The Idea of Nature in Disney Animation

In the second edition of The Idea of Nature in Disney Animation, Whitley updates his 2008 book to reflect recent developments in Disney and Disney-Pixar animation such as the apocalyptic tale of earth's failed ecosystem, WALL-E. Beginning with his examination of Snow White, Whitley compelling study complicates our understanding of the classic Disney canon and demonstrates the crucial role the films' depictions of the natural world play in shaping children's understanding of contested environmental issues.

David Whitley is Lecturer in English in the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, UK.

Contents: Introduction: wild sentiment: the theme of nature in Disney animation; Part 1 Fairy Tale Adaptations: Domesticating nature: Snow White and fairy tale adaptation; Healing the rift: human and animal nature in The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Part 2 The North American Wilderness: Bambi and the idea of conservation; Wilderness and power: conflicts and contested values from Pocahontas to Brother Bear. Part 3 Tropical Environments: The Jungle Book: nature and the politics of identity; Tropical discourse: unstable ecologies in Tarzan, The Lion King and Finding Nemo. Part 4 New Developments: WALL¢E: nostalgia and the apocalypse of trash; Conclusion: new directions?; Bibliography; Index.