Prompt: “What is your favorite movie with an environmental message? Why? Do you think films that show what you value and do not want harmed (such as beautiful sunsets at the beach or healthy children playing at a park) or document a problem (such as people walking through apocalyptic floods or dirty water coming out of someone’s faucet) or portray a fictional time and place motivate people more? Why?”

Since I was little, I have loved seeing children’s themed animated films: Disney and DreamWorks alike. Although a vast amount of time has passed, I have not grown out of love with the films I saw in the theaters as a child. Majority of the movies I saw still resonate with me especially the environmentally conscious film, Happy Feet. The 2006 film was not only enjoyable for all ages, Happy Feet introduced environmental issues in a relatable manner which allowed all who watched to understand the issue. Despite my young age, I could understand the message the screenwriter wanted to portray to their audience. Leaving the theater, adults, and children younger than me discussed the environmental issue they had been educated on. Happy Feet conveyed the message to even some of the youngest members of the audience and influenced viewers, like me, to choose to join efforts to improve environmental conditions.

Several avenues can be taken to address the environmental issues including: apocalyptic portrayals or upbeat animated films. Happy Feet was particularly effective because, the movie was understandable. Documentaries and informative films express their information which may not be relatable to everyone who observes the production. Environmental education varies from region to region: person to person. A general problem acknowledged between science and society is a lack of understanding. Scientists have discovered their limitations in progress and awareness because, the average citizen does not have an equally extensive education: preventing them from understanding the impacts of their findings or how science relates to them. With films like Happy Feet, society becomes connected to the scientific world at a basic level of understanding and can influence change.

Works Cited.

Kingdom Feature Productions ; Animal Logic ; Kennedy Miller Productions ; Village Roadshow Pictures ; produced by Bill Miller, George Miller, Doug Mitchell ; written by Warren Coleman … [and others] ; directed by George Miller. Happy Feet. Burbank, CA :Warner Home Video, 2007. Print.

Cox, Robert, and Phaedra C. Pezullo. “Chapter 4 The Environment in/of Visual and Popular Culture.” Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2016. Print.