Animated Animals as Conceptual Blends

Summary This article discusses the use of the conceptual theory of blending in the creation of various animated animals known from pop culture. It concerns a central mental ability, one that blends two different frames of thought in order to create an original emergent structure. The examples chosen for the analysis differ greatly in terms of their structural complexity, their time of creation and popularity and their overall goals and target audiences. This working paper acknowledges the difficulties which arise when trying to comprehend the aims of these cartoon characters or, if applicable, the comedic nature of their names and the names of the animated shows they represent.