There are lots of binary opposites between Roger and Anita to Cruella De Vil, for example, Roger and Anita are helping Perdy give birth, so they are bring life into the world but Cruella wants to take life out of the world by killing the puppies for their fur. Cruella has two sidekicks, Horris and Jasper, these are villains too, physically, they are out of proportion and we first see them in the dark. Although Cruella, Horris and Jasper work together, they aren’t really friends, Cruella uses them to do her work. Roger, Anita, Pongo and Perdy do things to help each other, they are in unity. This is another binary opposite. Perdy and Pongo have lots of dog friends across London, who later in the film helps them out, Cruella has no friends.
The Lion King
Before the establishing shot, non-diegetic sound has already started. The music gives the impression that the animated film is set in Africa, setting a happy mood, the words of the song are about the reinforcement of life. The establishing shot backs up the idea of the film being set in Africa, the sun is rising in the distance, so it’s a dawn of a new day, therefore it’s a metaphor for life. We then see the animals and they are all heading in the same direction together, they are creating a sense of expectation as they all look towards the sky. All these characters are heroes, they are seen in daylight, there is a happy atmosphere and they are all helping each other. The rise to Mufasa and Simba’s appearance sets an atmosphere of happiness and anticipation; this gives the audience a clue that these two are heroes. The first shot of Mufasa is a low angle shot, this creates the sense of power it has connotations of power and importance. The sun is shining, the sky is clear and the wind is blowing in Mufasa’s mane, this is an example of pathetic fallacy, this shot of Mufasa assures the audience that he is a hero. In the first shot of Rafiki he is represented as the Vicar. He carries a stick, which is like a staff. As a show of respect, the animals part as he walks through them, the heavens open and sunlight shines down on him, this implies heavenly approval. a definite sign that he is a hero. The primary target audience (children) wouldn’t recognise that Rafiki is representing a vicar, but the secondary target audience (adults) would pick up on this representation because of their more sophisticated knowledge. The non-diegetic music builds up an atmosphere, Simba is then held higher than everyone else as a connotation of importance, he too has heavenly approval, and again this represents a hero.
Our first meeting of Scar is very different. We meet him in the dark of a shadow (we see Mufasa in daylight) this is a binary opposite. The non-diegetic music is eerie and sad. Scar is trying to eat a mouse so he is taking life out of the world, while at the beginning Mufasa is bringing life into the world.
Mufasa has very rounded features and light colourings. He has a soft look to him. Scar has very pointed sharp features and dark colourings; he has a scar down his eye, which could show he has many fights. Scar has a very strong English accent, Disney often represent their villains with English accents, another one of Disney’s conventions that they follow. The information the audience gets from Mufasa and Scar’s appearance draws a straight line into which one is the hero and which one is the villain.
Conclusion
Disney always represents their heroes and villains in similar ways, this is known as a convention. Here are a few ways Disney represents them
Heroes Villains
In Mulan when the audience see the villains, an aggressive non-diegetic sound is heard but when the audience see the heroes a happy non-diegetic sound is heard. In Aladdin the villain, Jafar is very sarcastic and the hero Aladdin is honest. These are all binary opposites.
Binary opposites appear in all Disney Films, they are used because it is made obvious to the audience who the villains and heroes are. Disney also uses the Todorov narrative formulae the use of which makes it obvious to the audience what the resolution of the film will be.
The Todorov formula is:-
This is the Todorov narrative formula for the Lion King.
If the audience can guess correctly the ending of the film it makes them feel good about themselves, it gives them gratification. This then makes them want to see a film similar to that again a successful formula that Disney uses time and time again.
