The narrative structure of the last period of American animated films according to V. Propp's approach

In recent years, technological developments have had a positive impact on animation film industry, resulting in a quantitative increase in the production of animation films and also in their audience. Furthermore, animated cinema, which is also known for its important role in consumer culture, appears to be the favorite genre that is preferred not only by children but also by adults. The first chapter of the thesis presents a detailed study of the technological inventions and developments that play an important role in the historical process of cinema, which sets the ground of animation, such as persistance of vision, optical toys, the invention of photography and sound motion picture. After reviewing literature related to the historical process of cinema, the specific characteristics of animated cinema and the development of animation film industry are examined. The theoretical basis of the thesis is based on semiology, structuralism and Vladimir Propp's morphology of the folktale. Cinematic narration, narrative structure of animation films and the characters in animation films are examined in the second chapter of the thesis accordingly. Additionally, different types of characters are examined through classification. The third chapter of the study presents a structural analysis of selected animation films, by classifying their common functions and characters, according to the Russian morphologist Vladimir Propp's folktale analyzes. The conclusions reached in the study are evaluated on the basis of the theories of semiotics and structuralism, and also considered in accordance with Propp's morphology of the folktale. Key Words: Linguistics, Semiology/ Semiotics, Structuralism, Morphology, Vladimir Propp, Tale, Animation, Character, Disney, Pixar.