Main Protagonists and Love Interests

Ratio of Female to Male Characters (from 2008-2012)

Gender of the Main Protagonist

Looking at only American, or American/Foreign Coproduced Animated Films Rated G or PG that were released in at least 500 theaters. If the film contained live action scenes, it primarily had to be about the animated characters set in an animated world.

 

9/53 female protagonists

46/53 male protagonists

 

17% female protagonists

83% male protagonists  

2/9 female protagonists had an equal male protagonist who shared the movie

2/46 male protagonists had an equal female protagonist who shared the movie

Love Interests

6/9 female protagonists had love interests (67%)

26/46 male protagonists had love interests (57%)

3/53 main characters were females without a love interest (6%)
20/53 main characters were males without a love interest (35%)

3/3 female main characters without a love interest were young teenagers or children
5/20 male main characters without a love interest were young teenagers or children

Year: 2008

12 Movies Released:

The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything, Horton Hears a Who, Kung Fu Panda, WALL-E, Space Chimps, Fly Me to the Moon, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Igor, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Bolt,Delgo, The Tale of Despereaux

Gender of the Main Protagonist

0/12 female protagonists
12/12 male protagonists

100% male protagonists

Love Interests

5/12 male protagonists had a love interest

Year: 2009

11 Movies Released:

Coraline, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Battle for Terra, Up, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Astro Boy, A Christmas Carol, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Planet 51, The Princess and the Frog

Gender of the Main Protagonist

4/11 female protagonists
7/11 male protagonists 

36% female protagonists
64% male protagonists

Love Interests

2/4 female protagonists have onscreen love interest
7/7 male protagonists have onscreen love interest 

Year: 2010

8 Movies Released:

How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek Forever After, Toy Story 3, Despicable Me, Alpha and Omega, Legend of the Guardians, Megamind, Tangled

Gender of the Main Protagonist

2/9 female protagonists
7/9 male protagonists

22% female protagonists
78% male protagonists

Love Interests

2/2 female protagonists had love interests
4/7 male protagonists had love interests

Year: 2011

12 Movies Released:

Gnomeo& Juliet, Rango, Mars Needs Moms, Rio, Hoodwinked Too, Kung Fu Panda 2, Cars 2, Winnie the Pooh, Puss in Boots, Happy Feet Two, Arthur Christmas, Tintin 

Gender of the Main Protagonist

2/13 female protagonists
11/13 male protagonists

15% female protagonists
85% male protagonists

Love Interests

1/2 female protagonists had love interests
5/13 male protagonists had love interests 

Year: 2012

10 Movies Released:

 Dr. Suess’ the Lorax, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted , Brave, Ice Age: Continental Drift, ParaNorman, Hotel Transylvania, Frankenweenie, Wreck-it Ralph! , Rise of the Guardians

Gender of the Main Protagonist

1/10 female protagonists

9/10 male protagonists 

10% female protagonists

90% male protagonists 

 Love Interests 

 

1/1 female protagonists had love interests

5/9 male protagonists had love interests