Neoteny: Why Disney Princesses Look Like Babies

Neoteny, Evolution, and Disney

Our friend Dr. Joe Hanson from It’s Okay to Be Smart (PBS Digital Studios) goes full science nerd on neoteny, Disney princesses, and evolution.

I noticed something weird about Disney Princesses lately. Naturally, I had to examine it through the lens of science. The answer led me to new knowledge about human development, the domestication and taming of animals, and why we find things cute in the first place. You’ll never look at cartoons the same way again. –Joe Hanson, PhD

Post about it: It’s time to go full science nerd on neoteny, evolution, and Disney princesses! 

X/Twitter: @DrJoeHanson @okaytobesmart

Instagram: @DrJoeHanson

It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.

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Director: Andrew Matthews

Writer: Andrew Matthews Creative

Director: David Schulte

Editor/animator: Derek Borsheim

Producers: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM

Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com

References

Gould, Stephen Jay “Biological Homage to Mickey Mouse” https://faculty.uca.edu/benw/biol4415… Bogin, B. (1990). The evolution of human childhood. Bioscience, 40(1), 16-25. PDF: http://bit.ly/2vDb3Vy

Somel, M., Franz, H., Yan, Z., Lorenc, A., Guo, S., Giger, T., … & Webster, M. J. (2009). Transcriptional neoteny in the human brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(14), 5743-5748.