Diversity in DreamWorks Animation's Trolls World Tour
If you have a toddler (are have been around one long enough), there is a really good chance you have been pulled into watching an animated film that seems to be on an infinite loop. It just never stops. You get to the end of the credits and you think it is done. Then you hear the toddler say “Again! Again!”
Regardless of whether you watch animated films because of the toddlers in your life or for your personal enjoyment, we can agree that there is much to learn from these films. For instance, DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls World Tour, released April 10th on Amazon Prime and Vudu, provides the audience a great dose of diversity and inclusion.
In summary, in the film “Poppy and Branch discover that there are six different troll tribes scattered over six different lands. Each tribe is also devoted to six different kinds of music — funk, country, techno, classical, pop and rock. When rockers Queen Barb and King Thrash set out to destroy the other music, Poppy and Branch embark on a daring mission to unite the trolls and save the diverse melodies from becoming extinct” (IMBD).
Diversity in the Film
The film discusses diversity and inclusion in terms of musical genres. Each genre is associated with a particular group of Trolls. As expected, each group believes their music is the best form of music. To not make the argument long, let’s focus on two responses that we see in the film: colorblindness and cultural humility.
Colorblindness
The best example of colorblindness is exemplified by Queen Poppy’s response to finding out the truth behind why harmony among the different genres/groups of Trolls no longer exists. Poppy immediately shares her commitment to justice and to make things right. Throughout the film, however, Poppy’s journey is full of statements and efforts that have a colorblindness philosophy.
Again and again, she suggests everyone is the same, regardless of what music they ascribe to.
She highlights the identity of being Trolls and ignores the role of the music that defines each group of Trolls. At one point, Poppy is confronted by the Queen and King of Funk. Poppy explains that she wants to unite everyone and show that Trolls “are all the same.”
Cultural Humility
Queen Essence and King Quincy’s response to Poppy is a clear illustration of cultural humility (a.k.a cultural sensitivity, cultural awareness, cultural relevance, etc.). They explain to Poppy that the answer is not conformity but the honest recognition of diversity. They tell Poppy that “we are not all the same.” They then proclaim a truth well known to those involved in diversity and inclusion work:
Denying our differences is denying the truth of who we are.
At this point, Poppy experiences a breakthrough in her colorblindness. She then understands that Trolls are not meant to ignore differences. In fact, differences are meant to be recognized, highlighted, and valued.
Real-World Application
What the film describes is also present in the “real world.” There are many Poppys in the world. Some people may be tempted to only acknowledge one’s humanity and disregard one’s culture. These individuals must experience a breakthrough moment, similar to Poppy in the film. They must be confronted with the reality that colorblindness is not an appropriate response towards diversity, regardless of how noble one’s intentions may be. The best approach is one that recognizes the intersectionality of identity, which includes cultural background. Yes, we are all humans. We have also been born in a time and place that shape our experiences and mold our identity.
Diversity is brushstroke that God used to create the beautiful cultural mosaic found on the canvas of our world today.
There are other themes that are highlighted in the film, such as power, privilege, identity development, and cross-cultural relations to name a few. Thank goodness for the toddler’s persistent “Again! Again!” Go! Enjoy!
References
Trolls World Tour. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6587640/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl