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Inside Out

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Inside Out

Inside Out

Inside Out
Rating: PG
Run Time: 94 Minutes
Released: 2015
Director: Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del Carmen
Cultural Rating: pawpawpawpaw

This film does an excellent job of addressing how major life events and adolescence influence the complexity of the emotional self. Further, it challenges stereotypes regarding gender.

Summary:

After Riley and her family move from the Midwest to San Francisco, they navigate the emotional difficulties of leaving their old lives behind. Personifications of Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness are used to show how the move is affecting the family, especially Riley.

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The Emperor’s New Groove

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The Emperor’s New Groove
Rating: G
Run Time: 78 Minutes
Released: 2000
Director: Mark Dindal

Cultural Rating: pawpaw

Although The Emperor’s New Groove depicts a non-white, non-Western culture, the film does very little to engage with disability, sexual orientation, or gender.

Summary:

After being turned into a llama, Emperor Kuzco seeks the help of courageous llama herder, Pacha, to regain the throne.

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Cinderella (2015)

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cinderella 2015

Cinderella (2015)
Rating: PG
Run Time: 105 minutes
Released: 2015
Director: Kenneth Brannagh

Cultural Rating: pawpaw

Cinderella is very neutral regarding cultural progressiveness. While some traditional gender roles are challenged by the lead female and male characters, the film does very little to engage with disability, sexual orientation, or the body. However, it should be noted that the film makes an attempt at racial diversity.

Summary: Now an orphan, Cinderella must find a way to escape from her evil stepmother and stepsisters.

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The Big Green

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the big green

The Big Green
Rating: PG
Released: 1995
Run Time: 100 minutes
Directed By: Holly Goldberg Sloan

Cultural rating: pawpawpaw

Despite the comedic format of the film, The Big Green tackles some very complicated issues regarding class and race stereotypes. Overall, this film does a great job of engaging with cultural identities in a positive way and offers an often ignored narrative regarding immigration into the United States.

Summary

A soccer team made-up of misfits shows that with dedication and teamwork anything is possible.

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The Princess and the Frog

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princess and the frog

The Princess and the Frog
Rating: G
Released: 2009
Run Time: 97 minutes
Directed By: Ron Clements, John Musker

Cultural Rating: pawpaw

This film is notable because it stars the first black Disney princess. However, Tiana is a frog for the majority of the film. Further, the film adheres to many stereotypes regarding race, disability, class, and religion.

Summary

Tiana, an aspiring restaurant owner, turns into a frog to save Prince Naveen from a curse.

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Pocahontas

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Pocahontasposter

Pocahontas
Rating: G
Released: 1995
Run Time: 81 minutes
Directed By: Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg

Cultural rating: pawpaw

Overall, this film tries to engage with a marginalized identity (Native Americans) that is rarely depicted in mainstream media in a positive or uplifting manner; however, the film lacks the historical context necessary to situate the audience as far as the detrimental effects of colonization are concerned and also makes broad generalizations about Native American groups. Also, while Pocahontas challenges traditional gender roles regarding femininity in a number of ways, the film does little to engage with other marginalized cultural identities.

Summary

The daughter of Chief Powhatan, Pocahontas, is expected to marry an Algonquin suitor. However, despite the pressures from her father, Pocahontas resists the marriage and falls in love with Englishman John Smith.

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Toy Story 3

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toy story 3

Toy Story 3
Rating: G
Released: 2014
Run Time: 103 minutes
Directed By: Lee Unkrich

Cultural Rating: paw

The film is fun and promotes positive messages regarding friendship and loyalty but tends to reinforce traditional gender roles and engages very little with other cultural identities.

Summary

When Andy heads off to college, his toys are accidentally sent to a daycare and taken hostage by the ruthless teddy bear Lotso.

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Tangled

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tangled

Tangled
Rating: PG
Run Time: 100 minutes
Released: 2010
Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard

Cultural Rating: pawpawpawpaw
Overall, this film includes positive messages regarding gender roles, the body, and disability. This film receives 4 paws because it challenges a number cultural tropes in a positive way.

Summary
A kidnapped princess with magical hair and a thief go on an adventure to follow their dreams and find their true selves.

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The Incredibles

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incredibles

The Incredibles
Rating: PG
Run Time: 115 minutes
Released: 2004
Director: Brad Bird

Cultural Rating: pawpaw

Overall this film challenges traditional gender roles regarding masculinity and femininity to an extent; however, the film does little to engage in other marginalized cultural identities. 

Summary

A superhero family must work together to defeat a villain who is trying to eliminate the superhero do-gooders of the world.

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Ratatouille

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ratatouille

Ratatouille
Rating: G
Run Time: 111 minutes
Released: 2007
Director: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava

 Cultural Rating: paw

While there are many positive messages about friendship and living your dream, the film does little to engage with any type of cultural identities.

Summary

Rats and kitchens don’t make for a good combination until a daring rat, who dreams of being a chef, makes an unlikely friendship with another aspiring chef.

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