An investigation of the impact of animated cartoons on children in Nairobi

Abstract

This thesis is about cartoon-consumer relationship in an effort to discover the impacts of animated cartoons on children in Nairobi. It is hoped that the findings and conclusions herein will help generate cartoons that can educate Kenyan children to live in ways that are socially and culturally desirable. Kenya has, in the last ten or So yeats, witnessed rapid growth in the number of television channels and satellite television. The television channels and satellite television have availed to children a vast amount of animated cartoons that transmit European, Japanese and North American views of life instead of the realities in which Kenya children live. This research was carried out in Nairobi, to find out whether or not animated cartoons have an impact on children aged seven to eleven years. Before achieving tbis primary objective, it was important to first find out which animated cartoons children watch and how regularly they watch the cartoons. It was also essential to first view the roles parents' play in encouraging or discouraging their children who watch animated cartoons. Casual observation, a general survey, questionnaires, face-to-face Interviews and focus group discussions were methods used to gather data for analysis