Male

# 2: Disney's male characters create strong personal relationships with other male characters. The evil male characters, usually the 'bad seed' of a family unit, exhibit allusive homosexual characteristics.


The Lion King (1994) was one of Disney's most successful animated musicals, even spawning a Broadway hit. It follows the tale of Simba, a young lion and the future king of the pridelands. His life gets turned upside-down when he is tricked by his uncle into believing that he caused his father's death. He runs away from his home, leading Scar to assume the throne, who believes Simba to be dead. Simba grows up in the jungle with his two best friends, a warthog, Pumbaa, and a meerkat, Timon. In a chance encounter he realizes he must face the past that he ran from and avenge his father's death.


This is the classic coming-of-age story Disney is known for. Young Simba is curious, naive, and impatient to be king. He is overly eager to grow up and experience the world. Simba learns all of life's lessons from his father, Mufasa. His mother doesn't seem to play much of a role in the movie, except for caring for his physiological needs (baths, food). Even when dealing with lions in the middle of the savannah, Disney manages to create another female playing the role of the 'happy homemaker'.
On the other side of the issue, Simba shares a close relationship with his father. He (Mufasa) teaches Simba everything he needs to know, especially about life's essential lessons. Simba also shares a close relationship with another male character in the movie, his evil uncle.
Adult Simba does not seem to mature much from when he was a child. The bright-eyed Simba is transformed into the (yet again) all-American look. He grows into the 'boy-next-door' type with a shaggy mane and engaging personality. Although he cannot hold back his anger after Scar's true intentions are revealed, he is just as ready to keep running away from his past.


Scar is the classic Disney villain. Dark, moody, and deformed in some way (in this case, a scar over his eye). He was next in line to the throne until Simba was born. Scar plans to kill both Mufasa and Simba so he can assume the throne and make things the way he wants them to be. One of the reasons Scar is such a scary character to children is because he is extremely physical and touchy-feely with Simba. Slinking around in the shadows he almost represents the Disney extreme: a sexual predator. However, Scar wears two masks, one as the creepy, evil uncle, and with the other one being sarcastic yet eloquent. The latter traits combine with others to form a sort-of homosexual villain yet to come out of the closet. Scar's 'nice side' holds himself in very high regard and is very fussy. Another thing that suggests his sexuality is his movements. He regularly uses his hands to express himself (he commonly waves his wrist around limply). He also slouches when he walks, but arches his back and holds his backside up as he slinks away. He puts emphasis on the "s" sound, sings old jingles, and leans in very close to people while talking to them. Once his scheme is discovered (a.k.a. when he comes out of the closet) Simba confronts him and he becomes a sobbing mess. Deliberate or not, Scar's words and actions mirror society's stereotypes for homosexual behaviour.


Again, the sidekicks are both male. The fat warthog Pumbaa is the funny-because-he's-dumb character, and Timon is the little guy with a big voice. They compliment each other both in size and in personality, just like Woody and Buzz. Their only role in the movie is to provide comic relief - such as in the scene where Timon starts hula dancing to distract hyenas from protecting Scar.


The only close relationship between members of opposite gender in this movie is that of Simba and Nala, a lioness Simba's age. They commonly play fight and Nala (the female therefore naturally the best hunter) always pins him. His inability to beat a girl causes him to question his own strength and also hints at his future mental weakness. Simba seems to feel bad when Nala continually beats him. For all of thirty seconds, Disney's traditional gender roles are switched around. Ironically, Simba subconsciously realizes that this is wrong and that boys are supposed to be tougher than girls, causing his feelings of inferiority. Nala later becomes Simba's love interest and solves any questions he was worrying about subconsciously (his sexual orientation).


The Lion King was actually one of my favourite movies until I analyzed it and lost interest in it completely. Sure, it is visually pleasing, but it contains a lot of obvious stereotypes, and not just ones relating to gender, but cultural as well (the snooty characters are English, the good guys are American, and the trickster hyenas are voiced by Hispanic and African-American actors). But the most stunning thing about this movie is how much sexual undertone it contained for a Disney production.


Part III: Tarzan's not really her type

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