We are already accustomed to a series of cartoons being part of a product that is carried out as a result of a marketing campaign in which it is intended to advertise a brand image to the fullest. This is the case of 'Monster High', one of the latest children's phenomena that has its place in television and which currently broadcasts the Boing channel in Spain. This is an animated fiction that emerged in 2010 after the launch of a strategy in which it was intended to introduce the new dolls of the Mattel company, a series of characters that seek to give an original touch to the world of dolls but they only follow the trail of the Barbie brand.
Once again 'Monster High' achieved its purpose of penetrating deeply as a phenomenon in young girls, despite opting for the transmission of ideas that again they treat the little ones as teenagers, through values that leave much to be desired. In fact, there are a series of books that take advantage of the pull created around this brand that are aimed at young people, despite the fact that dolls succeed among children. At present, Boing broadcasts the chapters of 'Monster High', about two and three minutes each, at 2:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., although they can also be followed through the brand's official website . The 'Monster High' brand has three seasons, although there are a good number of specials and even a movie sold on DVD.
Who studies in 'Monster High'?
'Monster High' is the institute where the children of the best-known monsters study. The series focuses on a group of students (Draculaura, Cleo, Frankie ...), each from a different family of monsters. Despite this differentiation, the girls they share their fondness for fashion, the main link that we find among them. This fact is present in all the chapters of 'Monster High' and is the biggest claim that is made to attract the female children's audience.
Highlight with the group of cheerleaders to which the protagonists belong or the relationships that arise between the boys of the institute are some of the most common themes that are developed in the series, contents that are decorated with that halo of addiction to fashion and beauty to which its protagonists are predisposed. This is one of the main points by which the series manages to be rejected by a good number of parents, who do not see that 'Monster High' follow a suitable pattern for the smallest of the house.
What can we expect from the series?
These days ago in Babies and more we have talked about the hypersexualization of childhood, a fact that frequently affects most children and with which it seems that it is increasingly difficult to fight. Products like 'Monster High' favor this hypersexualization, since it extends the idea that girls must assimilate as soon as possible the doctrines marked by fashion. The fact that their protagonists are constantly making up or worried about the costumes send negative messages to the girls, who see in their favorite characters a pattern to follow even though they are not yet old enough to do so.
These messages are complemented by the desire that the protagonists of 'Monster High' feel towards various boys of the institute, some frames that transmit that sexual benefit that derives directly from the care they present towards their physique. The series is presented with this wrap of sexuality, found in many other cartoon series, aimed primarily at children, although it hides a multitude of content aimed at adults.
'Monster High' gives an idea of diversity that is not taken advantage of, since it prefers to keep that air of superficiality that surrounds the entire series. And, despite the fact that each character has different characteristics, they all end up submitting to the archetypes of fashion, something that obscures any positive message that could be transmitted from fiction. In this negative view, 'Monster High' is not helped by the fact that the protagonists present too slender bodies or that one of the girls has another at their entire disposal because they belong to a higher social status.
In the episode exposed in this article, which corresponds to its second season and is entitled 'Dead of emotion', we observe that the protagonists undertake a trip to the school of cheerleaders, where they will participate in a competition they hope to win. Throughout the episode we see the wishes of each character to make your stay perfect. While one dreams of being with the boy she likes, a young werewolf who fulfills her wishes, another imagines she is about to make her boyfriend's word of mouth. Not all are sexual imaginations, since there are also those who fantasize about achieving the success and recognition of others.
'Monster High', fashion and sexual attraction in the institute
At this point 'Monster High' has emerged as an indisputable success that only time could make it disappear. It joins a set of television content that triumphs from time to time and that manages to cause a rage among children, although, as in this case, it is about series with superficial values that fail to transmit educational content Among its spectators. The success of 'Monster High' has made the brand manage to sneak into other markets, such as video games or mobile applications, becoming a benchmark that children tend to look for.
It would not be far fetched to think that the 'Monster High' brand will continue to be exploited until the last drop of its juice is extracted, since in recent years it has become a very economically profitable franchise. Thus, it is possible that the episodes of 'Monster High' will continue to be released in the future, but nothing suggests that the usual frivolity tonic will be abandoned in its plots, which makes many parents not see it adequate as an educational and quality series for your children.
