Sofia the First Repository

Why Getting Down on a Child's Level Matters

Before I get into both shows, let me elaborate on why this observation is important.

Perhaps you've done it subconsciously to little ones in your life, or experienced it when having discussion while having the "we're very disappointed in you" talk with your parents. Perhaps you've seen it in other children's shows like Bluey, where a kindly father kneels before their disgruntled kid to have one of their famous pep talks.

From an animation standpoint, I've been told that setting up the characters in this way makes it easier to focus on both subjects without having to change the composition of the shot. However, it also communicates something between both parties: mutual respect and acknowledgment.

When you stay up instead of getting down to speak to a child at their height, not only does it difficult to make eye contact and maintain interest in the conversation, but it also makes it seem like you are trying to assert dominance over them and makes it hard for them to trust you. Getting down means you are communicating through your body language that you and your child are on equal footing. It helps them see that they are safe, their feelings are being understood, and that whatever they share will be heard.

"When a child is falling apart or experiencing stress and acting out, you should first connect with them on an emotional level that will get to them in that moment. Often, that means making physical contact, kneeling down to their level, perhaps putting an arm around them and looking them in the eye.." (Lisa Friestone, Psychology Today)

"This is a great tip for any time you're having a conversation with a kid where you want to encourage them. Don't be up here. You get down and you meet them where they're at and you go face to face. Because they feel safe. They feel seen. They feel, subconsciously, we're on equal footing." (Jonathan Decker, liscenced therapist, analyzing Ponyo)

While this does have roots in psychology, it's also practical from a screenwriting standpoint. It shows, through subtext, how grown ups view child and childhood in general.

Enchancia: Parents, Childhood and How Adults Perceive The Children

Just to be clear, I'm not trying to say that Enchancia is a utopia, or that everyone in Sofia's life is flawless (in fact, that's what I love about this show); there's a lot I can say about the pressure this girl is put under. However, seem to have a good safety net in the kingdom.

There's the general expectation that childhood is a valued ("The Elf Situation") and that the kids are given a lot of room to grow and make mistakes. The show seems to put a lot of emphasis on growth and personal journeys, as seen from the pilot and how the writing progressed throughout the seasons, and all the times the kids mess up, they are scolded and they face repercussions with the additional safety of knowing they have support. Be it from her parents, the castle staff, the school teachers, or other people she happens to meet, Sofia has older people she can confide in.

Below are a few clips of "pep talks" Sofia and the other kids have gotten over the years. Pay attention to how the adults approach these conversations through their body language.

Roland Reassure Sofia that She Is His Daughter. (Skip to 0: 19)

2. Amber and Miranda Make Up (Skip to 2:39)

3. Miranda and Roland Comfort Sofia When She Faces Fears about Being a Princess (Skip to 2:35 and 3:05)

4. Cinderella and Sofia (Skip to 0:40)

Notice how the adults take the time to get down and go face to face when they're trying to comfort of encourage the kids?

In Sofia's world, children are valued for the most part. Yes there's a divide (and that divide widens when your name is Cedric), but there's also an open space. It's almost expected for things to go wrong, but just as Miranda says when Sofia comes to her with a problem, "I always have time for you."

Children in Enchancia get the chance to be treated as people.

Neverland: What You Miss With Childhood Freedom

Neverland is basically a kid's vision of childhood should be. No parents! Excitement and adventure at every turn! Getting to decide what to do with the day without school or responsibilities sucking up all a kid's time! What child wouldn't want that for themselves?

But here's the thing. Jake and his crew do have adult burdens. They're cooking, cleaning and taking care of themselves; they're fighting individuals who constantly put them in danger; they're learning to do things like sailing and sword fighting without any guidance; and, as Peter confirms in his special, he left them to protect A WHOLE ISLAND without any instructions or assistance on how to do so. Now, this applies to everyone, but I'm gonna the focus on Jake because, like Sofia, he is the protagonist. There's share so many things in come (age, roles, responsibilities), but that's an essay for another time.

Unlike Sofia, Jake has almost no one to turn to. Instead, the grown adults are often turning to him to fix their problems and lead them in to battle, and no one questions it. And whenever the adults talk to him, they are either towering over him or craning their necks down to be condescending.

Here are few clips to prove my point

Captain Hook "Comforting" Jake (Skip to 0:18)

2. Jake Doubting Himself (Skip to 1:50 and end at 2:00)

Jake and Hook Again (Skip to 0:02-0:09)

**And even then, it's hard to find clips of the adults talking directly to Jake rather than at him.**

You can chalk it up to JATNP being about action and thus having very different goals. And Hook is, without a doubt, a villain. So he stays up because he NEEDS to be intimidating

However, even in the adults that are kind to Jake, never once do they converse in the same Sofia does with the adults around her. It informs us that there's no blur between children and adults on Neverland. Everyone has to learn to survive and Jake and his crew have learned to keep adults at arms length. Even in his moments of doubt, Jake never goes to any of the other captains for advice or encouragement, because they won't get it. He has to figure things out for himself.

On Neverland, you are only considered a "child" when adults are talking down to you. Otherwise, you have the burdens of adults with none of the respect. If you want help, well . . . better hope you can find it yourself.

Conclusion

JATNP and STF have depict two vastly different ways for how children are viewed, and it's interesting to go back and look at the interactions. It really does drive home how different the two shows are, and yet, they were the most popular on the channel.

Maybe in the future, I will do a protagonist comparison for both, because Jake and Sofia have a lot of similarities. Because my goodness do these two eight-year-olds have a lot of baggage to unpack when they are adults.

Feel free to add to the discussion! I would love to see what you guys have to say on both shows regarding this subject, or if there's anything else you guys noticed.

Bonus: Here Are A Couple of Articles I Consulted on The Subject

This last one is a study done for patients and healthcare practitioners rather than children, but the concept of being on equal footing is there.