Behind the Fur: A Textual Analysis of the Portrayal of Mental Health-Related Struggles of Animal Characters in Bluey, We Baby Bears, and Kiff.

Proponent/s Name/s (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

• Ila Marielle U. Dimaisip, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Elise Romwelle G. Dumantay, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Vince Kenneth M. La Rosa, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Alfonzo Miguel S. Peralta, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow

Document Types

Paper Presentation

Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)

Media and Philippine Studies (MPS)

School Name

De La Salle University, Manila

Track or Strand

Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS)

Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Ferrer, Nathaniel Rey, D.

Start Date

23-6-2026 3:30 PM

End Date

23-6-2026 5:00 PM

Zoom Link/ Room Assignment

DLSU Manila Campus (In-person) - Don Enrique T. Yuchengco Hall - Y306

Abstract/Executive Summary

Although media representations of mental health have evolved significantly, anthropomorphic animal characters in modern children's shows remain academically underexplored. This study investigates how mental health-related struggles are portrayed in the three selected post-pandemic animated children's shows: Bluey, We Baby Bears, and Kiff, to determine if these depictions reinforce negative stigmas or promote mental health advocacy. This study analyzes the linguistic, visual, and audio indicators of fourteen anthropomorphic animal characters: Bluey, Bingo, Mackenzie, Jack, Muffin, Panda, Ice Bear, Madeline Malin, Jared, Unica, Kiff, Barry, Roy Fox, and Trevor, using a qualitative textual research design grounded in Stuart Hall's Representation Theory. Data findings identified five major themes across the character portrayals: The Disparity of Self-Projection, Entitlement and Emotional Reactivity, Emotional Vulnerability in Relationships, Narrative Framing of Distraction and Self-Regulation Struggles, and Social Belonging and Peer Motivation, which are occasionally portrayed as fragility risks, reinforcing negative stigmas, with specific subtypes and patterns within each theme. The findings indicate a primary shift toward acknowledging, accountability, fostering growth, self-realization, and developing emotional maturity. Instead of pathologizing behavior, the children’s shows use multi-sensory cues to validate emotional struggles as a standard developmental milestone. This suggests a neutral-to-positive shift in representation where mental health is framed as a socially mediated experience, prioritizing relatable growth over clinical labeling. This study contributes to the global discourse on mental health-related struggles in children’s media by examining how modern children’s shows can provide mental health advocacy and positively influence kids when viewing mental health-related struggles, which then encourages empathy and awareness.

Keywords

Anthropomorphic Animal Character; Children’s Shows; Mental Health Representation; Stuart Hall’s Representation Theory; Textual Analysis

Initial Consent for Publication

no

Statement of Originality

yes