Aug 6, 2014

Disney Tries Something New with "Star vs. Force of Evil": Female Creator

It is always amusing to criticize Walt Disney as sexist for running the company more than 70 years ago, while completely overlooking the modern Disney Company's terrible track record of promoting women to top creative positions. While Walt Disney's actions are understandable, at least in the historical context of mid-20th century America, the company's actions today are indefensible.

Take, for example, Disney Television Animation, a division founded in 1984 that has produced more than 50 half-hour series over the past 30 years, of which only one, repeat, only one, has been produced solely by a woman. It is Sue Rose's "Pepper Ann."

Disney TV has finally chosen a second woman to direct a half-hour series: 2009 CalArts graduate Daron Neafsey will produce "Star Vs. The Forces of Evil," which will debut on Disney Channel and Disney XD in 2015 The film will. Disney teased the show at San Diego Comic-Con last month with this video:

The dearth of female show creators at Disney TV Animation is not a unique phenomenon among the boys' club of Los Angeles TV animation. Disney's competitor, Cartoon Network, which has produced animated TV shows for 20 years, has had one show produced exclusively by women. That show, Rebecca Sugar's Steven Universe, just premiered last November.

Perhaps someday the industry will address the lack of female creators in a meaningful way and news about such shows will not have to be treated as a major event. For now, the animation industry's attitude toward women, not to mention minorities, remains stuck in an outdated paradigm, and evolution is occurring at a glacial pace. Star vs. Force of Evil is a sign of progress, but it is also a reminder of how far we have to go before major animation studios consistently judge creators on their creative potential rather than their gender.