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For his thesis in the humanities honors track, Matthew Alecci ’21 analyzed animated Disney villains to discover why they are considered great cinematic characters and the reasons for their popularity. A computer science major, Alecci’s interest in the project was driven by his enjoyment of Disney animated films, noting that some of the villains are his favorite characters.
“I hoped to dive deeper into the animation industry and some of the aspects they consider when designing a character,” says Alecci, who plans to pursue a career in the technical side of a creative industry such as animation, film, or other media such as video games.
“Researching the animation and characterization of these villains from the 1990s through 2000s, my thesis examines what traits they share, including their distinctively charismatic personalities, animation styles, and voice-overs to emphasize their commonalities despite their surface differences,” he explains. For the project, Alecci looked into original source material and determined how Disney changed its villains to fit its purposes. He concluded that the Disney formula for its villains is an essential part of branding success for the global entertainment behemoth.
“Being able to work on this creative project has been a great experience, especially when I immensely enjoy the topic,” says Alecci, who was guided by his thesis advisor Professor K. Molly O’Donnell. “Dr. O'Donnell has been an absolute pleasure to work with. She has always given me the extra push to keep working and has inspired me constantly.”
