‘I’m going to do what I do best: lie, deceive, manipulate, and cheat’: Disney representations of crime shaping ‘real-world’ views of ‘typical’ criminals

One consequence of becoming immersed in the Disney universe from an early age is the shaping of viewers’/consumers’ perceptions about what is ‘normal’ and ‘acceptable’ behaviour. This article focuses on Disney’s portrayal of illegal behaviour, comparing and contrasting actions committed by villains and heroes to illustrate the importance of context (the act itself, who commits the act and the motivations driving the behaviour) in shaping viewers’ understandings of criminality. Following on from this discussion, the article explores the types of punishments inflicted on villains, as well as the rehabilitative methods applied to wayward heroes and antagonists. Ultimately, crime is used throughout Disney narratives as a plot device to showcase evil and the need to thwart it in order to achieve ‘happily ever after’. As such, Disney films reinforce and reflect existing political messages about what (and who) is right and wrong.