, they turn into a wise adult that can contribute more to society.

Researchers. The outcome of this research will be beneficial for both present and future researchers. This
research can serve as a data and reference material and a guide for future researchers who wish to conduct the
same study related to whether animated cartoons can influence a child’s growth.

Definition of Terms

The words listed below are the words that the researchers would want to define more so that the readers can
understand what the researchers would want to say in this chapter.
Animation. The technique of photographing successive drawings or positions of puppets or models to create an
illusion of movement when the movie is shown as a sequence.

Animators. A person who makes animated films.

Cartoon. A motion picture using animation techniques to photograph a sequence of drawings rather than real
people or objects.

Movement. An act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed.