Innovation in Language Learning

The current study investigates the representation of interpersonal meaning and emotional positioning in recent Disney animated films targeted at children, using the Appraisal framework developed by Martin and White (2005). Specifically, the study examines how they construct attitude, negotiate stance, and intensify or soften evaluations across seven popular titles: Inside Out 2 (2024), Moana 2 (2024), Elemental (2023), Wish (2023), Luca (2021), Moana (2016), and Inside Out (2015). These films, globally consumed by young audiences, play a significant role in shaping early understandings of emotions, identity, and relationships. Through the use of the Appraisal Theory Tagger (2025), a web-based tool developed to annotate linguistic appraisal resources, the study conducts a descriptive analysis to identify patterns across the three appraisal subsystems: Attitude, Engagement, and Graduation. By focusing on evaluative language in children’s media, the paper aims to contribute to the growing body of research that intersects Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), media discourse, and early childhood emotional development. The findings are expected to reveal how these films project interpersonal values and emotional perspectives in ways that potentially influence young viewers’ social perception. This work follows a qualitative research paradigm and adopts a text-based analytical approach aligned with SFL. The research findings may inform future studies on educational media, and assist educators and parents in better understanding the different linguistic cues underpinning emotional storytelling in animated children’s content.