Choosing a Critical Report Topic
When we think of cartoons, we tend to associate them with childhood favourites – colourful characters, heartfelt stories and catchy songs. But animation is much more than children’s entertainment. In fact, it is a powerful medium for storytelling, memory and even political critique. My research project explores two very different forms of animation: animated documentary and commercial animation, unpacking their differences in purpose, narrative structure, aesthetics and moral responsibility.
Why study the difference between animated documentaries and commercial animation?
In a world flooded with media, visual narratives shape the way we understand reality. Therefore, we must consider: what is animation actually doing? Is it only meant to entertain, or is it also capable of informing, critiquing and challenging? Animated documentaries represent a growing genre that uses the creative freedom of animation to convey deeply personal, emotional or politically charged stories. These films do not rely on traditional cameras to capture ‘objective’ reality. Instead, they visualise memories, traumas and psychological states in a way that live-action films cannot. In contrast, commercial animation, led by studios such as Disney and Pixar, is driven by mass-market appeal. These films are well-made, emotionally resonant, and globally successful. But their reliance on familiar narratives and aesthetics can also simplify complex issues or reinforce dominant ideologies.
Research Goals
The main objectives of this research were to:
Compare the core purposes of animated documentaries and commercial animation.
Examine how each form constructs or avoids authenticity and truth claims.
Analyze their storytelling methods, ethical responsibilities, and cultural influence.
research process
The concept of ‘constructed realism’ – how animated documentaries portray emotional and psychological truths – is introduced through Annabelle Honess Roe’s book: Animated Documentary. And through Paul Wells’ books Understanding animation and Animation and America and Maureen Furniss’ Art in Motion: Animation Aesthetics, which provide a framework for analysing narrative and aesthetic techniques in artistic and commercial contexts. aesthetic techniques in artistic and commercial contexts.
Then analysed through some case studies:
Animated Documentaries:
Waltz with Bashir (2008) – a soldier’s fragmented memories of war.
Persepolis (2007) – a personal-political coming-of-age story.
Commercial Animation:
Zootopia (2016) – a metaphor for racial prejudice.
Frozen (2013) – a tale of emotional resilience and sisterhood.
Key Findings
1. Purpose and Narrative Function
Animated documentaries prioritize authenticity, complexity, and personal voice. They visualize memory, trauma, and emotional truths—things often impossible to represent through live-action footage. In contrast, commercial animation focuses on broad appeal and emotional immediacy. It uses universal storylines and archetypes to create accessible, feel-good narratives—sometimes at the cost of nuance or critique.
2. Authenticity and Truth Claims
Animated documentaries do not pretend to be objective, but rather truthful in a subjective or emotional sense. Their power lies in visual metaphor, not literal accuracy. However, this creative license also introduces ethical risk: When visualizing trauma or political events, animation can blur the line between truth and stylization, requiring filmmakers to tread carefully. Commercial animations, while often engaging with social themes, tend to present sanitized metaphors (e.g., racism as speciesism in Zootopia) that can oversimplify or even obscure real-world struggles.
3. Ethical Responsibility
Filmmakers in the animated documentary space must grapple with how to represent real people, suffering, and history using an artistic medium. These choices carry moral weight—especially when speaking on behalf of marginalized communities or survivors. Commercial animation, however, rarely assumes this ethical responsibility. Instead, its narratives are optimized for broad cultural compatibility and emotional impact, leaving little room for political ambiguity or discomfort.
What this research does
This project shows that animation is not a neutral or pure art form – it is a battleground for meaning, truth and ideology. Understanding how different types of animation construct narratives and ethics helps us to:
Become more critical viewers.
Recognise the power of visual narratives in shaping public perception.
Encourage creators to be more reflective and responsible in their work.
Animated documentaries show us that animation can challenge, inspire and change. Commercial animation reminds us of the importance of easy accessibility and emotional engagement. The key is to balance artistic integrity with ethical awareness.
Final Thought
Animation doesn’t need to mimic live-action film to be real. Sometimes, the most truthful stories are those told through abstraction, metaphor, and memory. Animated documentaries show us that truth can be felt, not just seen. Commercial animation reminds us of the emotional universality of storytelling but also warns us of its limitations. Both have something to teach us. The key is learning how to watch and think critically.