Representasi Kehidupan Antar Budaya pada Film Animasi (Analisis Semiotika pada Film Elemental: Forces of Nature karya Peter Sohn)

Film is one of the means of communication used to convey messages, both verbally and non-verbally, connecting the communicator and the audience in such a way that it creates a certain effect. This study examines the animated film Elemental: Forces of Nature, the latest work from Disney Animation Studios, which was released worldwide on May 27, 2023. The film is set in a fictional world inhabited by natural elements such as water, fire, air, and earth. The story centers on two main characters: Ember Lumen, who represents the element of fire, and Wade, who represents the element of water. The film uses a metaphorical approach to depict the dynamics of cultural clashes and intercultural relationships, often referred to as multicultural diversity.
This study aims to identify the representation of intercultural life portrayed in the animated film Elemental: Forces of Nature. The research is based on Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory, which analyzes two levels of meaning: denotation and connotation. Denotation refers to the literal meaning, while connotation refers to the hidden meaning that is implicitly contained within the film’s scenes. The focus of the analysis in this film lies in the characters, their traits, and the cultural elements depicted in various scenes.
The results of the study show that, at the denotative level, the film illustrates the effort and hard work of a culture striving to adapt and integrate into a new environment where several other long-established cultures coexist peacefully. At the connotative level, cultural differences give rise to various emotions that lead to social conflicts between distinct cultural groups. This serves as a form of cultural defense maintained by each elemental community.