101 Dalmatians

While the movie does not feature explicit LGBTQ+ characters or storylines, some scholarly analyses include Cruella De Vil (1961) in discussions of 'quillains' who exhibit an 'excessive display of femininity as a marker of deviance' that has been retrospectively interpreted as queer coding. Additionally, the original source novel by Dodie Smith mentions one of the 101 puppies by the name 'Gay.' The live-action adaptation 'Cruella (2021)' introduces an openly gay character, Artie, who is not present in the 1961 animated film.

Cruella de Vil explicitly states her desire to kill the puppies for a fur coat, suggesting methods like 'shoot them, drown them, poison them, bash them.' Her henchmen, Jasper and Horace, violently push and ridicule the elderly maid when forcing entry into the Radcliffe home. The henchmen also attempt to bash an escaping puppy with a crowbar and hit Pongo and Perdita. Slapstick violence is prevalent, with Horace and Jasper enduring various painful mishaps, such as objects falling on them, crashing into walls, and being kicked by a horse. The climax involves Cruella deliberately crashing her car into the puppies' escape van, nearly pushing it over a steep edge, followed by a collision with the henchmen's lorry.

Roger and Anita's relationship progresses from their dogs' orchestrated meeting to marriage, and they are shown kissing. A scene depicts Roger and Anita lying on a couch, with the camera panning away, implying intimacy without explicit detail. Additionally, there are suggestive remarks from the henchmen, such as being electrocuted in their 'private parts' by an electric fence and Horace claiming the sight of deceased creatures 'gives me a shrinky winky.'

Cruella de Vil and her henchmen frequently use derogatory terms, including 'idiots,' 'stinky lab rat,' 'stupid, pathetic fools,' 'bloody mongrels,' 'you filthy beast,' 'morons,' 'unintelligent,' 'imbeciles,' and 'devil.' Cruella also directs threatening language, such as 'I'll hit you' and 'kill the little beasts,' towards others. Christian parental guides note Cruella's constant use of insults like 'fools' and 'idiots' as questionable language.

Cruella de Vil is frequently shown smoking from a long cigarette holder, portraying tobacco use as a prominent character trait. Roger Radcliffe, a main protagonist, is also consistently depicted puffing on his pipe. The henchmen, Jasper and Horace, are shown drinking alcohol. Although Disney included a brief anti-smoking message before the opening credits, the visual frequency of smoking remains a notable concern.

Cruella de Vil is portrayed as a truly scary and remorseless villain, actively plotting the killing and skinning of puppies. The kidnapping of the fifteen puppies and the implied fate of them being turned into fur coats is a central, intense theme. The prolonged chase sequence where the Dalmatians are hunted by Cruella and her henchmen involves near-fatal car crashes and dangerous conditions like blizzards, putting the puppies in constant peril. The brief depiction of a newborn puppy (Lucky) appearing lifeless before being revived by Roger can be distressing.

Cruella de Vil demonstrates severe disrespect towards Anita, Nanny, and her henchmen, frequently insulting them and disregarding their feelings and authority. She openly mocks Roger's profession and their home. Her henchmen, Jasper and Horace, embody rebellion through their criminal actions, including breaking and entering, kidnapping the puppies, and physically assaulting the Nanny. Their actions are a clear defiance of laws and societal norms.