A Critical and Multimodal Analysis of the Animation “Nana & Nilo” from Decolonial and Anti-Racist Perspectives in Early Elementary Education
Nana & Nilo; Black Animation Cinema; Critical and Multimodal Discourse Analysis; Decolonial Pedagogy
This dissertation presents the Critical and Multimodal Analysis of the animation “Nana & Nilo” from decolonial and anti-racist perspectives, focusing on early years of basic education. Recognizing the historical invisibilization of black bodies and cultures in children’s audiovisual media, the study aims to understand the reworking of curricular knowledge through a decolonial and anti-racist lens in the early grades, using Nana & Nilo as a case study, to discuss the processes of constructing and deconstructing structural racism through the analysis of children's audiovisual productions and to contextualize the representation of black presence in brazilian children's audiovisual narratives.” The research adopts the methodology of Critical and Multimodal Discourse Analysis (Lopes; Gonzalez, 2016), supported by the Grammar of Visual Design (Kress; Van Leeuwen, 2006) and Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 2001), in order to examine the verbal, visual, and social dimensions of the work. The study was implemented in a 5th-grade classroom of a municipal school in Duque de Caxias (RJ), through the screening of Nana & Nilo episodes, discussion circles, and artistic productions by the students. The results indicated that despite initial resistance, the activities promoted critical awareness and student protagonism, expanded cultural repertoires with African and Afro-Brazilian references, and encouraged the appreciation of ethnic-racial diversity within the school environment. The analyses revealed that the presence of black protagonists, the celebration of African ancestry, and the inclusion of socio-environmental themes contribute to racial literacy from early childhood. These elements help foster the appreciation of plural aesthetics among children and provide alternatives to dominant Eurocentric narratives. In conclusion, the thesis highlights that Black Animation Cinema constitutes a powerful pedagogical tool to challenge stereotypes, promote positive identities, and support educational practices committed to the anti-racist struggle.